MY RIVAL BECOME MY LOVER

Chapter 13:The Airport

December 15th came too fast.

Jay woke up and the first thing he saw was two big suitcases by the door of Room 14.

For a second, he forgot. For a second, he thought they were going on a trip together.

Then he remembered.

Today, Brian leaves.

Brian was already awake, sitting on his bed, looking at the room. He hadn't slept much. His hair was messy, his eyes red.

"Morning," Jay said, voice hoarse.

"Morning," Brian said.

They looked at each other and didn't know what to say. What do you say on the last morning?

Jay got up. He went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, came back. Normal routine. Like any other day. Except Brian's desk was empty. His books were gone. His side of the closet was empty, only hangers left.

Jay's chest hurt.

"Did you check everything? Passport?" Jay asked, trying to be normal.

"Yes."

"Charger?"

"Yes."

"Dinosaur socks?"

Brian smiled, just a little. He lifted his pants. Three pairs of dinosaur socks stacked. "I packed 10 pairs. All stolen from you."

Jay tried to laugh but it came out as a sob. "Those are mine! Thief!"

Brian stood up and walked to him. He cupped Jay's face. "Hey. Don't cry yet. Not yet."

"I'm not crying," Jay lied, tears already falling. "It's the shampoo. In my eyes."

Brian wiped them with his thumb. "Your shampoo is always in my eyes too."

They had 3 hours until the flight. Maya and Coach Lee were waiting downstairs to drive them.

Jay sat on the floor one last time. "Can we... one last noodle on the floor?"

Brian sat with him. They didn't even cook noodles. They just sat where they always sat.

"Do you remember our first night?" Jay asked.

"You threw your shoe at me because my alarm was loud."

"You deserved it! It was 6 AM!"

"I fell in love with you that day."

"You did not! You hated me!"

"I did. You were loud, you hummed in the shower, you left your socks everywhere. And I thought, 'Okay, this boy is going to ruin my GPA.' And then you ruined everything else instead. In a good way."

Jay was full-on crying now. "Bri, I don't want you to go."

"I know. Me too. I don't want to go."

"Then don't go."

Brian closed his eyes. "I have to."

"I know."

They sat there until Maya texted: "CAR IS HERE YOU LOVEBIRDS HURRY"

Incheon Airport was huge and cold and full of people hugging goodbye.

Jay pushed Brian's luggage trolley even though Brian told him not to. He wore Brian's #14 basketball jersey over his own clothes. It was huge on him, down to his knees. Brian's name on the back: KIM 14.

"You look good in my jersey," Brian said.

"Of course I do. I make everything look good."

Check-in. Security line. Announcement: Flight to Singapore now boarding.

This was it.

Maya was crying openly. Coach Lee patted Brian's shoulder. "Make us proud, Kim. And come back quickly. Your team needs you. And someone else needs you more."

He looked at Jay.

Brian turned to Jay. Jay was trying so hard to be brave, biting his lip, holding Brian's jersey sleeves.

"Jay..."

"Don't say long goodbye. Just... just say see you soon."

"See you soon?"

"Yes."

Brian hugged him. Tight. So tight Jay couldn't breathe. He buried his face in Jay's hair, smelling his shampoo one last time.

"I love you," Brian whispered, only for Jay to hear.

"I love you too. Video call me when you land?"

"First thing."

"And wear dinosaur socks on plane?"

"Already wearing."

Jay laughed and cried at the same time. "Stupid."

Brian pulled back. He took something from his pocket. A small key. Room 14 key, with a dinosaur keychain Jay had given him as joke.

"Keep this. So you know it's still our room. Even when I'm not there."

Jay took it. His hands shaking. "And you keep this."

He gave Brian a small Polaroid. It was them, last night, under blanket fort, marker still on hand, making silly faces.

Brian put it in his wallet, where his passport was.

Final announcement: Last call for Singapore flight.

Brian had to go.

He kissed Jay. Right there, in the middle of Incheon Airport, in front of Maya, Coach Lee, and 100 strangers. A real kiss. Not a shy one. A promise kiss.

"Let them look," Brian said against Jay's lips, repeating his line from Chapter 10.

Jay nodded. "Let them look."

Brian picked up his backpack and walked to the gate. He didn't look back, because if he looked back, he would not go.

Jay stood there, in that huge jersey, holding the dinosaur key, watching until Brian disappeared behind the gate.

Only then did he break down.

Maya hugged him. "He will come back, Jay. Room 14 boys always come back."

Jay whispered, "What if Room 14 is too quiet without him?"

Back in the dorm, Room 14 was indeed too quiet.

One bed empty. One desk empty. One side of closet empty. But on the wood under Jay's bed, the marker still said:

*B + J = Room 14 - 12/15 Come Back*

*I'll wait. With dinosaur socks.*

Jay lay on Brian's empty bed, wearing his jersey, holding his pillow that still smelled like him.

His phone buzzed.

*Bri:* Landed. 6 hours flight. First thing I did: called you. As promised. I miss Room 14 already. I miss you more.

Jay smiled through tears and typed: *Welcome to Singapore, Kim 14. Your roommate is waiting.*

In Singapore, Brian stood at the airport window, wearing dinosaur socks, looking at a photo of Room 14, and promised himself: 180 days. Just 180 days.

He would come back.