XH felt it before he fully understood it.
That tightening in his chest was not panic. It was not jealousy alone. It was something older and sharper, something that came from watching a story about someone you cared about being rewritten by people who had no right to hold the pen.
He looked from June to his phone, then back again.
June stood in front of him, posture straight, eyes serious, something newly resolved settling into her expression. She had just walked out of the administration building, out of a meeting that might redirect her entire future. Whatever happened inside those walls had not broken her, but it had changed her.
"What did they say?" XH asked quietly.
June took a breath. "Not here."
The words were firm, but not cold.
XH nodded. "Okay."
Then his phone buzzed again.
JP.
JP: he's still talking. saying they're meeting tonight. people are believing him.
XH closed his eyes for half a second.
This was it.
This was the moment where not acting would become a statement.
He looked at June. "I need to do something."
June studied his face, then nodded slowly. "Go."
No accusation. No demand. Just understanding.
XH turned and walked fast.
Not running. Not hesitating.
Walking with purpose.
The cafeteria was louder now, the post lunch chaos of students lingering, studying, arguing, pretending things were normal. XH scanned faces quickly until he spotted the guy JP had mentioned. Tall. Confident posture. Loud laugh. Surrounded by a small group that was listening too closely.
Kitty stood several steps away with NC and Jihye, her expression calm on the surface, but her eyes distant, guarded. She looked like someone enduring something rather than participating in it.
The guy was mid sentence when XH approached.
"Yeah, she said maybe, but you know how that goes," he was saying, smirking. "Girls like her just play hard to get."
Something inside XH snapped.
He stepped forward.
"That's enough."
The words cut through the noise cleanly.
The group fell quiet.
The guy turned, surprised, eyes flicking over XH with quick judgment. "You talking to me?"
XH's voice stayed steady. "Yes."
Kitty looked up sharply.
NC's posture stiffened.
JP appeared at the edge of the crowd, eyes wide.
The guy laughed. "Relax, man. We're just talking."
XH did not smile. "Then talk about something else."
The guy raised an eyebrow. "And who are you supposed to be?"
XH held his gaze. "Someone who knows you're lying."
A murmur rippled through the group.
The guy's expression hardened. "I didn't lie."
XH stepped closer. Not aggressive. Just close enough to make his presence undeniable.
"You said you had a date," XH said. "You don't."
The guy scoffed. "And how would you know?"
XH glanced briefly at Kitty, then back at him. "Because she didn't say yes. And because spreading rumors about someone's personal life is pathetic."
Kitty's breath caught.
NC's eyes widened.
The guy's jaw tightened. "So what, you her boyfriend?"
XH did not hesitate this time.
"No," he said. "But I'm not letting you talk about her like she's a story you get to invent."
Silence.
The guy looked around, realizing the mood had shifted. The people who had been listening for entertainment now looked uncomfortable.
Kitty took a step forward.
"Stop," she said calmly. Her voice was soft, but it carried. "I didn't agree to anything. And I don't appreciate you talking about me like that."
The guy's confidence cracked slightly. "I was just joking."
Kitty's eyes hardened. "Then learn to tell better jokes."
JP let out a low whistle.
TZ appeared beside him, arms crossed.
NS stood a few steps back, watching everything closely.
The guy looked at XH again, anger flashing. "You got a problem with me?"
XH met his gaze evenly. "Only with liars."
For a moment, it looked like the guy might escalate.
Then he laughed awkwardly. "Whatever. Not worth it."
He walked away quickly, shoulders stiff, dignity damaged.
The crowd dispersed just as fast.
Kitty stood there, heart pounding, adrenaline still buzzing under her calm exterior.
She turned to XH.
Their eyes met.
For a second, neither spoke.
Then Kitty said quietly, "You didn't have to do that."
XH shook his head. "I did."
Her gaze searched his face. "Why now?"
XH swallowed. "Because I'm tired of letting other people decide things for me."
Kitty's chest tightened.
NC glanced between them, then gently pulled Jihye away, giving them space.
JP hovered nearby, pretending not to stare. TZ elbowed him lightly.
NS stayed where he was, expression unreadable.
Kitty took a breath. "People are already stressed. Rumors spread fast."
"I know," XH said. "That's why I couldn't let that one stand."
Kitty's voice softened. "You know what this looks like, right?"
XH nodded. "Yes."
Kitty hesitated. "And you're okay with that?"
XH looked at her fully now. "I'm okay with protecting you."
Her eyes shimmered, just slightly.
Before she could respond, June appeared at the edge of the space.
She had seen the tail end of it.
She walked closer, gaze moving between XH and Kitty.
"So," June said quietly. "You finally moved."
XH turned to her. "I should have earlier."
June studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Yes. You should have."
The words were not cruel. They were honest.
Kitty shifted uncomfortably.
June looked at her. "I don't blame you."
Kitty blinked. "For what?"
"For being hurt," June said. "Anyone would be."
The air between the three of them was thick with unspoken things.
NS approached then, voice low. "Admin's watching."
XH glanced around. A faculty member stood near the entrance, eyes sharp.
TZ muttered, "Time to move."
They did.
The group scattered, tension still buzzing.
XH walked with June toward the quieter path behind the building.
"What happened in the meeting?" he asked.
June exhaled slowly. "They gave us options. Not answers."
XH nodded. "Transfer pathways?"
June nodded. "Yes. And warnings."
His chest tightened. "Warnings about what?"
"About instability," she said. "About risk. About waiting."
XH stared at the ground. "And what did you say?"
June looked at him. "I said I needed time."
He looked up sharply. "You did?"
June met his gaze. "Don't look so surprised. I'm not heartless."
XH exhaled. "Thank you."
June's expression softened slightly. "You standing up back there helped."
He nodded. "I couldn't stay quiet anymore."
June studied him. "That's new."
XH gave a small, tired smile. "I'm learning."
They walked in silence for a moment.
Then June said quietly, "But don't misunderstand."
XH looked at her.
"That didn't fix everything," she said. "You still owe answers."
"I know," he replied.
June stopped walking and turned to him.
"I'm not asking you to choose today," she said. "But I won't accept silence anymore."
XH nodded. "Fair."
June exhaled. "Good."
Across campus, Kitty sat with NC, fingers still trembling slightly.
NC squeezed her hand. "You okay?"
Kitty nodded. "Yeah."
Jihye grinned. "That was kind of hot, not gonna lie."
Kitty shot her a look. "Jihye."
Jihye laughed. "I'm just saying. He finally stopped hiding."
Kitty looked down, heart racing.
He finally stopped hiding.
That evening, XH sat alone in his room, exhaustion settling into his bones.
He checked his phone.
A message from Kitty.
Kitty: thank you. for earlier.
He replied immediately.
XH: I should have done it sooner.
A pause.
Then Kitty replied.
Kitty: maybe. but you did it when it mattered.
XH leaned back, closing his eyes.
Another message came in.
From June.
June: I saw what you did today. don't waste it.
XH stared at both messages.
For the first time in weeks, the pressure did not feel paralyzing.
It felt clarifying.
Standing still was no longer an option.
Not after today.
Not after choosing, even in small ways, to act.
The campus was still unstable. Rumors still spread. Futures were still uncertain.
But something inside XH had shifted.
He had finally stepped into the story instead of watching it happen around him.
And he knew, deep down, that this was only the beginning.
Because once you move, you cannot pretend you never did.