Theo stepped closer without hesitation. He raised his hand and gently wiped the tears from Alvano's cheek, as if touching something fragile yet precious. Alvano's face was so close—only a few centimeters away—and at that distance, Theo could clearly see how pure and unguarded his expression was. Alvano truly looked like white snow in winter: sincere, calm, and free of hatred, even though his heart was full of wounds.
Without realizing it, Theo smiled faintly. No matter how chaotic his life was, no matter how harsh the world had been to them… he felt lucky to have met Alvano. Lucky to have once sat beside that lonely boy, who had eventually become his truest friend.
Then Alvano hugged him. It wasn't a hesitant or polite embrace—it was tight, desperate, as if he were asking for help, as if the world would collapse if Theo wasn't there. Instinctively, Theo returned it. He held Alvano firmly and slowly stroked his back, following the uneven rhythm of his still-trembling breaths.
"You've fought so hard all this time," Theo said without pause. His voice was calm, different from usual. "I remember everything, Van. From middle school to high school. Everything you went through alone, every wound you hid. You're not a coward. You're just human… and you survived this far."
Alvano bit his lip, his body tensing slightly before softening again in Theo's arms.
Theo rested his forehead against Alvano's shoulder, sharing a warmth he knew could soothe him. "Listen to me. You have me here. Now, tomorrow, and after that… I'll stay by your side. I'll help you. I'll guide you if you fall. So stop blaming yourself."
The embrace tightened, as if Theo's words had unlocked something long sealed deep inside Alvano's heart.
"Everything that happens has meaning," Theo whispered. "And you don't have to go through it alone anymore."
As Theo's gentle words flowed, something inside Alvano finally collapsed—not in destruction, but like a burden being set down after years of piling up. In that embrace, he felt something he had never truly known: unconditional understanding, warmth that demanded nothing in return, and a sense of safety that did not feel fragile.
It felt like being held by someone who had known him his entire life. Like a parent's embrace… yet somehow deeper than that. Without realizing it, Theo had become the axis of his world—the place he could return to when everything felt too heavy.
Not long after, Alvano's eyelids began to droop. His breathing slowed, his shoulders easing from tension into relaxation. Comfortable… so comfortable that he didn't notice as his strength faded. Within seconds, he fell asleep in Theo's arms, still clutching his friend's shirt as if afraid to let go.
Theo froze for a moment, then let out a small sigh with a crooked smile. "Seriously… falling asleep already. You were just crying," he murmured softly, half amused, half resigned to Alvano's unpredictability.
Very carefully, Theo shifted Alvano's body. He supported his shoulders and back so as not to wake him, then gently laid him down on the bed. Alvano murmured faintly but didn't open his eyes. Theo pulled the blanket up to cover him, making sure he stayed warm.
Before stepping away, his hand stopped. He didn't know what compelled him, but Theo took Alvano's hand—firm, warm, sincere. His fingers rested gently over the back of his friend's hand.
"Sleep, Van," he whispered, barely audible. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
And Theo stayed there, holding that hand as if it were a promise he could never break.
Theo sat on the edge of the bed, still holding Alvano's hand, his gaze soft as he looked at his friend's peacefully sleeping face. Alvano's breathing was steady, and every so often his brows twitched slightly, as if he were still drifting through a dream. Theo smiled faintly and murmured, his voice low and warm.
"Do you remember, Van… back in middle school, when we got caught stealing colored chalk from the teachers' room just to draw a giant dragon on the auditorium floor?" Theo chuckled quietly. "It was supposed to be a joke, but it turned into a whole-school incident. You panicked like crazy, but you still corrected me first, saying the dragon needed bigger wings."
Theo gently brushed Alvano's cheek, his thumb wiping away the faint traces of dried tears. His hand moved to Alvano's hairline, playing with the strands the way he used to—slowly, soothingly, a habit that always calmed him.
"And at the start of high school…" Theo smiled again at the memory, "you forced me to join the inter-class running race even though I was obviously the worst at long-distance running. You said, 'If you fall, I'll pick you up,' even though we both knew you'd be out of breath too."
He shook his head softly, his tone amused yet tender. "But when I actually fell, you helped me without thinking. Like always. You were always like that."
Alvano's face looked peaceful, and Theo watched him with feelings too complex to put into words. His other hand moved to the side of Alvano's face, caressing his temple down to his jaw with a warmth that was almost gratitude.
"Honestly, Van…" he whispered, "if I hadn't met you back then… I don't know what I'd be now. Maybe I'd still be a coward. Or still completely lost." He took a breath, his voice trembling slightly. "But you—you made me want to become a better version of myself. Stronger. Braver."
He touched Alvano's forehead lightly with his fingertips, as if touching something precious.
"All of that is because of you, Van. You're the reason I'm like this… and I'll never regret it."
Theo only realized it was already 10 p.m. when he glanced at the small clock on the bedside table. He froze for a moment, startled that he hadn't noticed how long he'd been talking. Alvano was still fast asleep, his breathing slow and calm. Theo looked at him one last time, made sure the blanket covered him comfortably, then gently released their joined hands.
Moving as quietly as possible, he left the room and closed the door softly so it wouldn't make a sound. The hallway was silent, filled only with the faint hum of a rotating fan. Theo went downstairs to the first floor and found Alvano's grandfather still sitting upright on the living room sofa, watching television at a low volume.
"It's late, Theo?" the old man asked without turning around, clearly aware of Theo's presence.
Theo smiled and nodded politely. "Yes, Grandpa. I'm heading home. Thank you so much for dinner."
Alvano's grandfather turned off the television and stood up, taking his thin wooden cane. "I'll walk you to the front."
Theo almost refused, but the old man had already started walking, so he simply followed. They stepped out onto the terrace, lit by a dim yellow light. The night breeze blew softly, carrying the calming scent of damp leaves.
As Theo bent down to put on his shoes, Alvano's grandfather suddenly stopped and looked at him for a long moment—not an intimidating gaze, but one filled with careful consideration and equal warmth.
"Theo," he said quietly, "if one day you feel dizzy… or have a severe headache, even if it comes suddenly… please tell Grandpa. I know how to treat it."
Theo blinked. It was a strange sentence. Very strange.
"Uh… y-yes, Grandpa," he replied, trying to smile as his mind filled with questions.
Alvano's grandfather gave a faint smile, as if he knew far more than he was saying. "Don't forget. It's important."
Theo could only nod before walking away, feeling the night air grow colder than it had been moments before.