Between Class And Confession (Boys Love, #1 )

Small Shifts, Bigger Realizations

The next few days passed in much the same way. Lance and Kai continued to study together after school, slowly falling into a comfortable rhythm. Lance had to admit—despite his initial misgivings—Kai wasn’t nearly as much of a distraction as he had feared. In fact, he found himself looking forward to their study sessions, though he would never admit it out loud.

During class, their conversations remained light and casual, but there were subtle moments when Lance caught Kai watching him, as if trying to figure him out. It made Lance uncomfortable, but not in a bad way. It was more like he wasn’t used to being the center of someone’s attention.

By the end of the week, Lance noticed something strange. Kai had started showing up early to class, something he had never done before. He’d always been the last one to stroll in, usually just as the bell rang. But now, he was often there before anyone else—before even Lance.

“Morning, study buddy,” Kai greeted one day as Lance walked into the classroom.

Lance raised an eyebrow, setting his bag down. “You’re early.”

Kai grinned, shrugging casually. “Yeah, I guess I’m turning over a new leaf. Or maybe I just enjoy our little talks.”

Lance felt his face heat up slightly at that, but he quickly brushed it off. “Whatever helps you stay on top of your grades, I guess.”

Kai laughed softly, leaning back in his chair. “Exactly. Gotta keep my academic reputation up now that I’ve got a genius for a seatmate.”

Lance shook his head, but a small smile tugged at his lips. He knew Kai was joking, but there was something about the way he always made Lance feel... lighter. It was a strange feeling—one that was becoming harder to ignore.

As the day went on, Lance couldn’t help but think about how much things had changed since they were paired together. He had always been the quiet one, the one people overlooked. But with Kai, it felt different. Even though Kai was popular and surrounded by friends, he always seemed to make time for Lance. He sought him out, included him in conversations, and even made an effort to get to know him outside of school.

And then, during lunch, something unexpected happened.

Lance was sitting alone in the courtyard, enjoying the quiet while eating his sandwich. He liked it here—the sound of birds chirping, the gentle breeze rustling through the trees. It was his usual spot, far from the noisy crowds in the cafeteria.

But then he heard footsteps approaching, and before he could look up, Kai slid into the seat beside him.

"Thought I’d find you here," Kai said, taking a bite of his own sandwich. He didn’t ask for permission, didn’t wait for an invitation. He just sat there like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Lance blinked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Kai looked at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Having lunch. With you."

Lance frowned, glancing around the courtyard. "Don’t you usually sit with your friends?"

Kai shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, but I figured I’d switch it up today. You don’t mind, do you?"

Lance didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t used to this—people voluntarily seeking him out, choosing his company over others. He wasn’t sure how to respond.

"It’s fine," Lance mumbled, returning his attention to his food.

For a few moments, they ate in silence, the sounds of the courtyard filling the space between them. But Lance couldn’t shake the feeling of Kai’s presence beside him, like a weight pressing down on him—but not in a bad way. It was just... there.

After a while, Kai spoke again, his voice softer this time. "You know, you’re different from what I expected."

Lance looked up, confused. "What do you mean?"

Kai stared at his sandwich for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. "I mean... you’re quiet, but not in a bad way. Most people don’t really notice the quiet ones, you know? But I think it’s cool. You don’t need to be loud to stand out."

Lance didn’t know how to respond to that. He wasn’t used to compliments, especially not from someone like Kai. "Thanks, I guess?"

Kai smiled, but there was something more in his eyes—something that Lance couldn’t quite place. "I just... I don’t know. I like hanging out with you. It’s different, but in a good way."

Lance felt his heart skip a beat. He wasn’t sure what Kai was getting at, but the sincerity in his voice caught him off guard. He had always assumed that Kai hung out with him out of convenience—because they were seatmates, because it made studying easier. But now, it felt like there was something more.

Before Lance could dwell on it, Kai stood up, stretching his arms over his head. "Alright, lunch is almost over. See you in class?"

Lance nodded, watching as Kai walked back toward the main building, his heart still racing from the unexpected exchange.

As he packed up his things, Lance couldn’t stop the thoughts swirling in his mind. Kai was different—different from the image Lance had built of him. He wasn’t just the loud, popular guy everyone knew. There was something deeper there, something Lance was only just beginning to see.

And for the first time, Lance found himself wondering if maybe—just maybe—Kai felt the same way.

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End of Episode 4.