Sea's POV
I didn't mean to follow him.
At least that's what he told himself.
But when Boss turned around and looked at him across the hallway—those obsidian eyes darker than ever, like he knew something Sea didn't—something in Sea's chest tugged forward.
He didn't speak. Didn't wave. Just walked.
And Sea followed.
Students whispered as they passed. The air grew cold. The scent of Boss's cologne clung to the walls like smoke. Sea's heart thumped in his ears as Boss opened a side door—one that led to the old storage room near the art lab—and stepped inside without saying a word.
Sea stood frozen outside the door for a second.
His hands trembled.
But then… he pushed it open and stepped in.
The room was dim. Shadows crawled up the walls, and dust lingered in the air. Boss stood with his back to him, arms crossed, his shoulders stiff like he was holding back something dangerous.
"Why are you following me?" Boss asked, voice low. Calm. Too calm.
Sea opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He bit his bottom lip, then finally whispered,
"I just… I didn't want you to be mad at me."
Boss slowly turned, and his eyes… they weren't soft. They weren't kind. But they weren't cruel either. They were starving.
He stepped forward, each footstep echoing like a warning bell.
"I'm always mad, Sea," he said, stopping just inches away. "But you… you make me furious."
Sea's chest heaved. "I—I didn't mean—"
Boss reached out suddenly, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and pulled him close—not to hurt him… but to look him in the eyes.
"I could ruin you right now," he whispered. "Break you into little pieces just so you'd never walk away from me again. Do you know how close I am to snapping?"
Sea's hands shook as they clutched Boss's sleeves. "Then snap."
That single word...
Boss blinked, surprised.
Sea's eyes filled with tears—but this time they weren't from fear. They were exhaustion. Pain. The weight of everything. Of being bullied. Of being avoided. Of being confused and watched and touched and wanted.
"I can't take it anymore," Sea whispered. "All of it. Them. You. Me. I just want to feel safe."
Boss's face twitched. He didn't expect that.
He pulled Sea into his arms so fast, Sea gasped.
And in that embrace, something broke.
Sea sobbed against his chest—fists clenched, body shaking, voice cracked. Boss didn't say anything. He just held him. Tight. Firm. Like he was anchoring him to the earth.
Silence.
Breathing.
Skin against fabric.
Heartbeats.
Boss leaned in and whispered against Sea's temple, "You're safe. I'll kill anyone who makes you feel like you're not."
Sea didn't know why…
But he believed him.
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To be continued