chapter 2 :a small mistake

Dawn bathed the city in golden hues, and Liam woke up before his alarm went off. He got out of bed with the same precision he did everything with: no rush, no distractions. He took a cold shower, dressed impeccably, and went down to breakfast. His father was already in the kitchen, his doctor's coat on and a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Morning." His father's voice sounded relaxed, as if last night's dinner had lightened something in him.

"Morning." Liam poured coffee for himself and sat down across from him.

The sound of silverware on china was the only conversation between them for a moment. But that silence wasn't awkward. It was just… normal.

"I won't be back early today." His father finally broke the silence. "I have a complicated surgery tonight."

Liam nodded. He was used to it. His father was a brilliant surgeon, and his job always came first.

"Okay." I'll be home after study club.

His father gave him one last look before picking up his briefcase and leaving the house.

Liam finished his breakfast, picked up his backpack, and headed out to school.

The day went by uneventfully. Tests, homework, small talk with his classmates. Business as usual.

After the last class, instead of going straight home, he decided to stay in the library to catch up on his reading. Study club wasn't mandatory, but it served as an excuse not to come home early to an empty house.

He sat down at one of the tables by the window, pulled out his notebook, and began reviewing complex equations. The rest of the students chatted quietly, but he ignored them.

Until someone spoke next to him.

"Liam?"

He looked up.

It was Isaac, one of the most popular boys in school. Tall, charismatic, and with a smile that seemed to disarm anyone. He wasn't part of their close circle, but they knew each other well enough to exchange greetings.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Isaac said, setting his backpack on the table and sitting down without waiting for an invitation. "I always thought you were the homeschool type."

Liam kept his expression neutral.

"It's quieter here."

"I see." Isaac propped his chin on one hand, studying him with a curiosity that made Liam uncomfortable for the first time in a long time. "Hey, what are you doing after this?"

"I'm coming home."

"What if I invite you to a party?"

Liam blinked.

"Party?"

Isaac laughed.

"Yeah, what? You think only jocks and rebellious kids go to parties? It'll be quiet, nothing over the top. Just a few people at a friend's house."

Liam hesitated. He wasn't the type to go to parties. Not because he couldn't, but because he'd never felt the need.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Oh, come on." Isaac smiled with a sly glint in his eyes. "For once, why not do something different?"

Liam hesitated for a moment longer… and then, to his own surprise, said, "Okay."

Isaac seemed surprised by his answer, but quickly smiled.

"I knew you'd say yes."

---

The party house wasn't far away. It wasn't a mansion like his, but it had enough space to accommodate a dozen students. The music wasn't deafening, but it was loud enough to vibrate in his chest.

Liam walked in and immediately felt the stares.

He wasn't the guy they expected to see in a place like this.

"Liam Archer!" A brown-haired girl approached with a drink in her hand. "I never thought you'd come."

"Me neither," he replied calmly.

Isaac put an arm around her shoulders.

—Let him breathe, guys. I promised him it would be quiet.

But it wasn't quiet.

Liam didn't drink, but he accepted a glass of soda. He stood in the corner, watching. Watching the others laugh and drink and dance.

And then, he felt something was wrong.

The soda.

There was something in the soda.

His vision blurred a little and his body felt heavier.

He looked at Isaac, who was watching him with a smile that seemed bigger than usual.

—Relax, Liam. I just helped you loosen up a little.

The house vibrated with the music, the air was filled with laughter and the faint scent of alcohol floated between the bodies that moved to the rhythm of the music. Liam, for the first time in a long time, felt alive.

The weight of perfection, of strict routine, of the constant need to do the right thing, faded with each sip he took from his glass. He wasn't drunk, but he wasn't completely sober either.

Isaac leaned in with a mischievous grin.

"You know, Archer, I never thought we'd have the honor of seeing you at a party."

Liam raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because you're the perfect guy," Isaac said, lightly punching him on the shoulder. "But tonight… tonight you're one of us."

Liam let out a low laugh, surprised by how easily it came to him.

"I guess so."

Isaac smiled and turned, calling out to someone in the crowd.

"Hey, Ethan, come here."

Liam didn't react immediately, but when he saw the boy approach, he felt a strange sensation in his chest.

Ethan was beautiful.

Not in a delicate way, but in that carefree, natural way that made people notice him without him even trying.

His blond hair was a charming mess, with strands falling over his forehead. His eyes, a vibrant blue, had a playful glint that matched his easy, confident smile. His white skin seemed to glow under the warm lights of the place.

When he reached them, his gaze landed on Liam with a glint of interest.

"So this is the famous Liam Archer?" he said in a light tone, crossing his arms.

Liam leaned forward slightly.

"Why does everyone call me that?"

Ethan smiled, tilting his head.

"Because you're the boy with perfect grades, the model son, the one who never breaks the rules."

Liam stared at him.

"Maybe they don't know me well enough."

Ethan chuckled, taking a step closer.

"I like that."

Isaac watched them with amusement before patting Ethan on the back.

"Ethan, do me a favor and take care of our dear Liam. We don't want his first party to be boring."

Ethan raised an eyebrow with an expression that bordered on mischief.

"Oh, I can take care of that."

Before Liam could say anything, Ethan grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him to the center of the room.

"Come on, dancing is mandatory."

Liam stood still for a second.

"I'm not a great dancer."

Ethan smirked.

"Perfect, then I'll set the pace."

Without further ado, he placed his hands on Liam's shoulders and gently pushed him in time to the music. At first, Liam felt his body stiffen, used to being in control. But Ethan had a magnetic energy, his laugh was light, his way of moving was fluid, carefree.

And somehow, without even realizing when it happened, Liam began to enjoy it.

Ethan led him easily, not pushing him, not teasing. Just laughing when Liam made some clumsy move and celebrating when he managed to keep up.

"See, Archer. You just have to go with the flow."

Liam exhaled and did it.

The minutes passed and, when the song ended, Ethan looked at him with satisfaction.

"I knew you could do it."

Liam ran a hand through his hair, feeling the heat of adrenaline on his skin.

"It was… fun."

Ethan smiled.

"I know."

The gaze between them held for a second longer than necessary. Then, Ethan tilted his head with a mischievous smile.

"Come, I want to show you something."

Without waiting for an answer, he took him by the wrist again and led him out of the room. They climbed a flight of stairs and stepped out onto a private terrace, away from the noise and lights of the party.

The night air was cool, and the stars twinkled above them.

Liam leaned his elbows on the railing, enjoying the contrast between the energy of the party and the quiet of the night sky.

Ethan leaned beside him, watching him with interest.

"So, tell me, Archer… how does it feel to be someone different for one night?"

Liam was silent for a moment, letting the question hang in the air.

Then, he looked at Ethan and smiled.

"It feels good."

Ethan smiled, satisfied.

"I'm glad to hear that."

And with that, the night continued, with Liam feeling like, for the first time in his life, he didn't have to be perfect.

The cool air of the terrace suited Liam well. After the intensity of the party, the noise, the music, and the euphoria of dancing with Ethan, this moment of calm was just what he needed.

Ethan stood beside him, leaning on the railing, a satisfied expression on his face as he absentmindedly played with a leather bracelet on his wrist.

"So, Archer," he said in his casual tone, "this is what you were missing all this time?"

Liam exhaled with a slight smile.

"Maybe."

Ethan let out a low laugh.

"I'm glad I was the first to get you out of your bubble."

Liam turned his face to look at him, ready to respond with something witty, but then he saw it.

In the distance, a black car was moving down the dark street. Its headlights illuminated the road with a pale glow. At first, he didn't think anything of it, but then his gaze focused better.

That car… he knew it.

The throbbing in his chest grew stronger.

It can't be…

It was his father's car.

A chill ran down his spine. How? How did he know he was here? He hadn't called him. He hadn't left a trace. No one was supposed to know he was at this party.

Liam felt his body immediately tense.

"Liam?" Ethan looked at him, noticing the change in his expression.

But Liam didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the black car, which was now stopped in front of the house.

The engine turned off.

The driver's door opened.

And then, his father got out of the car.

The world seemed to stop for a moment.

Ethan looked at him curiously.

"Is that... your father?"

Liam could barely nod.

His father was there, standing by the car, his usual elegant, controlled posture. But there was something different this time. His expression was serious, cold, completely opposite from the dinner the night before.

He knows I'm here.

But…how?

Liam gulped and pushed away from the railing.

"I have to go."

Ethan looked at him with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"Why?"

"He's not one to just let this go."

"Did you run away from home or what?"

Liam shook his head, feeling his heart pounding.

"No. But I didn't tell him I was coming."

Ethan tilted his head, as if he were analyzing him.

"So why is he here?"

That was the question that was also on Liam's mind.

How had he known?

Why had he come personally?

Liam felt a knot in his stomach. It wasn't that he was afraid of his father. I loved him. I respected him. But I'd never seen him act like this.

A black car in the middle of the night.

A sudden appearance.

A tense expression.

This wasn't just a concern.

There was something else.

"I'm going to talk to him," Liam said, straightening up.

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"Do you need help?"

Liam shook his head.

"No. This is between me and him."

He took a step toward the terrace exit, but Ethan stopped him with a hand on his wrist.

Liam turned around with a frown.

Ethan stared at him, his playful attitude completely gone.

"If you need an excuse to get out of this… tell me."

Liam didn't know what to answer.

He just stared at him for a second before gently pulling his wrist away and walking down the stairs.

With each step he took, his heart beat faster.

And in his mind, there was only one question.

How did you know I was here?