Array
(
[text] =>
Monday came too fast.
The weekend’s quiet—those slow mornings, the warmth of Est’s body, the easy laughter echoing faintly in William’s parents’ house—felt like a dream William wasn’t ready to wake from. But now, under the sharp brightness of a new week, the world had shifted again.
The school grounds buzzed louder than usual. Conversations spilled across hallways, and heads turned as William and Est walked by. Everyone noticed him now.
“Hi, William!” someone called from across the walkway.
William offered a small, polite nod, nothing more. His attention drifted back to Est, thumb absently brushing over his knuckles as they wove through the crowd.
“You don’t have to pick me up after class,” Est said as they neared the building. “Let’s just meet in the courtyard.”
William tilted his head, brow knitting slightly. “You sure?”
“Yes,” Est replied with a small smile. But there was something in it that made William’s chest tighten a little.
“O—kay,” William started, but before he could finish, someone bumped hard into him. A thud, then a scatter of books on the ground.
“I’m so sorry, William! I’m so clumsy sometimes,” a girl said quickly, crouching down to gather her things. Her tone was overly sweet, like she was performing a version of herself.
William bent to help, calm as ever. “It’s fine,” he said simply, picking up a few books and handing them to her. “Here.”
“Thank you!” she beamed, eyes bright. “You’re so sweet and nice! I’m Fei, by the way.”
William nodded once, polite but detached. “Let’s go?” he said, turning back to Est.
Est’s expression was tight, his jaw working. He rolled his eyes and started walking ahead, not waiting for William to catch up.
William frowned slightly, confused, then quickened his pace until he was beside him. When his hand brushed Est’s again, he tried to lace their fingers together—but Est’s voice cut sharp through the air.
“Can you watch your steps next time?”
William blinked, then smirked, unbothered. “Sorry. I was busy staring at you.”
Est shot him a glare. “Don’t be too cocky.” His voice was clipped, but a faint pink climbed the edge of his ears. He walked faster, clearly flustered.
William chuckled quietly, catching up once more and boldly taking Est’s hand. “Okay, okay,” he said lightly, squeezing it. “I’ll be careful next time.”
Est didn’t pull away, but his silence lingered—a silence that wasn’t cold, just uncertain. When they reached his classroom, he stopped and turned to William.
“I meant what I said earlier,” Est said. “You don’t have to come back and wait for me after class. Let’s just meet at the cafeteria.”
William blinked, caught off guard by how final it sounded. “You sure?”
“Yes,” Est said, already stepping toward the door. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
William stood there for a moment, watching him disappear inside. A small crease formed between his brows, but he let out a quiet breath and turned toward his own building.
His friends were already in their usual spots when he entered the classroom. Lego leaned back on his chair, scrolling through his phone, while Tui sat forward, pen tapping absently against a notebook.
“Hey, Will,” Lego greeted. “You look like you fought a war.”
William dropped into the seat between them. “Morning.”
A few minutes later, a girl walked up to their row, hesitating only for a second. “Hi, William. I don’t know if you remember me—I’m Min. I usually sit in front.”
William looked up briefly and gave a nod.
Lego smirked immediately, sensing entertainment. Tui leaned his chin on his hand, already amused.
Min tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I just wanted to ask… what’s your favorite drink?”
Before William could even open his mouth, Lego answered. “Oishi Green Tea, honey lemon flavor.”
Min blinked. “Oh… thank you.” She turned back to William. “And your favorite snack?”
“Smartfood white cheddar popcorn,” Lego said again without missing a beat.
Min frowned. “You know a lot about him. You’re answering even when I’m not asking you.”
“Of course,” Lego said cheerfully. “I’m one of his best friends. Anything else?”
Min pressed her lips together, visibly irritated now. “No, that’s all. Thanks.” She turned and left in a hurry, her ponytail swaying behind her.
The moment she was out of earshot, Lego snorted. “She’s weird. She’s never talked to you before.”
He looked to his right, only to find William already on his phone, scrolling lazily as if nothing had happened.
“Hello? Did you even hear me?” Lego asked.
William looked up. “Sorry, what?”
Lego groaned. “Never mind.”
Tui chuckled under his breath. “You’ve become a celebrity, Will. Might wanna start charging for interviews.”
William only smiled faintly, thumb still flicking across the phone screen.
“Come on,” Lego teased. “You’re literally the most talked-about person in this school now. You’ve got the ‘mysterious bad boy turned decent human being’ arc going on. People eat that up.”
William didn’t respond, but his lips curved just slightly—half amusement, half discomfort. He never asked for attention.
He glanced out the window, sunlight slanting across his desk, and for a brief second, he wondered if Est was feeling the same weight.
—
By lunchtime, the courtyard was bustling. William sat with Est and his friends, halfway through his meal, when a drink suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Here, William,” Min said, her voice soft but intentionally bright. “I bought this for you.”
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Est, who had just settled beside William, froze mid-bite. His eyes darted from the girl to the drink, then to William. His expression didn’t change much, but his stillness said everything.
“Uh…” William started, his tone hesitant, the situation awkward in a way he didn’t know how to diffuse.
Before he could even reach for it, Lego leaned forward, his grin quick and mischievous. “Oh, thanks! This is my favorite.”
“That’s not for you,” Min said quickly, almost flustered. “It’s for William.”
“But he doesn’t like this drink,” Lego replied casually.
Min blinked, confused. “But you said—”
“Thank you,” William said, cutting her off. “I appreciate it.”
He didn’t meet her eyes. Instead, he went right back to eating, the small gesture enough to close the conversation.
Min hesitated, visibly thrown, but managed a small smile. “You’re welcome.” Her voice softened. Then she turned and walked away—flustered, yes, but still glowing like the brief exchange meant something more than it did.
For a few seconds, there was silence. Only the clinking of forks and the hum of other tables filled the space.
Est set his fork down, his tone too controlled when he finally spoke. “Who’s that?”
William looked up, unaware of how sharp Est’s voice had gotten. “I don’t know. Someone from our class.”
“Then why is she giving you drinks?” Est pressed.
William shrugged. “She’s being nice, I guess.”
Est stared at him for a beat longer, the muscle in his jaw tightening. “Right. Nice.”
He rolled his eyes and went back to his meal, stabbing at it a little harder than before.
Lego looked between the two, sensing the tension. Tui raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The courtyard around them continued as usual—students laughing, a ball bouncing somewhere in the distance—but their little corner had gone quiet.
Est didn’t know how to admit that what bothered him wasn’t the drink, or the girl, but the way everyone else was starting to look at William.
Like he was theirs to approach.
Not his to keep.
After lunch, William walked Est to the pool building.
“You seem quiet,” William said, finally breaking the silence. His voice was gentle, careful. “Everything okay?”
“I’m fine,” Est replied, his tone short. “Don’t worry about it.”
William studied him, sensing the storm beneath the calm. “Okay,” he said after a beat. “I’ll drop by the library with Tui after this, then I’ll pick you up later for dinner.”
Est nodded, still not meeting his eyes. “Alright.”
He turned and headed inside, not looking back.
—
The library was quieter than usual, the afternoon light slanting through the tall windows. Tui was already waiting, waving when William walked in.
“Good, you’re here,” Tui said, stretching as he stood. “I’m just grabbing snacks from the vending machine.”
“Okay,” William murmured, setting down his bag and pulling out his laptop.
A minute later, a voice interrupted the quiet. “Can I share this spot with you? I like the light by the window.”
William looked up briefly. A girl stood there, smiling, clutching a stack of books and her phone. He gave a small shrug and turned back to his screen.
“I’m Hannah,” she said brightly as she sat down, her voice too loud for the stillness around them.
He nodded without looking up, fingers still moving over the keyboard.
“Are you always this quiet?” she asked after a moment, leaning slightly forward.
William paused, then shook his head once — not a no, but a “please don’t ask more.”
Hannah blinked, caught off guard by the non-answer. “Okay… I’ll let you work,” she said, her tone faltering. But instead of opening a book, she pulled out her phone, angled it subtly, and snapped a selfie — William faintly visible in the background.
The camera shutter broke the still air just as Tui returned, two packs of chips in hand. His eyes widened when he caught the tail end of it. “Uhh, Will? Who’s she?”
William finally looked up, calm but unreadable. “Oh, good, you’re back,” he said as he closed his laptop. “She wanted this table, so maybe we should move?”
Hannah’s eyes widened. “You don’t have to move! We can share!” she said quickly, her cheerful tone now laced with panic.
But William and Tui were already packing their things. “We’ll just find another spot,” William said politely, his tone firm but not unkind. He gave a small bow — a quiet gesture of finality — before walking away.
Tui glanced back once, watching Hannah’s smile falter as she stared after them, her phone still in hand. She looked embarrassed, maybe even a little hurt. But William didn’t notice — or maybe he did and chose not to care.
___
Later, William stood outside the pool building, checking the time. The sky had softened into a bruised purple. The muffled sound of splashing echoed from inside.
“Hi, William!”
He looked up to see a girl jogging toward him, her ponytail swinging with every step. “I’m Jia,” she said brightly, a little out of breath. “Are you waiting for Est? Can I wait with you? I need something from him.”
William nodded once. “He’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Thanks,” Jia said, stepping closer than necessary. She tilted her head, studying him with a teasing smile. “You know, everyone’s been talking about you lately. I can see why — mysterious vibe, sharp jawline, good looks—”
“Willy?”
The voice cut through like a clean slice.
Jia turned quickly. “Oh, Est! Hi! I was just keeping William company — and, um, I wanted to borrow your notes.”
Est’s hair was damp, his towel slung over his shoulder, his eyes cold enough to make her falter. “Why didn’t you ask earlier in class?”
“I forgot,” Jia said, trying for sheepishness.
“Then get them tomorrow,” Est replied curtly. “I forgot mine too.”
Before she could say anything else, Est grabbed William’s hand and started walking away. His grip was tight, almost possessive. William didn’t protest — he just followed, their strides quick and silent.
They reached the parking lot before William spoke, gently tugging his hand back. “Hey, can we slow down? What’s wrong? You look mad.”
Est let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. “You’re seriously asking me that? You’re so dense sometimes.”
William frowned. “What did I do?”
“From now on, don’t wait for me after practice,” Est said flatly. “Just tell me where you are, and I’ll come to you.”
“What? But I always wait for you,” William said, confused. “I like waiting.”
“You like waiting for me,” Est shot back, “or waiting with someone?” His voice cracked at the edges.
William blinked, the realization dawning slowly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Never mind,” Est muttered. “Just do what I said.”
“Don’t I always?” William’s tone came out sharper than he meant — defensive, worn.
That did it. Est froze, his breath catching. For a moment, his face softened in disbelief, then hurt flickered across his face, quick and real.
William realized instantly. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he said quickly.
“Then what did you mean?” Est asked softly. “Am I unbearable now?”
William’s chest tightened. He stepped forward quickly. “Hey—no. That’s not what I meant.” His voice gentled, his hand finding Est’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I just meant… I always do what you ask because I want to. Not because I have to. I’d do anything if it makes you happy.”
Est’s shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of him. He sighed, his forehead resting briefly against William’s collarbone. “I’m sorry too. I just… had a long day.”
William smiled faintly, brushing his hand over Est’s back in slow, soothing circles. “I see,” he said softly, unaware of the tension still flickering beneath Est’s apology. He held Est’s chin, meeting his eyes. “Come on. Let’s eat first. Then I’ll drive you home.”
That finally drew a real laugh from Est, quiet but genuine. “How can you drive me home? We both drove here.”
“Exactly why I keep saying I should pick you up every day,” William said. “That way, we can go to school together, go home together — save gas, spend more time.”
Est rolled his eyes, though his cheeks flushed a soft pink. “Fine. Tomorrow then. Let’s do it your way.”
William’s grin widened, pleased. “Great.” He leaned in and pressed a quick, playful kiss to Est’s lips — the kind that spoke more of habit than thought.
Est startled, glancing around instinctively. “Can you not? We’re in the parking lot.”
“So?” William teased, his eyes warm with mischief. “No one’s here.”
Est sighed, a helpless sound that made William chuckle. “You’re impossible.”
As they walked, the air between them shifted — light again, almost easy.
William looked utterly at peace, unaware that Est’s earlier silence hadn’t been exhaustion alone. He didn’t see how Est’s gaze lingered — how that small, stolen kiss in an empty parking lot meant more to him than any of the sweet words before.
Est felt the jealousy from earlier slowly fade, replaced by something quieter. It wasn’t that the world had stopped looking at William; it was that, in this moment, William was looking only at him. And that was enough to steady him again.
[text_hash] => a34d0f4c
)