The autumn sun cast a warm glow across the tennis court, its golden rays dancing on the painted surface like fleeting shadows. David stood poised, racket in hand, eyes locked onto a fuzzy green ball that seemed to symbolize his own focus and determination.
As he prepared for another serve, David caught sight of Kian emerging from the shadows of the concrete stairs, his figure framed by the late afternoon sun. A jolt of surprise pulled at David's concentration, momentarily disrupting the rhythm of his game. Kian approached without a word, a silent presence that held its own weight. He settled into one of the spectator seats, arms crossed and an air of casual observation about him.
David sensed the shift in energy as he signaled to his opponent, a silent agreement passing between them. "We're good for now," he said, waving him off. The friend packed up his belongings and left, leaving David alone with Kian's unyielding gaze.
"Glad to see you haven't forgotten my presence," David called out, feigning a casual confidence.
Kian simply raised an eyebrow, his hands tucked deep into the pockets of his trousers. "I forgot until you remembered yourself," he shot back, stepping onto the court, his strides deliberate and measured.
David leaned against the net, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "It made me think you came to see me while I was just, well, doing nothing. Maybe I should take action."
"Are you sure you didn't do anything?" Kian countered; his tone laced with sarcasm.
David chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "You know I'm very good at shooting at the exact target. Looks like I've made a point shot again," he teased, reveling in the game of wits.
Kian rolled his eyes, a hint of a smile breaking through his usually stoic demeanor. "Don't piss me. Tell me what your intention is."
David pretended to ponder, drumming his fingers against the racket as if it were a magic wand conjuring up clever thoughts. "Hmm... Let me think," he replied coyly.
Kian looked at him, impatience registering in his stance. "You're too narcissistic to share the spotlight with anyone, and now you've chosen a partner for the competition, haven't you?"
Laughter burst from David, genuine and free. "It makes me happy that you know me so well. What else do you think of me?" he asked, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"Don't talk nonsense," Kian retorted sharply. "I don't know what your intentions are with Leo, and honestly, I don't want to know. I'll just take whatever wrong you do to him as you did to me. Don't dare to challenge me."
David's fists tightened around the handle of his racket, his heart pounding in rhythm with the frustration that coiled tightly in his chest. He glared at Kian, who turned away, the hint of a knowing smile lingering on his lips.
"Why? Is he too weak to protect himself?" David scoffed, his voice sharp and accusatory.
Kian paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder with an expression that meandered between pity and disdain. "He's innocent enough not to understand what kind of maniac you are," he replied, his tone almost mocking. "He probably never met someone like you in his life. That's why I'm not sure if he can react properly." He stepped away, his back now towards David, accentuating the distance growing between them.
David's anger bubbled over; an uncontrollable force that surged from deep within. "What's so great about Leo? Why him … not me? Why have you made him the center of your life in such a short period of time?" His voice escalated into a defensive shout, dripping with bitterness and jealousy.
Kian spun around, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and disgust. "Even comparing yourself to him disgusts me. I don't even want to talk about him with you," he snapped, his words sharp as shattered glass. "Just seeing you mention his name drives me nuts. I told you clearly last year—don't think I can tolerate being around you for more than a minute. Even that minute feels like a lifetime."
With that, Kian turned his back, a finality in his movements that left a void, an echo of disdain hanging in the air.
When Kian walked away, David's fury reached a boiling point. He slammed his racket against the ground, the sound reverberating like thunder in the empty court. Five times, he struck, each hit fueled by jealousy, rage, and a sense of helplessness. Finally, he hurled the racket aside, watching it soar through the air before clattering against the concrete.
His breathing quickened, and his eyes burned with righteous indignation. "I'm better than him! I know you better, he even doesn't know you!" David shouted into the silence; his words laced with desperation. "Then why he is in my place? By what right can he shamelessly stand in my place?" The last phrase hung in the air, a bitter challenge that faded into the grim shadows left by Kian's departure, leaving David standing alone, a prisoner of his own insecurities.
Kian's phone rang just as he stepped off the court, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He squinted at the screen; it was the driver. With a practiced flick, he answered, already dreading what he might hear.
"Leo left school a while ago," the driver's voice crackled through the line, laced with a hint of concern. "He didn't want to take him anywhere. He got into a taxi and just... drove away. Didn't say a word."
Without responding, he ended the call. Panic clawed at him as he instinctively dialed Leo's number. Ringing… ringing… ringing. No answer.
Frustration coursed through him, but he tempered it with a deep breath, the air sharp and cool against his lungs. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Kian stared into the distance, where the school's brick facade met the vibrant chaos of students. Uncertainty twisted tightly in his chest.
"I hope you're not planning to take revenge on me by not coming home," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. He remembered the argument, the way words had flown out of control, each one sharper than the last. Kian swallowed hard, the fear of losing Leo settling heavily in his mind.
Kian paced the dimly lit hallway of his home, anxiety tightening its grip around his chest with every tick of the clock. Despite calling Leo several times throughout the day, each ring had met silent misery.
After school, he had rushed to the hospital, the air thick with dread. But Leo was not there as well.
Kian's fingers fumbled with his phone, scrolling through their last messages, searching for some clue, some sign that would lead him to Leo. The truth sank in slowly—he didn't really know him at all. Kian had anticipated some distance after their argument; giving Leo space had been the rational approach. He just didn't expect him to vanish completely.
Declaring quiet defeat, he collected himself. Dialing a familiar number, he steadied his voice. "Search the city security cameras for Leo. He could be anywhere. He left the school at six o'clock and took a taxi." The urgency in his tone brooked no argument.
Half an hour later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Kian's phone buzzed violently in his pocket, slicing through his mounting worry. "What did you find?" Kian whispered almost desperately, hoping for even the faintest glimmer of hope.
"He's sitting alone in a book cafe near Central Park. I'm sending the address," he said over the phone. Kian said before abruptly ending the call. He looked at his phone with an excited breath and saw the message that appeared on the screen. A spark of urgency ignited within him. Pocketing her keys and wallet, he ran to the door, anticipation growing with each hurried step.
Leo, on the other hand, spent hours immersed in his own world, surrounded by scattered papers showing math problems and calculations. The leftovers of his caffeine addiction lay before him—three empty coffee cups and a half-finished fourth—each a desperate attempt to keep his mind sharp.
Despite his determination, Leo's mind drifted back to the phone's screen, where notifications flashed silently—a stark reminder of Kia's anxiety, over twenty missed calls attesting to his concern. He felt a pang of guilt rise in his chest, but he pushed it aside, deciding to concentrate, to think about nothing but the calculations that danced before his eyes.
That's when he felt a presence at the table before him. Curiosity flicked through him, pulling his gaze upward. And there was Kian, dressed in a dark jacket, eyes glimmering with a mix of relief and exasperation.
Kian's gaze was steady, a silent challenge that hung in the air between them. Leon removed his glasses and set them down. "Why are you here?" he asked, his tone flat, betraying nothing.
Kian leaned in slightly, hands folded casually before him. "I'm here to take you home," he said, his voice low but firm.
"I know the way," Leon shot back, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice.
"I doubt it," Kian replied, an eyebrow raised, the ghost of a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Leon's expression hardened, and without a word, he slipped the glasses back onto his face, the world behind the lenses sharpening into focus. He turned back to his computer, the dull glow of the screen momentarily banishing Kian from his thoughts. But Kian was persistent; his finger tapped twice against the table, a rhythmic punctuation that unsettled Leon's concentration. An unspoken question lingered in the air.
"What time do you finish?" Kian asked, breaking the silence.
"I don't know, don't wait for me," Leon brushed him off, the dismissal as icy as his demeanor.
Kian shrugged, accepting the rebuff with a resigned sigh. He reached for a steaming cup of coffee, stirring it gently, lost in his own thoughts. As he flipped through a couple of books and scrolled aimlessly on his phone, he sensed the distraction creeping into Leon's focus. The tension in the air thickened, and Leon's frustration grew palpable. With a resigned huff, he began shoving papers and books into his bag, the movement abrupt and determined.
Seeing Leon pack up, Kian stood, his resolve firm. They left the café together, two figures shrouded in an unspoken agreement.
"I parked the car over there," Kian gestured vaguely, his tone suggesting that was just the beginning of their plan.
"I'll call a taxi," Leon retorted, already pulling out his phone, intent on extricating himself from the situation.
Kian paused, mulling over his next words. A thought struck him, and he stepped closer, blocking Leon's path just enough to grab his attention. "Let's get a little fresh air in the park," he suggested, his voice steady but inviting. "We can talk it out."
Leon hesitated, the tension wavering as he considered the offer. With a slight nod, he turned away from the street and headed toward the park, his steps brisk but uncertain. Kian's smile broke through the guarded atmosphere, a flicker of victory as he fell in step beside Leon, the promise of a conversation approaching just ahead.
They sat on the weathered bench by the small, shimmering lake, its surface reflecting the scattered lights of the surrounding park. The night air was cool, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine. The stars twinkled overhead like scattered diamonds, but the ambiance was dimmed by the weight of their conversation.
"I can't even remember how many times we've argued in the last week," Kian said, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
"Because we have different expectations of each other," Leo replied calmly, though the weight of unspoken feelings hung heavily between them.
Kian sighed; he was calm. "It is unavoidable that there will be arguments. Our life experiences are different, and we'll know each other better in these ways. It is sure to happen."
Leo remained silent, his gaze steady, as if he were searching for a path through the web of their conflicting emotions.
"You are very pure and goodhearted," Kian added, his tone softening, hoping to bridge the chasm that had opened between them.
"You forgot to add "powerless"," Leo muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, but the sting of self-doubt was evident. Kian felt the air shift, the unspoken wound laid bare. He'd known for some time that the word cut him deeply, leaving Leo to grapple with the shadows of his insecurities.
"Each of us has certain issues where we can feel powerless," Kian said gently, his eyes locking onto Leo's. "As you get to know me better, I want you to feel comfortable enough to point out my weaknesses when you see them. I want to extend the same support to you because that's what I expect from you."
Leo's expression began to soften, the walls he had built slowly crumbling in the face of Kian's earnestness.
"I know I use words harshly, but you can be sure that in every matter I speak to you, my intentions are pure and my words are pre-measured," Kian said, his tone steady as he leaned back against the worn wooden table.
Leo sighed. "I get that, Kian. But I don't want people to use me, so I think I shouldn't use them either." He paused, tapping a finger thoughtfully against the table. "Because I believe everything should be mutual. I agree with what they say about the strength of connections—it can make a difference for one's career and life. I'll start thinking of ways to achieve that. But your approach? It's a bit different from mine."
Kian listened him without saying anything. He wanted to understand what is Leo's mind.
With a hint of defiance, Leo continued, "You can tell me what is essential for my future life because your real-life experience outweighs mine. I respect that. But it's up to me how to go about it." He met Kian's gaze; his eyes firm.
A moment of silence passed before Kian nodded slowly. "I got what you mean," he replied, his voice softening.
"I'm a mathematician," Leo explained, his enthusiasm igniting. "When I'm faced with a problem, it's my job to figure out the solution. The path I choose to get there can vary—there might be multiple ways to arrive at an answer. It can be right or wrong. But when it's wrong? I don't give up. I work harder, I reevaluate, and sometimes, I start from scratch." His gaze hardened with resolve as he looked at Kian, the flickering candlelight mirroring the determination in his eyes.
The air between them crackled with tension as Leo's voice cut through the silence, raw and unfiltered. "Thank you for thinking about my future, but I lose control when I am not spoken to or when decisions are made about my life without my opinion being asked. Maybe it had something to do with what I was going through."
Kian thought back to Leo's childhood, the bitterness that had seeped in when his mother had sent him away to boarding school. It had changed him, and his past had shaped him into this person sitting next to him. Regret swirled within Kian, heavier than he cared to admit. Typically, he darted through the world with confidence, rarely second-guessing himself. But when it came to Leo, it was as if his heart took the pedals, urging him to act despite the noise of his intellect.
Silently gathering his thoughts like scattered puzzle pieces, Kian took a steadying breath. "Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me," he said carefully, his voice low. "I promise to be more mindful in the future. But what I really hope for is that we can talk about things when we hurt each other. It's not about ignoring me or leaving my calls unanswered. That just makes everything worse."
Leo paused; his gaze intense as he expected Kian's words. After a moment, he nodded, the tension easing between them, the unspoken barriers beginning to smash. It seemed they had found a path toward resolution—a small victory in the vastness of their intertwining lives.
Curiosity crept into Leo's expression as he changed the subject. "By the way, how did you find me?"
"Secret," Kian said with a playful smirk, tapping the side of his head. "Let's just say it's my special power."
Leo chuckled, the warmth of it easing the previous tension. "Alright, Mister Special Power, let's go home."
Kian stood, and Leo followed his lead, both stepping into the chill of the night air as they made their way to the parking place. When Kian slid behind the wheel and turned the ignition, Leo's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a mix of admiration and disbelief washing over him.
"You drove yourself?" Leo asked, his voice laden with genuine curiosity.
Kian rested his hand on the steering wheel, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Sit down."
A flicker of worry crossed Leo's face. "Do you have a driver's license? Or do you even know how to drive?"
"Sit down if you trust me," Kian challenged, a playful smile tugging at his lips. Leo hesitated, weighing his options, but ultimately chose to invest in the burgeoning connection between them. He eased himself into the passenger seat, a mix of caution and excitement igniting in his chest.
Kian's grin widened, and he shifted the car into gear. "Let's go," he said, and as the engine roared to life, so too did a new chapter for both of them.