Chapter Text
Bangkok never slept. The Thai metropolis was a living organism, vibrating to the rhythm of its vast population. The sky was cut through with skyscrapers, gleaming in the sun or twinkling with the lights of the night.
In the streets, the sounds of horns competed with the busy murmur of human voices and the melodious sounds of food being prepared in the markets.
It was a city where everything was intense, from the chaotic traffic to the passions that flourished, for better or for worse.
At the heart of this pulsating scene, two figures stood out in completely opposite ways: Milk and Love. Although they were a stark contrast in appearance and personality, fate seemed determined to intertwine their lives, like a puzzle that stubbornly refused to fit together perfectly.
Milk: The Ice Fortress
Milk was all about control. Her every move, her every routine, seemed orchestrated with surgical precision. Every morning at dawn, she would run through the tree-lined streets near campus. She wore the same understated sweatshirt, her headphones playing slow music that drowned out the outside noise and helped her keep her mind in order.
In the small apartment he called home, everything was meticulously organized: clothes folded with military technique, Post-its stuck to a spartan schedule, and a volleyball bag packed the day before another intense training session.
More than disciplined, Milk was introverted and unapproachable. For her, volleyball was more than a sport. Training to the limits of exhaustion was a step towards the top, a step above all others. It was there that she felt the promise of admiration, the disconcerting tug of applause. It was in these moments—rare but definitive—that Milk would, however briefly, allow the bricks of his inner ice to begin to crack.
Raised under the crushing weight of expectations from her mother, a tough and unforgiving executive, Milk had learned to bend without breaking. Her strength and defiance as an adult were not just her nature, but a shield against vulnerabilities she could not afford to have. Have fun? To relax? That wasn't part of his vocabulary.
Love: The Power of Affection
If Milk was as methodical as a Swiss watch, Love was a butterfly guided by the wind. In the mornings, she would exchange the first laughs of the day in the cozy neighborhood café, a space filled with the soft music that she seemed to bring with her in pure presence. There was no room for shadows in Love's universe; everything was colorful, lively, mesmerizing. On the counter, she carried stacks of china and the familiar phrase sung almost every day:
"One more slice of matcha cake, auntie, before I regret it!"
The campus, in turn, was like her improvised stage. Love walked through the hallways with quick, light steps, almost dancing, balancing piles of papers, colorful ribbons and a smile that never seemed to be missing. Her radiant charisma was the mark that distinguished not only her personality, but her family. Raised in a modest but loving home, she had learned from an early age the value of emotional exchange. And this, added to the genuine joy with which she lived her days, made Love a breath of life like no other.
Behind the brightness, there were nuances of pain. Deep within her vulnerability, Love carried a veiled fear of disappointment, but preferred to mask it with flowers and colors. Everything had a purpose, even if it was disorderly.
The difference between Love's chaos and Milk's methodical chaos was this: she loved the unexpected and built refuges in the midst of it.
Between these two worlds, fate had drawn a shocking alignment. It was a blazing afternoon, and the campus was buzzing with conversation. Milk, drenched in sweat, was leaving the gym carrying his water bottle. Love, on the other hand, had her arms full of golden pompoms and vibrant flyers advertising a college game. The encounter was inevitable.
As Milk continued to concentrate, with a furrowed brow and a fixed gaze, a voice echoed in Love's direction:
"Love, Milk passed you by! You won't even stop to provoke your "rival"? What a disappointment!"
Love stopped walking for a second. The reference to “rival” was deliberate and was enough to set her off. Her eyes suddenly sought Milk. The player walked with a steady stride, her hair tied back and a countenance that exuded cool confidence.
Love stared at the other's haughtiness and felt her discomfort turn into pure impulse. Why did she always seem so distant? Superior? The contrasting thread of anger mixed with fascination was inevitable and, to Love, completely uncontrollable.
As Milk walked by without even noticing ( or did he? ), Love pursed her lips, shaking her head slightly and muttering under her breath. Her colleagues behind her laughed and further fueled the spark of antagonism.
"Always with that perfect pose! Ah, Milk..."
---
Yet life seemed determined to cross their paths. Whether through implicit provocations or moments of accidental rivalry, Bangkok seemed to project the two into constant collision. For most, it was simply a story of opposing personalities. For them, however, it felt like a storm was brewing. A kind of connection or confrontation that would upend their lives in ways they were not prepared for.
There, in the heat of that day, no one knew that the two were part of something bigger – something that would soon turn their carefully assembled lives upside down and shatter expectations, routines and emotions. Only the future would tell the next chapter, but the electricity between Milk and Love was already in the air, invisible but impossible to ignore.
---**--**--**--**
Beneath Love’s bright, vibrant cheerleader facade, there were quiet storms brewing. Her charming smile, which drew so many people to her, wasn’t always sincere. Behind it, feelings of self-doubt and exhaustion often lingered, but she rarely let them show.
But the one who saw beyond the surface was Nam, her boyfriend. At first, Nam had been like a hurricane of emotions—exhilarating and irresistible. But as time passed, his intensity stopped warming and began to suffocate Love.
On that sultry afternoon on campus after practice, Love walked lightly through the halls, still clutching her shiny gold pom-poms. She tried to forget her exhaustion, but she could hear hurried footsteps behind her, like a shadow growing. Before she could react, Nam appeared and cornered her against the hallway lockers. His eyes held a gleam that Love had once found fascinating, but now seemed too heavy.
" Love, who was that guy? Who were you talking to after practice? " Nam asked, his words sharp as razors. Love's arms crossed in front of his chest were his only defense.
" Nam ..." she began patiently, but with obvious exhaustion. " We've discussed this before. It was just my lab partner. We're working on the same chemistry project, okay? Nothing more! " Her voice carried a mixture of irritation and tiredness that Nam seemed to ignore.
He brought his face closer, his tone lowered, but with the same unsettling tension. "I know how they look at you, Love. And to you, it may seem like 'nothing,' but to them? They want something more," he said, his fists still clenched and his words biting off.
Love took a deep breath, trying not to react more strongly, even though she felt the words weigh on her like stones. A bitter smile appeared reflexively on her lips. She was tired of this game.
"Nam, you need to stop this. We don't control other people's thoughts, only our actions, and I've never done anything to disrespect you," she replied, her voice firmer now, regaining at least a bit of the control she felt she was constantly losing.
Nam hesitated this time. He scratched the back of his neck nervously, but the tension in his shoulders wouldn’t budge. Still, after seconds of silence, he took a step back, muttering a final warning.
"Okay. But I'll keep an eye on you," he said, before walking away down the halls, leaving Love leaning against the lockers.
As she slowly exhaled, as if holding back her own explosion, she felt a pair of eyes watching her from a distance.
It was Milk. The volleyball player had stopped in the hallway, her water bottle forgotten in her hand, while her attention was absorbed by Love's figure.
The moment she saw her without her usual glow, just her face torn apart by fatigue, caused an uncomfortable pang in Milk's chest. As Nam walked on, Milk remained frozen, capturing every detail of that vulnerability. And it moved her.
Years of living together at a distance had not diminished what Milk carried inside her. She loved Love. Despite their being opposites and often antagonists, Milk could never shake off what she felt. And seeing her trapped in something as suffocating as that relationship only made the weight unbearable.
Looking away before Love noticed her presence, Milk clutched the bottle tightly in her hands before heading to her class. When she arrived in the classroom, she found her friend Ciize, focused on drawing something in her notebook.
Ciize was so absorbed in her creative scribbling that she almost didn’t notice when Milk sank into the chair next to her, looking lost in thought. It wasn’t often that Milk would look so heavy-hearted. This immediately put Ciize on alert.
"What happened, Milk?" Ciize asked, putting down her pen and turning her attention completely to her friend.
Milk hesitated, drawing nonexistent patterns on the table with his finger. An obvious attempt to avoid the conversation.
"Just a rough morning. Nothing major," he replied in a calm voice, but without deceiving Ciize's perspicacity.
"Milk... You're terrible at hiding things. Come on, tell me," insisted Ciize, now with a hand gently resting on her friend's shoulder.
Milk took a deep breath. The secret she was hiding seemed to be pulsing strongly inside her, demanding to escape.
"I saw Love and Nam fighting in the hallway," Milk finally confessed. His voice sounded heavy, as if each word were a burden. "And I couldn't do anything about it. I hated Nam there, but perhaps I hated my inability to change anything more."
Ciize’s eyes narrowed, her expression changing from curious to surprised. She knew that Milk had something special for Love, but she rarely talked about it.
"Milk... This is about how you feel about her, isn't it?" Ciize ventured, delicately.
Milk closed his eyes, nodding slowly.
"Yeah. I've liked her for so long. But it's complicated. We're practically enemies on campus. And then there's Nam. How could I help her without it seeming weird?" Milk blurted, his eyes filled with more emotion than words could convey.
Ciize held Milk's hands, trying to convey some sense of comfort.
"What if, perhaps, what Love needs right now is exactly an unexpected figure like you? You're not just someone who harbors hidden feelings. You're strong. And it seems that Love needs someone like that," Ciize said, her voice low but firm.
Ciize wrapped Milk in a tight hug, a rare gesture between the two, but one that overflowed with support.
Milk sighed, her eyes drifting back to the window. The world seemed peaceful outside, but a storm was brewing inside her.
Under the Surface
On another corner of campus, Love sat alone on a bench near the football field. With the pamphlets still in her hands, she tried to distract her thoughts by drawing small flowers in the corners of the pages. Tears threatened to fall, but she kept them hidden as well as she hid her dissatisfaction with this suffocating relationship. She didn't want to walk on eggshells around Nam, but how could she leave a relationship where the bonds of guilt and jealousy held her so tightly?
---***--***--**-
During class, Milk sat in the front row, as usual. His straight posture and seemingly devoted attention to the teacher were impeccable, but his mind wandered in uncertain territory. His eyes, stubborn, sought Love as if they had a life of their own. Love, sitting two rows back on the other side of the room, was a presence impossible to ignore. And yet, for a brief moment, Milk did the unthinkable and relented: he let his eyes meet Love’s.
For a moment that seemed like an eternity, their eyes met. It wasn't intentional, but it carried a palpable intensity. Love was the first to look away, the pencil twirling rapidly between her fingers to hide her own discomfort. Milk, however, remained motionless, as if trying to decipher a riddle she herself did not understand. It was disconcerting. This dueling stare raised questions that Milk struggled to ignore.
As Love crossed her arms, trying to hide the whirlwind that was forming inside her, an almost inaudible whisper could be heard escaping her lips: Why does she leave me like this? The inner voice that had always screamed its certainty that Milk was just a rival was beginning to grow silent in the face of the confusion in her heart.
At the end of class, Milk quickly gathered her materials and left first, accompanied by Ciize, her inseparable friend and confidant. Ciize, always radiant, let out a spontaneous laugh as she pulled Milk by the sleeve of his sweatshirt, singing the last verse of a pop song that wouldn’t leave her head.
"Shall we go to the cafeteria? Or are you thinking too much again, hm?" Ciize joked, not knowing that she had gotten it right. Milk gave her a slight smile, but inside she felt her heart beating faster. It wasn't just the meeting of their eyes; it was Love, just her, echoing in her mind like an unstoppable song.
On her way to the coffee shop, Love watched Milk and Ciize together once again. Ciize's casual embrace of Milk seemed so natural, but to Love it was like a nudge. A tingle of discomfort crept up her spine, bringing thoughts she couldn't name.
"Could they be... together?" she murmured without realizing it, her voice breaking in mid-thought. She shook her head immediately, as if to dispel the idea. But the feeling was still there, fixed somewhere deep inside. Love tried to take a deep breath, but the tightness in her chest remained.
"This is just concern... for Ciize. She is my friend, after all. It can't be... anything else" he tried to justify himself mentally, while dodging a group of students in the hallway.
It was then that she had the idea of looking for View, her best friend, the only one with whom she could discuss these turmoils she felt. Love found her sitting nonchalantly in the cafeteria, unceremoniously biting into a huge piece of sandwich with her perfectly painted nails.
"View, I need to talk to you about something!" he said, almost begging.
"Love, you've got that look on your face. What happened now?" View asked, perceptive as ever, as she wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.
Love sank into the chair across from him, letting out a sigh so heavy it nearly made the glass of water on the table shake.
"Do you think Milk and Ciize could... be together? Like, dating or something?" she shot back, unfiltered. The question seemed so absurd in Love's own mind that she didn't even know what she expected to hear. Even though it was something small, the thorn of doubt bothered her.
View froze, but soon broke into a mischievous smile, resting his chin on his hand as he stared at Love.
"And if they are? What really matters in this story, Love?" The voice was purposefully provocative. Still chewing, his gaze was an invitation for Love to contradict himself. And Love took the bait, as expected.
"Ciize needs to be focused on training, and Milk... well... Milk is impossible to deal with. That affects the cheerleaders, of course," Love replied quickly, crossing her arms as if to protect herself. But View didn't buy that for a second.
Devouring the scene like someone watching a drama unfold, View responded almost without hesitation:
"Or... maybe, just maybe, you're feeling something you don't want to admit. About Milk, I mean." With that, View took a final sip of juice and stood up with the tray as if he had just spilled the biggest secret possible and left Love alone to deal with it.
The statement resounded like thunder in Love's mind. Her mouth fell open in shock, the words stuck in her throat.
Love was left speechless. View’s words reverberated, shining a light on places in her mind that she preferred to keep locked away. Me, in love with Milk?! This is a joke, right?
The Weight of Emotions
Across campus, away from the hustle and bustle of the cafeteria, Milk sat in her small studio apartment, organizing her life as usual. But that night, nothing seemed to be in order, not even her mind. Ciize had left, and Milk, now alone, stared at the blank wall as if it were a canvas waiting to be filled with hidden truths.
She couldn’t deny it anymore. Every time she saw Love, her heart raced. Every time Love smiled, something inside her melted the usual ice. And every time Love looked shaken, like in that argument with Nam she’d witnessed, something inside Milk screamed to protect her.
" Why is this happening now? " Milk whispered into the void, burying his face in his hands. It was rare for Milk to allow vulnerabilities to show, even when no one was looking.
Love, alone on the other side of town, also couldn't help but have circular thoughts. The image of Milk and Ciize wouldn't leave his head, but now it wasn't just the two of them together. It was Milk. It was the defined features, the intensity in his gaze, that unshakable air that so irritated and... enchanted her?
Love felt her stomach sink at the thought that View could somehow be right. But that was impossible.
" It's just the stress. Tomorrow it will all pass, " he said quietly. But when he closed his eyes, Milk was there again, not as a rival, but as an ongoing mystery to be solved.
---**--**--**
The next morning, Milk and Love's class teacher walked into the room with a peculiar smile on his lips.
"Let's begin our next project, which will be done in pairs. And to ensure maximum fairness—or chaos, depending on your perspective—I'll be choosing the pairs myself!" He paused dramatically, as the entire room held its collective breath.
Milk leaned slightly in her chair, puzzled but unconcerned. Love, on the other hand, with her elbow resting on the table and her head resting on her hand, had the impassive look of someone who seemed tremor-proof. But then came the bombshell.
"Milk and Love will be together!" he announced, in a tone that bordered on the pleasure of watching a social experiment go wrong.
First came the heavy silence. Then came a subtle wave of reactions: surprised looks, muffled laughter, and even the occasional whistle.
Love, in turn, widened her eyes and let out an incredulous laugh. " This has to be a joke ." Her voice was low, but carried a mix of irony and despair.
Milk, however, sat up straighter in his chair and looked directly at Love, his face displaying that crooked, sarcastic smile that caused confusion in any less attentive eye.
Ciize, sitting in the corner next to her, froze when she heard the news. View, who was absently tapping the tip of a pen, looked up with a smile that clearly meant only one thing: amusement. They exchanged glances, but in very different tones.
" This is going to be a disaster ," Ciize muttered, giving up on hiding her concern.
" Or a show, " View corrected excitedly. "Finally, something interesting in this boring university."
Locked by fate, Milk and Love exchanged only a quick glance, followed by an abrupt break in eye contact. But tension was present in every silence, and both tried to ignore the uncomfortable flame burning beneath the surface of neutrality.
Right after class, Milk approached Love. He didn't need an invitation: the professor had already announced that the pairs should work on the project immediately.
"So when do we start?" Milk asked, dryly but never failing to sound confident. She was a fortress, ready to take charge, as she always did.
Love crossed her arms, trying to appear indifferent. But her peripheral vision caught every detail in Milk's eyes, and she absently looked away, staring at some vague point.
"Let's go to the library. We just... cooperate and it'll be over quickly. Easy. Simple." His voice was more hesitant than he'd planned, a tiny flaw that Milk caught immediately, though without commenting.
In the library, silence was the soundtrack that bathed the study tables. Love challenged the atmosphere, throwing drafts and notes in Milk's direction, establishing a field of interactions that felt more like a cold battle than a collaborative effort. Milk, by contrast, remained impassive, raising eyebrows or offering responses that sounded like passive-aggressive comments—which somehow irritated and intrigued Love in equal measure.
At a point when Love was scribbling a casual draft, she let slip a comment that caught Milk off guard.
"Surprising... you like old horror movies. I never would have guessed." There was a genuine hint of curiosity in his voice.
Milk, almost smiling in response, leaned slightly across the table.
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Love." His voice was calm, but there was something else between the lines—something that made Love feel that uncomfortable heat rise up in her face.
When Love dropped the pen, they both reached down simultaneously to grab it, a synchronicity that resulted in a brief, unexpected touch of hands. They both quickly stepped back, caught in a second of suffocating silence before Milk shattered the moment with a giggle.
"A classic of those clichéd incidents," Milk muttered, as he secretly adjusted the draft, trying to reorganize his own feelings that were about to explode.
Love responded with an equally nervous laugh. "Just refrain from accusing me of plagiarism in this exchange. That would be the opposite of cliché," he countered, trying to regain ground.
And so, little by little, stripped of the walls they both carried, they began to connect through previously invisible cracks.
A Storm of Emotions
While Love and Milk navigated this strange new territory, at the other end of the library, Ciize and View observed every detail of their interactions. It was like watching a powerful, suspenseful plot unfold.
"They work together. It's strange to see this happening." Ciize whispered, almost to herself.
"Of course they do. That's the essence of drama, Ciize. Two people forced to collide until they realize they support their worlds on the same foundations. It's terribly romantic, and I love it." View replied, with a confident little smile.
"This looks like another disaster waiting to happen," Ciize insisted, covering up her concern.
And chaos, perhaps, was not so far away. As they shared ideas, exchanged smiles and brief moments of lightness, they both knew that something was forming between them.
Something that shouldn't have happened, but seemed inevitable. What was once rivalry was now a confusion of disturbing glances and never-before-accessed reflections. Love and Milk were a storm, but this time, instead of fear, there was curiosity—as if they were willing to face the lightning together.
Over the past few days, Milk and Love's study sessions had become an unexpectedly comfortable, if tension-filled, routine. Love was starting to arrive at the library early, as if the anticipation of being near Milk compelled her not to waste any moment. The silences were great, but they never seemed empty; on the contrary, it was in them that Love's heart began to speak louder.
Sitting across from Milk, Love pretended to be reviewing her notes. But in reality, her attention drifted every time Milk absentmindedly moved her hair or chewed on the cap of her pen while thinking. Without realizing it, Love sighed as she watched her colleague’s concentrated face. Milk looked up and, for a second, caught Love’s interested gaze. The smile that tugged at the corner of her lips made Love lower her head, disguising the blush on her cheeks.
She couldn't explain it, but that glint in Milk's eyes, once so irritating, now seemed to unsettle her. " Why is she always on my mind ?" she thought.
Since when did her rival... or maybe not so much of a rival... awaken this kind of restlessness within her?
Glory in the Gym
Hours later, Milk stood on the court, completely in his element. He was leading his volleyball team in a decisive match. Every move, from serve to attack, was made with relentless precision and power. Milk seemed invincible, and the gym was filled with applause and cheers that echoed loud enough to shake the structures.
In the stands, the cheerleaders gave it their all, synchronizing their every move. Love wore her usual smile, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. But between jumps, her eyes kept wandering to Milk.
The way she dominated the court, the imposing confidence in her movements, made Love lose his rhythm for a moment.
In the final minute, when the decisive point was scored, the crowd erupted in celebration. Love finally let out a genuine smile, feeling a pride he didn't know where it came from.
As Milk walked back to the locker room, she quickly glanced up at the stands and locked eyes with Love. The two looked at each other for a moment that seemed to last longer than it should have. Something was boiling in the air.
A Night of Conflict
Later that night, the victory party was held for all the students on campus. The atmosphere was filled with loud music, flashing lights, and lively conversation. Milk felt relaxed for the first time in weeks, with Ciize by her side, a glass of soda in her hands. Celebrating accomplishments had always been something she enjoyed, but Love’s presence somewhere at the party made her thoughts restless.
While Milk chatted casually with June, a player from the opposing team, Ciize watched everything curiously.
June was the kind of person who exuded self-confidence; his approach to Milk was fraught with indiscreet flirtation. Milk awkwardly smiled politely as June teased her with comments about her brilliant performance in the match.
On the other hand, Love was close to the dance floor, crushed by the oppressive presence of Nam, who seemed determined to keep her by his side. His hands were possessively on her waist, but Love's gaze was lost.
When he noticed Milk smiling at June, he felt something inside him that he couldn't define: discomfort... or was it jealousy? It was as if the air around him became heavy, suffocating.
"Who is that?" she muttered, not realizing she was vocalizing her thoughts.
Nam noticed Love's disagreement and tightened his grip on her waist, his eyes bloodshot with anger.
"What are you looking at so much, Love?" he asked harshly.
"Nothing..." he replied quickly, trying to avoid a scene. But Nam, as was predictable, did not have the same emotional control.
Nam turned Love around abruptly, holding her arm tightly.
"Don't lie to me! Are you looking at someone? Are you looking at her?" he growled, his voice thick with jealous fury.
Love tried to free herself, but his strength prevented her from moving.
"Nam, you're hurting me!" she protested, her voice trembling slightly.
"Why do you look at other people when you're mine, Love?" Nam shouted, not realizing that he was becoming the center of a public spectacle.
The scene drew attention all around. People stopped dancing, whispers began. From across the dance floor, Milk watched everything, his body stiff with a rapidly growing anger. His eyes were fixed on Nam's, as if he wanted to pierce his soul with his gaze.
Ciize touched Milk's arm, trying to calm her down.
"Milk, please don't get involved in this now. It'll get worse," she whispered, worried.
But Milk stepped forward, ignoring the heat that spread through her body in waves of fury. She didn’t have the patience to watch this. Before she could push through the crowd and confront Nam, someone intervened.
"Is everything okay here?" asked a veteran, standing firmly between Nam and Love.
Nam stepped back, muttering something indecipherable, but not before shooting Love a deadly glare.
"We'll talk later," Nam added before leaving, leaving her there, alone.
Solitary Reflections
Love stood in the middle of the dance floor, feeling the eyes burn into her. But out of all of them, only one seemed to matter. When her eyes met Milk’s from across the room, she saw something she never expected: genuine concern.
Milk looked away almost immediately, but Love knew there was something there. Something silent, but deeply meaningful.
That night, on the way home, Love sat silently beside Nam in the car. He kept apologizing, vowing to control his impulses and promising to be different.
When she finally got home, she closed the door behind her, leaning against it to take a deep breath. The scene from the party still throbbed in her mind, but more than that, the image of Milk seemed to want to embed itself in her head.
"Why does she make me feel this way?" Love whispered, feeling the tears stream down her cheeks. Deep down, Love knew something had to change. The question she would avoid at all costs was: what exactly?
Across town, Milk was also awake. Staring at the ceiling of her dark room, she relived every moment of the party. Her desire to protect Love grew with each passing second, but along with it came a nagging doubt: was Love ready to accept her into her life?
The gulf between them seemed too great, but Milk was increasingly willing to face it, even if it meant confronting her own fears and insecurities.
---**--**--**--**
During class, Love was completely distracted. Her hands were holding her pencil, but her mind was somewhere else... or, more accurately, someone else. Her attempts to pay attention to the teacher failed miserably as her eyes kept returning to Milk, sitting a few seats away. She looked... different. Or maybe it was Love who saw her that way now.
Milk was hunched over her notebook, scribbling silently. Her dark hair reflected the soft light of the room, framing her face in a way that seemed unreal to Love. Milk’s eyes held a tantalizing serenity, and her lips—oh, her lips… Love felt her heart race, a shiver running down her spine.
" Why am I feeling this way ?" she thought, biting her lip. "I have Nam. I love Nam... don't I ? It's just... just a fantasy. It doesn't really mean anything."
She shook her head lightly, trying to clear the wave of disturbing thoughts. Confusing feelings were flooding her. Love, desire, guilt. Something was out of balance, and Love felt like she was about to fall.
The Collapse
Determined to reaffirm her feelings for Nam and erase the shadow of Milk that insisted on hovering over her thoughts, Love planned a surprise. She knew that Nam had soccer practice that afternoon, and decided to pick him up for an impromptu dinner, something that might rekindle the emotion between them.
By the time she reached the field, practice was over. She followed her instincts and headed toward the locker room, but stopped dead when she heard muffled laughter echoing down the hallway. Curious, Love hesitated. She took a few more steps, and what she saw made her heart stop.
Nam was leaning against the wall, his arms wrapped around one of the team's cheerleaders. The girl was smiling cheekily as she kissed him with an intensity that made Love want to vomit. For a moment, she froze completely, unable to process what she saw in front of her.
"How could you do this to me, Nam?" her voice broke, desperate, as tears began to stream down her face.
Nam pulled away abruptly, clearly caught off guard.
"Love, it's not what it seems! It was just a slip, I swear!" he tried to say, but his words had no weight, they only echoed in the immensity of the void that now filled Love.
"A slip? A 'slip'!" she screamed, her voice shaking with rage. "I try so hard for both of us, and this is how you treat me?!"
Blinded by despair, Nam reached out to Love, but she recoiled, trembling with indignation and pain. Without another word, she turned and ran to her car. He called out to her repeatedly, but Love was already far away, her heart broken and her eyes filled with tears.
She drove aimlessly, the city streets blurring around her as deep sobs shook her body. She didn't know where to go, she just let her instincts lead her. And her instincts led her to Milk's house.
A Shelter in the Storm
Milk, clueless, had gone out to take out the trash when she noticed the car parked in front of her house. She frowned, recognizing the hunched figure in the driver's seat. It was Love. And because she had her face in her hands, Milk knew immediately that something was wrong.
She walked carefully to the driver's side, tapping lightly on the window.
"Love? What's wrong?" he asked with concern.
Love lifted her head, revealing red, puffy eyes, her face streaked with tears. She couldn't say anything, just opened the door and collapsed into Milk's arms, allowing the full weight of her sadness to come to the surface.
Milk's heart broke into a thousand pieces when he saw Love like this. Even without knowing what had happened, she knew one thing: she would do everything so that Love would no longer feel alone, not even for a second.
"Come on in," Milk said softly, guiding Love to the couch in her living room. She grabbed a blanket, covering the devastated woman's shoulders as she sat down beside her. "Shh, it's okay. I'm here. You can tell me what happened...or not. Just breathe."
Between sobs, Love told her everything. Each word was heavy and painful, but Milk listened silently, his hand gently stroking Love's hair, offering comfort where he could.
When Love finished, Milk leaned in, cupping her chin gently so their eyes met.
"He never deserved you." Milk's words were firm, spoken with a conviction that shook the stillness of the room. "You deserve someone who sees how incredible you are. Who would never think of hurting you."
Something in Milk’s tone sent a rush of heat through Love’s body. She felt her heart race again—but this time, it wasn’t from sadness or anger. It was different. Her eyes locked with Milk’s, and for a moment the world seemed to stop.
"Milk..."
She could barely whisper. In that instant, her barriers began to crumble. Before she could think, her lips met Milk's.
Milk froze in initial shock, but soon responded. She had dreamed of this moment since elementary school. Cupping Love’s face in her hands, she deepened the kiss, spilling years of pent-up feelings into every movement.
Repressed desire and passion took over. Milk held her firmly but gently, as if he didn’t want Love to break under his touch. Love, in turn, surrendered herself to the moment, feeling more alive than ever. It was as if all the pain and uncertainty disappeared, leaving only the intensity of that moment.
When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless. Love looked at Milk, her face marked by desire, but also by fear.
"I... I've never felt like this before," Love admitted, her voice shaking.
Milk smiled, her fingers pulling a strand of pink hair away from Love's face.
"Neither do I...but I've wanted this since the day I met you," Milk said sincerely, his voice thick with vulnerability.
The night unfolded into more conversation, laughter, and stolen kisses. For the first time, they were free to explore the feelings they had buried for so long. For a few hours, the world around them didn't matter. In that moment, there was only Milk and Love.
---**--**--**
In the days that followed, the relationship between Milk and Love took shape like never before. There was a calm and, at the same time, an indescribable chaos that surrounded them whenever they were together. It was as if the whole world finally made sense, but it required both of them to pay the price for this revelation. The love between them was new, intense, but not free from internal and external conflicts.
Despite her tacit silence about what had happened with Nam, Love knew she couldn’t avoid it forever. Milk knew it too, but she didn’t push. She was patient; she understood that Love still carried the remnants of a toxic relationship that needed to be confronted and overcome.
The Confrontation with Nam
One hot afternoon, Love decided she needed to close this chapter once and for all. She met Nam at the café they both frequented. He arrived late, as usual, but with the familiar expression of someone who thought everything could be solved with a few empty promises and a forced smile.
"Love, before you say anything, I want to apologize for everything," he began, his voice too rehearsed to be honest. "I messed up, but we can get through this. I know you still love me."
She looked at him, feeling the old familiarity slowly being replaced by something more solid: certainty.
"Nam, I loved you. I loved you so much, and maybe that blinded me to what our relationship really was," Love said, her voice firm but without losing its tenderness. "But the time has come to admit that this love has become a prison for me, one that I no longer want to carry.
Nam looked irritated for the first time, as if rejection was something impossible to accept.
"Is this because of her? Milk?" he asked, his voice rising a little higher than necessary.
Love hesitated, but maintained his composure.
"It's not about her. It's about me. About rediscovering myself. And yes, Milk also helped me realize that love isn't about hurting, Nam. It's about healing, about growing together, and there's none of that between us. Not anymore."
Nam snorted, standing up from the table abruptly.
After that confrontation, an immense weight was lifted from Love's shoulders. She returned to Milk's apartment, where she knew she would find the one person who truly understood her. Milk was sitting on the couch, reading a book, but her expression softened when she saw Love walk through the door.
Love walked straight to her, sitting down next to her.
"I talked to Nam today," Love began, unsure of how to approach the subject.
Milk put the book down on his lap and turned fully to face her, his eyes attentive but welcoming.
"And how was it?"
"It was liberating. It was necessary," Love replied, taking Milk's hand. "And it made me realize that... when I'm with you, I feel whole. Like I can finally be myself without fear."
Milk smiled softly, her gaze shining with a mixture of relief and genuine love.
"I never wanted to rush anything, Love. All I want is for you to feel free to be who you really are, whether with me or without me," Milk said, with disarming honesty.
Love stared at her for a moment, before leaning in and letting her lips meet Milk's. This time, the kiss didn't come from desperation or uncertainty, but from a new confidence, a decision that what they were building was real and worth living.
The whispers started before they even realized it. Looks of surprise, disbelief, and perhaps even disapproval followed them through the halls. Every little gesture—the intertwined fingers, the exchanged smiles, the touches that seemed commonplace—was watched closely. Love could feel the weight of those gazes building on her shoulders, but all she had to do was look to the side and see Milk for her feet to stay steady. Milk seemed unfazed, but he gripped Love's hand tighter, making it clear that he was there for her no matter what.
Until he showed up.
Nam appeared at the end of the hallway, his eyes immediately colliding with Love’s. His expression was a mix of shock and fury—veins standing out on his neck as his mind clearly tried to process what he saw before him. The silence that fell over the room was deafening. Everything seemed to slow down as he began walking toward them, his posture rigid.
"Babe, what the hell is this?" Nam growled, stopping in front of them. His voice came out louder than he intended, drawing even more attention from the curious people around.
Love took a deep breath. Her heart felt like it was going to explode in her chest. But Milk, noticing her hesitation, gently squeezed her hand, a quiet, comforting force that reminded Love of why she was here.
"Don't call me love, Nam. You lost the right to do so the moment you betrayed me," Love replied, her voice firm but not aggressive.
Nam took a step forward, ignoring the clear accusation.
"So... that's it? You throw away what we had because of her?" He pointed at Milk, venom thick in his words. "Because of a phase? A confusion? Because that's what she is to you, a distraction!"
Milk clenched her fists at her sides, but Love was quicker.
"This isn't about you, Nam. It has nothing to do with phases . It has to do with what I want. Who I want. And who I want is Milk. And I thought you already understood that I was breaking up with you!" His eyes were fixed on Nam's, while his hand remained intertwined with Milk's.
Nam laughed, a bitter, incredulous laugh that echoed through the hallway.
"Who do you want? Love, you don't even know what you're doing! She's manipulating you, obviously!" He gestured toward Milk, but this time Milk decided he had heard enough.
"Hey." Milk finally spoke, his voice low, measured, but filled with intensity. "Love isn't someone you control, Nam. She's smart, independent, and—honestly—much better off away from you."
"Shut up!" Nam snapped, taking a threatening step toward them. "You know nothing about us. Nothing about what we've been through together!"
Love intervened, positioning herself directly between Milk and Nam.
"You're right. Milk doesn't know everything we've been through. But you know what I've learned throughout this whole story? That I spent too much time trying to be what you wanted, trying to save something that you destroyed yourself." Love's words came like a punch, now with her anger and pain overflowing. "And Milk... Milk looked at me like you never did. She listened to me. And most importantly, she reminded me of who I am."
Nam froze, his eyes wide, as if the weight of those words had physically hit him. Around him, the whispers grew louder, but Love ignored it all. It was as if he had finally broken his chains.
"So that's it," Nam grumbled, giving a bitter half-smile and shaking his head. "I see how it is. Good luck with this... mess."
But before he could leave, Love delivered the final blow.
"It's not confusion. It's clarity. It's love. And it's freedom."
Nam turned away, disappearing into the hallway as the whispers continued to grow louder. Love closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. She didn't know if her legs would hold out much longer, but when she felt Milk squeeze her hand again, she opened her eyes and found the soft, encouraging smile she so desperately needed.
Beyond the Confrontation
As they left the hallway, Milk stopped Love next to a tree on campus. She gently pulled Love's hands toward her.
"You were amazing. I know how hard this was."
Love shook her head gently, a lone tear running down her cheek. But this was not a tear of sadness. It was one of relief, of release.
"I don't know what's next, Milk," he confessed, his voice breaking slightly. "But... being with you makes everything seem less scary."
Milk smiled, pulling her into a tight hug and resting her chin on Love's pink hair.
"What's next, Love, is us. Together. Whatever that means or wherever it takes us." Milk pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "And that will be enough.
Love smiled, for the first time feeling that she was finally starting over. They stole another kiss, this one filled not only with passion, but with certainty. And as they walked hand in hand through the campus, facing the looks and the whispers, a new wind seemed to envelop them.
Everyone can whisper, Love thought silently. Because now she finally knew who she was, and for the first time in her life that was enough for her to be happy.
And when Milk squeezed her hand and smiled at her, Love knew it was them against the world. And that was enough.
The New Beginning
The following months were of reconstruction, but also of happiness. Love began to be more open with herself and others. Milk was still her rock, but he was also the hurricane of emotions that made her question everything and grow. The two of them weren't perfect, but together they found a way to face the world.
At graduation, when they were both about to receive their diplomas, Love held Milk's hand tightly, without hiding, even in front of dozens of eyes. It was the symbol that the judgment of others no longer mattered. For Love, being by Milk's side was all that mattered.
As the auditorium lights brightened and the applause echoed, Milk whispered something that made Love smile like never before:
"I love you, Love."
And as the applause swelled around her, Love felt she had finally found not just a passion, but a home.
"I love you too, Milk. More than I ever imagined."
END