The bell signaling the first period rang. Their English teacher, Mr. Daniel, entered the classroom with his usual confident stride. The bespectacled man was known for being strict but often slipped in jokes that made his lessons enjoyable.
"Good morning, class," Mr. Daniel greeted warmly.
"Good morning, Mr. Daniel," the students replied in unison.
The lesson began with a new topic — the Present Perfect Continuous Tense. The entire class paid attention, except for one person: Theo. As always, he was half-lying on his desk, his face hidden behind an open book, breathing slowly — already drifting into dreamland.
Alvano glanced at him briefly and sighed. He decided to stay focused on Mr. Daniel's explanation, who was now writing examples on the board.
A few minutes later, Mr. Daniel turned around — and immediately spotted Theo sleeping peacefully.
He walked over and tapped Theo's desk lightly. "Huh… Theo," he said firmly, though not angrily.
Theo stirred and opened one eye halfway. "Ugh… yes, teacher?" he mumbled groggily.
Mr. Daniel crossed his arms. "Please stand up and apologize to the class. In English, of course."
Theo stood up, still half-asleep. "Umm… I'm sorry for… uh… sleep attack me… and… my eyes not listen to me… I no repeat again… maybe."
The whole class burst out laughing. Even Alvano couldn't hide his smile.
Mr. Daniel sighed, suppressing a chuckle. "Next time, make sure your grammar wakes up too, Mr. Theo."
Theo nodded innocently. "Yes, sir. I grammar wake up next time."
The room exploded in laughter again. The atmosphere became light and cheerful before everyone settled back into the lesson.
The rest of the class went smoothly. Mr. Daniel, with his relaxed yet firm teaching style, managed to keep everyone's attention. Occasionally, he threw in light jokes that made learning feel fun without losing focus on the material.
Theo, struggling to stay awake, could be seen shaking his head several times in an effort to focus. His confused expressions while trying to understand grammar became unintentional comedy for the class — especially for Alvano sitting beside him. When Theo fumbled his English sentences and tried to correct them with even worse pronunciation, laughter filled the room once more. Even Mr. Daniel could only shake his head with a faint smile.
Before long, the recess bell rang. The familiar chime echoed through the school building. Students began getting up, most heading straight for the cafeteria. But unlike the others, Theo gently tugged Alvano's sleeve and gestured for him to follow.
"Not going to the cafeteria?" Alvano asked, puzzled.
"No. There's something I want to talk about," Theo replied briefly.
They walked down the quiet back corridor, passing a few students lounging around. When they reached the back garden, they sat on a long bench shaded by a frangipani tree. The air was calm, the sound of rustling leaves blending with the soft breeze.
After a moment of silence, Theo spoke softly. "I've been thinking about your power."
He sat in a relaxed posture, but his gaze was serious. The peaceful atmosphere made the moment feel deeper, more meaningful. He leaned back and sighed before continuing.
"I'm going to help you train it," Theo said firmly, though a hint of his usual grin lingered. "You held it back pretty well this morning. I could tell you were trying — that's not easy."
Alvano turned to him, surprised by his tone. He hadn't realized Theo had noticed so much. Even in silence, Theo had read him perfectly.
"I'm serious, Van," Theo continued. "Control is everything. It's not about how powerful you are, but how precisely you use that power — without drawing attention."
Theo reached into his pocket and pulled out a small coin. He held it up before Alvano's eyes, then tossed it gently into the air. It landed a few meters away.
"Try pulling it toward you," he said calmly, as if giving a casual challenge.
Alvano hesitated, staring at the coin lying on the ground. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing his thoughts. A faint ripple stirred the air around his hand — a subtle shimmer of energy.
Carefully, he extended his palm forward, visualizing the coin moving toward him — not through brute force, but with a focused will. Slowly, the coin trembled… then began to slide across the ground. Bit by bit, it edged closer, until it finally lifted slightly and landed neatly in his palm.
Theo's eyes widened, then curved into a satisfied smile. "Nice. Quiet and smooth — that's exactly what you need."
Alvano gave a small, modest smile. A warm feeling bloomed inside him — partly from the success, partly from having a friend who truly believed in him.
Theo leaned back, folding his arms behind his head, then shot him a mischievous grin.
"So… how about we start a special training session after school? You know, private lessons with your handsome, genius mentor," he said, laughing lightly.
Alvano chuckled, shaking his head. "Handsome and genius mentor, huh? But… your idea's not bad. I do need regular practice."
"Of course! I'm serious, Van. You need consistency — not just theory. You've gotta be able to use your power anytime, without risk," Theo said with more conviction this time.
Alvano's expression softened as he thought for a moment. "But I can't stay out too late. My grandpa would worry."
Theo snapped his fingers. "Then we'll go to your place after school. We'll train there. I'll hang out until evening and head home after. Easy."
Alvano looked at him, then nodded. "That could work… as long as you don't mind staying late."
"Don't worry about me. As long as I can see your progress, I'm good. Besides," Theo said, grinning as he patted Alvano's shoulder, "this is for our future hero, right?"
Alvano smiled sincerely. He couldn't help but feel grateful for having Theo — a friend who not only stood beside him in tough moments, but also pushed him to grow stronger in ways no one else could.