CHAPTER 117

CHAPTER 117
LIAM's POV

When Austin left, saying he had some errands to do, I knew… it wasn’t errands. I’ve known him long enough to tell when he’s dodging a question. The way his voice dipped, the way he avoided my eyes—it was obvious.

I have this gut feeling he’s seeing Chase. He thinks he’s subtle, but I’ve been watching.

No. I saw them.

I let out a sigh.

\-

AUSTIN's POV

When I got to the rooftop, a smile tugged at my lips the moment I saw him. Chase was sitting near the railings, a small spread of food beside him, clearly meant for us. His body was slightly leaning back—not against the wall, but supported by his hands behind him.

His face was tilted upward, eyes closed, as if soaking in the quiet. The breeze played with his straight hair, making it sway softly. The sunlight kissed his skin, painting his features in warm gold, and for a second, I just stood there, watching him.

He looked… peaceful. Beautiful in a way that made my heart raced.

I took a quiet step forward, not wanting to break the moment too abruptly, but the sound of my shoes against the rooftop floor made his eyes flutter open.

When his gaze found mine, that easy smile of his appeared, the kind that always made me forget how to breathe.

"You're here," he said softly, his lips curling into that sweet smile that always made my chest feel lighter.

"Yeah." I eased down beside him. "How long have you been here?"

"Not long. How’s class?"

"It was great." Great, if you count thinking about him the entire time.

"Good to know. I brought food for us. I know you’re hungry," he giggled.

"Thanks." I took the sandwich—the kind of sandwich he always gave me. I took a bite, savoring not just the taste but the thought behind it. "Do you have swimming practice today?" I asked between chews.

He shook his head. "Nope. I’m free."

Before I could say more, he set the food aside, stretched out, and rested his head on my lap. My hand instinctively hovered above his hair, hesitating for a second before running through those soft strands.

"Great. You have more time to rest."

"Yeah. How about we hang out later?" he asked, his voice light, but I could hear the hopeful note in it.

"Can’t."

His brows drew together. "Why? You have plans?"

"Yeah. With my family. Sorry."

He quickly shook his head. "No, no, it’s okay. Maybe the other day then."

"Sure." I tried to smile, but part of me hated saying no.

Silence wrapped around us for a couple of minutes, the kind that made every sound—the rustle of leaves, the distant hum of the city—feel louder than it should. Then Chase spoke.

"Your parents… there’s no way they will accept us, right?" His voice was soft, but it hit me like a punch. I froze. My mind scrambled for words, for something that wouldn’t break him, but the truth was already lodged in my throat.

The answer was definitely a no. And I hated that.

I stared down at him, still resting his head on my lap, his gaze turned away from me. I cleared my throat.

"Y… Yeah." The words scraped their way out, heavier than I expected. I exhaled slowly, the weight of them pressing against my chest.

He turned his head and looked up at me with a small smile. "It’s okay. That happens."

"Yeah. Sorry… I… I can’t introduce you to them. I—"

"Hey, it’s fine." His warm palm cupped my cheek, the touch gentle but grounding. "I totally understand. No pressure. I don’t care anyway. You and me. Together. That’s all that matters."

That reassuring smile of his—it made something tight in me loosen.

But deep down, I wished I could introduce him to my parents… just like how he introduced me to his grandma.

\-

LIAM's POV

I stopped by the comfort room to pee after having lunch with Ash. Austin still hadn’t come back. I wondered what kind of “errand” he was actually doing. Tss.

Just as I finished, the door creaked open and Matt walked in. He looked… off. His face was pale, eyes tired, and a bit swollen like he hadn’t slept. He didn’t even glance my way—just went straight to the sink, turned the faucet on, and splashed water onto his face.

I stepped over to the next sink, rinsing my hands. "Hey," I said, breaking the silence.

He looked at me through the mirror, water droplets still clinging to his face, eyes half-closed from the sting.

"Oh, hey, bud. What’s up?"

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. Just… I drank a lot last night." He let out a short chuckle, splashed more water on his face, then grabbed a tissue to pat himself dry.

"Ah. Hangover?"

"Looks like it."

I leaned against the counter casually. "Anyway, how’s Chase?"

For a split second, his expression faltered. Yeah… I caught that. Maybe it’s because Chase and I aren’t exactly close, so me asking about him was unexpected.

"That’s an unexpected question. Well, he’s great. Why’d you ask?"

"I was wondering how his relationship with Austin is going."

His brows immediately pulled together. "Relationship? What do you mean?"

I knew it. He’d deny it. Pretend like he doesn’t know a thing. But the way his tone sharpened, the way his eyes narrowed for just a second… yeah, that told me more than any straight answer could.

"Come on. I know you know something."

"I already told you, bud. I don't know what's going on between them. Just ask your friend if you want an answer." He was about to leave, but I spoke before he could step out.

"I saw them… kissing."

He froze mid-step.

"They have a relationship, and they’re not telling us," I added.

He turned back to face me. But instead of shock, his expression was unreadable—calm, almost too calm.

"So?"

My eyebrows pulled together. "So? Are you serious?"

He let out a short chuckle. "I mean, if they’re in love with each other, what does it have to do with you? It’s their life."

His words threw me off. No shock, no curiosity—just that casual shrug like it was nothing.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You’re not even surprised."

Matt crossed his arms, leaning slightly against the sink. "Should I be?"

That confirmed it—he knew. Maybe for a long time. "You’ve known all along, haven’t you?"

He gave me a faint smirk but didn’t answer right away. That silence was louder than any confession.

"Unbelievable…" I muttered, shaking my head. "Liar. So you’ve been covering for them."

"I’m not covering for anyone," he said evenly. "I’m respecting their choice. If they wanted you to know, you would’ve known."

That… stung.

"…And one more thing. Whether I know about them or not, I still wouldn’t be surprised. Love is love, regardless of the gender. That it’s not about fitting into someone’s expectations. It’s about who makes your soul feel safe."

After he said that, Matt finally made his way out of the comfort room, leaving me standing there in silence.

He was right. What he said was right.

But still… I couldn’t shake off the worry. Because this isn’t just about love, or about who makes your soul feel safe. This is about Austin’s life outside of school — his family, his future.

If his dad finds out about this… he’s doomed. I’ve heard enough stories, seen enough moments, to know what kind of man his father is. Strict. Demanding. The type who values reputation above everything else.

I don’t want Austin to get hurt. Not because of something that makes him happy.

And that’s what bothers me the most — the fact that he’s smiling now, but I can already see the storm that could be waiting for him.

\-