Through the Noise

Unspoken Truths

The kiss had changed everything. In the days that followed, Beam found himself unable to shake the memory of that moment outside his dorm. The feeling of Forth’s lips against his lingered like an ache, a constant reminder of just how far they’d come from their initial, casual arrangement.

But as much as he wanted to see Forth again, something held him back. Beam was terrified. Terrified of what this might mean, terrified of what he might lose. He’d spent years building walls, keeping people at a distance, and now — with one kiss — it felt like those walls were crumbling faster than he could rebuild them.

The problem was, he didn’t know how to slow down. And he didn’t know if he even wanted to.

So, he kept his distance. He didn’t return Forth’s messages, avoided their usual spots on campus, and even spent extra hours at the library, burying himself in his medical studies. But no matter how hard he tried to distract himself, he couldn’t erase the image of Forth’s steady gaze, his comforting presence.

One evening, while sitting alone in a quiet corner of the library, Beam felt his phone vibrate. He glanced at the screen, his heart sinking as he saw Forth’s name.

**Forth:** *Avoiding me?*

Beam stared at the message, debating whether to respond. Part of him wanted to keep pushing Forth away, to pretend that nothing had happened. But the other part of him — the part he tried so hard to ignore — knew that he couldn’t run forever.

He took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the keyboard.

**Beam:** *I’m not avoiding you. Just… busy.*

There was a long pause, and Beam felt his stomach twist with anticipation. Finally, Forth’s reply came.

**Forth:** *Meet me at the overlook?*

Beam hesitated, his heart racing. He knew that if he went to meet Forth, he’d have to confront the feelings he’d been running from. But deep down, he also knew that he couldn’t keep avoiding this forever.

With a resigned sigh, he typed out a quick reply.

**Beam:** *Give me fifteen minutes.*

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**The Confrontation**

Beam arrived at the overlook a little later, finding Forth already there, leaning against the railing with his usual calm expression. The city lights twinkled in the distance, casting a soft glow over the scene. But tonight, the air between them felt charged, heavy with the unspoken words that hung in the silence.

Forth turned to him as he approached, his expression unreadable. “You’ve been distant,” he said, his voice quiet but firm.

Beam looked away, crossing his arms. “I’ve been busy.”

“Don’t lie to me, Beam.”

The words were gentle, but they cut through Beam’s defenses like a blade. He felt a pang of guilt, but he forced himself to keep his expression neutral.

“Look, I just… I needed some space,” he said, trying to keep his tone casual. “It’s no big deal.”

Forth sighed, his gaze steady. “It is a big deal. You know it is.”

Beam clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to look away. “Why do you care so much?” he snapped, his frustration bubbling over. “We had a deal, remember? No attachments, no strings. So why are you acting like this is something it’s not?”

Forth’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes — a mix of hurt and determination. “Because it is something, Beam. And you know it.”