Travelling through worlds to heal hearts

Joey was aware he was treading on thin ice.

The more time he spent with Rael, the more the boundaries began to blur. It was all too easy to forget that his stay here was temporary, that his mission had a definitive conclusion.

Yet, despite the constant reminders, he found himself once again outside Rael's apartment.

"Come in."

Rael's voice was softer than usual, missing its typical sharpness. Joey stepped inside, taking in the dim lighting and the subtle aroma of tea wafting through the air.

"You okay?" Joey asked, closing the door behind him.

Rael shrugged, tossing his jacket onto the couch. "Just a long day."

Joey observed him closely. The usual cool and composed demeanor Rael maintained was nowhere to be found. Instead, he appeared… weary.

Not in a physically tired way, but more mentally exhausted.

Joey hesitated before flopping onto the couch, stretching out in an exaggerated way. "Man, today felt like it dragged on forever. I had to sit through a lecture on the importance of balance in life—like, who actually has balance? I trip over my own feet half the time."

Rael let out a quiet laugh, though it lacked its usual lightness. He poured himself a cup of tea, took a slow sip, and set the cup down with a sigh.

"…You ever try so hard to be what someone wants, only to realize you'll never be enough?"

Joey blinked, taken aback by the unexpected openness.

He sat up straight, studying Rael's face. There was a distant look in his eyes, as if he were gazing into a past only he could access.

"Is this about your parents?" Joey asked softly.

Rael's jaw clenched. He didn't respond right away, but after a long pause, he nodded.

"I spent years trying to be the perfect son," he said quietly. "I tried to meet every expectation, followed every rule, even when it felt like a cage. But it was never enough. No matter what I did, it was always 'You could have done better, Rael.'"

Joey remained silent, simply listening.

"I eventually stopped trying," Rael continued. "I figured if I was going to disappoint them anyway, I might as well stop pretending."

His fingers absently traced the rim of his teacup. "But sometimes, I wonder… If I had just held on a little longer, would things have turned out differently?"

Joey felt a pang in his chest at the quiet admission.

"Rael," he said gently, "you weren't the issue."

Rael let out a short, breathy laugh, though it lacked any real humor. "Maybe. Maybe not."

A heavy silence settled between them. Joey knew he should say something more, offer some comfort, but the weight of Rael's words hung in the air.

So instead, he reached out and playfully flicked Rael's forehead.

Rael blinked in surprise. "What was that for?"

Joey smiled. "For overthinking. Trust me, I'm a pro at nonsense. You should really stop dwelling on the past."

Rael scoffed but didn't push Joey's hand away as he ruffled his hair.

For a brief moment, everything felt just right.

And then Joey remembered—he was never meant to stay.

Scene 2: A Shift in the Air

The next day, Joey immersed himself in his usual antics, trying to shake off the emotions from the night before.

Flirting with a few classmates provided an easy distraction. He didn't mean anything by it—just some harmless teasing and lighthearted compliments.

But Rael was acting strangely.

At first, Joey thought he was imagining it.

But no—Rael was definitely quieter than usual, his gaze lingering on Joey whenever he spoke to someone else.

And when Joey playfully complimented a girl's hair, Rael abruptly stood up from his seat and walked away without a word.

Joey blinked in confusion.

Wait… what?

Maya, who had been observing from nearby, raised an eyebrow. "I think you just did something."

Joey turned to her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Maya smirked. "You're usually the one teasing him, right? But look at him."

Joey glanced over at Rael, who had moved to the far end of the classroom, flipping through a book but not really reading it. His shoulders were tense.

Joey frowned. "Is he… mad?"

Maya hummed. "I wouldn't call it mad. But definitely bothered."

Joey stared.

Was Rael… jealous?

That didn't make sense. Rael wasn't supposed to have feelings for him. Right?

But then Rael turned slightly, his gaze flickering toward Joey for just a moment before he looked away again.

Joey's stomach did a strange flip.

Oh.

Oh no.

Maya nudged him, a smirk on her face. "Looks like you've got some things to sort out."

Joey groaned, resting his head on his desk. "This is not part of the plan."

Maya laughed. "Welcome to the chaos of feelings, Joey."

Joey sighed, shutting his eyes.

The mission was clear. Make Rael happy.

But what was he supposed to do if Rael's happiness started to involve him?