Chapter 4: Fractured Bond

The next few days passed in a blur for Joey. His focus was entirely on Rael, who had become more and more of a mystery as time went on. After their lunch with Rishi and Maya, Joey couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was only scratching the surface of Rael's troubled past. Despite his best efforts, Rael remained distant—both physically and emotionally.

Joey had been walking on eggshells, trying not to push too hard, but he knew the truth was buried somewhere deep inside Rael. And today, Joey was determined to find a crack in those walls.

Scene 1: The Unspoken Truth

Joey found himself waiting by the lockers after school. He had spent the better part of the afternoon in the library, watching Rael as he sat alone, reading his usual thick book. It was the same routine, but Joey wasn't sure if Rael even noticed how much he was starting to look forward to their brief exchanges.

Just as the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Joey saw Rael heading toward the exit. His heart quickened. This was it.

"Rael!" Joey called out, catching up to him just outside the school gates.

Rael slowed his pace but didn't turn around. "What's up, Joey?" he asked, his voice calm, but Joey could hear the faint wariness in his tone.

Joey hesitated before speaking, unsure how to navigate the conversation. "You seem... different lately. I mean, I know you've always kept to yourself, but after meeting Rishi and Maya... I don't know. It just feels like there's more to your story than you're letting on."

Rael's back stiffened, and for a moment, Joey thought he might shut down completely. But instead, Rael spoke in a soft, distant tone, almost as if he were talking to himself.

"They don't know... how I feel. Not really."

Joey's curiosity was piqued. "What do you mean? About Rishi and Maya?"

Rael nodded, still staring ahead. "They think I'm over it. But I'm not."

"Over what?" Joey asked gently, stepping closer.

Rael took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "Rishi. I've always... I've always felt something for him. Something I can't control."

Joey froze for a moment. This was it. Rael had admitted it—his feelings for Rishi were real. But Joey wasn't sure how to respond. He had known that Rael's emotions ran deep, but hearing it out loud felt different. "But Rishi doesn't feel the same way, right?" Joey asked carefully.

Rael's expression faltered, and he finally turned to look at Joey, his eyes filled with pain. "He never has. He knows, though. He's always known."

Joey's heart ached for him. He could see the years of unspoken words and hidden pain in Rael's eyes. "That must have been hard... keeping it to yourself all this time."

Rael gave a humorless laugh. "You think? It's easier than you think. Pretend everything's fine, laugh along with them. It's not like they ever asked how I really felt."

Joey's mind raced. This was the key—the reason Rael was so closed off. He had never truly been seen by the people he cared about. Maya, Rishi—none of them had ever given him the chance to express his feelings. And it was too late now. Rael was stuck in a web of unspoken words, tangled in his own heartache.

Scene 2: The Past That Haunts

Rael fell silent after that, his gaze returning to the ground. Joey could tell the weight of his emotions was almost too much to bear. The sadness that hung in the air was suffocating.

"Do you ever regret it?" Joey asked quietly, not sure where the question was coming from, but needing to know.

Rael's lips twitched into a sad, almost bitter smile. "Every day. But what's the point in regret? Rishi's never going to look at me like that. He never did, and he never will."

Joey could feel the lump in his throat as Rael spoke with such finality. He wanted to say something to make it better, but he knew there was nothing he could say. The damage had already been done.

Joey shifted uncomfortably, wanting to change the subject, but not knowing how to do so without further hurting Rael. "Hey, I know this sounds random, but... have you ever thought about doing something for yourself? Something that makes you happy? Not for Rishi, not for anyone else. Just for you."

Rael gave him a blank look, as if the thought hadn't occurred to him. "What's the point? Nothing's ever going to change."

"I think... I think you deserve something different, Rael. Maybe it's time to start thinking about what you want."

Rael's expression softened for a brief moment, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by the familiar guarded look. "I don't even know where to begin."

Joey's heart went out to him. "Well, that's why I'm here. You don't have to do it alone."

Rael met his eyes for the first time, really meeting them. For a moment, the walls between them seemed to crack, just a little. Joey saw a flicker of hope in Rael's eyes. It was fleeting, but it was there.

"I'll try," Rael said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Joey smiled, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. It wasn't much, but it was something. For the first time, Rael was willing to try. And that was a victory in itself.

Scene 3: The Unspoken Words

As the two of them walked side by side toward the school gates, the weight of their conversation hung in the air. Joey knew there was still so much more to uncover about Rael's past, but for now, this was enough. Rael had opened up, even if just a little. It was a start.

Rael glanced at Joey briefly, his voice still low. "Thanks for listening. I... I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there."

Joey's smile widened. "Anytime. I'm not going anywhere."

Rael didn't respond, but Joey saw something in his eyes—a flicker of gratitude. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him going.

As Joey watched Rael walk away, a thought lingered in his mind: Maybe this was why I'm here—to help him find happiness, even if I'm just a small part of that journey.

He turned his gaze upward, the weight of his mission settling into his chest. There was still so much to do, and time was running out.

But for the first time, Joey felt like he might actually be making a difference.