It wasn't a confession. It was a crack.
It happened in the art room.
Late afternoon light spilled across the tables, dust motes drifting lazily in the air. Juni stood at the sink, sleeves rolled up as he rinsed his brushes.
Elian watched from across the room. The water ran too long. Juni's shoulders trembled—once, then again—before he seemed to realize he wasn't alone.
He turned. Too quickly.
Pain flickered across his face before he could hide it. Elian was beside him in an instant.
"Hey," he said softly. "What happened?"
Juni tried to laugh.
"Nothing," he said. "I just—pulled something."
His voice wavered. Elian didn't respond right away. He reached out—not to touch Juni, but to turn off the tap. The quiet rushed in. Juni leaned back against the counter, eyes fixed on the floor.
"I didn't mean for you to see," he whispered.
Elian's chest tightened.
"You don't have to explain," he said. "But you don't have to pretend either."
Juni swallowed hard.
His hands shook openly now.
"…It's not bad," he said quickly. "I mean—it's not all the time."
Elian didn't interrupt. Didn't correct him. Just waited.
Juni let out a shaky breath. "…My uncle gets angry," he said. "Not always. Just—sometimes." The words landed softly. He rushed on, like he needed to outrun them.
"He doesn't mean it. And I'm usually careful. I just—messed up today."
Elian felt the room tilt. "…Does anyone know?" he asked quietly.
Juni shook his head."No," he said immediately.
"Please don't tell anyone."
Elian didn't answer right away.
He looked at Juni—not the version who joked and smiled and made himself small, but the one standing here now, exhausted from holding everything together.
"I won't tell without you," Elian said carefully. "But I won't pretend it's nothing."
Juni's breath hitched. "…I don't want trouble," he whispered. "I just want it to stop."
Elian nodded. "I know."
The words felt inadequate. But they were honest. They walked out of school together in silence.
Not awkward. Heavy.
At the bus stop, Juni sat beside Elian, arms folded tightly across his chest. "…I didn't plan to say that," Juni said.
Elian glanced at him. "I'm glad you did."
Juni closed his eyes. "…I'm scared," he admitted.
Elian didn't reach for his hand. He stayed close."That makes sense," he said.
That night, Juni didn't sleep much. But for the first time, he didn't feel completely alone with the truth either. The door hadn't been thrown wide.
But it was open now.
And someone was standing on the other side—waiting.