Yu cleared his throat, loud enough to puncture the silence, and forced his lips into something between a smile and a grimace.
"Well—anyway…"
He muttered, eyes darting anywhere but at theirs.
"I've got…homework to finish. Big projects. Can't waste time standing here while you two just—"
He broke off, feeling their stares burning against his back as he tried to edge toward the staircase. His heart skipped, heat buzzing at the nape of his neck. If he could just slip into his room, close the door, bury himself under the excuse of sketches and notes—
"Yu."
His name, low and rough, froze him. Adrian's voice.
Before he could spin out another excuse, Adrian was already moving—slower than his usual grace thanks to the soreness still lacing his body, but determined nonetheless. He rose from the couch, each shift deliberate, his dark brown eyes locked on Yu like a predator that had already chosen its prey.
Yu's hand twitched on the cracker packet still clutched between his fingers.
