Travelling through worlds to heal hearts

"Hey, Joey," Rael greeted him as they approached, his voice casual, but there was a subtle wariness in his eyes. Joey couldn't tell if it was from the rain or something else.

"Hey," Joey replied, forcing a smile even as he couldn't tear his gaze away from the way Rishi was standing beside Rael, so effortlessly close, yet so distant.

Rishi noticed Joey's stare and raised an eyebrow, his usual nonchalant attitude firmly in place. "You're still hanging around him, huh? I thought you'd be over it by now."

Joey's jaw clenched. There it was again—the invisible wall that Rishi had built between himself and Rael. The same indifference he had shown back when he hadn't returned Rael's feelings. Joey couldn't let it go. Not anymore.

"Maybe I'm just trying to make him happy," Joey said, his voice steady, though there was a challenge in his tone.

Rishi didn't seem fazed by Joey's words. He just shrugged and gave Rael a look, one that was almost too familiar. "You can try. It's not like he's been happy for a long time, right?"

Rael didn't say anything. His gaze flickered to the ground, and Joey could see the flash of pain in his eyes. Rael wasn't saying it, but he was still holding onto something from his past—something he couldn't let go of, no matter how much time had passed.

Joey couldn't just stand there and let it go. His mission, his heart, everything inside him screamed that he needed to do something.

"Maybe you're wrong," Joey said, stepping a little closer to Rael. "Maybe Rael just needs someone to believe in him. Someone who won't treat him like he's some kind of burden."

Rael shot him a surprised glance, and Joey's heart hammered in his chest. He couldn't read his expression, but there was a flicker of something there—something that made Joey think maybe, just maybe, Rael was starting to see him in a different light.

Rishi's gaze flickered between the two of them, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You know, Joey, you're starting to sound like you're the one who's falling for him."

The words hit Joey like a punch to the gut. His breath caught in his throat. He was sure his face had gone pale, but he quickly recovered, forcing a grin onto his face. "I'm just saying, don't count Rael out. He's stronger than you think."

The words hit Joey like a punch to the gut. His breath caught in his throat. He was sure his face had gone pale, but he quickly recovered, forcing a grin onto his face. "I'm just saying, don't count Rael out. He's stronger than you think."

For a moment, there was silence. Rishi said nothing, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Joey. But Rael—Rael was looking at Joey with a mixture of gratitude and something else that Joey couldn't quite place.

The moment passed as quickly as it had come, and the three of them fell into an uncomfortable silence. Rael glanced at Joey, his expression unreadable.

"Thanks for that," Rael said quietly, his voice almost lost beneath the patter of rain. "You didn't have to defend me."

Joey smiled softly, his heart swelling with a warmth he hadn't expected. "I'd do it again. Anytime."

Rael's gaze lingered on Joey for a moment longer, and Joey could feel the weight of his words. It was as if, in that moment, Rael was starting to trust him—starting to see him not just as someone on a mission, but as someone who genuinely cared.

Rishi's voice cut through the moment, breaking the spell. "Well, it's getting late. I'm going to head out."

Rael nodded, his expression neutral again. "Yeah, me too."

As Rishi turned and walked away, Rael stood there for a second, his eyes still fixed on Joey. For a fleeting moment, their gazes locked, and Joey saw something—a flicker of something more than just friendship.

Rael opened his mouth as if to say something, but the words never came. Instead, he simply gave Joey a small nod before following Rishi.

Joey stood there for a long time, watching them walk away together, the tension between them as palpable as the rain. He couldn't deny it anymore. He was falling for Rael.

But he couldn't let himself get distracted. Not yet. Not until his mission was complete.

And as he walked back to the school, the weight of his feelings pressed down on him. He had to keep his focus. Rael's happiness was his priority, and he couldn't forget that. But for the first time, Joey wasn't sure what would happen if his mission ended. Would he be able to leave, knowing how deep his feelings had grown for the tragic, broken boy who had stolen his heart?

The question lingered in his mind, unanswered, as he disappeared into the shadows of the school courtyard.

And as he walked back to the school, the weight of his feelings pressed down on him. He had to keep his focus. Rael's happiness was his priority, and he couldn't forget that. But for the first time, Joey wasn't sure what would happen if his mission ended. Would he be able to leave, knowing how deep his feelings had grown for the tragic, broken boy who had stolen his heart?

The question lingered in his mind, unanswered, as he disappeared into the shadows of the school courtyard.