Sixteen years. That's how long it had been.
Sixteen birthdays.
Sixteen Christmases.
Sixteen summers and sixteen winters since Seth last saw Vyre.
And yet, every night before falling asleep, Seth would lie on his side, staring at the shadows on the wall, whispering to himself like he used to do when he was seven.
"Do you remember, Vyre? You promised."
Sometimes, he'd chuckle at himself. It was ridiculous—childish, even—to hold on to something like that. But no matter how much time passed, there was a part of him that couldn't let go. A small flickering hope that maybe, just maybe, Vyre was out there somewhere thinking the same thing.
---
A year later, Seth stood in front of his new school gate, wearing the maroon and white uniform of Estrelia High. The sky was warm with the light of early morning, the clouds soft and slow as if the world had no rush.
It was his first day of Grade 10.
He blew a breath through his lips and muttered, "Okay. New year, same chaos."
Seth was, by all means, a cheerful kind of guy—goofy, sarcastic, and strangely good at making people laugh even when he wasn't trying. He made friends easily. A few were already waving at him from the hallway as he passed. He waved back, smiling wide, the way he always did.
But behind the jokes and the half-wink smiles was something else. A space. A quietness he never let anyone see.
Because no matter how many people were around him, a part of Seth always felt alone.
---
Lunch break came faster than expected. Seth headed toward the back of the school building where the wind was cooler and fewer students hung out. It was his favorite spot already. He plopped down on the cement ledge and opened his lunch box.
Just as he took his first bite of rice, the air shifted.
A heavy pair of footsteps approached, followed by a second and third.
"Yo," said a voice. "What you got there?"
Seth looked up and saw three guys towering over him. They weren't in his class, and he didn't know their names, but their smirks gave him all the info he needed.
"Lunch," Seth answered casually, chewing as if nothing was happening.
The tallest one snorted. "How about you hand it over, and we won't mess up that pretty little face of yours?"
Seth blinked. "Oh, you think I'm pretty? I'm blushing."
One of the boys snarled. "Smart mouth, huh?"
Another leaned forward, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see if he's still funny after this."
A fist cocked back.
Seth instinctively closed his eyes.
But the blow never came.
Instead, a new voice interrupted, cool and calm, with a quiet sharpness underneath.
"If you're gonna throw hands, at least pick someone your own height."
The bullies turned in surprise. Seth opened his eyes.
Standing there was a tall guy in a white undershirt and slouched tie, hair slightly messy like he'd just rolled out of bed and didn't care. His hands were in his pockets, and his posture was relaxed—almost too relaxed. But there was something dangerous about the way he stood, like he didn't need to try hard to break someone's jaw if he really wanted to.
The lead bully stared at him. "Who the hell are you?"
"Someone you really don't wanna find out about."
There was a long silence. Then, the bullies scoffed and backed off, throwing a few curses over their shoulders as they disappeared around the corner.
Seth sat frozen. He was used to trouble, sure, but this? This felt like a scene straight out of a movie.
"...You good?" the guy asked.
Seth blinked. "Yeah. Uh. Thanks."
The stranger shrugged. "Didn't want to watch my future teammate get turned into a pancake."
"Teammate?" Seth repeated.
The guy smiled, one side of his mouth lifting higher than the other. "Basketball tryouts. I saw you shoot during P.E. You've got decent form."
"Oh... right." Seth scratched his head. "Cool. Thanks, I guess."
"I'm Nate," the guy said, already walking away with a lazy wave. "Catch you later."
Seth stared after him.
There was something... familiar.
That smile.
Those eyes.
Like a ghost from a dream he barely remembered.
But he couldn't place it. So he let it go.
---
Later that day, in their first-period class, the teacher stood in front of the board, clearing her throat.
"Everyone, settle down," she said. "We have a new transfer joining our section starting today. Please welcome him."
The classroom door opened.
In stepped the same guy from earlier.
Seth sat up straighter in his seat.
The teacher continued. "His name is Xavier Nate Harrison. He recently moved from abroad. I hope you'll make him feel welcome."
Xavier scanned the room briefly, his eyes stopping for just a second on Seth—but long enough that something unspoken passed between them.
Seth's heart did something strange.
The guy walked to the empty seat near the back and slouched into it like he owned the place.
The teacher moved on with the lesson, and everything returned to normal.
But Seth wasn't listening.
He was staring at Xavier's back.
That name...
That smile...
That moment under the tree sixteen years ago...
Could it be?
No.
It couldn't.
He shook the thought away and stared at his notebook. His hand hovered above the page, pen tapping slowly.
But something inside him whispered.
What if it is?