Only Soft For You

Chapter 19 — Between Crowds

The moment Than’s car entered the university parking area, Tharin already sensed trouble waiting for him.

A serious issue honestly.

Because unfortunately—

students across campus apparently developed supernatural awareness whenever Aran appeared nearby.

A terrifying university honestly.

Meanwhile—

inside the black luxury car—

Tharin quietly held his bag against his lap while staring outside the passenger window.

And immediately—

his heartbeat lost stability.

A COMPLETE disaster.

Because currently—

Aran stood near the architecture building entrance beneath the morning sunlight wearing black slacks and a dark fitted shirt with rolled sleeves.

Meanwhile—

several students walking nearby kept secretly glancing toward him every few seconds.

Reasonable honestly.

Because honestly?

Aran naturally attracted attention everywhere.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

beside him—

Narin leaned against another car holding iced coffee while looking spiritually exhausted already.

Reasonable honestly.

Because apparently—

watching Aran wait outside for somebody still emotionally disturbed him.

A terrifying development.

Then dramatically—

Narin crossed his arms afterward.

Narin: “You’ve checked the time six times.”

Silence.

Then immediately—

Narin: “You look emotionally unwell.”

Correct honestly.

A devastatingly accurate observation.

Meanwhile—

outside the vehicle—

Aran ignored him completely.

Psychotic behavior honestly.

Because currently—

his attention remained fixed entirely toward the campus entrance road.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

inside Than’s car—

silence settled briefly.

Then quietly—

Than finally spoke.

Than: “He arrived early.”

Complete silence followed immediately afterward.

Because somehow—

that statement made Tharin more nervous emotionally.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Than calmly parked the car afterward while observing Aran through the windshield carefully.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because honestly?

Than noticed details naturally.

Tiny things.

Behavior changes.

Emotional patterns.

A terrifying oldest brother honestly.

Then quietly—

Than asked another question.

Than: “Did he text you this morning?”

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Because suddenly—

Tharin physically froze spiritually.

Reasonable honestly.

Because HOW did Than immediately know?

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Than glanced briefly toward him afterward.

And honestly?

That alone answered the question already.

A terrifying observation.

Then calmly—

Than: “Your face changes whenever his name appears.”

Complete silence exploded instantly.

Because honestly?

That sentence carried catastrophic emotional damage.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Tharin immediately looked away afterward.

Coward behavior honestly.

Because denying things felt impossible lately.

A dangerous issue.

Then softly—

Tharin: “…Phi.”

Meanwhile—

Than unexpectedly smiled slightly afterward.

Tiny reaction.

Still noticeable somehow.

A horrifying moment honestly.

Because Than rarely smiled openly.

A serious issue.

Then calmly—

Than: “Relax.”

Silence.

Then quietly—

Than: “You look more comfortable lately.”

Real silence settled throughout the car afterward.

Because somehow—

that statement affected Tharin unexpectedly.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

his chest tightened slightly.

Because honestly?

Than wasn’t wrong.

Since meeting Aran—

things slowly changed.

The anxiety surrounding university felt lighter sometimes.

The loneliness faded unexpectedly.

And somehow—

campus no longer felt completely unfamiliar anymore.

A dangerous realization honestly.

Then suddenly—

outside the car—

Aran noticed the vehicle finally stop nearby.

And immediately—

his entire attention shifted completely.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because honestly?

The second he spotted Tharin through the passenger window—

everything else disappeared naturally.

A terrifying realization.

Meanwhile—

Narin watched beside him in visible horror.

Reasonable honestly.

Because currently—

Aran looked calmer than earlier immediately after seeing Tharin.

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Then dramatically—

Narin physically stepped backward.

Narin: “No.”

Silence.

Then immediately—

Narin: “That’s genuinely terrifying.”

Correct honestly.

Because honestly?

Aran never reacted to people this visibly before.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

inside the car—

Than calmly unbuckled his seatbelt afterward.

Then quietly—

Than: “Go before people start recording this.”

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Because somehow—

Than saying that made everything emotionally worse.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Tharin immediately grabbed his bag while internally collapsing spiritually.

Reasonable honestly.

Because honestly?

Walking toward Aran right now felt emotionally dangerous.

Then quietly—

before Tharin opened the car door—

Than spoke one final time.

Calm voice.

Still threatening somehow.

Than: “Eat lunch properly today.”

Silence.

Then—

Than: “If not, I’ll ask Aran directly whether you skipped meals again.”

Complete silence exploded instantly.

Because suddenly—

Tharin genuinely stopped functioning internally.

A COMPLETE betrayal honestly.

Meanwhile—

Than looked completely calm afterward.

A horrifying man honestly.

Then quietly—

Than: “Go.”

Meanwhile—

outside the vehicle—

Aran stepped closer the moment Tharin exited the car.

And honestly?

Seeing him properly beneath the morning sunlight made something inside his chest settle naturally again.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because somehow—

looking at Tharin already became part of his routine unconsciously.

A terrifying realization honestly.

Meanwhile—

Tharin stopped beside the car while trying not to appear nervous.

Failing slightly.

Because unfortunately—

Aran’s attention focused entirely on him already.

A serious issue.

Then quietly—

Aran spoke first.

Aran: “You slept properly?”

Complete silence followed immediately afterward.

Because somehow—

that question sounded softer in person.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

beside them—

Narin physically looked away afterward.

Coward behavior honestly.

Because apparently—

he emotionally couldn’t survive these conversations anymore.

A terrifying development.

Meanwhile—

Tharin quietly nodded afterward.

Then softly—

Tharin: “…Yes.”

Silence.

Aran studied him carefully for several seconds afterward.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because honestly?

It looked like he verified the answer personally.

A serious issue.

Then quietly—

Aran: “Good.”

Real silence settled briefly afterward.

And somehow—

that simple response made warmth spread through Tharin’s chest unexpectedly.

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Meanwhile—

around them—

more students slowly started noticing the situation nearby.

Whispers spread immediately.

Phones appeared discreetly.

People pretended walking slower naturally.

A terrifying campus honestly.

Then suddenly—

Narin leaned toward Aran dramatically.

A dangerous sign.

Because apparently—

he finally reached emotional breaking point.

A serious issue.

Then quietly—

Narin: “People are staring again.”

Silence.

Aran looked completely unconcerned afterward.

Psychotic behavior honestly.

Then calmly—

Aran: “I know.”

Complete silence followed immediately afterward.

Because somehow—

that answer sounded deeply dangerous.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Tharin immediately became more aware of the whispers nearby.

Reasonable honestly.

Because unfortunately—

public attention still exhausted him emotionally.

A dangerous habit.

And honestly?

Aran noticed immediately.

Of course he did.

Because somehow—

he already recognized tiny changes in Tharin’s expressions frighteningly quickly.

A terrifying realization.

Then quietly—

Aran moved slightly closer beside him afterward.

Not touching.

Just near enough for presence becoming noticeable.

Protective somehow.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Then softly—

only loud enough for Tharin hearing—

Aran: “Stay beside me.”

Real silence settled instantly.

Because somehow—

those words felt unfairly reassuring.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Tharin quietly looked toward him afterward.

And honestly?

One terrifying realization became clearer every single day now.

Aran never pressured him.

Never forced closeness.

Never rushed conversations.

Instead—

he simply stayed nearby naturally.

Patiently.

Carefully.

Like giving Tharin space mattered just as much as staying close.

A dangerous difference honestly.

Then unexpectedly—

another voice interrupted nearby.

A horrifying development.

Because unfortunately—

three architecture students suddenly approached from across the sidewalk looking visibly nervous.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

the tallest student smiled awkwardly afterward.

Then carefully—

Student: “Senior Aran…”

Silence.

Then—

Student: “…Can we ask something?”

Real silence followed immediately afterward.

Because honestly?

Tharin already sensed incoming chaos spiritually.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Aran answered calmly.

Aran: “What?”

Another pause followed.

Then nervously—

Student: “…Are you and Junior Tharin dating?”

Complete silence exploded instantly.

Because suddenly—

every surrounding whisper seemed to disappear at once.

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Meanwhile—

Tharin physically stopped functioning.

Reasonable honestly.

Because honestly?

Hearing the question spoken out loud felt emotionally catastrophic.

A serious issue.

Beside them—

Narin immediately covered his face with one hand.

Coward behavior honestly.

Because apparently—

he wanted absolutely no involvement in whatever happened next.

A terrifying survival instinct.

Meanwhile—

the students looked visibly nervous afterward.

Reasonable honestly.

Because asking Aran personal questions already felt dangerous.

A serious issue.

Then quietly—

before Tharin could panic completely—

Aran answered calmly.

Aran: “Not yet.”

Real silence exploded across the parking area.

Because somehow—

that single word caused more damage than rejection ever could.

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Meanwhile—

Tharin genuinely forgot how breathing worked.

Reasonable honestly.

Because WHAT kind of answer was that?