Max nodded. "We're worried about you."
Amara stepped even closer.
"We miss you, Victor."
Victor's grip on the door tightened even more.
A flicker of sothing crossed his face.
Guilt? Pain? Anger?
Then, finally…
He sighed.
And let the door swing open.
"Fine. Co in."
---
For a brief mont, silence lingered as the group stepped inside. The air was stale, almost as if the place hadn't been properly aired in a while.
Victor didn't bother offering them seats.
Danny, Max, Jake, Amara, and even Derek stood awkwardly in the living room. They all knew why they had co.
And no one knew how to start.
It was Jake who broke the silence.
"…Man, we're really sorry about your dad."
Danny nodded. "We all tried reaching out to you. We texted, we called, we even ca here a few tis. But…"
"We never got to see you," Max finished.
Amara spoke up next.
"We were really worried about you, Victor."
Victor let out a sight and parted the ssy hair blocking his face. He didn't know how to respond to all of this.
It wasn't like words could change anything.
They kept talking, ntioning how the school felt different without him.
Even Miss Adler, who always called him out for being a distraction, missed his antics.
"She was like, 'I never thought I'd say this, but class is too quiet without Victor making dumb jokes.'"
Max chuckled.
Jake smirked.
Danny grinned, trying to get a laugh out of Victor.
But Victor…
Didn't even snicker.
The silence that followed was awkward.
Max scratched the back of his head.
"…Damn. You really are down bad, huh?"
Victor didn't answer.
Danny's eyes drifted to the work uniform Victor was wearing.
It looked cheap. Worn out. Not sothing you'd expect from soone with Awakened abilities.
And then it hit him.
"…Wait." Danny frowned. "Why the hell did you miss the Awakened screening?"
Victor simply shrugged.
"I had work."
Silence ~
Everyone stared at him like he just said the dumbest thing ever.
Max's mouth fell open.
Jake furrowed his brows.
Derek looked confused.
Amara blinked. "You… what?"
Victor crossed his arms.
"I work at a convenience store now."
Everyone: "What the Fuck?!"
Danny's eye twitched.
"Bro. You're an Awakened. And you're wasting your ti as a store clerk?"
Max shook his head. "Nah, nah, stop playing, man."
Jake threw up his hands. "That's like a supermodel flipping burgers at a fast food joint. What are you doing?"
Amara stepped forward. "Victor, you have potential. A lot of it. You should be preparing for the Academy, not… whatever this is."
Victor scoffed.
"I'm a fake."
That shut everyone up.
Max frowned. "The hell does that an?"
Victor leaned against the wall with tired eyes and a distant gaze.
"I'm a fake. A fraud. I'm not a real Awakened."
Max let out a frustrated laugh.
"That's bullshit. We saw what you did at the party. We saw what you did before graduation. You're strong, Victor. That's a fact."
Victor only shook his head. "What's the point of all that if I couldn't even save my dad?"
Silence~
"Victor look, it wasn't your fau..."
"Besides," he cut Amara off before she could complete her sentence, "the bills won't pay themselves."
Everyone went quiet.
Because suddenly, they understood.
It wasn't just about grief.
It was money.
Losing his father didn't just leave a hole in his heart.
It left a financial hole in his ho.
Danny tried again.
"Victor. The Academy is all-expense paid by the governnt. You don't have to worry about money—"
Victor let out a humorless laugh.
"You think I don't know that?"
Everyone went quiet again.
Victor's eyes darkened.
"Are they gonna pay my mom's bills too?"
The room fell into a deep silence.
Jake opened his mouth and then closed it, unable to find the right words.
Max rubbed his temples.
Danny frowned.
Because they knew he was right.
The governnt supported Awakened students, yes.
But until you beca a fully-fledged Mana Defense officer, you didn't actually earn money.
And Victor…
Victor needed money now.
Victor shook his head and pushed himself off the wall.
"I don't have the luxury to run off to so elite academy and act like I don't have responsibilities."
Jake ran a hand down his face. "Damn, man…"
Max looked at the floor with a frustrated expression.
Danny clenched his fists.
Derek, for the first ti, actually looked sympathetic.
Amara…
Amara just looked at Victor.
Like she was seeing him differently for the first ti.
Not just the jokester.
Not just the clown.
But soone who was actually struggling.
Soone who lost everything and had to carry the weight alone.
She didn't know what to say.
No one spoke for a long ti.
Victor sighed. "So, if you guys ca here to tell to drop my job and go back to school, you're wasting your ti."
Danny responded with a frustrated tone.
"We just want what's best for you, dude."
Victor looked at him.
"And what if what's best for isn't what you think it is?"
Danny didn't have an answer to that.
"Look. I get it. You guys care."
He exhaled slowly.
"But I have to do what I have to do."
Without another word, he walked over to the sofa and slumped into it while resting his elbow on the armrest and rubbing his temple.
Then he muttered in a flat tone:
"You guys can let yourselves out."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Everyone looked at one another, unsure of what to do.
Just when it looked like they were going to respect Victor's wish and leave…
Amara stepped forward.
She didn't just step forward—she knelt before him.
Right in front of him...
Her hands reached out and gently took his.
Victor stiffened.
"…Amara?"
Her fingers curled around his palm, and she held on tightly.
"You're not alone in this."
Her voice was soft, affectionate and earnest.
Victor's throat tightened as he stared at her.
Amara's deep and warm eyes shone with an emotion Victor didn't quite know how to process.
"You don't have to bear all of this alone, Victor. We're all here for you."
Victor's fingers twitched. He didn't even know how to respond to this.
Derek clenched his fists at the sight.
His jaw tightened and his lips pressed into a thin line.
But he said nothing.
Not because he didn't want to.
But because he couldn't.
Because even he knew that what Victor had gone through was too much for anyone to endure alone.
From behind, Danny, Max, and Jake steppedFrom behind, Danny, Max, and Jake stepped closer.
They each placed a hand on Victor's shoulders.
Danny's grip was solid.
Max's hand was reassuring.
Jake's hold was silent but strong.
And then, in unison, they all said:
"We'll do everything in our power to find a way to support you."
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