That morning, Alvano woke up much later than usual. The digital clock beside his bed showed 6:50 a.m. Sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, slowly greeting his face, but the exhaustion throughout his body made him reluctant to get up.
His body ached all over, as if every joint and muscle had been forcefully pulled all night. Only now did he truly realize the pain. Last night, the rush of adrenaline and his worry over Theo's condition had numbed everything, making him feel nothing at all. Now, all that pain attacked him at once.
"Ahh…" he groaned softly as he sat up slowly, enduring the pain in his back and shoulders. He rubbed his face, trying to refresh himself.
Today, he decided not to go to school. He was too exhausted—both physically and mentally. He asked his grandfather to tell Mr. Daejin, his homeroom teacher, that he was sick.
"Grandpa… can you tell Mr. Daejin… I'm sick today? I really can't make it to school," Alvano said hoarsely.
His grandfather, sitting in the living room, immediately turned to look at him, noticing his grandson's tired face and bruised body.
"What really happened to you, son?" the old man asked softly but seriously, his eyes filled with deep concern. "Your body's covered in wounds. This isn't just from falling."
Alvano fell silent, lowering his head. He wasn't ready to tell everything yet. Too complicated. Too dangerous.
But his grandfather persisted. "If you don't explain, how can I stay calm? I need to know, Alvano."
Alvano gripped the edge of the blanket on his lap. His chest tightened. He knew that sooner or later, he would have to tell the truth.
He sat weakly before his grandfather, still holding back pain in several parts of his body. The old man's gaze didn't waver—filled with worry and curiosity.
"Alvano…" his grandfather's voice was soft but firm. "I want you to tell me everything from the start. What really happened last night?"
Alvano took a deep breath. "Alright, Grandpa… I'll tell you everything."
He looked toward the table, trying to recall every moment that had happened so quickly yet left such a deep mark in his mind.
"Yesterday… I went to Theo's house. He didn't come to school—said he was sick—so I dropped by to talk for a while. But when the sky got dark, he wanted to give me a ride home on his motorcycle."
His grandfather nodded, listening attentively.
"On the way… about twenty minutes in, suddenly from the side of the road, a man in a black jacket appeared. No warning… he attacked Theo—like a madman, completely unprovoked, Grandpa."
The old man stiffened. "He ambushed you?"
"Yes. He hit our motorcycle with something—it looked like an iron rod. The bike went out of control. I was thrown to the side of the road; my shoulder and knee slammed onto the asphalt. But the worst part… Theo fell too. He was thrown off the motorcycle, hit the ground hard, and… his head was bleeding badly."
His grandfather's eyes widened. "Dear God…"
"All of it happened in seconds, Grandpa. I was still dizzy when I saw Theo not moving at all. I panicked… I thought he—I thought he was going to die right there."
The old man clenched his fists, his eyes filled with emotion.
"When I saw Theo barely alive, I lost it. I attacked the guy… but I lost. He was too strong. He beat me senseless. Theo saw me getting beaten, and somehow… he suddenly got up. He was furious, Grandpa. His expression completely changed. He got serious, even made that man lose control for a while."
"But the man was cunning… he pretended to be losing, then when Theo let his guard down, he struck back. But not at Theo—he attacked me again! Tried to finish me off while Theo wasn't looking."
Alvano lowered his head, fists clenched. "Then suddenly, he launched a surprise attack that knocked Theo out. He barely breathed afterward."
"And right then… a car suddenly stopped nearby. A girl from our school came and threatened that man. Strangely, he left as soon as she arrived."
"She helped me get Theo to the hospital." He spoke with a heavy heart, forcing himself to stay composed.
Alvano's grandfather fell silent for a long time, absorbing everything. His hand slowly gripped his knee, his expression dark and heavy.
"…We need to find out who that man was," the old man finally muttered.
"No, Grandpa. If we try to find out, it'll only make things more dangerous." Alvano's tone was resigned.
His grandfather's face darkened; he couldn't accept it. He had never seen his grandson beaten this badly in his entire life.
Alvano stood under the warm shower, letting the water wash over his still-sore body. Steam filled the room, but his thoughts only grew more tangled. He stared blankly at the bathroom wall, letting himself drown in heavy reflection.
"If only… I were stronger," he whispered faintly, his voice almost drowned out by the sound of running water. "If only my power had awakened back then… I could've helped Theo… I could've… I should've protected him…"
Alvano clenched his fists tightly, gripping the guilt that had weighed on his chest all night. He remembered how Theo stood before him, covered in blood yet still fighting. He could still see that furious, desperate expression on Theo's face as he watched him get beaten mercilessly. And in the end, it was Theo who fell into a coma—not him.
The water kept streaming down his face, but the tears he tried to hold back mixed with it. He bowed his head, biting his lip to suppress the turmoil inside.
"Why… why am I always the burden?" he whispered bitterly. "Why do I always have to be the one saved?"
Even though the doctor had said there was a good chance Theo would wake up today, his heart remained uneasy. For him, that news wasn't enough to ease the guilt haunting him.
"I can't keep being like this… I have to change… I have to be strong… for Theo… for everyone who matters to me…" he whispered with quiet resolve.
The warm water became a silent witness to his inner struggle, as an ordinary boy began to nurture a powerful determination within himself.
After rinsing off, Alvano quickly dried himself and walked to his room. The pain still lingered in several parts of his body, but his mind was calmer now, though his heart remained heavy. He opened his wardrobe and took out clean clothes, ready to start a day that already felt grim.
Just as he was about to put on his shirt, his phone rang on the bedside table. Alvano turned quickly. The screen showed a name: Joshua.
He swiftly answered and pressed the speaker button.
"Hello, Joshua?" he said quietly while pulling his shirt over his head.
Joshua's voice came from the other end, slightly breathless, as if he had been running.
"Alvano! Theo… Theo's awake! He's up!"
Alvano froze instantly. His hand stopped mid-air, his eyes widened in shock. The next second, his whole body trembled—he didn't even know if it was from surprise, relief, or the overwhelming rush of emotion flooding through his veins.
"Are… are you serious?" his voice shook.
"Serious. I just got a call from the hospital."
Alvano couldn't speak. Without realizing it, tears streamed down his cheeks. His legs went weak, and he sank to the floor; the towel wrapped around his waist fell unnoticed. His emotions overflowed in silence.
He wiped his tears roughly, then let out a small, shaky laugh. "God… I'm such a crybaby…"
Without another second wasted, Alvano stood up and quickly got dressed. He grabbed his wallet, keys, and a thin jacket, then rushed out of his room in a hurry.
"Theo, wait for me," he murmured, full of determination.