Against the Tide

Chapter 13: Drifting Apart

The tension from the previous night lingered in the air, casting a shadow over Daou and Offroad's relationship. Offroad woke up feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. He didn't understand why Daou couldn't see that Ryu was just a friend.

As Offroad made his way to the cafeteria for breakfast, he spotted Ryu sitting alone at a table. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if Daou would be upset if he joined Ryu. But Offroad also knew he needed to talk to someone about his feelings, and Ryu had been nothing but kind.

"Hey, Ryu," Offroad greeted, taking a seat across from him.

Ryu looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Morning, Offroad. How are you holding up?"

Offroad sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not great. Daou's jealousy is driving a wedge between us. I don’t know what to do."

Ryu leaned forward, his expression sympathetic. "I'm really sorry to hear that. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble between you two."

"It’s not your fault," Offroad assured him. "Daou just can't seem to trust me when it comes to you."

Ryu reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on Offroad's. "For what it’s worth, I’m here for you. If you ever need to talk or just get away from it all, you can count on me."

Offroad smiled weakly. "Thanks, Ryu. That means a lot."

Meanwhile, Daou sat in his dorm room, staring at his phone. He wanted to text Offroad, to apologize for his outburst, but every time he started typing, his pride got in the way. Instead, he threw himself into his schoolwork and training, trying to distract himself from the gnawing sense of regret.

That evening, as Daou headed to the library, he saw Offroad and Ryu walking together, laughing about something. His heart clenched with a mix of jealousy and sorrow. He turned away, deciding to take a longer route to avoid running into them.

In the following days, the distance between Daou and Offroad grew. They still saw each other during classes and group activities, but the easy camaraderie they once shared was strained. Offroad found himself spending more time with Ryu, who provided a comforting presence amid the turmoil.

One afternoon, Daou's friend Thit noticed the tension and decided to step in. "Hey, Daou, can we talk?" Thit asked, pulling him aside after practice.

"Sure, what's up?" Daou replied, though his tone was distracted.

Thit crossed his arms, his expression serious. "It's about Offroad. You two have been acting strange lately. What's going on?"

Daou sighed, leaning against the wall. "It’s Ryu. He’s always around Offroad, and it’s driving me crazy. I can't shake the feeling that he’s trying to come between us."

Thit nodded thoughtfully. "I get it. Jealousy can be a powerful thing, but you need to talk to Offroad about it, not let it fester. You guys have been through too much to let this tear you apart."

Daou knew Thit was right, but the thought of confronting Offroad again filled him with anxiety. "I don't know if he’ll listen. He thinks I'm overreacting."

Thit placed a reassuring hand on Daou's shoulder. "You won’t know until you try. Just be honest with him about how you’re feeling."

That evening, Daou decided to take Thit’s advice. He found Offroad in their usual spot in the courtyard, sitting alone with a book.

"Offroad, can we talk?" Daou asked, his voice tentative.

Offroad looked up, his eyes wary. "Sure, Daou. What’s on your mind?"

Daou took a deep breath, sitting down beside him. "I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting. It’s just… seeing you with Ryu makes me feel insecure. I know he’s your friend, but I can't help but feel like he’s trying to take you away from me."

Offroad's expression softened, but there was still a hint of frustration in his eyes. "Daou, I understand you're jealous, but Ryu is just a friend. You need to trust me."

"I do trust you, Offroad. It’s him I don't trust," Daou said, his voice tinged with desperation.

Offroad shook his head. "This isn’t about Ryu. This is about us. If you can't trust that I love you and only you, then we have a bigger problem."

Daou's heart sank. He knew Offroad was right, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of insecurity. "I’m trying, Offroad. I really am."

Offroad sighed, standing up. "I need some space to think. Maybe a break will help us figure things out."

Daou watched as Offroad walked away, a feeling of helplessness washing over him. He wanted to run after him, to fix everything, but he knew he needed to give Offroad the space he asked for.

As the days turned into weeks, the distance between Daou and Offroad remained. They spoke less and less, each struggling with their own emotions. Daou buried himself in his training, pushing his body to the limit in an attempt to drown out his feelings. Offroad, on the other hand, found solace in Ryu’s company, though he couldn’t shake the longing for Daou.

One evening, as Offroad and Ryu sat by the lake, Ryu turned to him, his expression serious. "You know, Offroad, if Daou really loved you, he wouldn't have let his jealousy get in the way."

Offroad looked at Ryu, conflicted. "Daou does love me. He just… he has a hard time trusting people."

Ryu sighed, placing a hand on Offroad's shoulder. "Maybe it’s time you started thinking about what’s best for you. You deserve someone who trusts you completely."

Offroad nodded, though his heart ached at the thought. "Maybe you’re right."

As the night wore on, Daou lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He replayed every moment, every argument, trying to figure out where things had gone wrong. His phone buzzed with a message from Thit.

"Talk to him, Daou. Before it’s too late."

Daou knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He got up, determined to find Offroad and make things right. As he made his way to the lake, he saw them – Offroad and Ryu – sitting close together, Ryu’s hand on Offroad’s shoulder.

Daou’s heart clenched, a mixture of jealousy and fear washing over him. He took a step forward, then another, but stopped when he saw Offroad lean in, resting his head on Ryu’s shoulder.

Feeling like the ground had been pulled out from under him, Daou turned and walked away, his mind racing with doubts and insecurities. Was he too late? Had he lost Offroad for good?

As he walked back to his dorm, a single thought consumed him: how to win back the love he feared he had already lost.