chapter 21

As Adam waved at his friends with a smile, Sam finally spotted him near the college gate and led the group towards him. Adam, still in good mood from the exam , immediately asked Theodore,"How was your exam?"

Theodore, shrugged casually, replying,"It's was hard."

The rest of the group chimmed in, agreeing that they found the exam manageable,even Mike added, "Your notes were really useful, Adam. They really helped a lot!"

Hearing this Adam smiled, feeling relieved that his friends had found his notes useful."I'm glad they were useful. So, what the's plan now?"he asked

"Let's go to restaurant for now", said Mike

As they walked towards a nearby restaurant, the group felt a sense of relief after a long exam. Once inside, they orderd food and found a comfortable spot to sit . Mike, ever the studious, one immediately focused on his exam cross checking answers with Adam. Adam indulge him, discussing a few of the MCQ questions

Mean while , Theodore took care of the odering the food for everyone and even ordered the Adam favourite drink , and Sam leaning back in his chair, exclaimed, 

'Oh , finally! Three hours of tortoure are over!And no exam tomorror either. If there was , I definitely wouldn't pass . I need a break!"

"Phew,phew!"Harry agreed, wiping his imaginary sweat from his forehead. He quickly added,"And please, Sam, don't even joke about failing. If we fail, we'll have to take the re-exam, and that's way worse than just passing one exam."

The table laughed at Harry's dramatics, enjoying the moment of relief before the food arrived.

As they were talking, the waiter arrived with their food, and they all began to eat heartily , enjoying the well deserved meal after their intense exam. The conversation was light, filled with jokes and laughter.

Midway through the meal, Sam announced, "Hey guys, I have to head somewhere after this, so I can't go with Adam today."

Adam looked a little surprised, but before he could say anything, Theodore quickly chimed in, "I'll drop Adam off at home. I have something to do in that area anyway."

Adam nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, though he didn't show it . With the plans settled , they all finished their meals and prepared tp leave . After paying the bill, they said their goodbyes and each heading to their own destinations.

As Adam and Theodore walked out together, there was a quiet, comfortable atmosphere between them. Theodore glanced at Adam and smiled slightly. "Ready?" he asked. Adam nodded, trying to keep his cool, and they began walking towards sidewalks

As Adam and Theodore walked side by side, the wind picked up, gently rustling through the trees and sending a soft shiver down their spines. The sky above was a delicate mix of blue and grey, casting an almost magical hue over the world around them. The air felt fresh, and the atmosphere was calming, as though the day itself had paused to admire the beauty of the moment.

Adam glanced at Theodore, who was walking beside him with a quiet confidence. The soft wind tousled Theodore's hair, and the subtle shift in the sky seemed to mirror the unspoken emotions hanging between them. For a brief moment, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of them, walking together under that serene sky.

Adam's heart fluttered slightly as they continued down the road, his steps light and content. The peacefulness of the scene seemed to soothe any nervousness he might have had, and he silently cherished the moment, hoping it would last just a little longer.

Adam, lost in thought, walked alongside Theodore, unsure of how to start a conversation. His feelings for Theo were complicated—he didn't know whether they were born from deep friendship or something more. Every time they were together, Adam felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement, but he struggled to find the right words to express himself.

Engrossed in his thoughts, Adam absentmindedly stepped off the curb just as the traffic lights turned green. He didn't notice the cars ready to move forward. In a sudden motion, Theo grabbed him by the arm, pulling him back to safety. The force of the pull caused Adam to stumble and fall into Theo's arms.

Theo, on the other hand, was furious and shaken. "Adam, what are you doing?!" Theo's voice was filled with concern. "You could've been hit by a car! Pay attention!"

The intensity of Theo's voice pulled Adam out of his daze, and he instantly felt guilty. His heart raced, not only from the near accident but from being so close to Theo. But he had no idea how to express the whirlwind of feelings that stirred inside him—whether it was love or just deep friendship, Adam couldn't decide

"I'm sorry, Theo," Adam muttered, avoiding eye contact, his mind racing with thousands of thoughts. What if Theo didn't want to be his friend after this? What if he was hurt by Adam's recklessness? That would be even more painful than any accident.

Theo's voice broke his internal monologue, sounding frustrated yet concerned, "Are you even listening, Adam? I just told you—"

"Sorry, sorry!" Adam cut in quickly, offering a playful smile to ease the tension. "My mind was somewhere else, but look—I'm fine! Thanks to you, of course. You're like my lucky charm, always saving me." He patted Theo's shoulder lightly, trying to change the atmosphere. "Don't worry so much. You're acting like I actually had an accident."

Theo paused, caught off guard by Adam's playful gesture. For a second, he didn't know how to respond. He wasn't sure why he had reacted so strongly, why seeing Adam in danger had hit him so hard. Trying to shake off the emotional weight, Theo muttered, "I... someone in my family had an accident, so I guess I just got caught up in that. And, well, you're my friend, Adam, so I overreacted a little."

Adam smiled at Theo's explanation, sensing the tension between them easing. "It's okay. I know you care," Adam said, his voice soft. They walked in silence for a while before passing by Adam's favorite ice cream shop. Without thinking, Adam grabbed Theo's hand and tugged him toward the shop. "Come on, let's get some ice cream! Choose your favorite flavor—my treat!"

The tension dissolved as Adam's playful energy took over. Theo hesitated for a second, then followed Adam inside, his earlier frustration melting away. The two stood at the counter, picking out their flavors, as the atmosphere between them finally lightened. Despite everything, moments like this reminded Adam why being around Theo felt so special.