When I finished my shift, I went straight to the abandoned building. I needed to train, to prepare myself.
The place was dark and silent, but I was already used to the atmosphere. I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath, feeling the wind begin to respond to my call.
I started with the basics—small whirlwinds, directed gusts, quick movements. Each exercise was an effort to increase my control.
For a moment, I felt in control.
But the sound of something falling behind me pulled me out of my trance. I turned quickly, the whirlwind vanishing as the wind around me intensified.
"Who's there?" I shouted, my voice echoing through the empty building.
No answer. Only the sound of something being dragged.
I walked slowly in the direction of the noise, every muscle in my body tense. The air around me swirled, ready to react.
When I turned the corner, I saw a hooded figure. For a moment, I thought it was one of Dr. Caelum's men, but something felt different.
The silence in the corridor was broken only by the wind passing through the broken windows. The hooded figure in front of me didn't seem threatening, but I couldn't let my guard down.
"Who's there?" my voice echoed, firm but filled with tension.
The figure flinched slightly, stumbling backward. That's when I heard a familiar sound—a nervous, muffled laugh.
"Hey, relax, it's just… it's me!" Evander's voice broke the silence. He pulled back his hood, revealing his confused and slightly embarrassed face.
I blinked, the surprise hitting me like a wave.
"Evander? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, slowly lowering my hands.
Seeing his face was an unexpected relief, but also a shock. He looked tired—his blond hair messy, his emerald-green eyes weary, and his clothes a bit wrinkled. But he still had that same smile, the one that always seemed to brighten any room. Why was he here, of all places?
"What are you doing here?" I asked, crossing my arms, though my heart was still slowing down from the scare.
He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze.
"Did you expect someone else?" he asked, half-joking, as he took a step forward, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket.
I blinked a few times, trying to process what was happening.
"Just talk, Evander," I said, crossing my arms.
He shrugged, as if the answer was obvious.
"I went looking for you at school, but no one knew where you were. I tried calling, but you didn't answer… then I guess I ended up falling asleep." He pointed to a corner of the building, where a thin blanket and an old backpack lay.
My mind was spinning. Evander had been looking for me? And worse—he had been here the whole time, without me noticing?
"Why were you looking for me? How did you know I'd be here?" I asked, crossing my arms again, trying to hide the mix of concern and irritation growing inside me.
Evander shrugged, stepping closer cautiously.
"Why was I looking for you, Zeph? That's not exactly a mystery. You've been disappearing from school, the restaurant, and you don't even answer my messages anymore. After a while, it became pretty obvious that you were avoiding everyone. And as for how I found this place… I know you, Zeph. When you want to run from the world, you always pick places like this… far away from everything."
I let out a heavy sigh, guilt tightening in my chest.
"You shouldn't be here, Evander."
He took another step toward me, now with his hands still buried in his pockets.
"Oh, so now I can't worry about my best friend? Is that it? Did you think I'd just sit at home, pretending everything was fine while you keep acting like no one cares?"
His words hit me like a punch to the stomach. I looked down, unable to respond immediately.
"It's not that, I just…"
"Just what?" He interrupted, crossing his arms. "Are you going to tell me you don't need anyone? That everything is fine? Because if that's the case, let me save you the trouble—no one believes it. Not your grandparents, not me."
The silence that followed was heavy. I didn't know how to respond, so I stared at the floor, trying to organize my thoughts.
Evander sighed, walking up to me and shaking his head, his green eyes locked onto my gray ones.
"Look, Zeph, I didn't come here to pressure you or to ask a bunch of questions. I just… needed to see you. I know you're going through something, but pushing me away isn't the solution. You're my best friend. We've always been together, no matter what happens. We're practically brothers, and… I love you."
I lifted my gaze to him, feeling an unexpected lump in my throat. His honesty caught me off guard. Evander continued, offering a half-embarrassed smile.
"I know you're dealing with something, and I know it's hard for you to talk about it. I also know that being a teenager is complicated, and sometimes things feel too big to handle alone. But… you don't have to shut yourself off like this. I just want you to know that I'm here. I've always been. No matter what it is. If you need silence, I'll be quiet. If you need a shoulder, I'm here. I just want you to know that you're not alone, Zeph."
He paused, as if choosing his next words carefully.
"I don't know exactly what you're feeling because, for me, whenever things get tough, reading the Bible and talking to God helps me clear my head. But I know you're not really into that kind of thing, so maybe… everything feels more intense for you."
The way he spoke—so honest and without judgment—made something inside me unravel. His words were so sincere that it was hard not to feel their weight. I felt… small. And at the same time, so grateful to have him in my life.
"Evander, I…" I started, but he cut me off with a smile.
"You don't have to say anything. Not now. I just want you to know that when you're ready to talk, I'll be here. And if you don't want to say anything, that's okay too. I can just sit next to you in silence."
I took a deep breath, letting his words sink in. They reached a part of me I didn't even realize needed to be touched. For so long, I had been fighting alone, carrying the weight of everything, thinking no one would understand. But at that moment, I realized Evander didn't need to understand. He just needed to be there.
"Thank you," I managed to murmur.
"Always, man." He gave me a pat on the shoulder, and for the first time in days, I felt the weight lessen just a little.
Evander glanced around the building, his curious eyes scanning the debris and peeling walls.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, he sat down on the floor, leaning against one of the cracked walls. His gaze wandered, taking in the place with curiosity.