LINES THAT SHOULD'NT BE CROSSED
601 Words
Kai wakes up early. He gets ready and prepares cupcakes for Tyresse to thank him for yesterday.
He waits by the window, watching and waiting.
He sees Tyresse and suddenly shouts.
“Tyresse!”
Tyresse looks back at him.
Kai runs downstairs quickly.
“I’ve been waiting like 30 minutes for you to come out,” Kai says.
“What?” Tyresse replies.
Kai laughs it off and hands him the cupcakes.
Tyresse looks at Kai for a moment, silence hanging between them.
Kai watches him closely, almost holding his breath.
Tyresse says faintly, “Thanks.”
Kai is surprised.
Tyresse walks away.
Kai runs after him.
“If you’re going, let’s walk together,” Kai says.
They walk together.
At school, a group of girls suddenly approaches Tyresse and surrounds him, holding him.
Tyresse’s expression tightens slightly.
He looks uncomfortable.
Kai notices immediately.
Something in his expression changes.
He steps in and pulls Tyresse closer, wrapping his arms around him.
“Get away from my boyfriend,” Kai says.
The girls freeze.
Shock spreads across their faces.
Kai suddenly leans in and kisses Tyresse.
For a second, everything goes still.
“Are you sure now?” Kai says.
The girls slowly step back, then leave.
Kai stands there, heart racing.
Then embarrassment hits him.
He walks away quickly without looking back.
Later, the whole school hears about it and rumours spread everywhere.
Students whisper, stare, and turn as Kai passes.
Kai’s friends confront him, shouting and asking if it’s true.
Kai stays quiet, unable to answer, avoiding their eyes.
Tyresse keeps thinking about what happened.
The moment repeats in his mind.
Again and again.
He suddenly stands up and walks to Kai’s class.
The door opens.
The room falls silent.
Tyresse walks in and drags Kai out without a word.
Everyone is shocked.
They go to the music room.
The door closes.
Silence.
Tyresse looks at him.
“What happened back there?”
Kai’s mind goes blank.
He can’t answer.
He pushes Tyresse slightly and tries to leave.
Tyresse grabs him back.
Pins him to the wall.
Close.
Too close.
They stare at each other.
The air feels heavy.
Kai’s breathing uneven.
Tyresse doesn’t move.
Neither of them speaks.
Kai suddenly pushes him again and walks out.
Later in the day in the cafeteria, Emma storms in.
Without warning, she hits Kai.
The sound echoes.
Kai’s friends stand up immediately.
“What did you do?”
Kai steadies himself and looks at her.
Emma’s eyes are filled with anger.
“Why did you kiss Tyresse?” she shouts, raising her hand again.
Before it lands—
Tyresse steps in.
Grabs her wrist mid-air.
Firm.
Cold.
“I’m not your boyfriend,” he says. “And I will never be. Note that.”
Silence falls.
His gaze hardens.
“And don’t ever lay your hands on him again.”
Everyone goes quiet.
No one moves.
Kai stands there, stunned.
Tyresse lets go of her hand.
Then grabs Kai and pulls him away.
Kai’s friends follow behind, still confused.
Tyresse stops.
Looks at Kai.
“…Sorry.”
Kai looks at him.
“It’s okay.”
A pause.
Tyresse exhales slightly.
“Let’s go home.”
Kai’s friends exchange looks.
Then slowly step back.
“Go,” they say.
Kai nods slightly.
He and Tyresse walk side by side.
Quiet.
No words.
The tension still there.
Tyresse speaks again.
“…Sorry.”
Kai shakes his head.
“It’s okay.”
They reach their apartment.
Stop.
No eye contact.
No explanation.
They go their separate ways.
Into their rooms.
The silence follows them inside.
- Writer
