Ben fled.
Running was the only thing he knew how to do when his heart cracked at the seams. If he had stayed a second longer, if he had met Daniel's gaze for another heartbeat, he knew he would've shattered.
His stomach twisted painfully, and a cold weight pressed against his ribs. His body felt feverish yet frozen at the same time, as if he had just walked through a storm with his raw, vulnerable skin against the merciless downpour.
He had told himself again and again that it was alright. That Daniel, knowing how he felt, even without reciprocation, should be fine… because Daniel was never his to begin with. His love was impossible. His feelings had no right to exist.
And yet, why did it hurt so much to accept the truth?
Standing in the college washroom, Ben stared at himself in the mirror. His reflection was a mess. His lips were pale, his eyes rimmed red, his hair sticking in all the wrong places. He turned the faucet on, letting cold water rush over his trembling fingers before splashing it onto his face. It didn't help. The sting at the corner of his eyes remained.
Don't cry. Don't cry.
He exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the sink until his knuckles turned white. After several minutes, he finally left, feeling an emptiness settle in his chest.
He couldn't go back to the dorm. He didn't want to be alone with his thoughts. So, naturally, the Universe, his greatest enemy, decided that now was the perfect time to throw him into an even worse situation.
"Bennie!"
He stiffened.
No. No. Not now.
Turning slowly, he spotted a beaming Kai waving at him from across a small café. Beside him were Terrence, Yuna, and Hana, standing in a small group.
Ben groaned internally.
Fantastic.
Before he could turn around and pretend he'd seen a ghost, Kai was already on him, grabbing his arm with a disturbingly strong grip and dragging him across the road like a delighted retriever who'd found its favorite chew toy.
"Ben-ssi," Yuna greeted with a gentle smile. "All ready for the fourth round?"
Ben tried for nonchalance, but his voice cracked. "Anneyong. Not quite ready yet."
Yuna tilted her head. "Are you okay? You look kind of ill."
Ben froze.
Standing across him, Terrence narrowed his eyes in silent assessment.
Ben forced a casual smile. "Pulled an all-nighter finishing my assignment."
Yuna sighed in sympathy. "Yeah, balancing studies with this competition is brutal."
Terrence snorted.
Yuna turned on him, her tone icy. "Robots like you don't get to comment."
Terrence shrugged, unbothered. "Noona, you can't blame me for being competent."
Yuna shot him a death glare. "How do you guys even tolerate his arrogant ass?"
Ben gave a tired chuckle.
Kai beamed. "Oh, you just build immunity after five years."
Yuna shook her head with a light chuckle as she took her seat. Hana, too, sat down with an expression of someone being forced to breathe budget air. Ben and Kai sat side by side, looking like two exchange students who'd accidentally joined the wrong club. Terrence, on the other hand, somehow made "casual indifference" look like a personality trait.
The group engaged in small talk, tossing around a few half-hearted comments about dance and class schedules until the server arrived with menus, mercifully rescuing them from the awkward small talk. The group made their coffee orders in silence, no one daring to start a conversation until caffeine arrived.
Yuna took a sip and smiled. "The coffee here's better than I expected."
Ben grinned. "Only if it's hot. The iced ones are basically caffeinated glaciers."
Before Yuna could even laugh, Hana cut in, like a sudden red light on a perfectly good highway.
"This café is a health violation. Look at those glasses. They haven't been cleaned properly. And the cutlery's just sitting there on the table."
Terrence rolled his eyes. "Not every café can cater to your champagne taste."
"I just have class," she huffed. "Something you clearly wouldn't understand, Terry—"
"Terrence," he said flatly. "We're not that close."
Ben blinked, watching the growing tension with mild confusion.
Since when were these two on talking terms?
Kai leaned in, whispering, "Hana and Yuna-ssi are high school friends. They meet up after practice. So, yeah, Terrence got looped in."
Ben nodded. "How's practice going for you?"
Kai's face immediately crumpled. "Like hell. She's a nightmare."
"What was that?" Hana turned sharply.
Kai stiffened. "N-Nothing."
Ben raised an eyebrow. Feeling oddly protective, Ben said, "Maybe don't talk to him like that."
"He was badmouthing me," Hana snapped. She turned to Kai, flipping her hair sharply. "How can you blame me when you lack the drive and ambition?"
Terrence raised his brows. Ben felt irritation flicker in his chest. Kai looked wounded.
"So what if I lack ambition?" Kai said, eyes wide with indignation. "That does not affect my dancing skills. You'd know if you actually paid attention—"
"Please, your skills are wasted. Without any drive, what can talent do? Ugh. Why am I even stuck with you?"
Yuna grabbed her wrist with a hiss. "Hana, that was seriously uncalled for."
Hana stiffened, looking at Kai a bit hesitantly before turning away. She folded her arms and pouted. "Unnie, you always take their side. I didn't even say anything wrong."
Yuna didn't answer. Instead, she gave Terrence, Ben, and Kai a pleading look. "Mianhae. My dongsaeng is too spirited."
Before anyone could respond, she dragged Hana out of the café by the wrist, already scolding her in hushed but deadly tones.
As soon as they left, Kai groaned, shoving his face into his hands. "I swear, she's going to give me an ulcer."
Ben patted his back sympathetically. "I get it. That was brutal."
Terrence snorted. "She's too haughty for her own good. Star dancer from KAIT Uni, sure, but also arrogant, has a taste for high standards, and no patience for anyone's opinions. She wanted Daniel hyung as her partner. Instead, she got stuck with… a loser."
Kai gasped in outrage. "I am not a loser! I just suck at studying!"
Terrence didn't even blink. "Those were her words, not mine."
Ben barely contained his laughter as Kai looked affronted, "You're the worst!"
Kai's dramatic expression quickly melted into despair. "And our word is PAIN. Like, come on! Of all things! And that arrogant idiot is dancing like it's sadness! Pain is different! I tried explaining it to her, but she won't listen."
Ben hummed in sympathy. "That sucks."
Terrence, of course, was far less kind. "Cry about it."
Kai let out a scandalised gasp. "Terry, have a heart!"
Ben shot Terrence a mild glare. "Yeah, dude, come on."
Terrence only shrugged. "He needs to learn to take command, or she's going to walk all over him."
Kai huffed, standing dramatically. "Fine! I'm walking home alone. Don't follow me."
Terrence barely looked up. "Don't mix up the traffic signals."
Kai stomped out in a flurry of wounded pride.
Ben shook his head. "You didn't have to be that mean."
Terrence gave him a side glance. "I had to. Otherwise, neither of us would have been left alone."
Ben froze.
Terrence tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Now, your turn. Why do you look like someone just took away your favorite toy?"