09:05

And just like it would have happened in their high school days after lunch, the cafeteria was left empty, the sound of footsteps fading as students hurried back to class. Now, however, the footsteps were heading outside, towards two figures standing apart from the others—two gossipers who had often been late to class, sacrificing punctuality for the sake of spilling tea. Vanessa and Owen first glanced around cautiously, then made their way out of the building, ensuring they wouldn't bump into the other two. The tension was between them.

"You are lying, and I don't want to listen to your stupid arguments! It's his fault, his, and his dickhead ego!" Vanessa yelled back and forth, her voice escalating as she expressed her frustration. The unfairness of it all was crushing her, and the memory of her best friend's pain only added to the intensity.

Owen, standing a few feet away, felt the heat of the argument rising. His fingers twitched, and finally, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Ego? Whose fucking ego are you talking about? Danny's? Danny Harding's ego? Please, remind me—when did he ever have one? When did he have the courage to do anything, and when did he ever get a fucking ego?" His voice was tight with anger, the tension pouring out in sharp bursts.

Vanessa stopped pacing, locking eyes with him. The air between them crackled with unresolved emotions.

"Okay, if you say so. Then he's just an ungrateful jerk. He didn't deserve even a bit of attention or kindness. Tell me, then—you said he knew it." Her voice was cold now, the accusation hanging heavy between them.

"I guess you're talking about Alex's changes." Owen's voice dropped, as if daring her to challenge him.

"Of course I'm talking about Alex. Tell me, Owen, why didn't he leave him in the beginning? Why didn't he just say it straight and be done with it? Why did he have to fuck everything up and play with his feelings? For what?! For what exactly?" Vanessa's voice cracked with emotion as she fought back tears. Her love for her best friend was strong, and seeing how everything had fallen apart tore at her heart.

Owen's frustration boiled over, his hands clenching at his sides.

"Vanessa, I don't fucking understand what you're talking about. What do you want me to say?" His voice wavered, half pleading, half exasperated.

"Why, for God's sake, was he pretending, doing all those things if it would end up disgusting him?" Vanessa's voice was edged with desperation now.

"He WASN'T pretending! He was FUCKING in love with him!" Owen's shout seemed to freeze the air around them. Silence followed, heavy and suffocating. The tension that had built up so fiercely was now replaced by an overwhelming quiet. His words hung in the air like a confession no one was ready for.

Vanessa stood there, her mind reeling. Owen's outburst echoed in her ears, and her heart raced. The cafeteria around them seemed to grow still, her surroundings blurring as her thoughts took over.

Owen sighed, his voice quieter now, almost gentle.

"And get this straight—Danny was never pretending. He was never disgusted by Alex."

Vanessa blinked, still processing what she just heard.

"But he isn't, like..." her voice trailed off, unsure of what to say.

"Like what? Now you don't want to say it because you might be wrong, huh? Well, you are wrong. You judged the book by its cover." Owen stepped closer, sensing that he finally had the upper hand in this conversation.

Vanessa swallowed hard.

"So, he really is..."

"Yes, Vanessa, he is. Is it that hard to imagine that Danny is gay? So if you have more arguments about Danny being disgusted by Alex, keep in mind he's a 'faggot,' as you used to say, okay?" Owen's tone softened slightly at the end, but his words were firm.

Vanessa felt a flood of confusion and guilt.

"Now I'm even more confused. Why did he—"

Owen cut her off, his voice calm but insistent.

"Listen, Nessie, let's end this here for now. Clearly, there's something unclear on both sides, but for now, let's just stop. You see how things are going. It's better not to ruin it." He moved closer, resting a hand on her shoulder. With a gentle nudge, he began leading her back toward the building.

The halls were quiet, their footsteps echoing softly in the stillness. They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The weight of unanswered questions hung between them, heavy and unshakable. As they passed a window, Owen suddenly stopped, his gaze drawn outside. Vanessa followed his eyes, her brow furrowing in confusion. But then she saw it—a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Curious, Vanessa stepped closer to the window. Outside, she saw the scene that had caught Owen's attention. Danny was chasing Alex, his hood full of leaves, while Alex had a few stuck in his hair. They were laughing, running around like kids in the middle of an autumn leaf fight. It would have seemed childish if they were still in high school, but now, it was a rare moment of joy amidst the chaos of adult life.

"And you want to tell me they're twenty-five years old?" Vanessa asked, a smile creeping onto her face despite herself.

"Twenty-four and twenty-five, yeah. I don't think so," Owen corrected, shaking his head.

"They haven't aged since high school, at all. Maybe you're right. Let's forget about the past," Vanessa said, turning back toward the hall.

"Wow, really? After all this?" Owen raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden change in tone.

"Of course not." Vanessa smirked as she began walking again. "I won't rest until I find out the real truth. But... I don't want to take away Alex's joy. I hate to say it, but I haven't seen him this happy in years." Her voice softened as she spoke, her steps growing quieter as she disappeared down the hall.

Owen stayed behind for a moment, his eyes lingering on Danny and Alex through the window. His heart warmed as he watched them, their laughter breaking through the gloom of the day. He shook his head with a smile.

"Those fuckers," he muttered under his breath, the grin still on his face as he turned to follow Vanessa down the hall.