The plane ride back to Seoul felt like a dream Haru couldn't wake up from. Time seemed to move in slow motion, and every second felt heavier than the last. His body was tired, but his mind was restless, overwhelmed by the thoughts of Ren, the things left unsaid between them, and the weight of everything that had happened during their time in Bali.
As the plane descended towards the city, Haru's eyes were locked on the view outside, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon. The colors of the sky blurred together—fiery reds, pinks, and deep blues—all so beautiful and surreal, like the space between him and Ren.
Beside him, Souta was busy with his phone, headphones in, completely absorbed in whatever song played in his ears. Haru envied him a little for his ability to tune everything out. He wished he could do the same, but his heart kept pulling him back to the memories—the kiss, the confessions, the unspoken truth between him and Ren.
It hadn't been easy to leave the beach. To leave Ren behind.
---
Back on campus, the familiar hustle and bustle of the students filled the air. The noise, the laughter, the chatter—it all felt so distant, as if Haru had crossed over into a different reality. He had hoped returning to the routine of school would calm him, would bring him back to something that made sense, but nothing felt the same. It was like a part of him had been left behind in Bali, and he couldn't go back to how things used to be.
Souta had been asking if Haru was okay, but he couldn't answer. Not when the only thing his mind could focus on was Ren. Ren, with his quiet intensity, his fear of letting anyone close, his secrets that Haru wasn't sure he could handle but was desperate to understand. Haru didn't know if he was ready for what was to come, but he couldn't ignore what had happened between them.
No. He didn't want to ignore it.
---
The night after they returned, Haru found himself unable to sleep. His thoughts kept circling back to Ren—the kiss that had ignited something deep within him, the unspoken promises in Ren's eyes. It was like he could feel Ren even when he wasn't there. The pull was magnetic, undeniable.
He needed to see him. He needed to make sure Ren didn't slip away again.
---
Haru walked the campus late at night, the quiet of the evening amplifying the tension in his chest. He had no real destination, just a deep, growing need to see Ren, to find him, and to finally speak the truth between them.
The campus was nearly empty, the cool air biting against his skin as he walked past the dormitory buildings, heading toward the old oak tree—the one place where he always went when he needed space to think. He paused when he saw Ren standing beneath it, looking as if he had been waiting for him.
Their eyes met across the distance, and in that moment, it felt like the world around them faded away. Haru's heart beat faster as he approached, his footsteps unsteady as the distance between them closed.
Ren's expression was unreadable, but there was something vulnerable in his eyes, something he had never allowed Haru to see before. For a moment, they just stood there, neither speaking. The silence was thick, the tension palpable. Haru could feel his own heart racing, the air between them crackling with the weight of everything left unsaid.
Finally, Ren spoke, his voice low and strained. "I knew you would come."
Haru swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath. "I couldn't stay away. Not after everything... not after what happened between us."
Ren looked down, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Haru, I don't know how to do this. I don't know what we are, or what this is. But I'm scared. Scared of what's happening... scared of what I feel for you."
"I don't care about the fear, Ren," Haru replied, his voice almost pleading. He stepped closer, his heart thundering in his chest. "I don't care about the reasons you're pushing me away. I'm not going anywhere. I don't care what happens next, I just—I just need to know you're here with me."
Ren met his gaze, his eyes dark and stormy, and for a moment, Haru saw the real Ren—the one who was just as broken, just as uncertain as he was. He saw the same fear, the same vulnerability.
"Don't say that," Ren said hoarsely, his voice barely a whisper. "Don't say you won't leave, because it's not that simple."
Before Haru could respond, Ren stepped forward, his hands trembling as they cupped Haru's face. His touch was gentle, but there was an underlying desperation in it that sent a jolt through Haru's body. Ren's breath was warm against his skin, his fingers tracing the edges of Haru's jaw.
"Ren," Haru breathed, closing his eyes, feeling his pulse spike.
"Please," Ren said, his voice strained. "Please understand... I can't let you in like this. It's too dangerous. But I can't keep pushing you away either." His voice broke, raw and unguarded. "I don't know what to do anymore."
Before Haru could answer, Ren's lips crashed into his.
It was fierce, urgent, the kiss full of unspoken frustration and longing. Ren's lips were soft, but the kiss was anything but gentle. It was hungry, desperate, like they were both trying to fill a void that had been growing between them for too long. Haru's hands went to Ren's chest, pulling him closer, feeling the frantic rhythm of Ren's heartbeat beneath his palms.
But as soon as the kiss deepened, Ren pulled away, his breath ragged. His forehead rested against Haru's, and for a moment, they were both caught in the rush of emotions, too overwhelmed to speak.
"I don't want to hurt you," Ren whispered, his lips brushing against Haru's skin. His words sent a shiver down Haru's spine.
"I'm not scared of you," Haru whispered back. His hand reached up, threading through Ren's hair, pulling his face closer. "I'm scared of losing you."
Ren's eyes fluttered shut, and he kissed Haru again, this time softer, slower, as if he was savoring the moment. But then, without warning, he tilted his head, his lips trailing down Haru's jaw, to the sensitive spot just below his ear. Haru gasped as Ren kissed his neck, the sensation sending heat through his entire body. It was a kiss full of promise, full of urgency—a declaration of everything they hadn't said, everything they hadn't yet understood.
Ren's teeth grazed Haru's skin, sending a wave of fire through him. His hands gripped Ren's shoulders, pulling him closer as he leaned into the kiss, the world around them falling away. All that mattered was the feel of Ren's lips on his skin, the taste of him, the sound of their breaths mingling in the night air.
When Ren pulled back, his eyes were filled with an intensity that made Haru's chest tighten. "This doesn't fix anything, you know," Ren murmured, his voice low.
"I don't need it to fix anything," Haru replied, his voice raw. "I just need you to know I'm here. Whatever comes next, I'm here."
Ren studied him for a long moment, his hand lingering on Haru's neck. Then, slowly, he nodded, his lips curving into a bittersweet smile.
"I don't know what comes next either," Ren said softly, his thumb gently caressing Haru's skin. "But I know I don't want to be alone anymore."
And for the first time, Haru felt like everything might just be okay.
To be continued...
***