The evening sky slowly darkened as students gathered on campus with their luggage.
Excitement filled the air.
The beach trip had finally begun.
Adrian and Victor were already there, standing near the entrance.
Victor leaned against a pillar casually.
Adrian checked the time.
"Where are they…"
Right then—
Ryan and Ethan walked in together.
Victor immediately straightened and walked toward Ryan with a smirk.
Ryan froze slightly.
Victor leaned closer.
"So… how did it taste?"
Ryan blinked.
"What?"
Victor smirked wider.
"Exactly what you're thinking."
Ryan's eyes widened.
"…What are you talking about?"
Victor leaned even closer and whispered,
"The kiss."
Ryan instantly hit Victor's arm.
"Shut up!"
Victor laughed.
Adrian noticed them.
"What's going on?"
Ryan quickly shook his head.
"Nothing!"
Victor added casually, "Yeah, nothing."
Adrian narrowed his eyes slightly—but didn't press further.
Soon, the bus arrived.
It was already 7:00 PM.
Everyone had dinner beforehand and started boarding.
The bus was a sleeper class, with paired berths.
As expected—
Victor sat with Ryan.
And Adrian sat with Ethan.
The bus started moving slowly.
City lights faded into darkness.
Ethan sat near the window, quietly staring outside.
The faint reflection of passing lights flickered across his face.
Adrian sat beside him.
But his attention wasn't on the road.
It was on Ethan.
Adrian leaned slightly closer.
Ethan suddenly turned—
And froze.
Adrian was too close.
Startled, Ethan pushed him lightly.
"What are you doing?"
Adrian didn't react.
"Nothing."
He handed him a juice bottle.
"You look tired. Drink."
Ethan blinked.
"…Thanks."
Meanwhile, on the other side—
Ryan sat quietly.
He was unusually silent.
Victor noticed.
"You're quiet today."
Ryan looked away.
"…Nothing."
But something felt off.
Ryan shifted slightly.
There was a faint warmth near his neck—
near his glands.
Victor noticed immediately.
Even without looking directly—
he could sense it.
The faint release of pheromones.
Ryan's scent—fresh citrus with a soft sweetness—was slightly stronger than usual.
Victor's expression softened.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a chocolate.
"I know you like this."
Ryan looked at him.
Then smiled softly.
"…Thanks."
"Eat."
Ryan nodded.
After a moment, Victor spoke again.
About yesterday.
"That… wasn't intentional."
Ryan looked at him.
"It just happened."
Victor rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Sorry."
Ryan shook his head.
"It's okay."
Victor continued quietly,
"I thought you'd feel uncomfortable."
Ryan hesitated.
Then spoke slowly,
"It was sudden… I didn't expect it."
Victor nodded.
But before he could say anything—
Ryan added softly,
"But that doesn't mean I didn't like it."
Victor froze.
"…What?"
Ryan turned his face away, clearly embarrassed.
Victor leaned closer.
"What did you say?"
Ryan didn't reply.
But—
His pheromones betrayed him.
Victor could clearly sense it now.
That faint sweetness in the air.
Victor's expression changed.
He leaned closer and whispered near Ryan's ear—
"Control yourself."
Ryan immediately pulled the blanket over himself.
"H-hey!"
Victor smiled slightly and lay down beside him.
Then—
he pulled Ryan gently into his arms.
Ryan didn't resist.
Instead, he relaxed slowly.
And soon—
they both fell asleep like that.
On the other side of the bus—
The lights were turned off.
Darkness filled the space.
Ethan had already laid down.
But the moment the lights went off—
He instinctively grabbed Adrian's arm.
Adrian looked at him.
Then remembered.
He's scared of the dark.
Without saying anything—
Adrian lay down beside him.
Then gently pulled him closer.
Ethan hesitated.
For a moment.
Then—
instinctively—
he held onto Adrian.
Adrian's arm wrapped around him naturally.
This time—
it didn't feel awkward.
It felt… familiar.
Safe.
Adrian looked at him quietly.
That faint scent again.
Still there.
Still hidden.
But now—
he knew the truth.
Ethan slowly relaxed against him.
And within minutes—
he fell asleep.
The bus moved steadily
through the night.
Two pairs.
Two different stories.
But both—
getting closer with every passing moment.