Was I Ever There?
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1j9oUHKRu
The rain poured steadily, wrapping the surroundings in a rhythmic hum as droplets splashed against the pavement. Yuen stood outside the university, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, eyes scanning the street for any available ride. He had forgotten his umbrella—again. It wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtOVYCF6Nl
"You don’t have an umbrella, do you?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2a8YfqadF
Chase’s voice cut through the sound of the rain. He stood beside Yuen, holding a black umbrella with a slightly worn-out handle, proof of years of use.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFGqNHCkPT
Yuen glanced at him and gave a small shrug. "I forgot."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLszFj6vgn
Chase sighed, shaking his head slightly before stepping closer, extending the umbrella over Yuen. The rain had grown heavier, and if he didn’t do this, Yuen would be soaked within minutes. Without a word, Chase lifted a hand and placed it gently on Yuen’s shoulder, pulling him slightly closer to keep him dry under the canopy.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWH3pnkCi6
A simple gesture, a small act of care.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfNAqUKEyl
But to Yuen, it was nothing. He barely reacted—he didn’t flinch, didn’t stiffen under the touch. Instead, all he offered was a neutral, almost dismissive, "Thanks."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FvOfpNQHX
Chase let out a soft chuckle, though it was more for himself than anything else. "You’re always like this, Yuen," he murmured, half teasing, half resigned.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUOY4hh2ZG
Yuen raised a brow. "What?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxJOjznXHd
Chase hesitated. He wanted to say it—to voice out the emotions he had been suppressing for years. But, as always, he bit back the words. Instead, he simply shook his head and let the silence settle between them as they walked side by side, the rain falling around them like a quiet reminder of things left unsaid.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfSWY9tmyB
For years, Chase had been doing this—offering small pieces of himself in ways Yuen never noticed, never acknowledged beyond a simple, indifferent, "Thanks."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8aKFSVFfa
But how much longer could he endure being unnoticed?
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDogF7MsLG
The class began soon after. Most students listened attentively—except for Yuen. It was obvious he wasn’t paying attention, though his eyes idly followed the teacher’s movements at the front of the room. The lesson continued, but he remained slouched over his desk, one hand holding a pen while the other rested near his cheek. At a glance, he looked like he was listening, but if one observed closely, a faint smile played on his lips as he quietly hummed along to the music in his earphones.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiXtUrnXWA
When the break came, the students hurried out of the classroom. As always, Yuen stayed behind, scrolling through his playlist, searching for a song to match his mood.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3kzlJRJqu
Before leaving, Chase glanced at him for a moment. But he didn’t say anything—he simply walked away.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01cN07h2qZ
At the cafeteria, Chase’s friends were teasing him about his love life.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBHA5pcbaZ
"Dude, why don’t you have a girlfriend yet? Almost every girl here likes you!" one of them laughed.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI68oYU7QnA
"Yeah! You should just say yes to one of them. You never run out of admirers, bro!"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhjLnbqi8B
Chase smiled but shook his head. "I’m not interested right now, man."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsm4jl5hm6
Just then, Vivian arrived—effortlessly stunning as always. She confidently walked up to Chase and took the seat beside him, her long hair cascading over her shoulder.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvv4MMbrxW
"Chase, why were you ignoring me earlier? You knew I was waiting for you outside your classroom, right?" she pouted, playfully resting her chin on her palm while looking up at him.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AjxzOyv3g
Chase let out a small chuckle. "Sorry, Vivian. I really didn’t notice."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmGtXb1Rul
Vivian leaned in closer, tracing small circles on Chase’s arm. "And now? Do you notice me now?" she asked, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNhZfoycMP
Their friends whistled and cheered teasingly, making Vivian giggle. "You know, Chase, you’re so unfair. You make every girl here fall for you, yet you don’t even give anyone a chance."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9zVBlmayV
"It’s not like that," Chase replied, smiling but not really answering her statement.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ219KDy25Tl
But Vivian wasn’t about to give up. She moved even closer, almost whispering against his ear. "You know, a lot of people are curious about you, especially... your size." She laughed softly, making Chase raise an eyebrow.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFZvQJnhaB
"Cut it out, Vivian," he chuckled, clearly unaffected. "You’re thinking too much about the wrong things."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaSQ440KlK
"Oh? So is there something I should be thinking about, Chase?" Vivian teased, biting her lower lip.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6agIne6Qv
Their friends erupted into laughter.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ujO4un6tq
"Damn, bro. Think you can handle it if Vivian takes the lead? You might not survive!" one of them joked.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnbOjSbH5o
Chase smirked. "You underestimate me too much."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hqHy31l5v
On the other side of the campus, Esreld spotted Yuen sitting alone under a tree, flipping through a book with his earphones still in.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWBiunEnJj
He approached and tapped Yuen on the shoulder. "Hey, Yuen. What’s that?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr51lVyK1w
Yuen looked up and immediately turned off his music. "Ah, nothing. Just passing time."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCdIJGnP6r
"Can we take a picture?" Esreld suddenly asked.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbOFkmWtLu
Yuen frowned. "Why?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEYQgJgUKy
"So we can put it up on our class door frame. You’re probably the only one left without a picture there," Esreld teased.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdKqJlqhlg
Yuen sighed but eventually smiled. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBYpdPMQOP
They walked over to the display of student photos. As Yuen scanned the pictures, his gaze landed on one particular image—Chase, smiling while surrounded by girls, clearly enjoying their attention.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0tPVEwYNG
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he mumbled under his breath before turning back to Esreld.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLqngSWC1j
Esreld took out a polaroid camera, positioning himself beside Yuen. "Let’s go," he said.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qLlqQN1iN
The first shot was a casual pose. The second one, Esreld playfully made bunny ears behind Yuen’s head.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaFBnVBZbb
And for the third, Esreld suddenly pulled Yuen closer—close enough that it almost looked like they were about to kiss.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRXXozrD9u
Yuen’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t pull away. The camera clicked, capturing the moment perfectly. When Yuen saw the result, he let out a soft laugh.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewwVFOPYb5
"That’s enough, or people might start thinking there’s something between us," he joked, though he didn’t seem to mind too much.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux8efGMEDa
Esreld smirked. "And what if I actually want there to be something between us?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5Fvqa4Gu1
Yuen rolled his eyes playfully. "Don’t go looking for trouble, Esreld."
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvKDYOen8K
After getting the prints, Yuen carefully placed them on the class display.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY3sDeVeLN
"There. Now I'm officially part of this wall. Happy?"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv6A86KMyb
Esreld grinned. "Very. Now, let’s eat!"
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4uaypGvo4
The two walked off toward the cafeteria.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucRKyu3lVX
Later, when the students returned from their break—including Chase and Vivian—the classroom buzzed with excitement.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz09Q09Rwb
"Is that Yuen?? Sheesh! He’s not even wearing glasses!" one of their classmates gasped.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmc4AmtSM5
Chase turned toward the class display, his eyes landing on the pictures of Yuen and Esreld together. His gaze froze on the last one—the almost-kiss pose.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxsqwAUwBk
His grip on his bag strap tightened.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNoLcPq6jC
Something inside him stirred. A feeling he hadn’t quite acknowledged before.
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBxgyWCn3a
Jealousy.
ns18.225.149.198da2
