By the next day, everything felt normal again.
Too normal.
CJ hated that.
Because something about yesterday—and last night—didn't sit right.
He just didn't know why.
"CJ."
He ignored it.
"CJ."
Still ignored.
"CJ!"
A notebook hit the side of his head.
"—Ow! What was that for?!" CJ snapped, turning toward Cy with an annoyed glare.
"For ignoring me."
"I wasn't ignoring you."
"You literally were."
"I was thinking."
Cy crossed her arms. "That's new."
CJ scoffed. "Very funny."
But she leaned closer anyway, eyes narrowing slightly. "You've been weird since this morning."
"I'm always weird."
"Not like this."
CJ clicked his tongue and looked away. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
"Then explain why you've been staring at nothing for the past ten minutes."
"I wasn't staring at nothing."
"Then what were you staring at?"
CJ opened his mouth—
Then paused.
Because for a split second—
He didn't have an answer.
"…Nothing important," he muttered.
Cy didn't look convinced.
But before she could push further—
A familiar voice cut in.
"You two are loud."
CJ didn't even turn around. "And you're late."
Ezekiel dropped his bag beside his desk calmly. "I'm on time."
"You're five minutes late."
"That's still within acceptable range."
"Not in my world."
Ezekiel sat down. "Your world doesn't count."
CJ smirked slightly. "Everything counts in my world."
"Exactly why it's a problem," Cy added.
CJ glanced at her. "You're part of it."
"Unfortunately."
"You love it."
"I tolerate it."
"That's basically the same thing."
"It's not."
"It is."
"You're annoying."
"And yet—"
"Yes, yes, I'm still here," Cy cut him off, rolling her eyes. "We've established that already."
Ezekiel watched them quietly for a moment before shaking his head slightly.
"…You two never get tired of this?"
"No," they both said at the same time.
Then paused.
Then glared at each other.
"…Stop copying me," CJ said.
"You said it at the same time."
"That still counts."
"It doesn't."
"It does."
Ezekiel sighed. "Unbelievable."
Cy suddenly turned to him, her expression shifting instantly.
"Speaking of unbelievable," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Why are you always with CJ?"
Ezekiel blinked once. "Because we're friends."
"Suspicious."
"…What?"
"Very suspicious."
CJ snorted. "Here we go."
Cy pointed between them dramatically. "You're always together. Walking together. Sitting together. Eating together—"
"Because we're friends," Ezekiel repeated calmly.
Cy gasped lightly. "Or maybe—"
"No."
"You haven't even heard it yet."
"I don't need to."
"Or maybe—" Cy leaned closer, lowering her voice slightly but not enough to actually be quiet, "you're both hiding something."
CJ stared at her.
"…You're joking."
Cy smirked. "Am I?"
Ezekiel looked mildly concerned now. "Cy—"
"You know what this looks like?" she continued.
"It looks like two friends," CJ said flatly.
"It looks like," Cy ignored him completely, "you're gay."
Silence.
A few nearby students turned their heads.
CJ blinked.
Once.
Then—
"Excuse me?"
Cy grinned, clearly enjoying this. "You heard me."
Ezekiel pinched the bridge of his nose. "…This is unnecessary."
"Oh, it's very necessary," Cy said. "My ship is already sinking, I need a new one."
CJ frowned. "What ship?"
Cy looked personally offended. "Ezekiel and Dean."
"…What?"
"My OTP," she said dramatically. "My dream. My vision."
"That was never a thing," Ezekiel said.
"It was a thing!"
"It wasn't."
"It had potential!"
"It didn't."
"It did!"
CJ rubbed his temple. "You're arguing with yourself now."
"I am grieving," Cy corrected. "There's a difference."
"For something that never existed."
"It existed in my heart!"
"That doesn't count."
"It does to me!"
CJ let out a breath, already annoyed. "You're unbelievable."
Cy leaned back slightly, eyeing him again. "Still… my point stands."
"No, it doesn't."
"You're always with him."
"Because we're friends."
"That's what they all say."
CJ stared at her for a second—
Then smirked slowly.
"…You done?"
"No."
"Good. My turn."
Cy blinked. "What?"
CJ leaned slightly closer, resting his chin on his hand.
"…Sweetheart," he said smoothly.
Cy froze.
"…Don't call me that."
"Why not?"
"Because it's annoying."
"Exactly."
Cy narrowed her eyes. "You're doing that on purpose."
"Of course I am."
"Stop it."
"No."
"CJ."
"Yes, sweetheart?"
Cy grabbed the nearest notebook and threw it at him.
"STOP."
CJ caught it easily, laughing. "Too easy."
"You're insufferable."
"And yet you keep talking to me."
"Because someone has to humble you."
"You're failing."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are too."
Ezekiel stood up.
"I'm leaving."
"You're not going anywhere," Cy said immediately. "You're part of this."
"I really don't want to be."
"Too bad."
CJ leaned back in his chair, clearly entertained now. "Sit down. You're making it worse."
Ezekiel hesitated—
Then sat back down.
"…This is a mistake."
"Yes," CJ said. "But it's a fun one."
Across the room—
Someone laughed.
Not loud.
But noticeable.
All three of them turned.
Sebastian was leaning slightly against a desk, watching them.
Amused.
"…What?" CJ said.
Sebastian pushed himself off the desk and walked closer, his expression relaxed.
"You three are interesting," he said.
"We're not a show," CJ replied.
"Could've fooled me."
Cy perked up instantly. "Sebastian!"
"Cy."
"You heard everything?"
"Most of it."
"Then you understand my pain."
"I don't."
"Traitor."
Sebastian let out a quiet laugh before glancing between CJ and Cy.
Then—
He tilted his head slightly.
"…You two sound like a married couple."
Silence.
CJ blinked.
Cy blinked.
Then both of them turned to him at the same time.
"…What?" CJ said.
"…Excuse me?" Cy added.
Sebastian shrugged casually. "All the arguing. The back and forth. The unnecessary tension."
"There's no tension," CJ said.
"There's a lot of tension," Sebastian corrected.
Cy crossed her arms. "We are not a married couple."
"Could've fooled me."
CJ scoffed. "You just got here."
"And I've already seen enough."
"That doesn't mean anything."
"It means you argue like you've known each other forever."
CJ paused.
Just for a second.
Because—
That part was true.
"…We have," he said.
Sebastian's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary.
"…Yeah," he said quietly. "I can tell."
Something about the way he said that—
Felt strange.
But before CJ could think about it—
Cy clapped her hands once.
"Anyway! New topic."
"No," CJ said immediately.
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Stop deciding things."
"Make me."
"Gladly."
Ezekiel stood up again. "I'm definitely leaving now."
"No, you're not," Cy said.
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
Sebastian laughed under his breath.
And for a moment—
Everything felt normal again.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Unpredictable.
But CJ noticed something.
Even while arguing—
Even while distracted—
His attention drifted.
Just slightly.
Toward Sebastian.
And every time their eyes met—
There was a pause.
A small one.
Barely noticeable.
But real.
Like something was trying to connect.
Something neither of them understood yet.
CJ frowned slightly, looking away first.
"…Weird."
"What's weird?" Cy asked.
"Nothing."
Just a feeling.
Again.
That same strange feeling—
Like he was standing too close to something important.
Something he couldn't see yet.
But would eventually.
And this time—
It didn't go away.