It started small.
So small that CJ almost ignored it.
Almost.
"Cy."
"Hm?"
"You're loud."
"Wow," Cy said flatly. "Coming from you, that means nothing."
CJ leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I'm selectively loud."
"You're constantly loud."
"Difference."
"There is no difference."
"There is."
"There isn't."
"There is—"
"Will you two ever stop?"
They both turned.
Sebastian stood a few steps away, watching them with that same relaxed expression.
Like he was used to this already.
Like he belonged.
CJ clicked his tongue. "You're getting comfortable."
"Fast learner," Sebastian replied.
Cy grinned. "See? I told you he'd fit in."
CJ didn't respond immediately.
He just looked at Sebastian for a second longer than necessary.
Then looked away.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "Too well."
Cy didn't notice.
Or maybe she did—and chose not to say anything.
Because she turned to Sebastian, smiling like nothing had changed. "We're going to the canteen later. You're coming."
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
"You don't have to. I already decided."
"That's not how decisions work."
"It is now."
Sebastian laughed lightly. "Alright."
CJ's gaze snapped back to him.
"…You're really just going along with everything she says?"
Sebastian shrugged. "It's easier."
"That's your first mistake."
Cy frowned. "Excuse me?"
"I'm helping him."
"You're corrupting him."
"I'm improving his chances of survival."
"With you?" Sebastian asked.
"Exactly."
Cy scoffed. "Wow. I feel so supported."
"You should."
"I don't."
"Skill issue."
Sebastian let out another quiet laugh.
And that—
That irritated CJ more than it should have.
"…You laugh too much," CJ said suddenly.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "And you talk too much."
"At least I make sense."
"Debatable."
Cy looked between them, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…Okay, what's going on?"
"Nothing," CJ said.
"Something," Sebastian added.
Cy pointed at CJ. "You're being weird again."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You—"
"Drop it."
The tone changed.
Just slightly.
But enough for Cy to pause.
"…Fine," she said slowly. "But you're still weird."
CJ didn't respond.
Because he didn't have one.
And that annoyed him more.
—
By the time lunch came, the noise of the canteen filled the air—voices overlapping, trays clattering, laughter echoing from every corner.
CJ sat across from Cy, with Ezekiel beside him.
Sebastian sat next to Cy.
That—
That was new.
CJ noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
"…You switched seats," CJ said.
Cy blinked. "Yeah?"
"You always sit there."
"I can sit anywhere I want."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
CJ paused.
"…Nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
Because for some reason—
That small change felt bigger than it should have.
"Eat," Ezekiel said calmly, pushing his tray slightly toward CJ.
"You're not my mom."
"Then stop acting like a child."
"I'm not."
"You are."
CJ sighed and grabbed his spoon. "Everyone's against me today."
"You started it," Cy said.
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You—"
"Do you ever get tired of this?" Sebastian asked.
"No," they both answered again.
Sebastian shook his head slightly, smiling.
"…Consistent."
CJ glanced at him.
Then at Cy.
They were closer than yesterday.
Talking easier.
Laughing more.
Like they had skipped steps.
"…You got close fast," CJ said.
Cy shrugged. "He's easy to talk to."
CJ scoffed. "That's questionable."
Sebastian looked at him. "You're questioning my personality now?"
"I'm questioning your judgment."
"Fair."
Cy laughed. "See? He's fun."
CJ didn't smile.
"…Yeah."
The conversation continued.
But CJ spoke less.
Watched more.
And every now and then—
That same strange feeling crept in again.
Uncomfortable.
Unfamiliar.
Unwanted.
—
That night—
It came back.
The dream.
But this time—
It wasn't as broken.
It wasn't as distant.
It was clearer.
Warmer.
CJ exhaled softly, looking around.
"…Again?"
The place felt different.
Not tense.
Not dangerous.
Quiet.
Calm.
And then—
He felt it.
Someone behind him.
Close.
Too close.
A hand brushed lightly against his wrist.
Familiar.
"…You're quiet today."
That voice.
CJ turned slowly.
The face—
Still unclear.
Still blurred.
But closer.
Much closer.
"I talk too much," CJ replied instinctively.
"…Not here."
The voice softened.
"You don't have to."
CJ frowned slightly.
"…Do I know you?"
A pause.
Then—
"…You used to."
That answer didn't help.
But it didn't feel wrong either.
CJ exhaled quietly. "You're annoying."
A soft laugh.
"…You like that."
"Debatable."
The space between them closed.
Naturally.
Like it always did.
Like it had always been this way.
CJ didn't question it.
Didn't stop it.
Because something about this—
Felt right.
The hand that had touched his wrist moved—
Up.
Slow.
Careful.
Resting lightly against his arm.
Then his shoulder.
Then—
His neck.
CJ's breath caught slightly.
"…You're close," he muttered.
"…You always say that."
"And you never listen."
"…I do."
A pause.
Then softer—
"Just not enough."
CJ didn't understand why that sounded sad.
But before he could ask—
The warmth returned.
Stronger this time.
Closer.
Their foreheads touched.
Just like before.
But this time—
It didn't stop there.
The distance between them disappeared completely.
And CJ felt it—
The closeness.
The quiet.
The way everything else faded.
A hand moved gently against his back—
Pulling him closer.
Not forceful.
Not rushed.
Just—
Certain.
Like it knew him.
Like it had always known him.
CJ's fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of the other's shirt.
"…You're real," he whispered.
A quiet response came almost instantly.
"I've always been."
The words sent something through his chest.
Something warm.
Something he didn't understand.
And then—
The moment deepened.
Not in a way that was rushed.
But in a way that felt…
Intimate.
Close.
Like they were the only two people in that space.
Like nothing else mattered.
CJ didn't pull away.
Didn't question it.
Because for some reason—
He didn't want to.
And just as the moment was about to become something more—
Something clearer—
Something that might finally give him answers—
A sound cut through everything.
Sharp.
Loud.
Annoying.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
CJ's eyes snapped open.
His hand reached out instinctively—
But there was nothing there.
Just air.
Just reality.
The sound of his alarm filled the room.
"…Tch—"
He grabbed his phone quickly, turning it off.
Silence returned.
But not the same kind.
CJ sat up slowly, his breathing uneven.
"…What the hell…"
He ran a hand through his hair, staring at nothing.
The dream—
It felt different.
Not like before.
Not like something he could ignore.
He could still feel it.
The warmth.
The closeness.
The voice.
"You used to."
CJ frowned.
"…Used to what?"
No answer.
Because there never was.
He tried to remember the face—
But just like before—
It slipped away.
Blurry.
Gone.
"…This is stupid."
Just a dream.
It didn't mean anything.
It couldn't mean anything.
And yet—
As he got out of bed—
That feeling stayed.
Stronger this time.
Clearer.
Like something was changing.
Like something was getting closer.
And CJ didn't know if he should be curious—
Or afraid.
Because for the first time—
The dream didn't feel like a nightmare.
It felt like something else.
Something dangerous in a completely different way.
Something that made his chest feel tight—
For reasons he couldn't explain.
And the worst part?
He wasn't sure he wanted it to stop.