Chapter 1: A Night of Tears

The dimly lit hallway of Streamer University's faculty dorms was quiet, with only the occasional creak of a door or the soft hum of a refrigerator breaking the silence. Ray, a 19-year-old student from Taiwan, stood outside Kai's room, his heart racing with anxiety. He had been getting mistreated and harassed by other students and even a teacher for a while now, and he couldn't take it anymore. With a deep breath, he slowly turned the handle and slipped inside. Kai, the university dean and Ray's secret boyfriend, looked up from his laptop, a hint of concern etched on his face. "Hey, babe, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice low and soothing. Ray had snuck into Kai's room before, but this time, he seemed more nervous than usual. Ray closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his eyes welling up with tears. "I-I'm s-sorry, Kai," he stuttered, his voice shaking. "I didn't mean to intrude, but I-I just needed to talk to someone." Kai quickly stood up and walked over to Ray, his eyes scanning the young man's face. "You're not intruding, Ray," he said gently. "You're always welcome here. What's going on? You can tell me anything." As they sat down on the bed, Kai asked Ray about his day, trying to distract him from his obvious distress. Ray hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. But as Kai's warm brown eyes locked onto his, he felt a sense of trust wash over him. "R-really, it's just been t-tough lately," Ray began, his voice cracking. "T-Tylil and Deshae, they've been bullying me in and outside of class. They make fun of my accent, my stutter... everything." Kai's expression darkened, his jaw clenched in anger. But he took a deep breath, reminding himself to stay calm for Ray's sake. "And then there's Professor DDG," Ray continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "He just stands there, watching them, and when I try to stand up for myself, he threatens me. He said he'd slap me if I didn't shut up." Kai's eyes flashed with fury, but he bit back his retort, focusing on comforting Ray instead. He pulled the young man into a gentle hug, holding him close as Ray's body shook with sobs. "I'm so sorry, Ray," Kai whispered, his voice full of empathy. "You don't deserve to be treated like this. I'll take care of it, I promise. You're safe now." As the night wore on, Ray's tears slowly subsided, replaced by the comfort of Kai's presence. They talked for hours, sharing stories and laughter, until eventually, they both drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms. The morning light crept into the room, casting a warm glow over the two lovers. But as they slept, the shadows of the past lingered, waiting to be confronted. And Kai, determined to protect Ray, knew that he would stop at nothing to make things right.