Ren strolled across the campus courtyard, the late afternoon sun warming the stone paths. The trip to the beachside film set had left him energized and light-hearted. Bom and Anurak had already gone ahead to grab snacks from the student café, leaving Ren to wander at his own pace. His camera swung lazily from his shoulder, the recent days of laughter, waves, and golden sunsets still vivid in his mind.
He was lost in thought, replaying Khem's presence at the pier—the quiet patience, the intensity in his gaze, the warmth that had tugged at him in a way no one else had. Ren smiled faintly to himself, brushing a hand over the camera strap.
And then he collided.
"Watch where you're going!" a sharp voice barked.
Ren looked up, startled. Harit's dark eyes locked onto him, jaw tight, posture rigid. Jun hovered nearby, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, looking as if he had been waiting for exactly this moment.
Ren stepped back, raising his hands defensively. "Sorry! I wasn't—"
"Don't apologize," Harit snapped, stepping closer. His gaze burned like a wildfire, narrowing until Ren felt it press against his chest. "Just… don't wander around like this. You're distracting."
Ren blinked, taken aback. He'd expected a casual glare, maybe some annoyance, but Harit's words carried a tension that made him instinctively stiffen. There was a possessive edge to them, as if he were staking a claim Ren hadn't even agreed to.
Jun leaned casually against the stone railing, watching with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "Well, well," he drawled, eyes flicking between Ren and Harit. "It seems the mighty Harit has finally decided to show some… attention."
Harit's jaw twitched. "I'm not paying attention to *you*, Jun," he muttered, voice low, controlled, but charged with suppressed frustration.
Jun raised an eyebrow, the smirk growing. "Oh? It certainly looked like it when you practically lunged at him."
Ren, feeling the tension coil like a spring, took a careful step back. "I really didn't mean to… bump into anyone," he said softly. His voice carried calm, effortless, but inside, his heart raced not with fear, but with the familiar pull of power and instinct, the subtle tremor he always felt when emotions ran too high around him.
Harit's eyes didn't leave him. Every inch of his posture screamed lockdown, control, dominance. "You think this is funny?" he hissed, his gaze sharp enough to cut glass. "Walking around, smiling, making it *look* like nothing affects you? I know better."
Jun laughed lightly, a sound deliberately out of sync with Harit's intensity. "Oh, come on, Harit," he teased. "You're adorable when you're frustrated. Really. It suits you."
Harit's fists clenched at his sides, the muscles in his jaw working. "You think this is a joke, Jun?" he said through gritted teeth. "You… you don't understand what it means when someone disregards boundaries."
Ren's lips pressed into a thin line. He could feel the familiar hum under his skin, the tug of his power, the subtle warning of tension that could ripple outward if emotions escalated further. He had no intention of letting this turn physical or worse. He wanted to retreat, to breathe, to leave the storm before it hit.
And then, as if the universe had read his thoughts, Khem appeared.
"Ren!" Khem called, striding across the courtyard with that same effortless presence he'd carried on the beach. The moment he arrived, the air seemed to shift. Calm, steady, unflinching.
Ren's eyes softened at the sight of him, relief washing over his expression. "Khem," he said simply, letting the tension in his shoulders ease slightly.
Harit's dark eyes immediately flicked to Khem. A tight knot formed in his chest, and he stepped slightly closer to Ren, as if to mark territory. "Who is this?" he demanded, voice clipped, though the possessive undercurrent was clear.
Khem's gaze shifted calmly to Harit, unwavering. "I'm someone who cares about him," he said smoothly, tone quiet but not apologetic. His presence radiated confidence, the kind that made even a tense Harit hesitate.
Jun's eyes flicked between the three of them, amusement dancing in his expression. "Ah," he said lightly. "Now I see. This is the one stealing Ren's attention." He smirked, clearly enjoying the visible change in Harit's demeanor.
Harit's fists clenched tighter, his body rigid. "I don't care who he is," he said through gritted teeth. "Ren isn't yours, and you can't—"
Khem stepped forward, calmly placing a hand on Ren's shoulder, a protective, grounding gesture. "I'm not here to fight," he said, voice firm but gentle. "I'm here because I care about him. That's all you need to know."
Harit's jaw dropped slightly, disbelief mingling with frustration and something darker jealousy. He stared at Khem like he wanted to unravel him with sheer willpower, but found himself met with that calm, unwavering gaze that refused to yield.
Jun's smirk deepened. "Well, Harit," he said, voice smooth, teasing, "you look a little… rattled. Can't handle someone else caring for *him*?"
Harit turned on Jun, eyes blazing. "Don't push me," he growled. "This isn't a game!"
Jun's expression remained effortless, almost amused. "Oh, I know it isn't. That's why it's fun to watch." He leaned back slightly, eyes flicking to Ren with faint approval. "Seems like someone's finally getting the attention he deserves."
Ren finally stepped forward, breaking the invisible tension between Harit and Khem. "Enough," he said, voice calm, steady, carrying that quiet authority he didn't often need to assert. "I don't want a scene. Please."
Khem's hand remained on Ren's shoulder, grounding him, steady. "I'm not going anywhere," Khem said softly, just for Ren, and that alone seemed to diffuse some of the tension.
Harit's gaze lingered on Ren for a moment longer, conflicted. Part of him wanted to storm off, part of him wanted to demand attention, part of him simply didn't know how to process the presence of someone who could both care for Ren and not demand dominance. Slowly, he exhaled through his nose, jaw still tight. "Fine," he muttered, stepping back slightly. His eyes never left Ren, though every muscle screamed he wasn't done with this.
Jun tilted his head, smirk still in place, clearly enjoying the unraveling. "See? That wasn't so hard," he said lightly, though his eyes showed a flicker of irritation at Harit's unrelenting intensity.
Ren turned fully toward Khem, allowing himself the briefest moment of relief. "Come on," he said softly. "Let's go." He gestured toward the tree-lined pathway along the edge of the courtyard.
Khem nodded, removing his hand from Ren's shoulder only when they began walking. "I thought you might need a little space," he said, tone gentle, eyes warm. "No distractions."
Ren smiled faintly, camera strap resting comfortably against his chest. "Yeah," he admitted. "I… appreciate that."
As they walked, the tension of the courtyard seemed to fade behind them. Khem matched Ren's pace, walking slightly beside him, not overtly close, not too distant. Just… there. Solid, patient, and steady.
Ren found himself glancing at Khem, almost expecting words, but none were necessary. Presence alone was enough more than enough. He could feel the subtle pull of something new, untested, and thrilling, weaving quietly around them both.
Behind them, the courtyard remained chaotic, but for the first time in a long while, Ren didn't care. He had found a current he could ride calm, steady, and undeniable and he intended to see where it would lead.
And Khem was there, waiting, patient, unyielding, and entirely, completely focused on him.
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