Was I Ever There?
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdzHu01VL9
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkpVGpJHS9
"You don’t have an umbrella, do you?"
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQI5aC7ZUu
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItPRh98nEk
Yuen glanced at him and gave a small shrug. "I forgot."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr03zDkHW04
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwlCcT0e0V
A simple gesture, a small act of care.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iG1IjJZYt
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."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBW8alg1lS
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibEQJmieDg
Yuen raised a brow. "What?"
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskEqc58Y8g
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSQEr388CG
For years, Chase had been doing this—offering small pieces of himself in ways Yuen never noticed, never acknowledged beyond a simple, indifferent, "Thanks."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N1N5KWpsS
But how much longer could he endure being unnoticed?
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptw43s8vLp
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwegmNiuGZw
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNXKbYvMwa
Before leaving, Chase glanced at him for a moment. But he didn’t say anything—he simply walked away.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1ga0QlRpE
At the cafeteria, Chase’s friends were teasing him about his love life.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRzWDsIfD5
"Dude, why don’t you have a girlfriend yet? Almost every girl here likes you!" one of them laughed.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Kgiw62fJq
"Yeah! You should just say yes to one of them. You never run out of admirers, bro!"
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU28F7xrFNP
Chase smiled but shook his head. "I’m not interested right now, man."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo1kLrjw2l
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHNX18Knb0
"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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3kbYo6mCX
Chase let out a small chuckle. "Sorry, Vivian. I really didn’t notice."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQywUcf1dM
Vivian leaned in closer, tracing small circles on Chase’s arm. "And now? Do you notice me now?" she asked, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPECI7c4h25
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."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZmUyYECtB
"It’s not like that," Chase replied, smiling but not really answering her statement.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UfanKTt2Y
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNnSupMBqX
"Cut it out, Vivian," he chuckled, clearly unaffected. "You’re thinking too much about the wrong things."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JYC9ftg20
"Oh? So is there something I should be thinking about, Chase?" Vivian teased, biting her lower lip.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGx8WYPwZ2
Their friends erupted into laughter.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIRqhGNpgC
"Damn, bro. Think you can handle it if Vivian takes the lead? You might not survive!" one of them joked.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPV57NOcDC
Chase smirked. "You underestimate me too much."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNE3ek6Rru
On the other side of the campus, Esreld spotted Yuen sitting alone under a tree, flipping through a book with his earphones still in.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYW3Ejps70
He approached and tapped Yuen on the shoulder. "Hey, Yuen. What’s that?"
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFQdfYhl9s
Yuen looked up and immediately turned off his music. "Ah, nothing. Just passing time."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDo1jXllSw
"Can we take a picture?" Esreld suddenly asked.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgPNs9f06O
Yuen frowned. "Why?"
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm7DebgziO
"So we can put it up on our class door frame. You’re probably the only one left without a picture there," Esreld teased.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jN5ioUUVd
Yuen sighed but eventually smiled. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbko5CO2Trk
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOygWPWvS49
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he mumbled under his breath before turning back to Esreld.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiBDazpfCi
Esreld took out a polaroid camera, positioning himself beside Yuen. "Let’s go," he said.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfHfauRNJh
The first shot was a casual pose. The second one, Esreld playfully made bunny ears behind Yuen’s head.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwWZipnzuR
And for the third, Esreld suddenly pulled Yuen closer—close enough that it almost looked like they were about to kiss.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwOpzQnYSG
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiEiiY7ZIE
"That’s enough, or people might start thinking there’s something between us," he joked, though he didn’t seem to mind too much.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSV8YsQ1DP
Esreld smirked. "And what if I actually want there to be something between us?"
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKbkbM8L0w
Yuen rolled his eyes playfully. "Don’t go looking for trouble, Esreld."
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr3DotIxnt
After getting the prints, Yuen carefully placed them on the class display.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDVqPQqSAW
"There. Now I'm officially part of this wall. Happy?"
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtO222vAsWw
Esreld grinned. "Very. Now, let’s eat!"
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7RMGkCKy9
The two walked off toward the cafeteria.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwTFmh4YFT
Later, when the students returned from their break—including Chase and Vivian—the classroom buzzed with excitement.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4ZpNDBQrU
"Is that Yuen?? Sheesh! He’s not even wearing glasses!" one of their classmates gasped.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSDH43lpsl
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.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i33jJVJrB
His grip on his bag strap tightened.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLPXns1SMk
Something inside him stirred. A feeling he hadn’t quite acknowledged before.
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMfWz8rCrh
Jealousy.
ns3.137.142.158da2
