The enemy of my heart [BL]

Reunion

As a voice stirred me from my drowsiness, I blinked groggily, trying to orient myself.
“Where am I again?” I mumbled, still half-asleep.

“I honestly don’t get how you can sleep on this old rust bucket,” James chuckled, nudging me with his elbow. “We’re almost home from rugby camp, sleepyhead.”

“Oh… right,” I said, memories of itchy mosquito bites and damp sleeping bags hitting me like a truck. “Those mosquitoes were relentless.”

“Thanks, James,” I added as my eyes adjusted to the dim interior of the bus.

We fell into a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the occasional creak of the bus or a snore from one of our teammates. Through the scratched windows, the familiar sight of the school finally came into view, a row of idling cars waiting like a finish line after a marathon. Parents stood with tired smiles, arms crossed, ready to sweep their sons away into warm showers and soft beds.

“Smile and nod,” I whispered to myself, grabbing my bag. “Just smile and nod. I’m way too tired for full sentences.”

The bus hissed as it came to a stop. I trudged down the steps.

“Hey there, champ!” my dad beamed, tousling my hair as he opened the car door for me.

“It was… an experience,” I said, forcing a tired smile as I slumped into the seat, already sinking into the warmth.

“We’ve got a little surprise waiting for you at home,” my mom chimed from the front seat, her voice suspiciously cheerful.

I lifted an eyebrow but didn’t question it. I was too busy watching the glow of my bedroom light coming into view through the window.

“Is that… my room?” I muttered. “Why is my light on? Since when are my parents careless about electricity?”

I tried to piece together an explanation during the idle chatter about camp, but the puzzle didn’t solve itself by the time we reached home. I dragged myself inside, my legs barely functioning.

As I pushed open my door, a familiar but completely unexpected voice greeted me.

“Hey.”

I blinked, squinting toward the bed. A figure sat up under the glow of the ceiling light, calm as ever.

“Do I… know you?” I asked, still reeling.

The voice gave a crooked grin. “Wow, that hurts.”

My jaw slackened slightly. “Ronin? No way. You look...damn, man. You look good.”

It was him, alright. But it wasn’t the lanky, shy kid I used to know. This version of Ronin looked like he belonged on the cover of a sports magazine. Broad shoulders, toned arms, and a self-assured presence that made me feel… weirdly self-conscious.

“Let’s save the catching up for later,” he said with a yawn. “Looks like we’re roommates now.”

He flopped onto the bed across from mine, snoring within minutes.

Roommates? Since when?

Feeling like my world had been flipped upside down, I shuffled into the kitchen where my mom was putting together a late-night snack.

“Mom. What’s going on?” I asked, trying to keep the rising panic out of my voice. “It’s the start of the school year, not some holiday reunion. Why is Ronin here?”

She didn’t even flinch. “I told you a thousand times.”

“No, you didn’t,” I replied.

“His dad passed away. His mom’s been struggling. He’ll be living with us and going to school here,” she explained, turning to face me with tired eyes. “He’s practically family.”