The sun had barely risen when Liam found himself in the familiar routine of studying, his books spread out across the dining table like a fortress of knowledge. He was determined to maintain his perfect grades, blocking out any distractions, including the laughter and chatter from the living room where Lily and Emily had already started their day.
As he flipped through the pages of his textbook, he felt a sudden urge to take a break. His eyes darted toward the bathroom door, which was slightly ajar. Maybe a quick trip to the restroom would help clear his mind.
Liam pushed the door open without thinking twice, his mind still lost in thoughts of equations and formulas. But as he stepped inside, he was met with a sight that froze him in his tracks—Lily, standing in front of the mirror, in the process of changing her clothes.
"Liam!" she squeaked, her eyes widening in shock as she quickly turned to cover herself with a towel.
"Whoa! Sorry!" Liam blurted, his heart racing as he stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet. He quickly slammed the door shut, his face flushed with embarrassment.
As he leaned against the wall outside, he couldn't shake the image from his mind. How did he keep getting into these situations?
Later that day, after the awkwardness had somewhat subsided, Liam found himself needing to use the bathroom again. He knocked on the door but got no response, assuming it was empty. So, he opened the door and stepped in, only to find Emily standing in front of the mirror, also in the midst of changing.
"Liam!" Emily gasped, spinning around, her face a mixture of surprise and annoyance.
"Not again!" he groaned, his face heating up as he backed out of the bathroom.
"Do you ever knock?" Emily scolded, crossing her arms.
"Is it my fault you're not locking the door?" he shot back, half-flustered, half-defensive.
Emily rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched into a smile. "You really need to pay more attention to your surroundings, don't you?"
Liam stood there for a moment, caught between mortification and frustration. Was it really his fault for walking in on them, or was it theirs for not ensuring the door was secure? He didn't say anything, simply exiting the bathroom and trying to shake off the embarrassment.
Once back in the living room, Liam found Lily and Emily giggling over their shared experience. He shot them a confused look, knowing that the laughter was directed at him.
"Laugh it up," he muttered, attempting to return to his studying but feeling the heat on his cheeks linger.
Later, as the sun began to set, Emily turned to Lily with a thoughtful expression. "Why does Liam always study so much? Does he ever take breaks or enjoy life?"
Lily sighed, her expression softening as she considered Emily's question. "You have no idea what he's dealing with. His parents put so much pressure on him to be perfect. It's like he's trapped in this cycle of studying and striving for perfection. He thinks if he scores perfect grades, he'll finally earn their approval."
Emily frowned, feeling a pang of sympathy for Liam. "That's so unfair. He works so hard. I mean, I admire his dedication, but it's like he doesn't allow himself to live at all. Doesn't he realize he's missing out on so much?"
Lily nodded, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Exactly. I wish he would take a break and just enjoy being young for once. He's always so serious. I think it's because he's afraid of disappointing his parents."
Emily's heart ached for him even more. How could someone so driven and intelligent feel so trapped? The admiration she felt for Liam deepened, and she couldn't help but wonder how she could help him see life differently.
"Maybe we should try to get him to relax a bit," Emily suggested, her determination growing. "I mean, he can't just keep studying all the time, right?"
"Right," Lily agreed, a smile returning to her face. "He just needs a little push. You're good at getting people to loosen up. We should plan something fun!"
As they plotted their next move, Emily's thoughts lingered on Liam. She admired his work ethic, but she also felt a growing desire to help him break free from his burdens. Maybe there was a chance for her to get closer to him after all.
And as for Liam, he was blissfully unaware of the brewing plans against his stoic routine, focusing instead on his studies, oblivious to the hearts that quietly beat for him.