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Kai started showing up at the art studio every evening. He never said much. He'd just sit nearby, headphones in, tapping his fingers to a rhythm only he could hear.
Eli tried not to stare, but every line he drew ended up looking like Kai's face.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Kai asked one evening.
Eli blushed. "You're... interesting."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Interesting? That's what people call broken things."
Eli's voice softened. "Then maybe broken things can still be beautiful."
For the first time, Kai smiled — small, real, and a little painful.