Chapter song: Lovers From The Past - Mareux
From the moment he was born, Agares Montgomery had always been considered a prodigy, his life meticulously shaped by his father. His father already had plans for his preschool, high school, and eventually university. The Montgomery family held high expectations for their eldest child, instilling discipline above all.
To his parents, Agares and his brother were treated like well polished trophies, always being brandished around, shown off to others and never given the freedom to make decisions for themselves or experience familial warmth. Though his relationship with his parents was rather strained, they still did the minimum to ensure Agares had a balanced childhood and lived a comfortable life. However, things took a turn for the worse when Aeneas entered the picture while Agares was six years old.
He had been unaware of his brother's existence; their parents had divorced when he was young, and his mother had left without informing his father that she was pregnant.
Whether it was out of spite or a desire to protect Aeneas, she kept him hidden from the family. By five, Agares had experienced such emotional deprivation that he struggled to feel anything at all. He was cold and indifferent towards Aeneas, wanting nothing to do with him unless absolutely necessary. Aeneas, however, was oblivious to the hints, following Agares everywhere and mimicking his every move. Their father eventually recognized Aeneas's potential and decided to provide him with a good education, given the boy's intelligence.
This led to a constant competition between the two brothers, with their father pitting them against each other. The Montgomery conglomerate now had a second heir, and their father expected them to fight for dominance.
What their father didn't realize was that Agares had no interest in taking over the company. His true passion lay in sports, particularly volleyball. Allowing him to pursue this interest was perhaps the only fatherly gesture Agares appreciated; it was something that belonged solely to him, free from competition.
Aeneas, lacking the athletic talent of his brother, focused on academics while Agares excelled in sports. Eventually, both brothers attended East Laurence Preparatory School, where they excelled and went on to become house leaders.
Their relationship remained strained, worsening over time. Agares had no desire to mend things with Aeneas; he was indifferent to people, including his own sibling. Though some might call him cold and unfeeling, he believed it was simply his nature. He treated others with a certain level of respect but remained distant.
Though he was not entirely heartless, he found it challenging to form close bonds. He had a childhood friend, Maximillian, who had been an exception, understanding Agares's moods and never imposing expectations on him. But like everything else, he was eventually taken away from him.
Preferring his own company, Agares had little interest in love or relationships, having rebuffed many advances, particularly after a frightening incident two years prior where a girl had taken her affections too far. He had closed himself off from romantic feelings, or so he believed, until he met Julius.
At first, Julius did not match Agares's expectations; he was kind and reserved, contrasting sharply with the spoiled rich kid image Agares had initially envisioned. For a while, Agares dismissed any thoughts of him, feeling no attachment to the honey-blond. When Julius asked if he disliked him, Agares honestly replied that he couldn't dislike someone he didn't care about enough to form an opinion.
He noticed the hurt in Julius's expression, an unfamiliar discomfort stirring within him, as if he had wronged the boy. This feeling was strange, as he would have responded similarly to anyone else. Unable to remain, he quickly left the conversation.
Yet, this discomfort lingered, growing stronger. Agares found himself forming an emotional connection with Julius, a terrifying prospect given his history. He began searching for Julius in a room, feeling his heart race upon making eye contact with the boy, and wanting to comfort him in moments of sadness.
Most unsettling was Agares's jealousy when he saw Julius with others, how freely he laughed and smiled. This new emotional turmoil confused him, and he attempted to suppress these feelings as best as he could.
In the morning, as Agares woke up, he had only one thing on his mind: winning the match. He went through his usual routine, starting with a morning run, preparing a meal, and getting ready for the school day.
However, as he prepared for the game, an unsettling thought nagged at him, like an itch he couldn't reach. All he could do was endure the discomfort until it faded away like he always did.
That nagging feeling resurfaced again however, when he saw Julius getting cozied up with an unfamiliar girl. The sight twisted Agares's stomach, and he couldn't fathom why it affected him so deeply. He felt an overwhelming urge to separate them and keep Julius close, which confused him even more.
Epaphras noticed Agares's foul mood and asked if he was alright.
"I feel fine," Agares replied flatly, his expression signaling that he didn't want to discuss it further. Sensing this, Epaphras wisely decided to let it go, attributing Agares's demeanor to pre-game nerves and warning others not to approach him unless necessary.
The match unfolded smoothly, and Agares played exceptionally well, landing the winning score for the first set. However, everything shifted when the opposing team called a timeout. Against his will, Agares glanced toward the bleachers and spotted the girl leaning into Julius, who was struggling to suppress a laugh.
A deep pit formed in his stomach, irritation bubbling up inside him. Every time he made eye contact with Julius, his heart raced, accompanied by a feeling he had never experienced before. Elation? Possession?
That couldn't be right. Why would he feel that way about Julius looking at him?
Unable to bear his tumultuous thoughts, Agares quickly turned away, forcing himself to focus on the match. At least, that was the plan, until he overheard the girl asking Julius if she would be sleeping over at the end of the game. The mere thought of them in the same space made him nauseous. He struggled to understand his emotions, aware of their friendship, yet feeling an inexplicable anger and irritation toward the honey-blonde, who smiled and charmed those around him.
"Agares," Epaphras called, snapping him out of his daze. "Coach wants to do a quick briefing before we leave."
"Right. Let's go then," Agares replied, though he couldn't resist glancing back at Julius one last time, his gaze softening as he walked away, his heart thumping once more.