The night before their departure from Bali was one of those moments that seemed to last forever, as though time itself had slowed down just to allow Haru a chance to process everything. The trip had been a whirlwind of emotions, supernatural events, and confessions he hadn't been ready for. And now, as the final night arrived, the reality of returning home loomed over him.
He sat on the edge of his bed, the soft hum of the hotel room's air conditioning a background to his thoughts. The room felt eerily quiet, even though the hotel still buzzed with the remaining energy of students preparing for their last day in Bali. He could hear snippets of conversations in the hall, laughter spilling from the rooms of his classmates, but it all felt distant—like an echo.
Haru had spent the day mostly alone, walking along the beach, trying to sort through the tangle of thoughts and emotions that had consumed him since his kiss with Ren. There were too many layers to what he was feeling—fear, excitement, confusion. But most of all, there was this undeniable pull toward Ren, something that he couldn't explain even if he tried. Every time he thought he understood Ren's world, it twisted, revealing something darker, more complicated. But it didn't matter. He wasn't walking away.
He reached for his phone, glancing at the time. It was nearly midnight. He wasn't sure why, but something inside him told him that Ren would be waiting for him.
He stood and walked to the door of the hotel room. Souta was already asleep, unaware of the conversations and emotions swirling in Haru's mind. Haru closed the door as quietly as he could, leaving the dim light of the room behind.
---
The cool air of the night wrapped around him as he stepped outside, the stars twinkling above in a vast sky that stretched endlessly over the ocean. It was almost unreal. Bali, with its endless horizon, felt like a place suspended in time—a place that had allowed Haru to step outside of his usual life, to experience a world he couldn't quite grasp.
But now, with the trip coming to an end, everything felt more fragile. What had been a distraction, a brief escape, was quickly becoming a memory he wasn't ready to let go of.
He walked toward the beach, the sand cool under his bare feet. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was comforting, but it also reminded him of the distance between them—the distance between the life he had known and the one he was beginning to uncover with Ren.
When he reached the rocks at the far end of the beach, he spotted Ren standing there, his figure silhouetted against the moonlight. His usual calm demeanor was still present, but there was something more vulnerable about him tonight. His posture was stiff, like he was bracing for something.
Ren turned as Haru approached, his eyes soft in the dim light. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The words between them felt too heavy, too complicated. Instead, they just stood there, facing each other, as if waiting for something to happen.
"You came," Ren said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I said I would," Haru replied, stepping closer.
Ren's lips twitched into a faint smile, but it was fleeting. His eyes were tired, haunted even, as if he had been carrying a burden too heavy for him to bear alone.
"You shouldn't have come," Ren murmured, though his tone didn't carry the usual force of his words. "This... this is where it all ends. Where we end."
Haru's chest tightened at the finality in his words. "No. We don't have to end. We don't have to let this be over."
Ren looked away, his expression pained. "You don't understand. I... I'm not the person you think I am."
"I don't care who you think you are, Ren. I care about you. Whatever you're hiding, I'm not afraid of it. I'm not going to walk away just because things are complicated."
Ren's eyes flicked back to him, the weight of his gaze heavy. "You don't get it. I can't control what happens when I'm around people. And if I let myself get close to you—if I let you stay—things will get worse. You'll be dragged into something you can't escape."
Haru shook his head, stepping closer to Ren. "I don't care. I've already chosen this. I've already chosen you."
Ren's expression flickered with something—relief? Pain?—before he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "This is a mistake. You're going to regret this."
Haru reached out, his hand gently brushing Ren's arm. The touch felt electric, a spark of connection that had always been there but never fully acknowledged until now.
"I won't regret it," Haru said softly, his voice firm with conviction. "We don't know what the future holds. But I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
Ren's eyes softened, and for the first time, Haru saw him let down his guard, just a little. The walls he had built around himself seemed to crack, allowing a sliver of vulnerability to show through. And in that moment, Haru knew. Whatever Ren was hiding, whatever darkness he carried, it wasn't enough to make Haru turn away.
"I'm scared," Ren admitted, his voice barely audible.
Haru's heart ached at the rawness in his voice. He reached out, cupping Ren's face with his hand, drawing him closer. "You don't have to be scared anymore. Not with me. You don't have to carry this alone."
Ren looked at him, his breath shallow, as though he were trying to decide whether to trust Haru or pull away. But in the end, he closed the space between them, his lips brushing against Haru's in a tentative kiss.
It was gentle at first, almost like a question. But as the kiss deepened, it became more urgent, a mutual acknowledgment of everything they had been through and everything that was still to come. When they pulled away, the world around them seemed to hold its breath.
"Tomorrow," Ren said, his voice shaky, "we go back. But this... this isn't over. It's just the beginning."
Haru nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "I know."
They stood there for a long while, watching the ocean, feeling the weight of the moment. The world was still turning, but for them, the earth had shifted. And they had crossed a line from which there would be no return.
---
The next morning was filled with the hurried preparations for the flight home. The students packed their bags, exchanged last-minute promises to keep in touch, and took pictures to remember the trip by. But for Haru, the finality of the day felt heavier than any goodbye he had ever said.
As he boarded the bus that would take them to the airport, he caught one last glimpse of Bali's coastline, the golden sun shimmering on the water. It was beautiful, in a way that made his heart ache. But he knew the moment had passed. Bali was no longer just a place of escape—it had become a pivotal chapter in his life. One he would carry with him as he stepped into whatever came next.
Souta sat next to him, glancing at him with a knowing look, but Haru didn't have the energy to talk. Instead, he stared out the window, lost in his thoughts.
Ren, too, was there, sitting quietly a few rows ahead, his eyes closed as if shutting the world out. Haru wasn't sure what to say to him—not yet. There was so much left unsaid, so much left to figure out. But for now, he could only take things one step at a time.
As the plane ascended, leaving Bali behind, Haru felt an unexpected sense of peace settle within him. He didn't have all the answers. And he wasn't sure what the future held. But for the first time in a long time, he wasn't afraid.
The journey was just beginning.
---
To be continued...
***