Only Soft For You

Chapter 20 — Not Yet

The entire parking area seemed to stop breathing after Aran answered.

Not completely silent.

Cars still moved through the campus roads.

Students still crossed sidewalks carrying drinks and backpacks.

Conversations still echoed faintly near the faculty buildings.

But somehow—

around Tharin specifically—

everything froze.

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Because currently—

three architecture students stood nearby looking emotionally destroyed after hearing Aran’s response.

Meanwhile—

Narin physically covered his face beside them like somebody witnessing irreversible damage firsthand.

Reasonable honestly.

Because honestly?

“Not yet” sounded infinitely more dangerous than simply saying yes.

A serious issue.

And unfortunately—

Tharin’s brain completely stopped functioning afterward.

A COMPLETE catastrophe.

Meanwhile—

the tallest student blinked several times before awkwardly clearing his throat.

Clearly terrified.

Reasonable honestly.

Because Aran still looked calm enough to intimidate people naturally.

A terrifying man honestly.

Then carefully—

Student: “…Oh.”

Silence.

Then immediately—

Student: “…Sorry for asking.”

Meanwhile—

Aran looked entirely unbothered afterward.

Psychotic behavior honestly.

Then calmly—

Aran: “It’s fine.”

Real silence settled briefly again.

Because somehow—

his answer sounded far too natural.

Like the possibility of dating Tharin already existed comfortably inside his mind.

A horrifying realization honestly.

Meanwhile—

beside him—

Tharin genuinely considered evaporating spiritually.

Reasonable honestly.

Because WHAT kind of answer was “not yet”?

A serious issue.

Not no.

Not impossible.

Not ridiculous.

Just—

not yet.

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Meanwhile—

the three students quickly apologized again before leaving almost immediately afterward.

Coward behavior honestly.

Because apparently—

they valued survival instincts after all.

A reasonable choice.

Meanwhile—

around the parking area—

whispers spread even faster now.

Students openly stared from nearby sidewalks.

Phones appeared suspiciously near faces.

People slowed their walking speed dramatically while pretending absolutely nothing unusual happened.

A terrifying university honestly.

Then dramatically—

Narin lowered his hand from his face afterward.

And immediately—

Narin: “You genuinely cannot say things like that publicly.”

Complete silence followed instantly.

Because honestly?

That statement sounded painfully reasonable.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Aran looked completely unconcerned afterward.

Then simply—

Aran: “Why not?”

Real silence exploded again.

Because somehow—

he genuinely sounded confused.

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Meanwhile—

Narin physically stared at him in visible horror.

Reasonable honestly.

Because apparently—

Aran truly lacked emotional fear professionally.

A terrifying realization.

Then dramatically—

Narin: “Because normal people don’t answer relationship questions like marriage interviews.”

Correct honestly.

A devastatingly accurate observation.

Meanwhile—

beside them—

Tharin still couldn’t emotionally recover.

Because honestly?

Part of him wanted hiding permanently.

Another part wanted screaming into the nearest wall.

And unfortunately—

a third terrifying part kept replaying Aran’s answer repeatedly inside his head.

A serious issue.

Then unexpectedly—

Aran quietly looked toward him afterward.

And immediately—

his expression softened slightly.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Because somehow—

he noticed Tharin becoming overwhelmed again almost instantly.

A terrifying observation skill honestly.

Then softly—

only loud enough for him hearing—

Aran: “…Was that too much?”

Real silence settled immediately afterward.

Because somehow—

that question changed everything slightly.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Tharin blinked once.

Because honestly?

Most people who overwhelmed others usually didn’t notice.

Or simply ignored it.

But Aran?

He noticed immediately.

And asked carefully afterward.

A dangerous difference honestly.

Then quietly—

after several seconds—

Tharin: “…No.”

Not entirely truthful honestly.

It absolutely overwhelmed him.

But somehow—

he didn’t dislike hearing it.

And honestly?

That realization felt emotionally catastrophic.

A COMPLETE disaster.

Meanwhile—

Aran quietly studied his expression another moment afterward.

And somehow—

he looked relieved by the answer.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Then calmly—

Aran: “Good.”

Real silence settled briefly again.

Meanwhile—

Narin looked spiritually exhausted beside them already.

Reasonable honestly.

Because apparently—

watching these interactions daily would emotionally destroy him eventually.

A terrifying possibility.

Then dramatically—

Narin pointed toward the architecture building afterward.

Narin: “Please go inside before campus gossip accounts start posting conspiracy theories.”

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Because unfortunately—

that absolutely sounded realistic.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Tharin immediately became nervous again afterward.

Reasonable honestly.

Because public attention still exhausted him emotionally.

A dangerous habit.

And honestly?

Aran noticed immediately.

Of course he did.

Because somehow—

his attention naturally stayed focused on Tharin’s reactions now.

A terrifying realization.

Then quietly—

Aran shifted slightly closer beside him while walking toward the building entrance.

Not enough touching.

Just enough presence becoming noticeable again.

Protective somehow.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Meanwhile—

students around them immediately moved aside naturally.

Whispers followed behind them constantly.

A terrifying atmosphere honestly.

Then suddenly—

two business faculty students walking nearby froze after spotting Aran.

And unfortunately—

one immediately pulled out a phone dramatically afterward.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Narin looked moments away from spiritual collapse.

Reasonable honestly.

Because honestly?

Today already felt emotionally exhausting.

Then quietly—

Narin leaned closer toward Aran afterward.

Narin: “You know people are going to talk about this all day.”

Silence.

Aran looked completely calm afterward.

Psychotic behavior honestly.

Then simply—

Aran: “Let them.”

Complete silence followed instantly.

Because somehow—

that answer affected Tharin unexpectedly again.

A serious issue.

Back at his previous school—

rumors always terrified him.

Whispers led to cruelty eventually.

Attention usually became painful afterward.

But beside Aran?

Things felt different somehow.

Because Aran never looked embarrassed standing next to him.

Never tried creating distance publicly.

Never acted cautious because people stared.

Instead—

he stayed beside him naturally.

Like protecting Tharin’s comfort mattered more than gossip.

A dangerous realization honestly.

Meanwhile—

inside the architecture building—

the hallway atmosphere immediately changed the moment they entered.

Students looked up instantly.

Conversations quieted.

Several people nearly dropped their phones spiritually.

A terrifying university honestly.

Meanwhile—

Tharin immediately wanted disappearing again.

Reasonable honestly.

Because honestly?

Walking beside Aran already attracted enough attention.

After the parking lot incident?

Things became infinitely worse.

A serious issue.

Then unexpectedly—

Aran quietly slowed his walking pace afterward.

And honestly?

That small action affected Tharin more than expected.

Because somehow—

Aran always adjusted naturally around him.

Without making it obvious.

Without mentioning it aloud.

A dangerous habit honestly.

Then softly—

while approaching the elevators—

Aran asked:

Aran: “What class do you have first?”

Real silence settled briefly afterward.

Because somehow—

the normal question felt strangely grounding after everything outside.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Tharin quietly answered:

Tharin: “…Architectural drafting.”

Silence.

Then softly—

Tharin: “With Professor Chanin.”

Another pause followed afterward.

Then—

Aran nodded once.

Aran: “Third floor.”

Complete silence followed immediately afterward.

Because suddenly—

Tharin remembered something important.

A COMPLETE disaster honestly.

Aran already memorized his schedule.

Reasonable honestly.

Because apparently—

his emotional stability simply no longer existed.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

beside them—

Narin physically looked toward the ceiling dramatically.

Coward behavior honestly.

Because honestly?

Watching Aran behave like this felt spiritually concerning.

Then quietly—

the elevator doors opened.

And immediately—

students inside the elevator froze after seeing them standing together.

A terrifying atmosphere honestly.

Meanwhile—

Aran calmly stepped aside afterward.

Then quietly—

Aran: “You first.”

Real silence settled briefly again.

Because somehow—

that tiny gesture felt unfairly gentle.

A serious issue.

Meanwhile—

Tharin stepped inside the elevator while trying not to overthink everything again.

Failing completely.

Because honestly?

The closer he became to Aran—

the more dangerous things felt emotionally.

And somehow—

that frightened him less every day.