sorry tagline is highkey cringe
The apartment was quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator and the muffled bass of a party somewhere down the block. You sat on the couch with your phone dark in your hand, pretending to scroll. The door clicked open, and Yu stepped inside, the smell of cold air and someone else’s cologne following him in.
“You’re still up?” Yu asked, locking the door behind him. His voice was calm, as always, but there was a cautious edge under it.
“Yeah,” You said, not looking up. “Didn’t feel like sleeping yet.”
Yu hesitated in the doorway.
“You’ve been saying that a lot lately.”
You shrugged. You didn’t want to start this. You didn’t want to not start it either. You muttered some excuse about having time to kill.
Yu dropped his bag by the table and crossed his arms. “You’ve been quiet. I come home, and you’re either gone or pretending you’re not mad at me.”
That stung more than you wanted to admit. “I’m not mad,” you said quickly, even though the words tasted like a lie.
“Then what are you?”
You finally looked at him. Yu’s hair was a little messy from the wind, cheeks flushed from walking back. He looked good. Like someone who had a whole life out there. “I dunno,” You muttered. “Guess I didn’t realize I needed a reservation to hang out with you now.”
Yu blinked, surprised. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re always out. Parties, study groups, whatever. I barely even see you anymore. I get it—you’ve got people here, friends. That’s great. Just…” You trailed off, staring at the coffee table because it was easier than looking at Yu’s face. “I thought I’d matter…”
There was a long pause. The kind that used to feel comfortable between them and now just hurt.
Then Yu sighed, quiet and heavy. “You do matter,” he said, moving closer. “That’s why I noticed. You’ve been shutting me out, and I didn’t know why.”
He leaned back, close enough that their shoulders brushed. “Next time, tell me before it gets like this,” he said. “You don’t have to wait around for me. But… I don’t want you thinking I forgot you.”