[ Rain's POV ]
The shrill sound of my alarm was the only thing that filled our apartment. It was the first day of university—a day that should have been a celebration of a new beginning. Instead, it felt like the start of something that desperately needed to end.
I shifted in bed and saw that Fran was still asleep, his breathing heavy and even. I moved like a ghost, bathing quickly and heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. The sizzle of eggs and the aroma of coffee—this scene was too familiar. I still cooked for him. It was a habit I couldn't break, a muscle memory of being "Fran and Rain."
Since the day we were born, Fran had been my world. Our mothers, best friends and neighbors, had practically raised us as one person. We were the pair that supposedly got sick if separated; the boys who grew up in the same classrooms; the duo everyone assumed would never be apart.
Until three months ago. Until Athena...
Suddenly, I heard the bedroom door creak. I didn't turn around, but I felt the air in the kitchen shift. I could feel his fierce gaze on my back—a sharp, cold contrast to the gentle eyes I used to see when he'd pinch my cheeks and tell me I was the most important person to him.
"Fran? Breakfast is ready," I said softly, my voice sounding small in the modern kitchen.
No response. The only sound was the scuff of his shoes as he slid them on by the cabinet. I grabbed a packed lunch box and hurried toward him, desperate for a single word.
"Here. I made you lunch, too." He didn't look at the container. He didn't even look at me. He simply opened the door and stepped out. The deafening tick-tock of the wall clock was the only thing left to answer me. The breakfast on the table sat there, steaming and wasted. Again.
I felt the familiar sting in my eyes. I really will move out soon, I promised myself. I have to. I can't breathe like this.
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At the university, the stadium was packed for orientation. At registration, the lines were divided by faculty. I stood in the Medicine line and saw Fran across the hall in Engineering. Our eyes met for a split second, but he looked away immediately, treating me like a total stranger.
I stood alone at the back of the hall, watching him at the front. He was already surrounded by people. He has that way about him—despite the "angry bird" look and the fierce expression that usually scares people, he draws them in. He was laughing, looking more alive than he ever did at home.
After orientation, I retreated to the canteen for lunch, sitting at a corner table with the two lunch boxes I had packed. I still wanted to give the second one to Fran, but I saw him at the center of the room, already eating and joking with a new group of friends.
When he caught me looking, I bowed my head quickly, trying to hide my embarrassment. I felt pathetic, playing with my food, until a shadow fell over the table.
"Hi! Are you alone? Can I sit here?"
I looked up. A tall, handsome guy with a bright, easy smile was looking at me.
"Ah... yes, you can."
He had asked, but he was already sitting down before I could finish my sentence.
"You're also from the Faculty of Medicine, right?" he asked.
"Ahh. Yes. How did you know?"
"I saw you at registration. I'm a freshman in the same faculty. Can you be my first friend here? I don't know anyone yet. I'm Sean, by the way." He extended his hand, his smile never wavering.
"I'm Rain," I answered, still a bit confused, but I shook his hand anyway.
"Nice to meet you, Rain. Do you know anyone else here?"
I glanced toward Fran's table. Our eyes met again, but he escaped my gaze instantly. "Not really," I whispered.
"Then I guess we should stick together from now on."
It was that simple. Within a minute, I had actually made a friend.
"Of course. Nice to meet you, Sean," I said, feeling a genuine spark of happiness.
"Good! Then I'll be in your care until we graduate, Rain." He looked like an excited puppy. He noticed my extra lunch box and his eyes lit up. "Wow. You brought your own lunch?"
"Hmm. Yeah."
"Are you going to eat all of that?"
"I cooked a lot today. Do you want some?"
"Really? Can I? Then... thank you for the food!" Sean started eating the lunch I had originally made for Fran.
"Wow. This is good! Did you make this?"
"Yeah. I like trying new recipes."
"This is perfect, Rain. I want to eat this every day. If you ever need a food taster, I'm right here." He spoke with his mouth half-full, making the food look so much tastier than it was.
"Haha. Thank you. If you want, I can bring you lunch again tomorrow."
"Really? But won't that be a hassle for you?"
"I'm cooking for myself anyway. Adding another serving isn't a big deal."
Sean leaned in, his tone suddenly shifting to something more serious. "You're kind, you're cute, and you can cook. You're the total package, Rain. Are you dating someone? If not, do you want to date me?"
I choked on my food. I hacked and coughed as Sean burst into laughter, handing me his water bottle.
"Hahaha! I'm joking, I'm joking! Sorry!"
This guy was crazy. He didn't feel like a "puppy" anymore; he felt dangerous. How could he say something like that with such a straight face?