Meanwhile, the others talked and laughed, filling the room with energy. The cake was cut and many stories were shared.
Poseidon smiled as he spoke with them, but his gaze occasionally flickered toward Helios, who remained on the couch, only offering short responses and hums, his mind clearly elsewhere.
After a lively celebration and plenty of laughter, Ebraham suddenly nudged Helios closer to Poseidon, settling them side by side on the bed.
"And now for the surprise…" Claude announced, settling in front of them.
"Surprise…?" Poseidon repeated curiously.
"We're going to watch the Inter-Academy Cricket Nationals final match tomorrow!! Yeah!!" Claude declared with a grin, "And both of you are coming with us."
"Huh?" Helios and Poseidon exchanged confused glances.
"Yeah! Mirza's dad already got permission for you. So, whether you like it or not, you're coming," Haadi added with a smirk.
"But I…" Poseidon started hesitantly, but Ebraham cut him off, "No buts! Helios is coming with you, right? So there's nothing to worry about. Besides, we'll all be there as well."
Seeing their enthusiasm, Poseidon finally nodded with a small smile.
Helios, however, simply watched him in silence.
"Then, do we have a deal?" Mirza asked, holding out his pinky finger toward Poseidon.
"What the?! Are you a kid?" Ebraham teased, raising an eyebrow at the gesture.
Mirza, undeterred, puffed out his cheeks, "You don't know anything."
Poseidon giggled at the sight before looping his pinky around Mirza's, "Deal."
That night, as Helios lay on the couch, his gaze remained fixed on the ceiling. It had been a while since he and Poseidon had spoken properly, and strangely enough, the silence between them had started to feel unbearable. He had realized then; they had never truly fought. Arguments were one thing, but an actual fight? Not in years.
And if things ever reached that point, Helios would always be the first to back down. But this time, he knew. It was his fault. Letting out a quiet sigh, he turned his head toward Poseidon's bed. The other boy lay facing the window, his breaths steady in sleep. Helios exhaled once more, shutting his eyes, willing himself to sleep.
Just then, a voice cut through the darkness. "Can't sleep?"
Helios's eyes snapped open. Poseidon was now sitting up, watching him.
Helios let out a breath, pushing himself upright before making his way over. Pulling the revolving chair closer, he sank into it with a tired shrug, "Yeah… I can't."
Poseidon hesitated for a moment before speaking, "About earlier..."
But Helios cut him off with a shake of his head, "Forget it. It was my fault. I was being childish."
Poseidon didn't argue. Instead, he smiled—gently, fondly—and then, almost too carefully, too tenderly, he called out, "Big brother… Helios."
Helios froze. The words sent an unexpected jolt through him. Blinking in disbelief, he turned away sharply, his heart pounding as a wave of something—Cuteness aggression? —crashed over him.
He suppressed his laughter and the overwhelming urge to grab Poseidon and shake him for being so unbearably endearing. Instead, he forced out a teasing smirk and faced him again, raising his index finger. "One more time," he demanded, voice just a little tighter than usual, "Call me big brother one more time!"
Poseidon smiled, amused by his reaction. But his patience wore thin, and he uttered sweetly, yet with an edge, "How about I punch you in the gut instead? Would you still feel like being unreasonable?"
Helios clicked his tongue, "Tch, not cute anymore," He spun the chair lazily, though the pleased smile on his lips betrayed his words.
Poseidon exhaled, exasperated, "Honestly, I'm older than you, and yet I'm the one stuck listening to your nonsense. You're acting like a spoiled brat."
"Yeah, not cute at all," Helios agreed, grinning.
"You—!" Poseidon shot a glare, raising his hand as if to hit him, but Helios swiftly leaned back, laughing.
Then, after a brief pause, Poseidon called softly, "Heli..." His voice lighter, but serious.
Helios stopped spinning, meeting his deep blue gaze.
"Don't ever fight with me again," Poseidon murmured, "No matter what."
Helios stilled, the seriousness in Poseidon's expression settling in. Then, with a guilty smile, he reached up and grabbed his own ears in mock apology. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry, Master Poseidon. I'll do whatever you say." His voice turned teasing, playful.
Poseidon rolled his eyes before turning away, lying down again, "Sigh~ you exhaust me. Just sleep already. We have to go tomorrow."
Helios, recalling their outing, tilted his head, "Excited?"
Poseidon nodded against the pillow, "A little. Nervous too. It's my first time going out with friends, after all."
"Hm~" Helios rested his chin on the bed, "I'm excited and nervous too."
Poseidon, surprised, turned to him, "Why? It's not your first time."
Helios grinned, "First time with you, though. I have to babysit you, after all."
Poseidon groaned, shoving him away, "Jerk."
"Haha!" Helios laughed but took the chance to ruffle Poseidon's hair before resting his head on the bed again. "Good night," he whispered.
Poseidon let out a small sigh, a smile tugging at his lips as his eyes fluttered shut, "Good night…"
Moments later, sleep finally took him.
The room remained silent, save for the gentle hum of the ceiling fan and the steady rhythm of their breathing. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting soft shadows over the two boys.
Helios lay slumped over the edge of the bed, his head resting against the mattress beside Poseidon, his sleep deep and undisturbed. His breaths came slow and even.
Poseidon, too, had been resting peacefully, his body curled slightly as sleep pulled him under. But deep within the haze of unconsciousness, something felt wrong. A creeping numbness spread through his limbs, an icy sensation prickling at his fingertips. His chest tightened. His breathing shallowed.
Then—his body jerked violently. A sudden jolt tore through him, his fingers twitching before his arms stiffened against the mattress. His eyelids fluttered open, and for a brief moment, sheer panic gripped him. He tried to move his legs. Nothing. A sharp hitch in his breath.
His chest felt heavier, as though invisible hands were pressing down, forcing the air from his lungs. His fingers trembled as they clutched the bedsheet. He could hear the pounding of his own pulse. Too fast, too loud. A seizure. "C-calm down, Poseidon. Move your arms. Focus," he thought, grounding himself.
Gritting his teeth, he sucked in a shallow breath and forced himself upright, moving carefully, painstakingly slow, making sure not to wake Helios. His legs remained limp, unresponsive, but he ignored the rising fear that clawed at the back of his mind.
Beside him, Helios stirred slightly but remained asleep, his dark hair tousled from the way he had carelessly rested his head.
Poseidon watched him for a moment, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. His chest ached beneath his clenched fist, but his lips pressed into a firm line. "He must not wake up." The thought was not a request. It was an order.
But there was no time to hesitate. With shaky hands, he reached toward the bedside drawer, his fingertips grazing the wood before he managed to pull it open. His vision blurred for a moment, but he knew exactly where the medicine was, he had done this more times than he cared to count. His grip was weak, fumbling with the cap as frustration swelled in his chest.
Finally, the pill landed on his tongue, dry and bitter. He swallowed it without hesitation, forcing it down despite the tightness in his throat. A sharp inhale. A slow exhale. His fingers curled into the bedsheet as he willed his breathing to steady. The crushing strain in his chest didn't disappear, but it lessened, just enough.
His legs remained useless beneath him, but he knew it would pass. It always did. He just had to wait. A soft sigh broke the silence. Helios shifted slightly but didn't wake, his head still resting close.
Poseidon exhaled, allowing himself a small, tired smile, "Silly… how can you sleep like that? Tomorrow you'll complain that your entire body is stiff." His voice was barely above a whisper, tinged with fond exasperation.
He reached out and gently ruffled Helios' hair before pulling his own motionless legs closer, curling into himself. His face disappeared against his knees, his breathing shallow, his vision swimming.
The pain was hard to describe, the kind that blurred the edges of his thoughts, making them feel both distant and too close at the same time. Earlier, he had called Helios his big brother. But at moments like this, Poseidon wasn't sure if it was the other way around.
With a final glance at the sleeping figure beside him, he leaned back, letting the quietness wrap around him. His eyelids fluttered shut, exhaustion dragging him down. He would be fine. He would endure it. He would make it through, like always. He simply thought.