Was I Ever There?
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UaDRY4zuH
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDbBawMzRI
"You don’t have an umbrella, do you?"
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIUvLbb9XK
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOqDXDkuSP
Yuen glanced at him and gave a small shrug. "I forgot."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXncJOQxWVV
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6H98UBje7
A simple gesture, a small act of care.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr5nf59rrf
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."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkynfyvVVu
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDQ7NgTO9o
Yuen raised a brow. "What?"
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSMcRQI5ww
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyyRuYs9Vy
For years, Chase had been doing this—offering small pieces of himself in ways Yuen never noticed, never acknowledged beyond a simple, indifferent, "Thanks."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UGrKbu6K7
But how much longer could he endure being unnoticed?
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG2Oa0ryjV
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLjmHBtHFn
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpfniKDpzl
Before leaving, Chase glanced at him for a moment. But he didn’t say anything—he simply walked away.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHZwLBDEcM
At the cafeteria, Chase’s friends were teasing him about his love life.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYPqNZKPCP
"Dude, why don’t you have a girlfriend yet? Almost every girl here likes you!" one of them laughed.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkpISFx1re
"Yeah! You should just say yes to one of them. You never run out of admirers, bro!"
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczlLIS7r4e
Chase smiled but shook his head. "I’m not interested right now, man."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7YUZOyD3I
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I3HU5gsEn
"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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSNKseQqBJ
Chase let out a small chuckle. "Sorry, Vivian. I really didn’t notice."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs5PdaXSLL
Vivian leaned in closer, tracing small circles on Chase’s arm. "And now? Do you notice me now?" she asked, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Kbi305VfN
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."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0EbDVke1i
"It’s not like that," Chase replied, smiling but not really answering her statement.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHdr5iXvzP
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5TquQvH7a
"Cut it out, Vivian," he chuckled, clearly unaffected. "You’re thinking too much about the wrong things."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AWlOZVoJV
"Oh? So is there something I should be thinking about, Chase?" Vivian teased, biting her lower lip.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPG6LUWVoI
Their friends erupted into laughter.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60sPRaMmmI
"Damn, bro. Think you can handle it if Vivian takes the lead? You might not survive!" one of them joked.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KwnHQO7qb
Chase smirked. "You underestimate me too much."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlydXW0nbCj
On the other side of the campus, Esreld spotted Yuen sitting alone under a tree, flipping through a book with his earphones still in.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtJfokpNsa
He approached and tapped Yuen on the shoulder. "Hey, Yuen. What’s that?"
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oVUAO9vsA
Yuen looked up and immediately turned off his music. "Ah, nothing. Just passing time."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXOy2sDCSh
"Can we take a picture?" Esreld suddenly asked.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp5x2Lm4OS
Yuen frowned. "Why?"
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCro1jKvKlz
"So we can put it up on our class door frame. You’re probably the only one left without a picture there," Esreld teased.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIvC9y0hk7
Yuen sighed but eventually smiled. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIGfKDG53r
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pAXIgDrKi
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he mumbled under his breath before turning back to Esreld.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjOqjdIk4q
Esreld took out a polaroid camera, positioning himself beside Yuen. "Let’s go," he said.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzH1FJiXqP
The first shot was a casual pose. The second one, Esreld playfully made bunny ears behind Yuen’s head.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRM4TyRQUA
And for the third, Esreld suddenly pulled Yuen closer—close enough that it almost looked like they were about to kiss.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVCdHH7Tz3
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z2KmTQOPQ
"That’s enough, or people might start thinking there’s something between us," he joked, though he didn’t seem to mind too much.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DHb9S0ygw
Esreld smirked. "And what if I actually want there to be something between us?"
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASiuDnZ8fh
Yuen rolled his eyes playfully. "Don’t go looking for trouble, Esreld."
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqnjubg9L1
After getting the prints, Yuen carefully placed them on the class display.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPOqAdNrFe
"There. Now I'm officially part of this wall. Happy?"
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCdr86tah4
Esreld grinned. "Very. Now, let’s eat!"
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLPOkZ6uaN
The two walked off toward the cafeteria.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkkzjv7ZZp
Later, when the students returned from their break—including Chase and Vivian—the classroom buzzed with excitement.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssqyk57ws0
"Is that Yuen?? Sheesh! He’s not even wearing glasses!" one of their classmates gasped.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AuT6furmh
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.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38MjylmLWN
His grip on his bag strap tightened.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1y7T2UUGt
Something inside him stirred. A feeling he hadn’t quite acknowledged before.
188Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46t6EWS4Xt
Jealousy.
ns216.73.216.176da2
