Ara made a choice not to confront Renjun... not yet. The truth pressed heavily on her chest, but speaking it aloud felt even heavier. What if it ruined everything? What if their friendship, the bond she had cherished for so long, shattered?
She didn't know that Renjun had been carrying the same burden. He had known the truth for a while, yet he had never found the right moment to tell her. Every time he considered it, doubts crept in. Would she be angry? Would she push him away? Would she hate him for keeping the secret?
So they both waited, clinging to the fragile illusion that everything was normal. But life had a way of throwing new problems in their path, problems they couldn't ignore.
It started subtly... small shifts in behavior, little moments that seemed off but not alarming. Chenle, usually the bright, unshakable force of their friend group, had started skipping casual hangouts. When he did show up, he was quieter, more reserved. His usual quick-witted comebacks were missing, replaced by tired smiles that didn't quite reach his eyes.
At first, no one questioned it. Everyone had off days. But then the off days became weeks.
Ara noticed it one evening at Mark's place. Their group had gathered as usual, sprawled across the living room, chatting and joking. Chenle had always been the first to arrive, ready with some sarcastic comment about everyone else being late. But that night, he slipped in almost unnoticed, the last one to arrive.
"Sorry, got caught up with something," he muttered, dropping into a chair without his usual energy.
Throughout the night, he barely spoke. He laughed when others did, but never initiated conversation. His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve, his gaze distant.
"Chenle, you good?" Mark asked casually, tossing a chip into his mouth.
Chenle nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just tired. Didn't sleep well last night."
Mark let it go, but Ara caught the brief flicker of doubt in his expression. She exchanged a glance with Ningning, who looked equally concerned.
This wasn't like Chenle.
As the night wore on, Ara found herself watching him more closely. The way he avoided eye contact, the subtle tension in his shoulders, the way he would drift to the corner of the room as if he didn't belong... it all made her chest tighten.
She wanted to ask him, to make him talk, but she didn't know how. The right words seemed impossibly out of reach.
And deep down, she knew this wasn't just exhaustion. It was something more. Something he was carrying alone, just like she had carried her own secret with Renjun.
A pang of guilt and empathy tightened her chest. She wanted to help, to fix it, but she felt powerless. For the first time, she realized that sometimes just being there wasn't enough. Sometimes, the people you cared about needed more than words... they needed understanding, patience, and space to let their burdens breathe.
Ara leaned back, watching him quietly, determined to find the right way to reach him. One small step at a time.
