The soft hum of the air conditioning filled the room, mingling with the light rustling of notebook pages. Zac sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by constellation charts, textbooks, and a half-eaten bag of chips. Across from him, Januz sat with perfect posture, his eyes scanning their project outline with the same calm intensity that had been driving Zac crazy since class.
"You're too quiet," Zac said, finally breaking the silence. "Is that how royals act when they're doing school projects?"
Januz's lips curled, just slightly. "I'm not a royal."
Zac narrowed his eyes, leaning forward on his elbows. "You didn't deny it very well."
Januz didn't respond. Instead, he reached for the printed guidelines, his fingers brushing against Zac's hand for the briefest second.
Zac pulled his hand back, his heart skipping for no reason he was willing to admit. He looked away, pretending to reread their assigned topic: The Influence of Greek Mythology on Early Astrological Beliefs.
"Did you always like the stars?" Januz asked suddenly.
Zac blinked at him. "Yeah... since I was a kid. I'd stare at them from my bedroom window and make up stories. Each constellation had its own legend. I liked that. Like… the sky was full of secrets, waiting to be told."
Januz's gaze softened. "Tell me one."
Zac hesitated. He wasn't used to people asking that. Let alone someone like him. But something about the way Januz said it — so quiet, like he actually wanted to know — made it hard to say no.
So he sat up straighter, pulled his knees close to his chest, and said, "Have you ever heard of Orpheus and Eurydice?"
Januz shook his head.
Zac smiled faintly. "It's a tragic one. Orpheus was this amazing musician. He fell in love with a girl named Eurydice. But on their wedding day, she got bitten by a snake and died."
He paused, noticing the way Januz's eyes didn't blink — like he was absorbing every word.
"Orpheus was heartbroken. So he went down to the Underworld to bring her back. He played music so beautiful that even Hades and Persephone agreed to let Eurydice go. But there was one condition—he had to walk in front of her the whole way back, and he couldn't look at her until they reached the surface."
Januz leaned forward, hands clasped.
Zac's voice lowered. "He almost made it. But just before they reached the surface, he panicked. He looked back… and lost her forever."
Silence fell between them.
Zac shrugged lightly. "I used to think it was just a sad love story. But maybe it's more than that. Maybe it's about trust. Or fear. Or losing something before you even get the chance to hold onto it."
Januz's eyes didn't move from Zac's face. "Do you believe in that kind of love?"
Zac's throat went dry. "I… I don't know."
They both went quiet again. The room seemed smaller now. The air thicker.
Januz shifted closer, his voice softer than before. "If someone you loved was in danger… would you let them go to keep them safe?"
Zac looked at him, startled by the question.
"I mean," Januz added quickly, glancing away, "hypothetically. Like, in the legend."
"Right." Zac swallowed, unsure why his chest was tightening. "I guess it depends. If you let them go, you might lose them forever. But if you don't, they might get hurt. So either way… you lose."
Januz stared down at his hands. He didn't speak again.
Zac watched him, something deep in his memory starting to stir. That same quietness. That presence. That stillness like the ocean under moonlight.
It felt familiar.
Too familiar.
He glanced at Januz's lips — then looked away fast, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. No way. That's crazy. It couldn't be…
Could it?
Januz suddenly stood up, brushing off his pants. "I should go. It's getting late."
Zac stood too, a bit slower. "Yeah. Sure."
As Januz walked to the door, Zac bit his lip. "Hey."
Januz turned, hand on the knob.
Zac's voice was small. "Have we… met before?"
There was a pause. A flicker of hesitation in Januz's dark eyes.
And then — the tiniest smile. "I don't think you'd forget if we had."
And with that, the door closed behind him.
Zac stood there, staring, his heart pounding like a drum.
He pressed his fingers to his lips — remembering that night on the beach. The kiss. The shadows. The hoodie.
And the voice.
He closed his eyes.
It was the same.