chapter 22

As Adam sat alone in his room, the day's interaction with Theodore played over in his mind like a movie. He felt torn between the emotions he had whenever Theo was around. It was as though a small part of him came alive, but another part of him remained restless, like something important was missing. When he thought about Theo, his heart would flutter, but beneath that excitement was an unfamiliar sadness—an emptiness that lingered without explanation.

Was it possible to feel both happy and sad at the same time? Adam didn't know, but that's exactly what was happening. He wondered if this was what love was supposed to feel like, or if it was just a fleeting moment, a brief infatuation that would fade with time. The emotions were strong, but they felt like seeds struggling to find the right soil to grow, unsure if the environment was right for them to flourish.

Adam feared that whatever he was feeling toward Theo was just a trick his mind was playing on him. Was it real, or was it just the closeness they'd shared, the way Theo had saved him at the traffic light, the kindness Theo had shown? What if he opened up to Theo about these confusing emotions, only to be met with rejection, or worse, indifference? The thought of Theo looking at him with confusion or pity was unbearable.

But the idea of involving his family in these feelings felt equally daunting. Atlas, Lilly, his grandfather—what would they say if he confided in them? Would they understand his struggle or simply brush it off as a phase, a misunderstanding of his own heart? Adam didn't want to burden them, especially when he wasn't even sure of his own feelings.

For now, it seemed safest to keep everything to himself. He had to sort through these emotions on his own, figure out what his heart was trying to tell him before involving anyone else. Maybe with time, the answers would become clearer. For now, Adam just wanted to understand what was happening inside him, and whether or not Theo was truly the one his heart was reaching for.

As Adam lay on his bed, the events of the day swirling in his mind, he found himself drifting back to the very first time he had met Theo. It was a moment that, looking back, almost seemed like a scene from a storybook—except, instead of a damsel in distress, it was him, a boy, being saved by someone who, at the time, felt like a hero.

It had been a seemingly normal day at school for Adam, just like any other. He moved quietly through the hallways, doing his best to remain unnoticed, as he had grown accustomed to over the years. Ironically, both Sam and Theo attended the same school as Adam, but Sam was absent that day. Adam often wondered if Theo even knew they shared the same school—he wasn't entirely sure, given their limited interactions.

That day, however, was different. It marked the beginning of something that Adam never saw coming—their first real encounter.

Adam had been in the library, a place he often found solace in. He was deep in his books when the bell rang, signaling the start of lunch. As usual, Adam wasn't in a rush to go to the cafeteria, knowing that most students would either ignore him or gossip behind his back.

He quietly packed his things and made his way through the empty halls, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention.

But fate had other plans.

As he passed one of the classrooms, he overheard some of the students talking in low, mocking tones. He knew they were talking about him. The topic was always the same—rumors about his family, the whispers about him being "cursed," and the fact that most of the students kept their distance from him. He could feel their eyes on him, but he quickened his pace, trying to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.

Suddenly, one of the students stepped out from the classroom and blocked Adam's path. Before Adam could react, more students surrounded him, their taunts getting louder. It was one of those situations Adam had become familiar with, but no less painful each time it happened. His heart pounded, fear gripping him as he stood frozen, unsure of what to do next.

And then, out of nowhere, Theo appeared.

At the time, Theo's mood had already been clouded by what was going on in his own life. His family had been dealing with issues and the accident which caused the loss of two important people in his life and that weighed heavily on him, leaving him frustrated and irritable. He didn't show it outwardly to most people, but inside, his emotions were in turmoil. Seeing the scene unfold in front of him—the group of students ganging up on Adam—something in him snapped.

Without even thinking, Theo stormed over to them, his anger barely contained. He could feel his temper rising, the frustration he had been keeping inside bubbling up to the surface. His voice, usually so composed, erupted into a sharp shout that echoed down the hallway.

"What the fucking hell are you all doing?" Theo's voice was raw, filled with genuine anger as he stared down the group of students. "Ganging up on one person—does that make you feel better?"

The hallway went silent. The group, startled by Theo's outburst, exchanged nervous glances. Theo was not someone you messed with, and his outburst caught them off guard. They hadn't expected anyone, let alone Theo, to intervene so forcefully. His intense gaze, the frustration radiating off of him, made it clear that he wasn't going to tolerate this kind of behavior.

For a moment, no one moved. The tension was thick in the air. Theo's eyes scanned the group, daring any of them to say something back, but no one did. It was as if the very force of his anger had rendered them speechless. The students began to scatter, muttering excuses under their breath as they hurried away, leaving Adam standing alone.

Theo's breathing was still heavy as he watched them retreat, his fists clenched at his sides. He had been angry at them for what they were doing to Adam, but deep down, he knew his outburst had come from something else too. The stress and emotions from his family problems had finally found an outlet, and this incident had set him off.

Once the crowd was gone, Theo turned to Adam, who was standing there, looking stunned. Theo's expression softened slightly, realizing he had probably startled Adam with his outburst as well. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"You okay?" Theo asked, his voice quieter now but still tense.

Adam nodded, too shocked to speak right away. He had never seen Theo like this before. It was like a different side of him—raw, unfiltered, and filled with emotion. Adam had always seen Theo as calm and collected, but this was the first time he had witnessed the fire burning underneath that cool exterior.

"I'm fine... thanks," Adam finally managed to say, his voice trembling slightly.

Theo just nodded, his eyes still dark with lingering anger. He gave Adam a brief look, one that seemed to say he didn't need to explain himself, and then started walking away without another word. For Theo, it wasn't about being a hero or even about Adam in that moment—it was about releasing the pressure he had been holding inside. But for Adam, that was the moment he realized that Theo wasn't just some aloof figure in the background of his life. Theo had layers, emotions, and struggles of his own.

As he watched Theo walk away, Adam couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of gratitude and curiosity. He wanted to understand what had driven Theo to react so strongly. And deep down, a seed was planted—a feeling that would only grow with time.

Theo, on the other hand, continued to walk away, trying to push the entire incident from his mind, not realizing that this moment would leave a lasting impact on both of them.