The next day arrived cold and crisp, a thin veil of mist clinging to the streets. Elian waited at the bus stop early—as if arriving sooner would pull Juni from whatever shadows he was hiding in.
When Juni finally appeared, he wasn't running. He wasn't smiling. He wasn't even pretending. He walked slowly, arms held stiff, backpack slung over just his left shoulder.
Elian's breath caught.
Another bruise.
Faint, but unmistakable, peeking from beneath the collar of Juni's uniform. Juni noticed Elian looking and immediately pulled the collar higher.
"…Morning,"
Juni whispered, voice fragile.
Elian's heart tightened.
"Juni… who's hurting you?"
Juni stiffened—his entire body reacting before his mind could.
"No one."
Elian stepped closer. Close enough to see the tremble in Juni's eyelashes.
"Then why are there more bruises?"
Juni swallowed hard.
"Elian… drop it."
Elian shook his head.
"I can't."
For a moment, neither spoke. Only the faint hum of the distant bus engine filled the air.Juni's lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something—wanted to trust him—but fear locked the words in his throat.
Instead, he forced a shaky smile.
"Let's just go to school."
And like always, he ran from the truth.
School felt heavier than usual. Juni stuck close to Elian during breaks—not talking much, but hovering, as if Elian's presence alone kept him steady. In class, Juni winced when he reached for a pencil.
His arm trembled.
Elian leaned closer.
"Does it hurt?"
Juni whispered back:
"Only when I move."
Elian clenched his fists.
He didn't understand how someone like Juni—so full of light, laughter, energy—could be hiding bruises beneath his smiles. He wanted to protect him. Wanted to fix everything. But the more he wanted to help, the more Juni seemed terrified to let him.
At lunchtime, Juni didn't even touch his food. He pushed his rice around with his chopsticks, head low.
Elian finally whispered:
"Why won't you tell me?"
Juni froze.
For a long moment, he didn't look up.
Then—quietly, voice unsteady—
"…Because if I say it out loud, it becomes real."
Elian's breath hitched.
Juni forced a smile that hurt to watch.
"And I don't want you to look at me differently."
Elian's voice broke. "I won't."
Juni's eyes glistened—but he looked away before anything could fall.
When the final bell rang, Juni didn't rush ahead like usual. He lingered by his desk, shoulders shaking just faintly.
Elian approached slowly.
"Let's walk home together."
Juni hesitated—then nodded.
They walked side by side down the familiar path, shoes splashing through leftover puddles. The sky overhead had cleared, revealing streaks of pink sunset. Halfway down the street, Juni suddenly stopped. His breaths came shorter now, uneven.
Elian turned. "Juni…?"
Juni's voice cracked.
"I didn't want you to see me like this."
Elian stepped closer.
"You don't have to hide from me."
Juni covered his face with trembling hands.
"…Elian."
Just his name—but filled with so much fear, so much longing, that Elian felt something inside him unravel. Very slowly, Elian reached out—touching Juni's wrist, guiding his hands down gently.
Juni's eyes were wet.
Red.
Exhausted.
He whispered, voice barely holding together: "…I didn't fall."
Elian froze.
Juni swallowed, the words trembling against his lips. "…It wasn't an accident."
Elian's chest tightened.
"Then who—?"
Juni shook his head quickly.
"I can't say."
Tears welled at the corners of his eyes.
"If I tell you… you'll get involved. And you'll get hurt. And I can't—"
Elian stepped closer, voice soft, steady.
"Juni."
Juni gasped—a tiny, broken sound.
Elian cupped the side of Juni's face.
"You won't lose me."
Juni's breath stuttered.
For a moment—a fragile, beautiful moment—Juni leaned forward, forehead brushing against Elian's shoulder.
Not a hug.
Not yet.
But the closest he'd allowed himself.
Elian's hand slid up to Juni's back—gentle, patient, protective.
The words trembled from Juni's lips:
"…I'm so tired, Elian."
Elian closed his eyes, heart aching.
"Then let me be here. Even if you can't tell me everything yet."
Juni's fingers curled into Elian's shirt.
"…Thank you."
They stood like that until the sky darkened—until Juni's trembling stopped—until the world felt a little less heavy.
When they finally separated, Juni wiped his eyes with an embarrassed laugh.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to cry on you."
Elian shook his head softly.
"You don't have to apologize for feeling."
Juni's gaze lingered on him—soft, vulnerable, grateful. But then a shadow crossed Juni's expression.
A flicker of fear.
As if someone, somewhere, was waiting.
Watching.
Expecting him home.
Juni stepped back.
"…I have to go."
Elian nodded—but the unease lingered.
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
Juni hesitated—Then forced a smile.
"Yeah… tomorrow."
He walked away quickly, almost too quickly. Elian watched him disappear around the corner. His hands clenched at his sides. He wasn't going to let Juni keep suffering.
Not alone.
Not while he was here.
And for the first time, Elian realized—His heart was already far too involved.