maybe he's not okay

Scene — Afternoon. Group rehearsal day.

Rain tapped against the studio windows, thin and steady. Inside, the rest of the group was already stretching and warming up, low music in the background.

Tui wasn't there.

His absence wasn't completely unusual — people got sick, schedules changed — but something about today felt different. Nut checked his phone again.

10:04 a.m.

Still no reply.

"He texted," Lego finally said, glancing down at his phone. "'Not feeling well. Skipping rehearsal today. Sorry.' That's it."

William frowned. "Since when does Tui just skip practice like that?"

"People get sick," Hong said softly, but he wasn't really convinced either.

Nut sighed. "Yeah, but he was fine yesterday. Even laughing with you."

Nobody spoke for a moment. The music played on.

Scene — A different apartment. Unknown location.

Tui stood in front of the door for a full minute before knocking.

His hoodie was pulled low, his mask still on even though he'd come in through the back entrance of the building. A baseball cap helped hide the growing bruise near his jaw. His fingers hovered above the message on his phone.

"If you don't show up today, I'll come find you instead."

The door opened before he could knock again.

The man inside did not greet him.

He stepped aside and let Tui walk in, then closed the door with a soft click that echoed like a gunshot in the quiet apartment.

"You're late," he said flatly.

Tui didn't answer. He stood with his shoulders hunched, looking smaller than usual, like he was trying to shrink into himself.

The boyfriend moved past him, pacing once before turning back sharply. "You think I'm stupid? You think I don't know what you're doing?"

Tui opened his mouth. Nothing came out. He looked at the floor.

"You keep choosing them. Those boys," he sneered. "You think they care about you more than I do?"

"I just needed to be at rehearsa — " Tui started, but a hand caught his wrist, yanked it.

"You lied to me."

Tui flinched. The grip was too tight.

"I didn't — "

The slap wasn't hard enough to leave a mark. Just enough to stop his voice.

"I told you. If you keep choosing them, I'll ruin you. I know things. Remember?"

Tui nodded, eyes on the floor.

"Say it."

"...I remember."

Scene — Studio, later.

Practice wrapped without much energy.

"He still hasn't replied," Nut muttered, throwing a towel around his neck.

"He never even read my last message," Lego added.

"Maybe he really is sick," Hong said, but there was a line between his brows that hadn't been there before.

William picked up his bag. "Or maybe he's not okay."

No one disagreed.