Life settled into a new rhythm.
Eli still had his circle of friends—Mina, who always shared half her lunch with him when he forgot to pack one, Jace, who had a talent for turning even the dullest group project into something fun, Caleb, who never failed to crack a joke at the wrong (or right) time, and Leo, who usually stayed quiet but had a knack for dropping sharp comments that made everyone laugh. They were constants, people Eli had grown used to.
Kai, on the other hand, carried a quiet aura, but soon he too began drawing people in. Some admired his calm presence, others his quiet intelligence.
Still, Eli couldn't help but notice… whenever Kai wasn't with Mina, Jace, Ryan, or Caleb, he was with him.
---
"Hey, Eli," Jace teased one afternoon, catching sight of Kai waiting near the garden gate. "You and the new guy seem close, huh? You two always end up together."
Caleb leaned over with a grin. "Don't tell me you've been sneaking off for secret meetings."
Mina laughed, nudging Eli's arm. "Seriously, you're like magnets. Don't tell me it's just coincidence."
Even Leo, usually the quiet one, glanced up from his notebook with a smirk. "Well, he is always looking for you."
Eli flushed. "It's not like that. We just… run into each other a lot."
But the words tasted weak, even to him.
---
Later that day, Eli sat under the shade of the garden bench, sketchbook in hand. He expected quiet, but soon heard the familiar footsteps.
Kai.
Without a word, Kai sat nearby, opening the book he carried. The silence stretched—comfortable, as always.
After a while, Eli closed his sketchbook and turned to him. "Kai… are we friends?"
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Kai blinked, as if surprised, then smiled faintly. "Don't you think we are?"
Eli's chest tightened. He looked away quickly, hiding the small smile tugging at his lips.
Maybe… maybe they were.
---
And though neither of them said more, the simple word—"friends"—hung between them like a promise.