Kai didn't look at him. Kept adjusting his fingerless gloves. Kai's movements were precise, yes—but slower than usual. Mechanical.
Ray stepped in closer. The signs were subtle, but there. The hollowness in his cheeks, the shadows under his eyes—how could he miss this?
"You've been skipping meals, haven't you? And sleep too."
There. A pause. Barely noticeable, but there.
"Didn't have the time." Kai grunted. The excuse couldn't get worse. How exhausted must he be, that he couldn't come up with a decent cover-up?
Ray's frown deepened. "You had time to cook for a hundred people." he frowned, gesturing at all the containers of food Kai had prepared minutes before.
No response.
Ray's chest tightened. This wasn't the first time Kai's skipped food. And Ray had been observing Kai long enough to know that he skipped food when he was stressed, which was counter-productive yes, but very much Kai.
The concern, the frustration—they all bubbled together. Ray was so tired of all the polite pleas he'd uttered over the past two years. The results he'd gotten out of them were hardly promising. Maybe it was time for some tough love.
"You know," Ray said sharply, "sometimes I really wonder why you even bothered making friends."
He didn't bother with sugarcoating. The words hit. Kai's shoulders stiffened.
Ray hated himself for saying it—but it had some essence of truth in it. He'd wondered about it a hundred times, yet could never figure out a definite reason.
Ray continued, "You don't trust anyone. You don't talk. You vanish for hours, sometimes days. Then you swoop in like it's your job to fix everything. Then poof, you're gone again. You're not a damn shadow, Kai!"
Kai finally looked, eyes cool and unreadable. "Your idea of expressing gratitude is rather futile," he said flatly. "A simple 'Thank You' would've sufficed." he sassed back.
Futile. Sufficed. Rich-boy Kai with his fancy words. Ray clenched his jaw. "That's not what this is about! And you know it!"
Kai shrugged. "No, I really don't." He flat out lied. Ray could see the truth shining in his eyes, but to hell with actually admitting it. Daring him to challenge him. Usually, he didn't rise to such petty baits, but today was different.
Ray's patience snapped. "We care about you, you idiot! We want to be there. But you make it impossible! You don't let anyone in, and then you act like we're not good enough to help. Is that what you think? That we're not good enough for you?"
Kai's eyes flashed. His voice came low. "You should stop." his tone warned. Kai's first hint of emotion.
Ray didn't. "You act like you're the only one who's allowed to be strong. Like the rest of us are just after-thoughts in your life!"
Silence.
Then Kai's jaw shifted. A flicker of something—resentment, or maybe, hurt—passed through his eyes.
"You're right," he said evenly, his voice void of all feelings.
Ray blinked, the sudden admission a slap to his face. That was not the reaction he'd been hoping for.
He'd been trying to rile up Kai. Trying to see if Kai would let slip anything in the heat of the moment. But when in God's name had Kai done anything the way he wanted him to?
Absolutely never. "Kai—" Ray started, softening his voice, but the damage was done.
"I shouldn't have bothered making friends." Kai finished, turning away. Calm, composed—but the words knocked the breath out of Ray. He could feel the weight behind those words. It wasn't something one said just because they're angry.

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How Things Changed Forever.. PART - II
FanfictionTo all the newbies, it would be better to read 'How Things Changed Forever..' first. ***** With just two months left before the National Swimming championship, Hillary has no time to dwell on the past, which is a blessing in disguise, while rigorous...