It started small.
A seat saved in math class.
A shared joke about their history teacher's obsession with pop quizzes.
Half a sandwich traded for a bag of chips.
Kiel wasn't loud or overly friendly. He didn't pry. He didn't ask questions Ita clearly didn't want to answer. He just stayed.
And somehow, that was enough.
By june, Ita found himself walking to class without scanning the halls first. Kiel was usually already there, leaning against a locker or scrolling through his phone.
"Thought u got lost" kiel teased one morning.
" i know where my class is" Ita replied.
" wow demure and juicy"
Ita almost rolled his eyes.
Almost.
Instead,
He smiled.
It surprised both of them.
Kiel blinked. "whoa, you do have a facial muscles!"
Ita ducked his head, embarrassed,but the smile didn't disappear right away.
For the first time in a long while, school didn't feel like something to survive.
It felt like something… normal.
They started hanging out after school sometimes. Nothing big. Just walking to the convenience store a few blocks away. Sitting on the curb outside kiel's apartment building. Talking about stupid things,teachers, video games, whether pineapple belonged on pizza.
Kiel talked about wanting to join track in the spring.
Ita talked less, but he listened.
And when kiel laughed, it wasn't sharp or cruel like lucas's laughter.
It was warm.
One afternoon turned into three.
Three turned into most days of the week.
Ita stopped watching the clock so carefully.
For a little while, he forgot.
Forgot that time mattered.
Forgot that being late mattered.
Forgot that home was waiting.
The first time he came home thirty minutes late, his mother was standing in the kitchen.
Arms crossed.
The television was off. The house was too quiet.
"Where were you?" she asked.
"school" Ita answered quickly. "I was just-"
"You know what time you're supposed to be home."
" I lose t-track-"
The slap came fast.
His cheek burned.
"You dont lose track" she snapped."you think i dont worry??You think i dont have enough stress?"
"im sorry" he said automatically.
His stepfather appeared in the doorway behind her.
Calm.
Concerned.
"whats going on?" he asked gently.
"Hes late again" his mother said, voice rising. "he doesn't listen"
His stepfather sighed, stepping closer. "Ita dear,you have to be responsible. you mom have to work hard."
"I know" Ita whispered.
His mother grabbed his arm and shook him. "Then act like it!"
When she hit him again, his stepfather moved forward,slowly.
"Hun.." he murmured, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Thats enough honey.."
But he was smiling.
Small.
Hidden.
Satisfied.
Ita saw it.
He always saw it.
"i'll talk to him" his stepfather said softly.
His mother stepped away, breathing hard.
Ita's stomach dropped.
Because "talking" never meant talking.
That night was worse than usual.
Not because of what was said.
But because Ita had something to lose now.
The next day, he went to school with a bruise blooming along his jaw and a darker one under his ribs where no one could see.
He walked slower.
Quieter.
Kiel spotted him near the lockers.
"hey" Kiel said, then paused.
Ita's smile was gone.
His eyes looked,
Hollow.
"You okay?" Kiel asked carefully.
"Yeah"
Too fast.
Kiel stepped closer. "What happened to your face?"
"Fell" Ita replied.
"Fell where?"
"Stairs"
Kiel stared at him.
Ita didn't blink.
Didn't explain.
Didn't ask for help.
He just stood there like he wasn't fully inside his own body.
Something twisted in kiel's chest.
"You were with me yesterday" kiel said quietly. "You left at six"
Ita's fingers tightened around the strap of his backpack.
"I know"
There it was.
The real answer.
Kiel lowered his voice. "Did they-"
Ita shook his head quickly. "Drop it."
The bell rang.
Students flooded the hallway.
Ita turned and walked toward class without waiting.
Kiel watched him go.
Watched the way he flinched when someone brushed past him.
Watched how he kept one hand pressed lightly to his side like it hurt to breathe too deep.
Ita still sat beside him in math.
Still answered when spoken to.
But the light that had started to grow behind his eyes,
Was dimmer now.
And when kiel made a joke during class, Ita didn't smile.
Not even a little.
Kiel didn't know exactly what was happening in that house.
But he knew one thing.
lucas wasn't the real problem.
And whatever waited for Ita at home,
Was worse.