Chapter 5: Stay Away From Him!

Why do I feel like I’m being stalked by a rejected K-pop bodyguard?”

Aiden whispered under his breath as he walked down the school hallway.

Ash walked beside him, twirling a pencil like it was a sword. “Because you are. He’s been tailing us for three whole hallways now. I counted.”

Behind them, Kairo walked at a perfectly measured distance, face blank, posture military straight, eyes locked on the back of Aiden’s head like he was running enemy recon.

Aiden didn’t turn around.

“Maybe if we duck into the music room and pretend to be playing instruments, he’ll give up,” Aiden muttered.

Ash smirked. “Or maybe he’ll bust in and break a flute out of jealousy.”

Aiden groaned. “He wouldn’t.”

“You sure?”

“…No.”

⸻

The music room smelled like polished wood and dusty sheet music.

Aiden sat at the grand piano while Ash flopped dramatically across the bench beside him, humming the opening notes to one of Aiden’s original songs. It was soft and playful — not something he usually let anyone hear.

“You seriously composed this?” Ash asked, eyes wide.

Aiden shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. “Yeah. Just a thing I do when I’m not being emotionally blackmailed into marriage.”

Ash grinned. “Well, it slaps.”

“You slap.”

“Thank you. I do.”

They both laughed.

It was nice.

Normal.

And then the door creaked open.

Aiden didn’t even look up. “Let me guess. Six-foot-two. Sharp cheekbones. Death glare set to maximum?”

Kairo stepped into the room without a word and walked over like a shadow made of ice and secrets.

Ash raised both eyebrows. “Yo, you okay, man?”

Kairo didn’t answer him. His eyes were locked on Aiden.

Aiden sighed. “Can I help you?”

“You didn’t answer your texts,” Kairo said flatly.

“I was playing.”

“With him.”

“…Yes?”

Kairo’s jaw ticked.

Ash snorted. “Bro. Chill. I’m literally just helping him rehearse for the performance next month.”

Kairo crossed his arms. “You were too close.”

Ash blinked. “It’s a piano bench, not a hot tub.”

Aiden stood and shoved Kairo’s shoulder — which, of course, did nothing.

“You need to stop acting like we’re in some mafia possession drama,” Aiden snapped. “Ash is a friend. A normal friend. One who doesn’t grab my waist every five minutes!”

Ash’s eyes lit up. “Wait, he grabs your—?”

“FOCUS!”

Kairo’s voice was low. Cold. “I don’t like him around you.”

“Well, I don’t like you around me, but here we are!”

The room went silent for a beat.

Then Ash held up his hands. “Look, no offense, Ice Lord, but I’m not trying to steal your alpha. I’m literally here for the music and the chaos.”

He clapped Aiden on the back. “Also, if I were into him, I’d be dead by now. That man’s too high maintenance.”

Aiden snorted despite himself.

Kairo didn’t move.

“You don’t trust anyone,” Aiden said, softer now.

Kairo finally looked at him.

“I only trust you.”

Aiden blinked.

Ash stood up. “Okay, this is giving main couple angst. I’m gonna go find snacks. Don’t kill each other.”

He slipped out like the king of third-wheeling.

Leaving Kairo and Aiden in the room alone.

⸻

The silence stretched.

Aiden stared down at the piano keys.

“I like having friends,” he said quietly.

“I know.”

“And you can’t act like everyone who talks to me is a threat.”

“I know.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“…I know.”

Aiden turned slowly. Kairo was staring at him — eyes sharp, but not angry.

Just… intense.

Raw.

“I’m scared,” Kairo said.

Aiden blinked. “What?”

“I waited years to come back. I trained. I dreamed. I lived for this. For you.”

Kairo’s voice was low now, shaking just a little. “And now you’re here. And I don’t know how to not ruin it.”

Aiden’s chest ached.

“…That was almost romantic.”

“I meant it.”

Aiden walked over slowly and poked his forehead. “That’s your one emotional breakdown for the week, got it?”

Kairo smirked. “I get one a day.”

“You get nothing if you act like a jealous goblin.”

Kairo leaned in, his voice close. “You’d miss me.”

“Debatable—!”

SQUEEZE.

Aiden yelped, eyes flying wide as Kairo grabbed his waist again.

“Kairo!!”

“You always react the same.”

“I’LL THROW YOU OUT THE WINDOW.”

“You’d land with me.”

Aiden shoved his face into his hands. “I swear on my clarinet, you’re going to be the death of me.”

Kairo chuckled.

Aiden peeked through his fingers.

He hated that smile.

He loved that smile.

He was so doomed.

⸻

Ash wasn’t a rival.

But Kairo didn’t need one to feel the fear.

Because falling in love with someone again…

Was scarier than losing them.

And Aiden?

Wasn’t sure what scared him more —

The way Kairo looked at him…

Or the way it made his heart race every single time.

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