NEW CHARACTER'S
Zack: He’s calm but competitive when it matters. New to the group yet fits right in, and with Hina he’s found someone who matches his pace perfectly.
Chapter — The Boys’ Room
The girls were off somewhere — probably at the library for “serious work” that Felix swore was just code for gossip and coffee.
That left the four of them in the old rec room, sitting around a scratched-up wooden table with a couple of takeaway cups and way too much time on their hands.
Ash had his legs kicked up on the chair opposite him, lazily spinning a pen between his fingers.
Felix sat sideways in his seat, arm over the backrest like he owned the place, already grinning like he was planning trouble.
Zack leaned against the wall with his drink, eyes half-lidded in that “I’m relaxed but also paying attention” way.
Ronan sat near the window, hoodie sleeves pushed up, gaze fixed somewhere outside. His wrist — and the pale blue hairtie looped around it — caught the late sunlight.
---
Felix: “Sooo…” He dragged the word out. “Ash, when’s the wedding?”
Ash didn’t even look up. “The day you finally shut up. So… never.”
Felix: “Come on, man. Don’t act like you don’t enjoy Kira glaring at you like she’s planning your funeral.”
Ash: “She does that to everyone.”
Felix: “Yeah, but you’re the only one who tries to make her laugh mid-murder attempt.”
Zack chuckled quietly, sipping his drink. “He’s got a point.”
Ash shot him a look. “You staying out of this, Zen Master, or you want me to remind everyone about your little sports day crush?”
Zack only smirked, unbothered. “Hina can outrun me on her worst day. I respect that.”
Felix: “Ohhh, so you admit it—”
Zack: “Didn’t deny it.” He shrugged.
Ash blinked. “Wow. That’s… almost boringly mature.”
Felix: “Guess that makes you the only one still in denial.” He swung his gaze toward Ronan. “Well… maybe not the only one.”
Ronan didn’t turn from the window. “What?”
Felix tilted his chin toward Ronan’s wrist. “Nice accessory. Very… sentimental.”
Ash glanced over, eyebrows lifting. “Is that…?”
Felix: “Sarah’s hairtie.”
The room shifted just slightly. Zack’s smirk faded into something more thoughtful. Ash’s pen stopped spinning.
Ronan finally looked at them, expression unreadable. “She dropped it. I picked it up. End of story.”
Felix leaned back, clearly not buying it. “Right. Totally not because you like her or anything.”
For a moment, Ronan didn’t say a word. Then, quietly:
“She’s been hurt before. Twice. Guys who didn’t care. Not rushing her into anything.”
It wasn’t defensive. Just… fact.
And it made the room fall silent for a few beats longer than usual.
Zack finally broke it. “So basically… all of us are doomed, huh?”
Felix: “What?”
Zack: “We’re all circling around these girls like idiots, but none of us are making moves because we’re too busy pretending we don’t care.”
Ash snorted. “Speak for yourself.” He shoved his chair back and stood. “I’m perfectly fine.”
Felix: “Uh-huh. Totally fine. Definitely not the guy who stares at Kira when she’s not looking.”
Ash froze mid-step. “You have no proof.”
Felix grinned, wolfish. “Don’t need proof. I’ve got instinct.”
Ronan shook his head, faint amusement tugging at his mouth. Zack just kept sipping his drink.
The moment passed, laughter replacing the silence. Felix cracked a dumb joke about Zack’s hair, Ash retaliated with a roast about Felix’s “failed attempt at flirting,” and Ronan went back to watching the sunset — fingers still brushing the soft fabric on his wrist.
---
By the time they left, the air felt lighter again.
But as they walked out, Felix caught Ash muttering under his breath:
“She really needs to loosen up more…”
Felix’s grin returned instantly. Oh, he was definitely keeping that one for later.
They’d just stepped out of the rec room when Felix jogged ahead, walking backwards so he could keep facing the others.
“So…” he dragged the word out again, “we doing pizza, arcade, or more sitting around pretending we’re not secretly in love with people?”
Zack rolled his eyes. “You’re the only one pretending.”
Felix: “Hey, at least I admit I’m fun. Can’t say the same for you, Mr. Cool-and-Collected.”
Zack just smirked and kept walking. Ash shoved his hands in his hoodie pocket, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like “Kira would hate the arcade…”
Felix: “Ohhh, planning dates already?”
Ash: “I swear, Felix, one more word and I’m—”
Ronan: “Quiet. You’ll scare the dog.”
They all glanced over. A small street dog had been sniffing near the vending machine. It wagged its tail when Ronan crouched down, letting it sniff his hand.
Felix tilted his head. “Man, you’re like… good with dogs, hair accessories, and brooding. Is that your whole brand?”
Ronan: “It works.” He scratched the dog’s chin.
---
By the time they reached the corner store, Felix had somehow convinced Zack to arm wrestle him on the hood of a parked car. Ash stood as the ref, very unprofessionally counting down with, “Three, two, one—don’t lose, Zack, or Hina’s gonna think you’re weak.”
Zack grinned — and beat Felix in under five seconds.
Felix: “You cheated.”
Zack: “You’re just weak.”
Ash burst out laughing, nearly spilling his drink. Ronan shook his head but there was a tiny curve to his mouth.
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Connecting The Strings 💕🫶🏻
Romancesoft romance, admiring him from afar, adorable little story 🫶🏻🥹
