---
The street was quiet, lit only by soft yellow streetlights and the occasional barking dog in the distance.
Kai and Theo walked side by side — not too close, of course. That would feel weird after what just happened.
Kai kicked a pebble.
Theo yawned.
Then—
Theo: "You could've backed off a bit, Drama king. She almost tripped when you leaned in to fix her hoodie."
Kai smirked. "Jealous much? You were the one playing with ice cream flavour on her."
Theo rolled his eyes. "Sorry for being the fun one. Not my fault she laughs at my jokes."
Kai: "She laughs at my jokes too."
Theo: "When?"
Kai: "In general!"
A cat darted across the street. Both boys jumped slightly, then pretended they didn't.
---
They walked a little further, the silence stretching.
Theo broke it.
"Do you… actually like her?"
It was blunt. And awkward.
Kai stayed quiet for a beat.
"I don't know. Do you?"
Theo gave a dry laugh.
"Tch."
---
Kai stopped walking.
"I just want her to be like that always."
Theo stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking up at the stars.
"Same. But pretending like things aren't changing doesn't stop it from happening."
Kai sighed.
"So what? We both like her?"
Theo: "Guess we're both idiots."
Kai smirked.
"At least I'm the charming one."
Theo: "Charmingly annoying, maybe."
They laughed. It was real. But there was something else beneath it — a quiet storm neither of them could ignore much longer.
---
As they parted ways near Kai's street, Kai called out,
"Hey… no matter what happens—"
Theo interrupted,
"She better not choose you."
"Oh, shut up."
They both glare to each other, but the tension lingered like the chilly night breeze.
Something was coming.
And they both felt it.
---