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As everyone started talking over each other to make plans, Alex felt someone tap his shoulder.

“Oye Garza,” whispered Basa as he nodded towards the refreshment table on the other side. He asked in Spanish, “Isn’t that the guy from before?”

Alex turned to see who he was referring to. Across the room, Jun stared at the floor, shaking, his breath coming in short pulls. The platinum-haired man stood beside Jun with his white flowy dress shirt. Nicola.

Alex rushed over. As he got closer, he heard Jun repeating the words “I’m sorry,” like a broken robot.

Nicola sighed as he raised his puffy white sleeve, dripping with an orange stain. “I guess this piece will have another appointment at the dry cleaner’s.” He pursed his lips into a forced smile. “Now, I am just saying this as nicely as I can: If being in this space is too much for you, you can go home early. No one is stopping you.”

Jun shook his head. “No, I have to be here.” Alex noticed his fists were clenched white. He picked up the pace.

Nicola’s smile thinned. “I know it’s really hard to be in events like this, but we have plenty of patrons to show support for the Ayases. I’m sure they won’t mind if at least one person leaves.” He pinched his sleeve between two fingers and wrung out the juice, nose crinkling. “Especially if you weren’t that close with him.”

Jun’s mouth twisted. His fist snapped up—and Alex caught his wrist before it got any closer. “Dude, I’ve been looking all over for you!” Alex pulled Jun behind him. Jun’s gaze dropped back to the floor, then snapped back to Nicola, like he couldn’t decide which was worse.

Nicola’s icy blue pupils darted between them in confusion.

Alex flashed him a quick grin. “We were just about to leave. Sorry about that,” he said and dragged Jun away with all his strength.

It felt like he was pulling a heavy sack as Jun dug his heels in. Jun kept mumbling under his breath that sounded like “I’m not leaving.”

“Five minutes,” Alex grumbled. They were so close to the exit when Jun planted his feet, abruptly stopping Alex. Jun’s wrist was limp but still trembling under Alex’s grip. Alex’s eyes caught the canvas sign beside the door—the same high school portrait of Ayase, that same youthful smile, now looking down at whatever mess his friends were making of this day.

“Jun,” Alex huffed. “This is obviously getting too much for you. I’m gonna take you back—”

“No!” Jun yanked his wrist away. His shout turned heads.

Alex scanned the room, jaw tight, daring anyone to keep staring. Most looked away. A few didn’t.

Jun shuddered. “I have to be here.”

“Jun, stop it,” Alex hushed him with gritted teeth. “You’re causing a scene. We have to go.” He reached out for his hand again, but Jun jerked away.

“I couldn’t be there when it happened!” Jun cried, voice cracking. “I have to be here now. I have to show him that I’m here.”

Alex closed his eyes, trying to contain himself from smashing Jun’s face or Ayase’s portrait. “If it’s about what that blond asshole said earlier, don’t listen to him. He don’t matter.” He reached out for Jun’s hand again. “Come on. We’re leaving—”

“Just like how you left me back at the mall?” Jun sneered under his shaky breath. “Just like how you weren’t there for him when he was suffering this entire time?”

The last thread of Alex’s patience burned through. He spat out a laugh. “The fuck?!” He stepped closer to him, glaring at Jun’s swollen, glassy eyes. “At least I was trying to do y’all a favor for getting you guys alone! How was I supposed to know he was going to do that? You were the one with him!”

“I didn’t know either!” Jun yelled back, tears spilling. The room went quiet. “I didn’t know he was going to suddenly…” Jun’s lips pulled back, trembling, like something was about to tear out of him.

“Then what the fuck was I supposed to do, Jun?!” Alex stepped closer, fists clenching, inching closer to him. “At least I wasn’t the one that disappeared for a whole ass month after seeing my best friend die!”

Jun went quiet, frozen in place, tears streaming like a waterfall down his cheeks.

“And even before that, you fucking holed yourself in your room for the whole summer like a pussy. If you were there for him, like you seem to think you were, you could have done something! Except you didn’t do shit as usual—”

SMACK!

Gasps filled the room, followed by a deafening silence.

Alex’s cheek burned. He slowly raised his fingers and touched the raw spot.

Jun huffed heavily, sobbing. He rocked back on his feet, staring at Alex’s cheek. One more step and Alex could knock Jun out. But he stood shell-shocked that Jun, of all people, hit him.

Nobody moved. Even the camera crew held still, the red recording light steady and unblinking. Behind Jun, Alex could see Nicola with his hand on his chin, looking amused and concerned. Maya and Hanh held each other tightly as if to protect each other, with Shawn behind them with a stunned, gaping mouth.