Theo took a slow breath before continuing. There was a brief pause, as if he was separating what he should say from what he wanted to keep to himself. But his grandfather's calm gaze made him feel safe enough to open up a little more about the old wound.
"Before this… those delinquents once came into our classroom," Theo said quietly. "They barged in like they owned the place, caused trouble, and almost started a fight. I didn't plan on getting involved at first, but… they went too far."
Grandpa gave a small nod, signaling Theo to go on.
"There was a huge fight that day," he continued. "Between me and some of them. I don't even remember how it escalated so fast, but everything got messy. They insulted my classmates, shoved some kids… I couldn't just stand there."
Theo swallowed, remembering the tense faces, the scraping chairs, and the angry eyes of the delinquents who couldn't stand being challenged. "The fight only stopped because the class leader, Joshua, forced both sides to quit. But I think… that's when things started spiraling."
Grandpa Alvano listened seriously. He didn't interrupt or comment—he simply stood there, a safe place for a boy who had carried too much for too long.
Theo lowered his gaze, his voice weakening. "I don't like violence, Grandpa. I really hate it. But back then… they went too far. They hurt my classmates for no reason. I couldn't pretend I didn't see it."
He added softly—but firmly, "And I didn't want Alvano to get bullied or become their next target. He… he's too kind for that. So that day… I pushed myself further."
Grandpa finally spoke, his voice gentle but deep. "So you just wanted to protect your friends… including Alvano."
Theo nodded slowly.
"Next time," Grandpa said while patting his shoulder again, "think carefully before you act. Courage matters… but your safety matters just as much."
And that night, Theo realized that even if he often felt alone facing everything, at least in this small backyard, someone understood him.
Grandpa let out a slow sigh, his eyes softening. "Theo… what you did back then wasn't entirely wrong," he said. "You were only trying to protect others. And that's… something not every kid your age can do."
Theo looked up, surprised by the honest acknowledgment.
"Of course," Grandpa continued calmly, "it would be better if you didn't use too much force. But I wasn't there. I don't know exactly how things went. Sometimes… when we're cornered or when someone else is being hurt, we act on instinct."
He gave a small smile, folding his hands behind his back. "Your courage to stand up to boys like that… it's no small thing. Many people would've run."
Theo didn't know what to say. Those words didn't erase the weight in his chest, but at least they made him feel like he wasn't always wrong for the choices he made.
"You're a good kid, Theo," Grandpa added gently. "But be careful. Unprotected kindness can turn into wounds for yourself."
Theo nodded, feeling something warm and heavy in his chest. "Thank you, Grandpa…"
As he lowered his head, the sliding door from the house opened. Both of them turned.
The door to the backyard slid open slowly, and Alvano peeked outside. His face looked fresh after washing dishes, his hair still slightly damp from water splashes.
"Theo!" he called, waving. "Come in! I wanna show you something!"
His voice was light, excited—like a kid who just found a new toy.
Theo glanced at Grandpa, as if asking for permission. The old man nodded gently, his smile saying their conversation could continue anytime.
"Go on," he said. "He looks really excited."
Theo nodded and walked back toward the house, his steps a little lighter. Through the open door, he saw Alvano smiling brightly—and somehow, that smile alone was enough to chase away the shadows lingering in him.
But the moment he stepped inside, the lingering tension vanished instantly.
Alvano was standing in front of the sink, hands slightly raised. And floating in the air—right above the sink—two glasses were suspended, rotating slowly as if pulled by an invisible force.
Theo froze. "Van?!"
The glasses wobbled, losing balance when Theo shouted. Reflexively, Theo lunged toward Alvano and grabbed his arm, trying to stop whatever he was doing before it got worse.
But that panic broke Alvano's focus.
CRAAANG!!
Both glasses crashed to the floor. Shards scattered everywhere. The sound was sharp and loud, making them both freeze.
"We're so dead…" Alvano whispered, his face turning pale.
Theo was just as stunned, his breath shaky. "Why would you do that out of nowhere?!"
"I just… wanted to show you something! I thought it was safe! I… I practiced a little—"
"Van." Theo kept his voice low. "That wasn't 'a little.' That's dangerous."
Before they could argue further, footsteps echoed from the backyard—Grandpa's. Slow, steady, and terrifying in that moment.
"We need to clean this! Now!" Alvano hissed.
They both dropped to the floor, picking up shards in full panic. Alvano grabbed the big pieces; Theo swept the tiny ones into a pile.
But in the chaos, Theo missed a thin shard between his fingers.
"Ah—!"
He winced. A thin red line appeared on his finger.
"Van, you're hurt!" Alvano panicked, but Theo shook his head.
"It's fine. Later. Just clean up!"
After making sure the floor was clean and wiping away the water, they rushed off. The footsteps were getting closer—seconds before Grandpa would appear at the door.
"Go to the room!" Theo whispered.
They hurried into Alvano's room. As soon as they stepped in, Alvano shut the door tight.
Both stood there, breathing hard.
Theo held his injured finger, while Alvano bit his lip—nervous and guilty.
Behind the closed door, silence. Only their pounding hearts filled the air.
Alvano spun around, opening drawers frantically. He even dropped a small box in his panic. "Medicine… where… where is it?! It was here—ah, got it!"
Theo sat on the edge of the bed, pressing his bleeding finger and watching his frantic friend. "Alvano… sorry I yelled," he said quietly. "I was just… shocked. Last time during training, you could only move a coin. But earlier… two glasses? That's… insane."
Alvano didn't respond, too focused on grabbing the first-aid kit and rushing back to Theo. His face was a mix of worry, panic, and guilt. "This is my fault! I just wanted to show something cool… and I ruined everything…"
Theo sighed softly. "It's not all your fault. I panicked too."
Alvano sat in front of him and pulled out an alcohol pad. "Okay, give me your finger. I'll clean it—"
But when he reached for Theo's hand, they both froze.
The wound—clearly bleeding just moments ago—was gone.
No red line. No cut. The skin was completely healed, as if nothing ever happened.
Alvano froze, the alcohol pad still unused in his hand. "Theo… why…"
Theo stared at his finger, eyes widening. He turned his palm over, checking again, as if he didn't believe his own eyes.
"The cut… vanished."
Their voices dropped to a whisper, but the slow-growing panic between them was louder than anything else in the room.
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