A friend...

'Three Years Ago'

The halls buzzed with energy as students navigated their way to classes, laughter echoing off the walls. Aiden leaned against a locker, feeling the familiar weight of anxiety pressing down on him. The chaos of college life felt overwhelming, and he found solace in observing rather than participating.

He watched as students rushed past, their faces lit up with excitement and camaraderie. It was a stark contrast to his own feelings of isolation. Just as he turned to leave, he heard a loud crash from nearby, followed by a chorus of laughter.

"What the—"

Aiden turned to see a group of students standing around a toppled desk, their faces twisted in amusement. One kid, a scrawny figure with glasses that were slightly askew, was trying to collect his things, clearly embarrassed. Aiden's heart raced at the sight.

"Hey! Watch it!" shouted one of the bullies, kicking the fallen belongings. The scrawny kid flinched, his hands shaking as he gathered his scattered belongings.

Before he knew it, Aiden was moving, instinctively stepping into the fray. "Leave him alone!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the corridor.

The bullies turned to him, surprised by his sudden appearance. "What's it to you, freak?" one of them sneered.

"Yeah, why don't you just walk away?" another chimed in, smirking.

Aiden felt a surge of anger rise within him, but he fought to control it. "I said back off," he repeated, taking a step closer to the bullies.

The confrontation seemed to hang in the air. For a moment, Aiden felt his instincts kick in, sensing the rising tension as the bullies hesitated, unsure how to react.

"Whoa, chill! We were just messing around," one of them said, but the mockery in his voice was still evident.

As the bullies laughed and started to leave, Aiden turned back to the scrawny kid. "Are you okay?"

The kid looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Yeah, thanks," he stammered, brushing off his clothes. "I'm Jonn, by the way. You're Aiden, right?"

Aiden nodded, feeling a strange warmth spreading through him at the recognition. "How did you know?"

"I've seen you around. You kind of have that... aura," Jonn said, adjusting his glasses nervously. "People notice you, even if you don't talk much."

Aiden chuckled lightly, a feeling of camaraderie sparking between them. "Yeah, I guess I'm more of a watcher than a talker."

Jonn grinned, revealing a sense of relief that was contagious. "Well, I'm glad you decided to step in. I don't think I could've handled them on my own."

"Yeah, they're just a bunch of bullies. They think they're tough," Aiden replied, shaking his head. "But they're just cowards."

"Exactly! You should see them try to act all tough when they're not in a group," Jonn said, laughter bubbling up between them. "But thanks for having my back. Want to grab lunch together? I could use a friend."

Aiden hesitated, feeling a familiar wave of apprehension wash over him. But Jonn's sincere smile encouraged him. "Sure, why not?"

As they made their way to the cafeteria, Aiden felt lighter than he had in weeks. Maybe this college experience wouldn't be so lonely after all.

"By the way, I collect bugs," Jonn said, his enthusiasm evident. "It's kind of a hobby. Want to see some?"

Aiden raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and wariness. "Bugs?"

"Yeah, like exotic beetles and stuff! They're fascinating, trust me," Jonn said, his eyes lighting up.

"Okay, maybe that's a little weird," Aiden replied with a chuckle. "But I'm in."

As they settled into their newfound friendship, Aiden felt the walls he had built around himself begin to crumble. Maybe he wasn't as alone as he thought, and maybe—just maybe—college could be the beginning of something more than just survival.

After that moment in the hallway, Aiden and Jonn quickly became inseparable. It started small, with casual conversations between classes and meeting up for lunch, but over time, they grew thick as thieves. Despite their differences—Aiden, quiet and reserved, Jonn, a talkative and curious ball of energy—they balanced each other out in a way neither of them had expected.

Jonn brought Aiden out of his shell in ways Aiden didn't even realize he needed. They would spend hours at the campus coffee shop, Jonn rattling on about his odd interests—bugs, conspiracy theories, obscure trivia—while Aiden sat back, sipping his drink and absorbing it all. Jonn's enthusiasm for life was infectious, and Aiden found himself laughing more than he had in years.

But there was always something hanging in the air between them—Aiden's secret. As close as they'd become, Aiden still hadn't told Jonn about his powers. Every time he thought about it, anxiety crept in. What would Jonn think if he found out? Would he freak out? See Aiden as a freak too? Or worse—would he try to expose him?

As the months passed, they became closer than ever, but the secrecy gnawed at Aiden. Every time Jonn opened up about his life, his dreams, his fears, Aiden felt the weight of his own silence pressing down harder. It wasn't that he didn't want to share—he just didn't know how.

They'd spent countless nights up late, talking about everything from science to philosophy to ridiculous hypotheticals. One night, Jonn asked, "If you could have any superpower, what would it be?"

Aiden had frozen, his mind scrambling for a believable answer. He settled on something vague—"I don't know, maybe flying?"

Jonn laughed. "Flying? Classic. I think I'd want to control time. Imagine all the extra naps I could take."

They joked about it, but Aiden felt a lump in his throat. It was moments like that, where the line between truth and lie became almost unbearable.

Despite the secrecy, Aiden cherished their friendship. Jonn was the first person who made him feel normal, even if Aiden wasn't being entirely honest. He could forget, just for a little while, that he was different. But deep down, he knew the truth couldn't stay hidden forever. The day would come when Jonn would find out, one way or another.

For now, though, Aiden let himself enjoy the moments they shared, the normalcy of their friendship, knowing full well that the weight of his secret was always just a breath away from shattering it all.

You never expected a friendship like this. Back then, everyone in the orphanage kept their distance, just like at school. It was as if you carried some invisible plague, something that made people instinctively avoid you. No matter where you went, you were always alone—isolated by the quiet whispers, sidelong glances, and unspoken judgments. You'd grown used to the cold, the feeling of being an outsider. Friendship wasn't something you thought was possible for someone like you.

And as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, that hope slowly dimmed. In a world that had taught him to expect nothing, Aiden had learned to build his walls higher, to guard himself against the inevitable disappointment of being let down. Because in the end, the one thing he could always count on was that he would be alone. And maybe, just maybe, that was for the best.

But Jonn came along, and everything changed. He didn't just walk by or treat me like everyone else did—he made the effort, took the time, and genuinely wanted to be my friend. He pushed through the walls I'd spent years building, refusing to let me hide in the shadows. He was there, no matter how hard I tried to push him away. That's why I'll always have his back, no matter what. Whether it's standing up to bullies or helping him through his own battles, I'll protect him—because he gave me something no one else ever did:

A real friend.