Eventually, morning had to end.
Shoes were put on. Bags were slung over shoulders. The warm noise of the kitchen faded into the quieter hum of the outside world.
"i'll walk you both to the corner " Kiel's mom said, smiling as she opened the front door.
The morning air was cool and fresh. Sunlight spilled across the street, soft and golden. It felt like the kind of morning people in movies woke up to.
Normal.
Safe.
Kiel waved as his mom headed back inside. "See you later mom! "
"Have a good day, boys! " she called.
Ita stood there for a moment, watching the door close.
Something in his chest felt tight again.
Then Kiel nudged him with his shoulder. "Come one, we're gonna be late."
They started walking.
Kiel talked the entire way.
Not in an annoying way. Just excited. Like he always had something to say, something to share.
"You should've seen my dad yesterday " he laughed.
"He tries to fix the sink and he even made it worse! Water went everywhere and my mom standing there just like'please stop helping' "
He glanced at Ita, waiting for a reaction.
Ita didn't smile.
But his expression softened a little.
He listened.
Really listened.
And there was something calm about him now. Something quieter, steadier. Like just being there, walking beside Kiel, made the world feel less sharp.
"i had to hold a bucket while he kept apologizing " Kiel continued, shaking his head. "We didn't get it fixed. Just turned the water off and we gave up"
Ita nodded slightly.
"That sound like something my real dad would do..yeah my real dad.." he said, his voice low.
Kiel grinned. "Right? Like, just call someone who knows what theyre doing ."
Ita didn't answer.
But he felt something warm settle in his chest.
Safe.
That was the word.
When he was with Kiel, the air didn't feel heavy. The shadows didn't feel as close. The whispers stayed quiet.
He didn't have to look over his shoulder every second.
And at the same time,
It hurt.
Because Kiel had everything.
A home where people smiled in the morning.
Parents who asked if you'd eaten.
A place where no one raised their hand unless it was to help.
A normal school life. Friends. Plans. Stories that made people laugh.
Everything Ita had never known.
They walked in silence for a moment.
Ita stared at the ground, watching their shadows move across the pavement.
Before he realized what he was doing, the words slipped out.
"Aren't you a lucky spoon."
The moment it left his mouth, he froze.
Kiel stopped walking.
"What?"
Ita's heart jumped.
He hadn't meant to say that.
He didn't even know why he said it.
He felt heat rush to his face.
"nothing." Ita muttered quickly, walking faster. "forget it."
Kiel stood there for a second, completely confused.
"A lucky....spoon?" he repeated under his breath.
Ita didn't turn back.
He just kept walking, shoulders tense, wishing he could take the words back.
He hadn't meant it in a bad way.
It was just,
Jealousy.
Gratitude.
And something sad tangled together.
Kiel caught up to him after a few steps. "What does that even means?"
"Its nothing." Ita said again, shaking his head. " I just said it wrong."
Kiel studied him for a moment, clearly still trying to figure it out.
But he didn't push.
He just shrugged. "Hmm..youre weird."
Ita let out the smallest breath.
"Yeah." he said quietly.
Weird.
That was easier than explaining the truth.
That Kiel had a life Ita couldn't even imagine having.
And that for the first time, walking beside him, Ita felt both safe,
And painfully aware of everything he didn't have.