Travelling through worlds to heal hearts

The sound of pencils scratching against paper filled the quiet air of the classroom. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, casting golden streaks across the desks. Joey absentmindedly twirled his pen, hardly paying attention to the teacher's lecture. His gaze drifted toward Rael, who sat by the window, chin resting on his hand as he stared outside.

Joey had been observing him for days—noticing how Rael's shoulders remained tense, how his eyes flitted from one thing to another without settling. His confession about Rishi had been a breakthrough, but Joey sensed that Rael was still ensnared by the past.

That needed to change.

Scene 1: An Invitation to Something New

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Students streamed out of the room in waves, but Rael, as usual, took his time gathering his things. Joey waited for him at the door.

"Hey," Joey said casually. "Wanna go somewhere?"

Rael barely glanced his way. "Somewhere?"

"Yeah. Just… somewhere. Anywhere. You, me, a little adventure." Joey grinned. "We don't have to do anything major, just—y'know, break out of your usual routine."

Rael slung his bag over his shoulder, looking skeptical. "Why?"

"Because you look like you could use a break. And because I'm great company." Joey wiggled his eyebrows.

A flicker of a smile crossed Rael's lips before it disappeared. "I don't know…"

Joey tilted his head, pretending to think. "Okay, how about this: if you come with me, I'll buy you something sweet."

Rael shot him a deadpan stare. "Are you bribing me with food?"

"Absolutely."

A sigh escaped Rael's lips, but there was a hint of softness in his expression. "…Fine."

Joey's grin widened. Step one of Operation: Get Rael to Enjoy Life—complete.

Scene 2: The Encounter with Rishi and Maya

The two of them found themselves at a cozy café near the school. It was nestled in a quiet corner of the city, the kind of place Joey thought Rael might actually enjoy. The atmosphere was inviting, with soft jazz playing in the background and the aroma of fresh pastries wafting through the air.

Rael sat across from Joey, stirring his drink absentmindedly. He still seemed a bit stiff, as if he wasn't quite sure how to act in a place like this. Joey made a mental note to take him out more often.

"Do you always overthink things, or is this a special occasion?" Joey teased, taking a sip of his iced coffee.

Rael rolled his eyes. "I don't go out much."

"No kidding," Joey replied. "That's why I brought you here. You're in a café, with an amazing person sitting in front of you. Try to enjoy it."

Before Rael could respond, the sound of the café door opening caught Joey's attention. His stomach dropped when he saw who walked in.

Rishi and Maya.

They hadn't noticed them yet. Rishi was chatting with Maya, looking relaxed. Maya, as always, appeared effortlessly cheerful. Joey glanced at Rael, waiting to see his reaction.

Rael's fingers tightened slightly around his cup, but his expression remained unreadable.

Maya was the first to notice them. Her eyes widened a bit before she nudged Rishi, whispering something. Rishi turned, his gaze landing on Rael.

Joey braced himself for the awkwardness.

"Hey," Maya greeted with a polite smile as she approached their table. "I didn't expect to see you guys here."

Rael nodded but remained silent.

Rishi lingered beside her, his posture relaxed but his gaze unreadable. "You don't usually come to places like this."

Joey noticed Rael's lips part slightly, as if he was weighing his response. To Joey's surprise, Rael simply shrugged. "Guess I'm trying something new."

Maya smiled brightly. "That's great! We were just grabbing a bite before heading to the library. Want to join us?"

Joey hesitated, but before he could say anything, Rael shook his head. "No, thanks. We're good here."

Rishi's expression remained unchanged, but Joey could have sworn he saw a flicker of something in his eyes—surprise, perhaps? Whatever it was, it vanished quickly. "Alright," Rishi said. "See you at school, then."

Maya waved goodbye as the two walked away.

Once they were out of earshot, Joey turned to Rael. "That was… different."

Rael looked down at his drink, his fingers tapping against the cup. "Yeah."

"You okay?" Joey asked softly.

Rael was quiet for a moment before exhaling. "I think so." He looked up, meeting Joey's gaze. "It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would."

Joey felt a warm sensation spread in his chest. That's progress.

Scene 3: The System's Warning

That night, as Joey lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the system's voice echoed in his mind.

[ Host. ]

Joey groaned. "What now?"

[ You're getting too involved. ]

Joey frowned. "Isn't that the whole point? Making Rael happy?"

[ Yes. But you're forgetting—this isn't your life. ]

Joey's heart clenched. He didn't want to think about that. Not now. Not when he was finally making progress with Rael.

The system continued. Your mission isn't to stay. You will leave when it's complete.

Joey closed his eyes. He understood that. He had always understood that. But why did it feel like a part of him was beginning to find a home here?

Scene 4: A Moment of Happiness

The next day, Joey spotted Rael on the rooftop, a place he often retreated to for some solitude.

"Hey," Joey called out as he approached. "You doing okay?"

Rael glanced at him from the side. "Surprisingly, yeah."

A gentle breeze stirred the air. For a long moment, they both remained silent.

Then, Joey broke into a grin. "Wanna do something fun after school?"

Rael raised an eyebrow. "What kind of 'fun' are we talking about?"

Joey wiggled his eyebrows playfully. "That's for me to know and you to discover."

To his surprise, Rael actually laughed—a soft, genuine sound.

It was a small moment, but it was happiness. And Joey was ready to chase a thousand small moments like this if it meant seeing Rael smile again.

Even if he wasn't meant to stay.