LOGINFelix got behind the wheel but didn't start the engine. Instead, he reached into the back seat and retrieved the familiar brown envelope. Noa's heart began pounding."What's in there?" he demanded. "You already know." "Give it to me." Felix laughed. "You haven't even asked what's inside." "I don't care." "Really?" Felix pulled out an old photograph and placed it between them. Noa looked down. His blood ran cold. It was a picture of him and Felix standing beside a damaged silver car. Noa remembered that night vividly. The rain. The screaming. The blood on the road. Then the woman lying helplessly beneath the streetlight. "Put that away," Noa whispered. Felix didn't move. "Do you remember her?" "Stop it." "Of course you do. That was the night your life changed." Noa's fingers curled into fists. "That was your fault." Felix's expression darkened. "Careful." "You were driving. You were drunk, and you refused to stop when I told you
"Interesting. Because I remember you being too busy with someone else when we were together." Felix sighed. "Are we still talking about that?" "Yes, Felix. We are." "It happened a long time ago. I told you it was a mistake." "It happened when we were together, and it ended us." Felix stepped closer. "I made mistakes." "You cheated on me, three times. I forgave you two times and you did it again." "I know." "And when I confronted you, you tried to convince me it was nothing." "I was young and stupid." Noa shook his head. "No, you were selfish." Felix's jaw tightened, but he quickly recovered his smile. "Noa, I've changed.” "Good for you." “Let's start over again." “No, we can't. "Noa..." "I have somewhere to be." "Can we at least sit down and talk?" "No." "Just ten minutes." "No, Felix. It's been over a long time ago." Felix looked at him for a long moment. Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a small
Noa swallowed painfully.He couldn't believe it. After more than two years, Felix was calling him again, and with that familiar voice tone. ‘Hey sweet boo, how have you been?’ Noa felt sick. "Babe?" Leon touched his shoulder. "Why did you cut the call? Who was that?" Noa quickly locked his phone. "An old friend." "An old friend?" "Yeah." Leon studied his face. "You don't look like someone who just received a call from an old friend." "It's nothing, Leon." "Then why are your hands shaking?" Noa looked down and realized his fingers were trembling.He slipped the phone beneath his pillow. "Can we get ready for practice? We're already running late." Leon wasn't convinced. "You're changing the subject." "Please, Leon. Not now." Leon stared at him for a moment.He wanted to push further, but he remembered how fragile Noa had been the previous night. "All right," he finally said. "We'll talk later." He pulled Noa into a warm embrace an
Noa reached for the device. His expression changed the moment he saw the message. Unknown: Enjoying your little comfort? I hope you remember that Leon's family had nearly destroyed your life once. Don't make the mistake of trusting them again. Noa's fingers went cold. Leon noticed the change in his expression. "Who is it?" "Nobody." "Noa..." He turned the phone over, but Leon had already seen the unfamiliar number. "Is that the person who's been bothering you?" Noa froze. Leon sat up."Someone has been threatening you?" "No." "Don't lie to me." Noa looked at the phone. He wanted to tell Leon, but the message had mentioned his family again, and the warning about Max was still fresh in his mind. What if Leon already knew?What if he was only comforting him because he wanted to keep him from asking questions? "Please," Noa whispered. "Not tonight." Leon studied him for a long moment. Then he reached for his hand. "All right. Not tonight
A few seconds passed before the door opened. Noa stood there wearing an old T-shirt and sweatpants. His hair was untidy, and his face looked exhausted. "What are you doing here, Leon?" "I need to come in?" "I told you not to come." "I know." "Then why did you come?" Leon looked at him. "Because I'm worried about you. I couldn't sleep." Noa stepped aside reluctantly. Leon entered and quietly closed the door. The apartment was dimly lit. A few papers were scattered across the table, and an unopened food container sat beside a glass of water. Leon glanced at the papers. "What's all this?" "Nothing." He didn't touch them. Instead, he turned toward Noa. "Have you eaten?" Noa shrugged. "Not hungry." "When did you last eat?" "Leon..." "Okay. I won't ask. You're not a baby and you can take care of yourself." He took a step closer. "From my observation right now, babies are better than you because they know when to lean on th
The lady looked at him and said, "We're not making this decision lightly. We'll contact you as soon as a decision is made." Noa left the office with no answer, and decided not to let her sister see him in his terrible state. Outside, he sat on a bench and stared at the ground. He had done everything he could think of, and only had to pray that Bella would be allowed to remain in treatment. His phone buzzed with a message from Leon. Leon: Practice starts in an hour. Are you coming? Noa swallowed. He had nearly forgotten about practice. For a moment, he considered staying away. He couldn't face Leon, couldn't bear the tenderness in his eyes, and couldn't pretend that everything was normal. But hockey was the one thing keeping him connected to the future he still wanted. He couldn't surrender it yet. Noa: I'll be there. He stood, wiped his face, and started toward the exit. Then another message arrived from the unknown number. Unknown: Good. Keep playi
Noa tilted his head slightly, eyes dragging over Leon’s tense expression. “Are you sure about that?" Leon couldn't reply because he knew he was right. His heart had been thudding since he saw him in the shower. He had been trying to control his body from acting up. Water rolled down Leon’s ne
The locker room was buzzing with noise as players stormed in straight from practice. Their hockey sticks clatter against benches while other gadgets hit the floor carelessly. Steam was already curling out from the shower areas as curses and laughter echoed off the tiled walls. “Coach Finn talks
The sudden burst of loud voices outside the stall instantly snapped both of them back to reality. The restroom door slammed closed. Students who walked in moved around noisily, laughing and talking over each other. Leon’s eyes flew open fully. At the same time, Noa jerked back slightly. His h
Both guys stared at him in surprise. He sounded very annoyed. “Come on, Cap. Let it go already. Coach had settled things after practice.” Vic immediately jumped in. “Exactly,” Nath agreed. “Leon was rough during training, but honestly? That rookie is good.” Noa stared at them blankly for







