Chapter-3

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The door to Theo’s apartment opened and he walked inside, The house wasn’t small, but not too big either, perfect for him and his mom, He took out his shoes and walked inside tired,frustrated and…feeling something else.

“Theo, is that you?” A woman in her late 60s walked out from the inside and immediately cheered up seeing Theo, and gave him a hug.

“Sorry I’m late Abuela”,Theo says hugging her back.

Theo’s Abuela, smiled and then pinched her grandson’s arm but not enough to make him actually hurt.

“Where were you Mijo, I was worried sick you know, gosh, I was 5 seconds away from calling 911”

“You’re being dramatic now” Theo sighs

“Dramatic? It’s 5 already, your class ends at 3!”

Abuela says, looking genuinely worried.

After Theo had a bad car accident years ago, she had been overly protective of her son, must be because she’s a wonderful woman and a mom to Theo after his parents death. She owns a few Spanish restaurants in the city and is a successful chef herself.

Theo nodded, “I was busy somewhere..promise I won’t scare you like this again”

“Like where? That arcade again?”

Abuela asks knowing her grandson too well

“Abuelaa..”

He pulled his grandma into another hug again, Abuela rolled her eyes but let him hug her. Actually relieved.

“How did your debate go?” she enthusiastically asked.

Theo reminded quiet for a few seconds..

Abuela immediately sensed something went wrong so she just changed the topic,

“Okay, enough about school…now go wash up, I’ll get your dinner ready, I made Tamales ” she patted his back

Theo nodded and headed upstairs to his room, He placed his bagpack on his study table and let him fall on his bed looking up at the ceiling.

Theo’s Abuela was indeed right, he was at the

arcade near school again. That was the only place where he hung out..alone, almost everyday if counted. He wouldn’t play any games or anything, he’d just come alone, sit at a corner and read his books or simply just sit for about an hour and sometimes longer.

That was the secret hideout spot for him and Jin when they were friends, that place held memories that he couldn’t forget even if he wants to, that was the place where Jin would babble nonstop about his love for English poems and his pet cat which his father hates, they would spend hours discussing everything under the sun and that was also the place where Theo saw Jin cry for the first time because of his dad.

Theo shakes his head once, what was he doing thinking about old times again, it’s not like it’s coming back again but he can’t help himself

Then he remembered something from the debate competition this morning, there was some purple bruises under Jin’s arm like he’s been hit and the injury was fresh..also the small scar on the side of his neck, it was easily visible due to his pale skin but…the question was how did he got those?

Theo sat straight,

Was he being abused?

Or maybe it’s just a misunderstanding?

Back in the days when they were friends,

Jin really did got hurt a lot, but he won’t tell the reasons. One time he wore long sleeve in school when the temperature was literally hot as hell.

Theo and the rest of their friends asked,

“I’m sensitive to direct sunlight and I’m sick” was Jin’s reply to all the questions.

Another time, he showed up to school with bruised arms, “I fell off the stairs” he shrugged and laughed it off.

Everyone bought it..except Theo, he sensed something was off but didn’t ask since Jin didn’t want to tell, Theo decided not to push him further back then.

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“I’m going nuts” Theo mumbled to himself, trying to get rid of those thoughts but memories of that night hit him once again.

The night that changed everything for the both of them. The day when Jin looked at Theo like he didn’t recognise him, like he was a stranger to him.

Theo closed his eyes slowly..

...[5 years ago]...

[October 16, 2021]

At the school’s annual party, At a beach near the host’s home

Theo wasn’t a fan of fancy parties and loud noise but he was invited to the party, at first he refused to go but some of his friends dragged him there, After about an hour later Theo got bored and was ready to leave when some guys slammed the door open and looked pale pointing outside, “Jin-He…He fell down in the water”

In a flash moment, Theo ran out of there at

instant and found some of the other students calling Jin’s name and turning the torch on in search of him.

”Its been 4 minutes already..” a guy said, his voice shaky.

Some guys were drunk after the drinking session and teased Jin playfully, and ask him to swim with them but Jin refused and the guys, awfully drunked..pushed Jin in the water hoping he’ll be fine…but….1..2…3…4…5…6…7….

There was no signs of Jin coming up on the surface. The guys got panicked and ran away from there. The other students went to in to call for help.

Theo however without wasting a second jumped straight into the water, he swam in and found Jin drowning, Theo immediately yanked him up and another student, Oliver came for help. Jin coughed and trembled.

“We’ve called 911, they’ll be here any minute”.Oliver said after they reached the shore. Theo was half listening, his entire attention was on Jin, and how afraid and terrified he might be right now since he was holding Theo’s hand so tightly..afraid he’ll drown again once he let go of him.

Theo slowly pulled his hand away and looked at Oliver, “Take him back inside”

“Where are you going?” Oliver asked.

“I’ve work to deal with” Theo reply standing up,

“At least wait until he become conscious-”

“It’s important, take care of him” Theo grabbed his bag pack on his way with one last look at Jin.

“And Oliver,” Theo turned back, “If he asks, you saved him”

Oliver looked confused, “No, you’re the one-”

“It’s for the best, you’ll tell him you saved him, not me..”

Oliver didn’t say anything for some seconds,

“That’ll make things worse for you two”

Theo breathed out, “ Maybe but if he finds out I saved him, he’d rather drown instead”

Oliver didn’t have anything to say to that. Maybe because that was true..

What happened next?

The nurses and their other friends came in and saw Oliver with Jin, they all thought Oliver was the one who saved Jin from drowning, Oliver was seen as a hero, everyone was too busy spreading news that Oliver was a savior and, he played along.

Jin woke up after some hours and his friends told him how Oliver jumped in and saved his life.

“And Theo? Where’s he?” Jin asked

The students looked at each other, “He left early, Oliver said he has things to take care of”

“He didn’t ask about me?” Jin asked quietly

The students looked at each other again and remained quiet.

Jin froze..he just walked away..like that, he clearly knew that Jin was afraid of water, still he chose to leave..Theo clearly knew he was drowning but chose to leave. Although they had an argument and avoided each other, how could he just left him to die when he clearly knew that Jin was traumatised by water..It was the day everything changed between them.

Jin found out Theo moved abroad the next day at school, Oliver was awarded citizenship award by the school while Jin was happy for him…deep down he wished the person who saved him was Theo instead.

But little did he know..the person who saved him that night was none other than Theo himself.

After 5 years, he started going to Whitmore Academy, his dream academy and things were going fine, until he finds out that..there was also someone studying there at Whitmore..Theo, he had been studying at Whitmore for the couple of years after he quit his previous school after the incident 5 years ago..Theo too didn’t expect to see Jin again.

After years life played a game again with those two, and ever since day 1..their competition starts…

...End of Chapter-3\~...

...Hope y’all enjoyed💗 ...

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