The echo of footsteps faded as the door closed behind Rin, but the air still trembled with the weight of everything left unsaid. Than remained on the edge of the rooftop, cigarette burning between his fingers like a quiet war, a slow suicide he hadn't yet learned how to quit. Below him, the city blurred into smears of neon and shadow, but his mind was filled only with Rin—his voice, the hesitation behind his words, and the unmistakable pain in his eyes. Than had seen it before, years ago, when he'd first walked away from Rin in that hospital hallway. It haunted him then. It haunted him now. And despite everything, it still pulled at him like gravity.
He took another drag from the cigarette and exhaled sharply, the smoke curling like ghosts around his face. The rooftop was supposed to offer him space to breathe, but tonight, even the sky felt suffocating. His phone buzzed in his pocket. A message from Niran: "Be careful. He's not the only one watching you now." Than clenched his jaw. Of course he knew. The past wasn't content with silence anymore—it wanted a stage, an audience. And somehow, Rin was at the center of it.
Downstairs, Rin didn't return to his room. Instead, he wandered the halls like he used to during exam season—half-lost, half-avoiding. The walls of the apartment felt too tight, too clean, too loud in their silence. He ended up in the kitchen, where the coffee machine blinked sleepily and the light above the counter buzzed like a fly. He poured himself a glass of water but barely touched it. His fingers tapped against the counter rhythmically—an old habit, a quiet cry for control. Behind him, Leo appeared.
"You okay?" Leo's voice broke through the fog.
Rin turned slowly, his lips pulling into a tired smile. "Define okay."
Leo walked in, bare feet against cold tiles, and leaned beside him. "You're doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"The fake smile thing. The I'm-not-okay-but-I'll-smile-until-my-lips-bleed thing."
Rin didn't answer. He looked down at his glass. "You think I made a mistake?"
Leo hesitated. "No. But I think you're afraid of the truth. Not just about Than. About Jin. About everything."
Rin's fingers stilled. "What do you mean?"
"Than didn't kill Jin, Rin. You know that. Deep down, you do. But you also know that loving him means pulling the thread on everything you've buried."
Rin's shoulders tensed. He didn't want to admit how right Leo was. Ever since Than returned, his world had been tilting, memories resurfacing like bruises—slow and painful. Jin's death had been a wound they never stitched properly. Everyone had their version of what happened, but no one ever told Rin the full truth. And a part of him wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"I can't do this again," Rin said finally, his voice soft, distant. "Not if it means breaking again."
Leo stepped closer. "Then don't break. Fight. Ask questions. Get answers. You deserve that, Rin."
There was silence again, but this time it wasn't empty. It was full—of things Rin hadn't let himself feel in years. Fear. Anger. Hope. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Tomorrow, I'll talk to Than. Really talk. No running. No avoiding."
Leo smiled faintly. "Good. About time."
And then, a knock on the door. Rin turned, confused—it was almost midnight. When he opened it, Mai stood there. Her hair was wet from rain, her expression unreadable.
"Mai?"
"I heard about everything," she said, stepping in without waiting. "And I think I know something you don't."
Upstairs, Than stared at the city until the wind started to bite at his skin. The message from Niran still sat open on his phone, and the words stung like an omen. He knew Ares was watching—he could feel it. The smug glances, the carefully phrased threats. And Ares wasn't the only one.
He took a final drag and stubbed the cigarette out against the railing. There was no time for hesitation anymore. Not with Rin this close to the edge of everything. He turned to leave but froze when he saw his sister—Anya—standing by the stairwell, arms crossed.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Anya raised an eyebrow. "I could ask you the same. You think you're the only one with ghosts?"
Than blinked. "Does Dad know?"
"No. And he won't, unless you give me a reason to tell him. I came here because I think you're finally close to something real. Don't mess it up again, Than."
He laughed softly. "You always were the blunt one."
She stepped forward and hugged him. "And you always had a habit of breaking things before they could become beautiful. Don't do that with Rin."
Than's arms stayed stiff around her, but something in his chest cracked open.
Tomorrow, he'd find Rin. And this time, he wouldn't run.