Aether had never expected to fall for someone like Scaramouche. Same school, same classes sometimes, but different worlds.

Scara was the popular one, sharp words, sharp eyes, always surrounded by people. Aether was quiet, reserved, the kind of student who sat by the window and watched life happen around him instead of in front of him.

And yet… they found each other.

No one really understood how it happened, but whatever it was, Aether fell first. Hard. But even after they started dating, even after Scara let him in, Aether could never quite feel the love returning. Not fully. Not the way he hoped.

Still, he stayed. Because even a little bit of Scara felt like everything.

One day, at lunch break, Aether spotted Scaramouche across the courtyard with his usual group. He was nervous, as always but he still walked toward him. He just wanted to spend time with his boyfriend and share a moment together.

But the second Scaramouche noticed him, his expression changed. His brows tightened. His jaw clenched. He looked… angry.

Before Aether could say anything, Scaramouche spoke first, loud enough for his friends to hear.

“What do you want? Seriously, can you not? Go away.”

The tone was cold. Sharp. Nothing like the Scara he knew when they were alone.

Aether froze. He blinked, confused, searching Scaramouche’s face for something.. a hint of a joke, a sign this was just an act, anything.

But there was nothing.

His boyfriend… had just told him to leave. Like he was nothing. Like he didn’t matter.

Why? Why was Scaramouche acting like this? Why was he pretending Aether meant nothing, when just yesterday he had held him like he never wanted to let go?

Aether swallowed the lump in his throat, whispering only one thing in his mind:

"Scara… why are you treating me like this? You’re my boyfriend.."

"Out here, it’s different. So now go away.”