The classroom buzzed with chatter, students scattered across desks and chairs, gossiping freely as they waited for the teacher. Those near the entrance door stiffened when they saw a figure approaching. Conversations quieted for a moment as they shuffled aside, clearing the way without a word.
Lucien stepped in, his stride calm and measured. His eyes barely flickered to the students around him, the slight tilt of his head giving him an air of quiet indifference. He calmly made his way toward his seat, soundlessly pulled out his chair, and sat down.
His presence alone was enough to draw passing glances from his classmates, their chatter now much softer.
Across the room, Theodore sat at the center of a group sprawled around him, chairs angled haphazardly to form a loose circle. He leaned back lazily, his arm draped over the back of his chair as he grinned. "Can you believe Michael? He couldn't even last a minute and chickened out halfway through?" he sneered, shaking his head.
Kevin scoffed, slouching forward on his desk, already disinterested in the conversation.
"I swear, the look on his face! I thought he was going to faint," one boy commented.
The group erupted into laughter, elbows nudging each other as they shared exaggerated impressions of Michael's failure. Theodore leaned back in his chair with lazy confidence, spinning a pen between his fingers as if he owned the room. Their voices carried over the classroom's din, drawing fleeting glances from nearby students.
Michael slumped into his seat, grumbling under his breath. "It wasn't fair," he muttered, his tone edged with indignation. "You guys set me up."
Theodore arched a brow, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "Not fair? Come on, Michael. You're always the first to dish it out. Don't cry foul when it's your turn."
Another boy snorted, his arms crossed as he gave Michael a pointed look. "Exactly. Smart guy like you should've aced it, right?"
Michael scowled, his mouth opening to argue, but the teasing looks on their faces silenced him.
As their conversation carried on, one of the boys noticed Lucien at his desk, just a few inches away from their gathering. "Hey, Lucien," he called out, his tone light. "Where've you been?"
Lucien was in the middle of adjusting his neatly stacked books. He barely glanced up as he responded in his usual composed tone. "The health room."
The boy blinked in surprise. "You okay? Are you feeling sick or something?"
Before Lucien could respond, another boy leaned in and spoke with certainty. "Nope, it wasn't him. It was his cousin." He distinctly remembered seeing the homeroom teacher calling Lucien aside after the morning assembly.
"The poor kid must have terrible immunity if he got sick from just a bit of rain," Theodore remarked with a casual laugh, his voice light and unassuming. He looked every bit like a concerned friend making a harmless observation, his tone so effortlessly sincere that no one would suspect otherwise.
Lucien's gaze lingered on Theodore for a fraction of a second.
The news of Noah's condition had come to him last night from the campus in-charge.
And as for why Noah had been out there in the first place, it was pretty obvious.
Looking at Theodore now, one would never guess. His crafted words and relaxed posture masked everything too well. Theodore's ability to manipulate those around him was almost an art form, his true intentions veiled under layers of a carefully constructed exterior.
"That does seem to be the case," Lucien said plainly as his focus shifted to the teacher who had just walked into the room. He leaned back slightly, signaling the end of the discussion.
Theodore didn't push further, his gaze turning to the front of the class, his mood as relaxed as ever. The conversation ended there, dissipating like smoke as the classroom settled into order. The hum of voices died down, replaced by the sharp tap of chalk against the board and the low monotony of the teacher's voice.
- - - - - -
Noah drifted in and out of sleep, his eyelids heavy as if weighed down by bed. He was tired of dozing the afternoon away, the hours melting into one another in a blur of feverish dreams and muted awareness. He blinked up at the ceiling, trying to shake off the drowsiness clinging to him like a heavy blanket.
The sudden creak of the door snapped him out of his daze. A familiar figure strolled in with an easy, charming smile.
Light, steady footsteps slowly approached the bed.
"I heard you fell sick," Theodore remarked casually, his voice light as he sauntered closer, hands tucked into the pockets of his blazer. A smile played on his lips, his presence seeming too lively for the stillness of the infirmary.
Noah's eyes widened, startled by the unexpected visit. "Brother Theodore…?" he rasped, his voice barely audible. He blinked rapidly, unsure if he was fully awake or still caught in some feverish dream.
Theodore pulled a chair closer, sitting down with an air of casual ease. "What's with that look?" he said with a chuckle. "I thought I'd drop by and see how our dearest Noah is holding up."
Noah remained motionless, his eyes locked on the figure before him.
Theodore rose from his seat, moving to sit beside him instead. Throughout the entire exchange, Noah's gaze followed his every movement.
Noah flinched slightly as Theodore's cool fingers pressed against his forehead. The cold felt like ice melting over a parched desert, drawing him closer without thinking. He leaned into the soothing chill, craving the fleeting relief it offered.
"Whoa, you're burning up!" Theodore exclaimed, his voice tinged with surprise as he withdrew his hand. "Are you feeling better now?"
Noah nodded weakly, forcing a small smile despite the nausea twisting in his stomach and the dull ache coursing through his body. Truthfully, he still felt awful, but Theodore's presence seemed to outweighed his discomfort.
Theodore's gaze lingered on him, amusement dancing in his eyes as he studied the boy lying before him. There was something almost indulgent in the way he arched his eyebrows, as though he were entertained by Noah's silent struggle.
"What were you even doing out in the rain?"
Noah blinked at the question, unsure of how to respond. "You… said… to meet," he mumbled hesitantly, his words faltering.
"Hm?" Theodore hummed, his head swiveled slightly, his expression feigning confusion.
Noah stared at him, his lips parted as if he wanted to say something but decided against it.
"Did I really?" Theodore asked, his tone sweet and dripping with an innocent charm. His hand reached out, gently brushing away the damp strands of hair clinging to Noah's forehead. "Ah, I feel bad now. I completely forgot about it."
Noah's chest tightened, but he quickly smothered the feeling. He reasoned with himself… people forget things all the time. Like that one time he had spent the entire night writing his homework, only to forget to bring it to class the next day.
Maybe Theodore had simply forgotten, too. It wasn't like it was on purpose.
"It's okay," Noah said softly, trying to muster a cheerful smile, but the fatigue on his face betrayed him, making the gesture seem fragile.
Before he could say anything else, Theodore leaned down, pulling him into a gentle embrace. "I guess this is all on me," he murmured, his hand gliding gently through Noah's hair. His tone carried a hint of worry, even as a sly smile curved on his lips.
Noah sat frozen, startled by the sudden gesture, his body stiffening before slowly relaxing. A strange warmth pooled in his chest, even though Theodore's touch was cool and soothing against his feverish skin.
His mind swirled in confusion—was his fever worsening? He couldn't tell.
"It's not Brother's fault," Noah replied, his voice muffled as he rested his head against Theodore's shoulder. He let out a soft breath, the faint, calming scent of Theodore's cologne filling his senses and grounding him in the moment.
After a beat of silence, Noah shifted wearily. "Um…" he whispered, trying to pull back. "You'll get sick too." His voice held a mix of guilt and worry.
But Theodore was quick to pull him back into his arms, his hands gentle yet firm as he soothed the boy. "It's okay… nothing will happen," he whispered, his tone calm and reassuring.
Noah's breathing slowed, the heaviness in his head growing as he leaned into the embrace. It was strange how moments ago, his body had been throbbing with pain, but now it felt as though the strange comfort surrounding him had melted it away. His eyelids drooped, and for a moment, it felt like sleep might take him.
The peace was interrupted by the creak of the door, followed by measured footsteps.
"You two seem awfully close," Lucien's voice rang out, stepping further into the room.
The unexpected intrusion jolted Noah from the edge of slumber. He quickly sat up, his cheeks flushed as he turned toward the direction of the voice.
Theodore, however, remained completely unbothered, his composure unshaken.
"Try not to get jealous," Theodore quipped, his lips curling into a mischievous grin as he deliberately kept his arm draped around Noah.