Guardian of my Heart // Keesoul

Old Flames, New Discoveries

Chapter 30: Old Flames, New Discoveries

Soul wasn't sure why he came back the next day, following Keeho and Sunoo's every move, but something in him couldn't let it go. Maybe it was the sense of familiarity in Keeho's words, the way his gestures had once been directed at him. Now, they belonged to someone else, and that realization left an ache he couldn't shake.

Dressed in a different disguise—a beanie pulled low over his forehead, sunglasses, and an oversized scarf—Soul positioned himself behind a row of shrubs by the school gym, watching as Keeho and Sunoo passed by, engrossed in conversation. The disguise wasn't his finest idea, especially since they were in the middle of spring, but he had to stay hidden.

Keeho was speaking animatedly to Sunoo, his voice carrying a warmth that seemed to wrap around Sunoo like a comforting blanket. They laughed, and the sound echoed against the walls. A pang of envy hit Soul hard, but beneath it, he also felt something else: pride. Keeho was still the same, giving and kind. It made Soul wonder if his mission with Sunoo would mirror the one he'd had with him.

Without warning, Keeho turned in his direction. Soul ducked, barely managing to stay hidden. His heart pounded, but he could still hear Keeho's voice.

"Sunoo, do you want to work on that project in the art room? I think it'll be quieter there," Keeho suggested.

"Sure, that sounds great!" Sunoo agreed brightly, his face lighting up.

The two of them walked inside, and Soul hesitated for a moment. He knew he should leave it alone, let Keeho do his work, but the need to know overpowered his common sense. Slipping through a side door, he took the staircase up to the second floor, where the art room was located.

The corridor was empty, and Soul's footsteps echoed softly against the polished floors. Outside the art room, he peered through the small window on the door. Keeho and Sunoo were deep in conversation at the far end of the room, surrounded by easels and scattered supplies. Sunoo was gesturing towards one of the blank canvases, explaining something that made Keeho nod with an expression of genuine interest.

Soul's gaze lingered on Keeho. It was strange, seeing him in this setting, this life that was supposed to be temporary for him. His chest tightened as he thought about how much Keeho had affected his life—and how it seemed Keeho was doing the same for Sunoo.

A voice brought him back to the present. "Hey, can I help you with something?"

Soul froze, his disguise immediately feeling flimsy and useless. He turned, and there stood Jiung, a student known for his artistry and one of the main artists in the school. Jiung's curious gaze took in Soul's peculiar outfit, his eyebrow raised in mild amusement.

"N-No, just... admiring the artwork," Soul stammered, pulling his scarf up a little higher.

Jiung tilted his head, clearly unconvinced. "Right. You're here for the showcase tomorrow, I assume?" he asked, gesturing toward the artwork lining the hallway.

Soul nodded, trying to play along. "Yeah, definitely. I was just... checking out the talent."

Jiung grinned. "Well, if you're a fan of the arts, you'll probably want to see my latest piece tomorrow. It's one of my favorites so far." He gave Soul a look that seemed to say he'd seen through his disguise but didn't mind. "Anyway, good luck with... whatever you're doing."

As Jiung walked away, Soul felt a strange mix of relief and embarrassment. If he wanted to keep spying, he needed to be more careful. Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention back to the art room. Inside, Sunoo was holding up a paintbrush, clearly trying to convince Keeho to join in. Laughing, Keeho reluctantly accepted the brush, dipping it into a pot of bright blue paint.

As Keeho made a light stroke across the canvas, Sunoo cheered, and Keeho shot him a playful smile. Soul's chest clenched. Watching them laugh and bond felt like watching a mirror image of the time he and Keeho had spent together. He could almost hear Keeho's laughter, that same warmth that had once been directed solely at him.

Unable to watch any longer, Soul stepped back from the door, his heart heavy. He turned to leave, but then the door opened, and Keeho stepped out, nearly colliding with him.

Soul pulled his scarf up higher, praying Keeho wouldn't recognize him. But Keeho didn't seem to notice him at all. Instead, Keeho's eyes were focused ahead, his thoughts far away as he headed toward the stairwell, unaware of Soul's presence just inches away.

As Keeho passed by, Soul caught the faint scent of the cologne Keeho used to wear—a scent Soul had grown used to. For a moment, he was tempted to reach out, to grab Keeho's sleeve and say something, anything. But he stayed rooted in place, frozen by a mixture of longing and resignation.

Once Keeho was gone, Soul exhaled, feeling the weight of everything he'd just witnessed. His heart ached, but deep down, he knew he couldn't interfere with Keeho's mission. As much as it hurt, Keeho was moving on, just like he was supposed to.

But as he walked away, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of finality, like this was a goodbye that he hadn't been prepared for.

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ★⋆.

　　　.   　　˚　✭　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　 ˚　.˚　　　　　✭　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　 　　 　　　　 ✦

I promise they will have a happy ending cause I don't write sad endings 😭