They walked together in the rain, sharing an umbrella that belonged to Sergio, which barely covered them. The freckled man glanced at Lucas, who seemed lost in thought, still processing what he had seen. Though they said little, Sergio knew one thing: he wasn’t alone.

And for that, he was grateful.

The streets were quiet as they left the old building. The professor didn’t live far, and there were no taxis in sight. The rain began to subside, the air was cold but refreshing, enveloping the city. As they walked, Lucas felt the need to know what had happened to his friend over those 20 years of separation. 

Slowly, he placed a hand on Sergio’s shoulder to shield him from the cold. He began to relax, as if leaving the university behind made everything easier to forget.  

“I never imagined we’d meet again,” he murmured, glancing at Sergio. “I tried to find you, you know, after what happened at school. But… it was impossible.”  

Sergio lowered his gaze, his expression tinged with embarrassment. He knew he had to set his insecurities aside and face the man beside him.  Lucas was more than a fragment of his past —he was his best friend, the love of his life, and it wasn’t fair to him.

“The moment I saw you in that classroom, I knew it was you,” he admitted. “But…” Lucas hesitated, struggling to articulate his emotions. He wanted to sound mature, yet there was no denying the vulnerability he felt.

“I wasn’t sure what would happen once you figured it out. I wanted to stay invisible, to be someone you wouldn’t recognize. It was… childish, I know,” Sergio added with a self-deprecating chuckle.  

Lucas felt a lump form in his throat. This wasn’t just about reuniting with an old friend —it was about rediscovering a part of himself he thought he’d lost. He remembered the times he had searched for him after their expulsion, the sleepless nights filled with regret. Those emotions resurfaced.  

“Man…” Lucas tightened his grip on Sergio’s shoulder, searching for the right words. “Why didn’t you let me know? Why didn’t you tell me what happened to you?”  

The custodian turned to him, with astonishment and anguish in his eyes. “Lucas…” he began, his voice slightly raised. “I didn’t… I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t go back. It wasn’t just about being expelled —there were other things. Things I don’t want to talk about. Not yet.”  

His friend nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the pavement. He had always known Sergio’s life hadn’t been easy —his shy demeanor, his self-consciousness about his freckles, the suffering he’d endured even as a boy. 

But Lucas hadn’t realized just how much his friend had gone through or how deeply those experiences had scarred him.  

“I understand,” he said at last. “Still… if I’d done things differently back then, maybe we wouldn’t have drifted apart.”  

Sergio stopped walking and placed a hand on Lucas’s shoulder, mirroring the professor’s earlier gesture. The cold was freezing them both. He moved closer, trying to convey a sense of calm.  

“What are you saying? Don’t blame yourself,” he said firmly. “What matters is that we’re here now… together,” he allowed a small, genuine smile to cross his face. “Thank you, Lucas, for everything. I’m glad we’re friends again, even if I’m just the custodian who cleans your classroom in the mornings.”  

“You’re more than that,” the professor thought, unable to articulate his emotions clearly.