Henry rubbed his eyes, wiping away any remnants of the tears he had shed. He padded quietly across the room, the soft carpet beneath his feet cushioning each step.

Henry headed to the washroom, hoping the cold water on his face would help wash away the heaviness clinging to him.

After freshening up, he made himself a cup of coffee, the warm aroma filling the quiet space. He sat by the window, cradling the mug in his hands, watching the soft hues of the afternoon sun play against the buildings outside.

The world seemed distant, yet the calmness of the moment made him feel a little better, as though he could breathe again.

He hadn’t gone to work or college today, but there was still homework to finish. With a quiet sigh, Henry grabbed his laptop from the desk and opened it.

As the screen flickered to life, he forced himself to focus. The familiar routine of Universitywork gave him something to hold on to, a small distraction from everything swirling in his mind.

As his fingers moved across the keyboard, the soft click of the keys became the only sound in the room, offering him a brief escape from the overwhelming emotions that had consumed him.

When Diois woke up and found his arms empty, panic surged through him.

"Henry?" He jolted upright, his eyes darting around the room. Relief washed over him as he spotted Henry sitting on the sofa, engrossed in his laptop. Diois exhaled deeply, feeling an instant calm.

"Why didn’t you wake me up?" Diois asked, standing and walking over to him.

Henry didn’t respond, his eyes glued to the screen, as if Diois wasn’t even there. Diois sat beside him, reaching out to touch Henry’s forehead gently. "How are you feeling now?"

"Fine," Henry replied curtly, not bothering to look up from his work.

Diois frowned but tried to keep the conversation light.

"What would you like to eat? I’m starving, so I’m going to order some food." He picked up his phone, glancing at Henry.

"You can eat whatever you want," Henry said, his voice cold and distant. "You don’t need to worry about me."

Diois’s hand froze mid-motion, the phone slipping slightly in his grip. The tone in Henry’s voice stung. His expression hardened as he stared at Henry, the warmth from moments ago evaporating.

A cold tension filled the air between them, and Diois’s gaze turned sharp, his mood darkening with every passing second.

Diois's jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed as he observed Henry continue to type, completely ignoring the tension that filled the air between them. The silence weighed heavily, thick with unspoken emotions and unresolved issues.

"You don’t have to push me away like this, Henry," His voice steady yet tinged with frustration. He struggled to maintain a calm demeanor, but the anger simmered just beneath the surface. "I’m only trying to take care of you."

For a moment, Henry's fingers paused over the keyboard, but he quickly resumed typing, refusing to meet Diois's gaze.

"I don’t need your help," he replied flatly, his voice lacking any warmth. "You’ve done more than enough already."

Diois felt a pang in his heart, but anger ignited within him as well. He clenched his fists at his sides, fighting to keep his temper under control.
"You don’t need to waste your anger on me. I’m not going anywhere, no matter what."

Henry snapped his laptop shut with a sharp click, the sound echoing in the tense room.

He turned fully to face Diois, his face contorted with a mixture of pain and anger. His chest heaved with unspoken words, his hands trembling at his sides, but no sound came out. He was so overwhelmed by his emotions that he couldn’t even find the words to express what was tearing him apart inside.

For a long moment, Henry just stared at Diois, his eyes burning with frustration and hurt.

Diois held his gaze, his own anger simmering beneath the surface, but there was something else in his eyes—a stubbornness, a determination that made it clear he wasn’t going to walk away, no matter how hard Henry tried to push him out.

Finally, unable to bear the intensity of the moment any longer, Henry tore his gaze away.

He turned his back on Diois, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He didn’t know how to fight with him or with anyone—he never had.

Diois always had a way of overpowering him, not just physically, but emotionally. Henry had never been good at arguments, and every time he tried to push back, it felt like he was hitting a brick wall.

The room felt suffocating, the weight of everything left unsaid pressing down on both of them.

Diois’s voice broke the silence, softer this time, but still carrying that infuriating confidence.
"I know you’re angry, but I’m not leaving, Henry. You can scream at me, hate me, but I won’t walk away. Not now. Not ever."

Henry squeezed his eyes shut, his fists tightening until his knuckles turned white. He didn’t want Diois’s words, his promises, or his presence.

Not after everything that had happened. But part of him—the part that was too tired to fight—was afraid.

Afraid of being alone. Afraid that, despite everything, a small part of him still craved the comfort Diois offered, even if it came wrapped in pain.

He took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady himself, but the ache in his chest only grew.

Just then, Henry's phone rang, pulling him from the heavy silence. He realized he hadn’t checked it since yesterday. Standing up, he walked over to the bedside table to grab his mobile.

“Hello, Kay,” he answered, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Hey, Henry! Are you not looking for work? I found an opening at our restaurant,” Kay said, excitement clearly in her voice.

Henry felt a flicker of hope at the thought of having a job, but it was quickly overshadowed by his uncertainty. "Really? What kind of position?" he asked, trying to mask his hesitation.

"You can start as a server," Kay said enthusiastically.
"It's flexible hours, and I think you'll fit right in with the team. Plus, it’ll give you a chance to earn some money while you’re figuring things out."
Henry contemplated her words.
  "That sounds great.  When do I need to start?"

"How about today? We can do a quick training session, and then you’ll be ready to go. It’ll be fun! We can work together again."
Kay's excitement was contagious, and Henry found himself smiling despite the heaviness in his heart.

"Alright, let’s do it. I'll be there," he finally said, a sense of determination creeping in. "Thanks, Kay."

"Anytime! I’ll send you the details later. Just take care of yourself, okay?" Kay replied, her tone shifting to one of concern.

Henry hung up and took a deep breath, a mix of relief and anxiety washing over him. As he turned back toward the sofa, he found Diois watching him, a look of curiosity in his eyes.

"Everything okay?" Diois asked, his voice softer now, though a hint of tension still lingered in the air.

Henry gave a faint nod before walking over to his wardrobe.