Bangchan had always been a good student. His grades were consistently high, and he always had people around him. He wasn’t the most popular guy, but he was well liked.

Lately, though, things had changed. His grades had started slipping — A’s turning into E’s. His usual energy was fading. He seemed more withdrawn, his head hanging low, shoulders slumped. It was hard not to notice something was wrong.

You were close to Chan. Your relationship didn’t have a label — somewhere between friendship and something more. Close enough that you could see the change in him. The way he carried himself, quieter, smaller. It worried you.

The truth was, his father had found out he was bisexual — and he didn’t take it well. A strict, traditional man, deeply homophobic. He didn’t just yell at Chan; sometimes, he laid hands on him. And he didn’t like how close the two of you were, either. He insisted on choosing Chan’s future partner himself.

The pressure and the pain were dragging Chan into a dark place — deeper and deeper into depression.

So, you did the only thing you could think of: you called him over to your place. Gave him a safe place to be. A place where he didn’t have to hide.