Part IV
1544 Words
The Next Day – College
(Neuw doesn't come to college. Tao notices immediately.)
Tao: (to himself) "Where's Neuw?"
(He waits through the first class. Then the second. Still no sign of Neuw. By lunch break, he's restless. He spots Dee at a table and marches over.)
Tao: "Dee, where's Neuw?"
DEE: (not looking up from his food) "He's sick. Got a fever last night."
(Tao's stomach drops.)
Tao: "Fever?"
DEE: (glancing at him) "Yeah. He looked bad. Burning up. He barely even spoke."
Tao: (frowning) "Did he say why?"
DEE: (narrows eyes) "Why do you care so much?"
Tao: "Because he's my friend."
DEE: "Are you sure it's just that?"
(Tao tenses.)
Tao: "What's that supposed to mean?"
DEE: (leaning forward) "Tao. Neuw was fine before the event. Then suddenly, after you two were in the staff room together, he starts acting strange. And now he's sick? If there's something you're not telling me..."
(Tao clenches his jaw, avoiding Dee's knowing gaze.)
Tao: "Nothing happened."
DEE: (watching him closely) "Are you sure? Because Neuw won't tell me anything either. Which is weird."
Tao: "He doesn't have to tell you everything."
DEE: "And yet, here you are, asking about him like you're worried."
(Tao looks away, sighing.)
Tao: (quietly) "Just... tell me if he gets worse."
DEE: (softly) "You really care about him, don't you?"
(Tao doesn't answer. Instead, he stands up and leaves, Dee watching him go with a knowing expression.)
(Tao can't sit still in class. His mind keeps drifting back to Neuw—his flushed face, his weak voice, the way he didn't even show up today. He taps his pen against his notebook, staring blankly at the board while the professor explains something he doesn't care about.)
(Tao huffs, running a hand through his hair. His patience is wearing thin. He needs to see Neuw. Now.)
(When the class ends, he wastes no time. Ignoring his friends' questions, he quickly grabs his bag and slips out of the campus, heading straight for the hostel.)
(The hostel is quieter in the morning since most students are in class. Tao moves carefully, keeping his head low as he passes by the warden's office. If he gets caught, he'll have a hard time explaining why he's here.)
(Finally, he reaches the corridor where Neuw's room is. He slows down, standing in front of the closed door, his heart hammering in his chest.)
(Tao takes a deep breath, staring at the door handle. He clenches and unclenches his fists, debating what to do.)
Tao (muttering to himself): "Why am I acting like an i***t?"
(He lifts his hand, hesitating for a moment before lightly knocking on the door.)
(No response.)
(Tao frowns. He knocks again, this time louder.)
On the other side:
(Neuw is curled up in bed, still feeling a bit weak from his fever. He had barely gotten any sleep last night, his mind replaying yesterday's kiss over and over again. His cheeks heat up just thinking about it. Was it a mistake? Did Tao regret it? What if things become awkward now?)
(Before he can overthink any further—)
Knock, knock.
(Neuw freezes. His fevered brain immediately panics.)
(Who could it be? The warden? Dee? )
(He hesitates, then slowly pushes himself up, wobbling a little as he makes his way to the door. With a slightly shaky hand, he unlocks it and pulls it open—)
(—Only to see Tao standing there, holding a bag.)
Neuw: (wide-eyed) "T-Tao?!"
(His voice comes out weaker than intended, and his panic doubles.)
Neuw: (frantically looks around the hallway) "What the hell are you doing here?! You're not allowed in the hostel during class hours!"
Tao: (grinning, completely unfazed) "Good morning to you too, baby."
Neuw: "I'm serious! If the warden sees you, we're both doomed—"
Tao (holding up the bag): "Relax. I just came to give you this."
(Neuw blinks, noticing the small pharmacy bag in Tao's hand. Inside, there are fever meds, lozenges, and even a small pack of honey lemon tea.)
(His heart does something stupid in his chest.)
Neuw (softly): "You... you brought me medicine?"
Tao: "Duh." (shrugs casually) "You didn't show up to class. How else am I supposed to annoy you if you're not there?"
(Neuw glares, but there's no real anger behind it. His ears are burning.)
Neuw: "I'm fine. You didn't have to—"
Tao (grinning): "You look like you're about to pass out. Are you sure you're fine?"
Neuw: (grumbles) "I said I'm fine—"
(Tao suddenly leans in closer, tilting his head.)
Tao (whispers): "If you're fine, then why is your face turning red?"
(Neuw panics. He quickly grabs Tao's wrist and drags him inside, shutting the door behind him with a loud thud.)
Neuw: (hissing) "Just get inside before someone sees you, i***t!"
(Tao chuckles as Neuw pushes him toward the bed. The room is small, and now that Tao is standing this close, Neuw feels trapped.)
(He's too aware of how Tao smells—his usual mix of citrus and something warm, something dangerous to Neuw's heart.)
Neuw (muttering): "You should have asked Dee to bring the medicine instead..."
Tao (mock gasp): "Are you saying you didn't want to see me?"
Neuw: "That's exactly what I'm saying."
(Tao grins—he's having way too much fun.)
Tao: "Liar."
(Neuw huffs and sits back on his bed, pulling his blanket up to his chin.)
Neuw: "Since you already barged in, just give me the medicine and leave."
(Tao shakes his head in amusement before sitting down next to Neuw on the bed. He pulls out a bottle of water and hands him the pills.)
Tao: "Here, take these first."
(Neuw hesitates but eventually takes the pills, swallowing them quickly before setting the bottle aside.)
(Silence fills the room for a moment. Tao studies him closely, eyes softening.)
Tao: "You really should take better care of yourself."
Neuw: (mumbling) "I was fine until you happened."
(Tao raises an eyebrow, his smirk slowly creeping back.)
Tao: "Oh? So it's my fault now?"
(Neuw doesn't answer. He knows where this is going. He should stop him. He really, really should—)
Tao (smirking): "Wait... don't tell me... you got sick because of the kiss?"
(Neuw's entire soul leaves his body.)
Neuw: "I—" (chokes on air) "—WHAT?!"
(Tao bursts out laughing, clearly enjoying this too much.)
Neuw (flustered beyond belief): "H-HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH A THING?!"
Tao (wiping fake tears from his eyes): "I mean, just think about it—you were totally fine yesterday, and then after we kissed, boom! Fever."
(Neuw wants to die.)
Neuw (gritting his teeth): "That's called coincidence, dumbass."
Tao (leaning closer): "Mmm, I don't know... your body reacted pretty strongly to my kiss."
(Neuw shoves his face into his blanket, refusing to deal with this.)
Neuw: "I hate you."
Tao: (laughs) "No, you don't."
(A beat of silence. Neuw's heart is racing, and he's still trying to recover from the sheer audacity of Tao's teasing.)
(Then—)
Tao (softly): "Do you regret it?"
(Neuw peeks out from the blanket, his lips slightly parted.)
Neuw: "What?"
Tao: "The kiss. Yesterday. Do you... regret it?"
(Neuw stares at him. He knows this is a dangerous question. If he says yes, Tao might pull away. If he says no, then—)
(He doesn't get to finish that thought—because suddenly, Tao moves even closer.)
(Neuw's breath catches. His hands tighten around the blanket.)
Tao (softly): "Because I don't regret it."
(Neuw feels his heart explode in his chest.)
Neuw: (barely a whisper) "You don't...?"
Tao: "Not even a little."
(Before Neuw can stop himself, he finds himself leaning in slightly. His eyes flicker down to Tao's lips, and his breath hitches.)
(And then—)
(Tao closes the gap between them. Their lips meet in a kiss, soft and slow, yet so incredibly warm. This time, Neuw doesn't freeze. This time, he kisses back immediately, melting into Tao's touch.)
(Tao cups Neuw's cheek, his thumb brushing gently against his skin as if memorizing the moment. Their lips move in sync, slow and sweet, filled with unspoken feelings they haven't yet put into words.)
(When they finally pull away, Neuw's entire body is burning—this time, definitely not because of the fever.)
Neuw (breathless): "You... you keep doing that..."
Tao (grinning): "You keep letting me."
(Neuw groans and buries his face into Tao's chest, absolutely done with him. Tao just laughs, wrapping his arms around Neuw's smaller frame.)
Tao (murmuring): "So... can we be boyfriends?"
(Neuw's lips curl into a tiny, shy smile against his chest.)
Neuw: (softly) "Yeah... secret boyfriends."
After Sometime
Neuw sighed and pushed Tao toward the door.
Neuw (whispering): "Go to college now! If the warden sees you here, we're done for!"
Tao just smirked, crossing his arms.
- Writer
