The morning sun warmed the campus grounds, filtering through the tall trees that lined the walkways. Students chatted casually, rushing to their classes, their voices forming a soft background hum.
Ren walked slowly beside Bom and Anurak, a hand pressed to his temple.
He was still recovering from the uncontrolled jump from Bangkok to his dorm room and the lingering ache in his chest reminded him how close he'd come to losing control completely.
Bom handed him a bottle of water. "Drink. You look like a dying plant."
Ren laughed weakly. "Thanks. I feel like one."
Anurak eyed him carefully. "Ren… you said you appeared in Bangkok?"
Ren nodded, face warming with embarrassment. "In… Harit's room."
Bom choked on his own spit. "YOU DID WHAT?"
Ren sighed. "I didn't mean to! I slipped, I lost balance, and then boom. Harit's bedroom."
"And then?" Anurak leaned in.
Ren rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks turning pink. "I told him… 'Do you know how I saved you?' And then I passed out and disappeared."
Bom stared at him, completely still. "Ren…"
"Yes?"
"That is the MOST dramatic thing you've ever done."
Ren groaned. "I know."
---
H A R I T – Returning
Harit stepped out of the airport, dragging his luggage behind him, his heart thundering. The flight from Bangkok felt endless. Every hour, every minute, he replayed Ren's trembling voice, those desperate words.
*'Do you know how I saved you?'*
Harit clenched his jaw.
Ren didn't just teleport.
He teleported to HIM.
Of all places, of all people—
Harit.
And that meant something.
His car pulled up in front of the campus. As he stepped out, students whispered Harit rarely returned unexpectedly. And never with such an expression on his face: sharp, focused, but filled with a tension no one could name.
Lucas jogged up to him. "Harit! I thought you were going to be gone for a week. Why—"
Harit cut him off. "Where's Ren?"
Lucas blinked. "Ren? Why are you—"
"Where is he?" Harit repeated, voice low, controlled, dangerous.
Lucas swallowed, pointing toward the film building. "Probably with his friends."
"Good."
Harit walked away before another question could form.
---
R E N – Feeling the Shift
Ren was adjusting the camera angle for a practice shoot when his chest tightened again a faint tug, like an invisible thread pulling.
Anurak noticed immediately. "Ren? You okay?"
"Yeah… just dizzy," Ren muttered.
But in the next breath—
"Ren."
That voice.
That tone.
That impossible mixture of sharp command and soft hesitation.
Ren turned and froze.
Harit was there.
Standing at the entrance of the courtyard.
Still in the clothes he traveled in.
Hair slightly messy from the flight.
Eyes locked on Ren like the rest of the world didn't exist.
Bom whispered, "Oh… hell."
Harit walked toward Ren, each step steady, each movement careful like Ren might disappear again if he moved too fast.
Ren swallowed hard. "Harit… you came back early."
Harit's jaw clenched slightly. "I came back for you."
Bom and Anurak's eyes widened.
Ren's heart stuttered in his chest.
---
Face to Face
Harit stopped right in front of him, so close Ren had to tilt his head up.
"Ren," Harit said softly, "I need to ask you something."
Ren nodded slowly. "Okay."
Harit took a deep breath.
"Did you really appear in my room last night?"
Ren's face turned bright red. "Um… maybe."
"Ren."
"Fine. Yes."
Harit exhaled sharply, eyes darkening. "And what you said… about saving me—what did that mean?"
Ren's throat tightened. "It's complicated."
Harit stepped closer, voice lower. "Try me."
Ren hesitated—powers, secrets, past events—everything tangled inside him.
Bom grabbed Anurak's sleeve. "We should go."
Anurak nodded quickly. "Yes. We should definitely go."
The two slipped away, leaving Ren trapped under Harit's intense gaze.
---
Harit's Confession
Harit took Ren's wrist gently, carefully, as if afraid Ren would vanish.
"Ren… I checked the CCTV."
Ren froze. "You… what?"
Harit nodded. "I saw you. You really were there."
Ren looked away, embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
Harit's grip tightened—just slightly.
"You didn't scare me."
Ren blinked. "I didn't?"
Harit shook his head slowly.
"You worried me."
Ren's eyes softened.
Harit looked straight at him, voice lower, earnest.
"You could've been hurt. Why did you push yourself that far?"
Ren whispered, "I… I don't know. I wasn't thinking straight."
Harit studied him, expression shifting—like something clicked inside him.
"Ren," he said quietly, "tell me what you meant by saving me."
Ren inhaled shakily. "Harit… it's not the right time."
Harit leaned in slightly, voice just above a whisper.
"I want to understand you."
Ren's stomach flipped.
He had never seen Harit like this—open, unguarded, almost vulnerable.
---
Jun Appears
But before Ren could answer, a familiar, unwelcome voice cut through the tension.
"Harit."
Jun.
He strode across the courtyard, bow case slung over his shoulder, eyes locked onto the scene in front of him.
Lucas followed behind, looking nervous.
Jun's expression hardened. "You left Bangkok without saying a word. And now I find you—here."
Harit didn't look at him.
Not even once.
Jun's jaw tightened. "Tch. Figures. The moment Ren appears, you drop everything."
Ren took a step back, tension winding tight in his chest.
He didn't want a fight. Not again.
Harit exhaled slowly, voice calm.
"Jun. Not now."
Jun scoffed. "Not now? You ran back to him the second he blinked in your direction."
Ren winced. "Jun…"
Jun turned his glare on Ren. "Don't pretend you're innocent."
Harit stepped in front of Ren instinctively.
A wordless shield.
Jun's eyes narrowed.
"So that's how it is."
Lucas tried to intervene. "Jun, we should—"
Jun snapped, "Shut up!"
Harit finally looked at him, gaze cold. "Jun. Enough."
The courtyard went silent.
---
The Moment of Truth
Jun's breath trembled with anger. "Fine. Harit… tell me something."
Harit raised a brow, expression unreadable.
Jun took a step forward, eyes burning.
"Why is it so easy for you to protect him—but not me?"
Harit's jaw moved, but no sound came out.
Jun laughed bitterly. "Last time… you stopped me. You blocked me. You pushed me away. But when it's Ren—"
He gestured sharply.
"You don't even hesitate."
Harit didn't deny it.
Ren watched, heart thudding, but his entire body froze when Jun whispered the final line:
"You like him… don't you?"
Harit didn't answer immediately.
He didn't have to.
Silence was already the answer.
Jun clenched his fists, eyes shining with a mix of anger and hurt.
"Fine. Have it your way."
He turned sharply and walked away, Lucas following reluctantly.
---
Back to Harit and Ren
Harit let out a tense breath once Jun was gone.
Ren stared at him. "Harit… that wasn't necessary."
Harit looked down at him, voice softer now.
"Yes, it was."
Ren swallowed. "Why?"
Harit took another slow step toward him.
"Because I meant what I said last night."
Ren blinked. "Last night…?"
Harit nodded.
"Ren… I'm coming to you."
Ren's breath caught in his throat.
Harit continued, voice gentle, steady, devastating:
"So tell me do I need to keep chasing…
or will you finally let me catch you?"
Ren couldn't speak.
Not because he was afraid—but because, for the first time, Harit wasn't hiding anything.
Not his worry.
Not his jealousy.
Not his feelings.
Ren lowered his gaze, cheeks warm.
"I… I don't know what I'm supposed to say."
Harit tilted his head. "Then say this."
Ren looked up.
Harit's voice was soft, almost a whisper:
"Are you okay, Ren?"
Ren's chest loosened.
He nodded slowly.
"I'm okay."
Harit's faint smile was enough to make Ren's heart flutter.
For the first time…
they were finally on the same page.
---
End OF chapter 13