Between Class And Confession (Boys Love, #1 )

Shared Moments

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow through the library windows, Lance found himself increasingly aware of Kai’s presence across the table. The initial awkwardness of studying together began to settle into a more comfortable silence, interrupted occasionally by the rustle of pages or the soft thud of a textbook being closed.

"Hey, Lance," Kai said, breaking the quiet as he flipped through his math book. "Can I ask you something?"

Lance looked up, a bit startled. "Sure."

Kai hesitated, biting his lip as if choosing his words carefully. "Why do you spend so much time in the library? It’s like your second home or something."

Lance shrugged, unsure how to express himself. "It’s peaceful here. No distractions."

Kai nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "I get that. But don’t you ever want to hang out with friends? Do something fun?"

Lance paused. Fun? That word felt alien to him. "I guess I just prefer being alone."

"But you’re not alone now," Kai pointed out, a teasing glint in his eyes. "You’ve got me. We’re like study buddies!"

Lance couldn’t help but smirk at that. "Study buddies? Is that what you call it?"

"Absolutely!" Kai leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Plus, I can’t promise I’ll be the best study buddy. But I’ll definitely try not to distract you... too much."

"Too much?" Lance echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You seem to be doing just fine."

Kai laughed, a sound that filled the air between them. "Okay, fair point. But hey, it’s not all bad. You might just enjoy my company."

Before Lance could respond, the librarian approached them, her glasses perched precariously on her nose. "Boys, keep it down, please. This is a library, not a playground."

Both Lance and Kai nodded, suppressing their laughter as the librarian walked away, her footsteps echoing softly on the wooden floor.

Once the librarian was out of earshot, Kai leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "See? This is why I can’t hang out in libraries. I’m too loud for this place."

Lance found himself smiling, his defenses slowly crumbling in the face of Kai's infectious energy. "You’ll get kicked out if you keep that up."

"I’d take that risk for a chance to study with you," Kai replied, his tone half-joking but sincere.

Lance rolled his eyes but felt a warmth spread through him. Kai had a way of making even the most mundane moments feel exciting. It was strange, yet refreshing.

As they continued studying, the conversation flowed more freely. They discussed not only their schoolwork but also their favorite movies, hobbies, and even the pressures of being a student.

"You’re really into art, right?" Kai asked, glancing at the sketchbook peeking out of Lance’s bag.

Lance hesitated but nodded. "Yeah, I like drawing."

"Cool! What do you draw?" Kai leaned forward, genuine interest lighting up his eyes.

"Just... stuff. Mostly characters and landscapes," Lance replied, feeling slightly shy. He was used to sharing his drawings with no one, let alone someone like Kai.

"Can I see some?" Kai asked, his enthusiasm evident.

Lance hesitated again, feeling the familiar sting of self-doubt. "I don’t know... they’re not that great."

"Come on! I promise I won’t judge," Kai said, a playful pout on his lips. "I’m just curious. Besides, if you show me yours, I’ll show you mine."

Lance raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You draw?"

"Not really," Kai admitted with a sheepish grin. "But I like doodling. I bet I can create the worst stick figures you’ve ever seen."

That made Lance chuckle. "Okay, but just a quick look."

He pulled out his sketchbook, flipping to a page that featured a character he had been working on. It wasn’t his best work, but he had put effort into it. The character was a mix of his favorite anime styles, with vibrant colors and a unique design.

Kai leaned over, his eyes widening in awe. "Wow! This is amazing, Lance! You’ve got serious talent."

Lance felt his cheeks heat up, a mix of embarrassment and pride swelling within him. "Thanks, but it’s just a hobby."

"Just a hobby? This should be your career!" Kai insisted, flipping through more pages. "You’re really good at this."

Lance could hardly believe what he was hearing. He had always kept his art private, never thinking it was anything special. Hearing Kai’s praise was a surprising boost to his confidence.

"What about you? Show me your doodles," Lance challenged, a smile tugging at his lips.

Kai laughed, finally pulling out a crumpled piece of paper from his bag. "Alright, but brace yourself."

Lance took the paper and opened it, only to burst out laughing. The drawing was of a stick figure with wildly exaggerated features—a huge head, tiny body, and an even tinier smile. It looked more like a cartoon character gone wrong.

"What is this?" Lance gasped between fits of laughter. "Is this supposed to be you?"

Kai grinned, unfazed by Lance’s reaction. "Exactly! The Overly Excited Kai.’"

Lance shook his head, still chuckling. "You’re ridiculous."

"But I’m your ridiculous study buddy now!" Kai declared, puffing out his chest in mock pride.

As the afternoon wore on, laughter filled the library, the earlier tension completely dissipating. For the first time, Lance felt a sense of ease around Kai, and it scared him a little. He wasn’t used to this feeling of camaraderie, and it was both thrilling and terrifying.

Eventually, the librarian shushed them again, and they both quieted down, but the atmosphere had shifted. It was no longer just two classmates studying together; it felt like they were starting to build something more—something that might just grow into a real friendship.

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End of Episode 3.