The Promise between us

After the push-ups, it didn't stop.

They moved into plank holds. Then sit-ups.

Then burpees, squats, laps around the yard — again and again.

By the end of the day, Ash's body felt like it had been shattered. His arms shook. His legs were jelly. His shirt clung to his skin, soaked with sweat.

Around him, most of the others were catching their breath — but they didn't look nearly as broken as he did.They were used to this.

He dropped to the ground the moment the last whistle blew — back hitting the dirt, face turned toward the sky, chest heaving.

The sky was a faded gray-blue, clouds barely drifting.

He closed his eyes, just for a moment.

His heart pounded in his ears. His muscles throbbed.Every part of him hurt.

And then —

Something cold touched the side of his jaw.

His eyes snapped open — and was greeted by a bright smile hovering over him.

"Hey… need some water?" the voice asked, light and teasing.

Ash squinted up at the figure standing over him — water bottle in hand, that bright, easy smile still shining.

He stared at her like he was trying to figure something out. His brows drew in slightly, head tilting.

Then — she laughed.

A light, effortless sound that caught him completely off guard.

Ash's eyebrow twitched.

"Was his face really that funny?"he thought

She didn't explain — just moved beside him and sat down cross-legged on the ground.

Ash slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position, muscles groaning in protest.

Still smiling, she tilted her head.

"Shocked to see a girl here?" she asked playfully.

Ash looked at her, eyes calm.

"…Not really," he said.

As he reached out to take the water bottle from her, his eyes caught the faint marks scattered across her body. A question rose in his throat but he left it die there– choosing not to ask.

He drank slowly, letting the cold water soothe his throat, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

Something about her smile, though…

It wasn't like the others. Not smug. Not sarcastic.

It felt genuine. Warm.

And somehow — though he wouldn't admit it out loud — Ash found himself feeling strangely comfortable around her.

She made a small stretching sound, arms reaching over her head as she leaned back.

Then, with a sigh, she lay down on the bare ground beside Ash — her back flat against the ground, eyes staring up at the sky just like he had a moment ago.

"Most girls who end up here…" she said casually, "usually get sent to the clubs."

Her voice was calm, like she was talking about something simple — not something tragic.

She took a quiet breath.

Then she pushed herself up and stood again, brushing off her pants.

She turned toward him, sunlight catching the edges of her face.

"I'm Mira," she said, that bright smile returning.

Ash looked up at her, still seated.

"…Ash," he replied simply.

Mira gave him a small nod — then smiled even brighter.

"See you."

And just like that, she turned and walked.

****************

Ash reached the dorm, shoulders aching, shirt clinging to his back from dried sweat and dust.

He swiped his card.

Click.

The door swung open.

"Hello!"

That loud, all-too-familiar voice greeted him again.

Inside, the same group of guys from the hallway yesterday were spread across the floor, sitting in a messy circle. A packet of card lay open between them.

Léo was at the far end of the room on his bed — one leg up, casually holding his own cards, cigarette resting between two fingers as always.

Ash didn't respond.

Not even a glance.

He walked past them all like they didn't exist, heading straight into the small shared bathroom.

The door closed behind him.

***************

By the time he returned, his hair damp and skin clean, Ash felt slightly less like death. He climbed up onto his bed with slow, stiff movements and pulled the blanket over his legs.

But of course — silence was too much to ask for.

One of the guys turned his head with an exaggerated scoff.

"Dude. Seriously?" he said.

Ash cracked an eye open lazily.

"You walk in, we say hello — and you can't even greet back?"

"Luca, chill out."

Léo didn't even look up from his cards.

"He just got back. He's probably tired."

Luca huffed and crossed his arms, eyes flicking over to Ash on the bed.

"Yeah? That's no excuse," he snapped. "We all went through this. You don't see us acting like we're too important to say hi."

Someone else in the group raised a brow.

"Hey, calm down, Luca. It's not that deep."

But Luca was already fired up.

He turned fully toward Ash now, voice getting louder, angrier — like he was looking for a fight.

"I'm sure your mom forgot to teach you how basic respect works, huh?"

That was it.

The air shifted.

Ash's eyes opened fully — calm, but sharp.

He sat up slightly, his voice low but cutting:

"Don't talk shit about my mom."

Luca smirked and stood up like he'd just won a round.

"Oh? Or what?" he said, walking toward Ash's bed. "I already told you — when I talk to you, you listen—!"

He reached out and yanked the blanket off Ash with a loud flap of fabric.

But before he could even finish his

sentence—

In one sharp motion, Ash grabbed Luca's wrist, pulled forward, and twisted — switching their positions.

Luca hit the bed, back first, with Ash now on top, pinning him down — one knee to his chest, one arm locked.

The whole room froze.

Even Léo looked up now, one brow raised.

Ash's fist was already pulled back, ready to swing—

But then—

Léo let out a laugh.

Dry, amused, and totally unbothered.

"Damn," he said "Didn't even see that coming."

Underneath Ash, Luca blinked. Then, despite everything—

He laughed too.

A bit breathless, but honest.

"Okay… okay, damn, you're fast."

One of them clapped his hands, barely holding in his laughter.

"I honestly thought this plan wouldn't work… but damn—"

He burst out laughing, and the others joined in — loud, carefree, wheezing from the chaos.

All of them were cracking up.

Except Ash.

Still straddling Luca, hand still clenched, eyes narrowed —

He was frozen, trying to process what the hell just happened.

Finally, he turned his head toward Léo, voice flat.

"What's the meaning of this?"

Léo, now lounging casually with one leg up on the bedframe, didn't even flinch.

"Don't look at me with those eyes," he said coolly.

"They asked me to play along."

He flicked his cigarette and added with a shrug,

"For a packet of cig."

Ash just stared.

A beat passed.

He rolled his eyes — hard — and finally let go of Luca, standing up and stepping back with a sigh.

Luca lay there grinning, rubbing the wrist Ash had twisted.

"Damn," he said again, "You really were about to end me."

Luca stood up from the bed, still grinning and rubbing his wrist like a trophy.

"I knew it, man," he said, nodding like he solved a mystery.

"Behind all that cold silence—" he tapped the side of his head dramatically, "—there was a monster just waiting."

He said it proudly, like he'd unlocked a hidden feature in a game.

The others laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Facts," one of them added. "All quiet ones are always the dangerous ones."

Another leaned over and said, "That flip was clean though. Respect."

Ash, ignoring all of it, turned to his bed, ready to reclaim the peace he never got.

He pulled his blanket up, preparing to lie down again—

But Luca grabbed his shoulder, shaking him lightly.

"Ohh, no no no. After all that just to test you," Luca said with a mock-scold, "you're just gonna lie back down?!"

Ash stared at him with visible fatigue, then slowly turned to Léo — hoping for a lifeline.

But Léo?

He was still on his bed, cigarette between his fingers, just staring, amused but silent.

No rescue.

Just vibes.

And somehow, without even realizing how it happened…

He found himself sitting down on the floor.

Right there with them.

He took a long breath, ran a hand through his damp hair, and let his mind catch up.

************

💌 Author's note

Hey everyone! 👋☺️

Sorry for the late update😔, we've been a bit busy lately😩.

Thank you so much for your patience!🥺

Hope you're enjoying the chapters so far!

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Xoxo,

Quillqueens 💕