Chapter 1 – Jamie

Jamie was not an ordinary boy.

At just nineteen, he was already known as the leader of bad company in college — the boy who everyone feared yet secretly admired. His sharp eyes could silence an entire classroom; his smirk was enough to make even seniors hesitate before speaking.

He wasn’t born rebellious — life made him that way. Behind those fearless eyes lived a heart that once knew innocence, now buried under years of betrayal and loneliness. Everyone in college whispered stories about him — “Jamie fought a gang alone,” “He doesn’t care about anyone,” “Even teachers respect his silence.”

But truth was different. Jamie never wanted to be feared; he wanted to be understood. The nights when others slept peacefully, he sat on the hostel roof, headphones in, staring at the city lights, wondering if someone would ever see the real him.

In the chaos of fights, music, and pride, he ruled the college corridors like a king of broken souls — respected by seniors, followed by juniors, but loved by none.

And that’s when Ellic entered his world — calm, quiet, and carrying a smile that could melt even the hardest heart.

But Jamie didn’t know yet… that this quiet boy would change everything.

Chapter 2 – Ellic

Ellic was twenty-three — mature, quiet, and different from everyone around him.

He wasn’t loud or flashy like the rest; his world was small, simple, and disciplined. People in the neighborhood often said he was “too strict,” but those who looked closer could see the truth — behind his calm eyes lived a soft heart, one that felt too much and spoke too little.

He was Jamie’s adopted brother, though they rarely met. Not because of hatred — but because fate had written distance between them. Ellic lived alone in a small apartment near the edge of the city, separate from their parents. He worked in an office — a stable job, routine, quiet life.

He dressed simply — plain shirts, sleeves rolled up, sometimes a chain glinting softly on his neck. His body carried light muscle, his waist shaped neatly, almost delicate — enough to confuse those who tried to label him. Some mocked him for it. Others avoided him. But Ellic never cared. He lived by one rule: “Be kind, even if no one understands you.”

Every morning he made his own coffee, packed his files, and looked at the empty chair across the table — the one Jamie once sat on when they were younger. But that was long ago. Now Jamie was in college, wild and feared by many.

Still, Ellic couldn’t forget that boy — the one who once laughed over silly cartoons, who once held his hand and said, “You’re my favorite brother.”

And though the years built walls between them, Ellic never stopped hoping.

One day, Jamie would return.

One day, the silence between them would break.

But Jamie didn’t know yet — his next storm in life was not his enemies…

It was Ellic.

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Chapter 3 – The Decision

Jamie had turned his college into his kingdom — parties, fights, and girls who followed his charm like moths to fire.

But every story has its breaking point. And Jamie’s parents had reached theirs.

Rumors of their son — the playboy, the gang leader, the heartbreaker — reached every corner of the city. Teachers complained, girls’ parents visited home, and the family’s name began to sink under shame. Jamie laughed it off, thinking no one could control him. But that night, his parents sat in silence, exchanging worried looks.

His mother’s voice trembled, “He’s destroying himself, and we’re just watching.”

His father sighed, “There’s only one person who can handle him now… Ellic.”

Ellic — the perfect son. The calm, intelligent, responsible one. The one who never broke rules, never argued, never failed. The adopted son who carried all the peace Jamie threw away.

When Jamie heard the plan, he exploded.

“You want to send me to HIM? That robot? That fake saint?”

His voice echoed through the walls. He remembered every moment Ellic had corrected him in childhood — “Jamie, study.” “Jamie, don’t lie.” “Jamie, be better.”

Ellic’s perfection had always been a shadow Jamie couldn’t escape.

He slammed his fist on the table. “I’m not going anywhere!”

But his father’s tone left no space for rebellion. “You are. You’ll stay with Ellic until you fix yourself.”

Jamie’s eyes burned — anger, humiliation, and something deeper he couldn’t name.

For the first time in years, someone had decided his path for him.

That night, he stood by his bike, staring at the address Ellic had texted — a small apartment on the city’s quiet side.

He muttered under his breath, “Let’s see how long you can handle me, perfect brother.”

And with that, the bad boy of college rode into the calm world of the man he hated most — unaware that this was where his life would begin to change.

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Chapter 4 – The Transfer

Morning came with chaos. Jamie stood outside the college gate, a backpack slung over his shoulder, smirking as everyone gathered to watch the “king” leave. Word had spread like wildfire — Jamie’s being sent away.

Some boys from his gang whistled, shouting, “Bro, come back soon! The college will be dead without you!”

Others laughed nervously, pretending to be tough but secretly relieved.

And then there were the girls — the ones who once followed his charm, now standing in silence. Some whispered, “Finally… peace.”

A few smiled with relief, others hid broken pride behind fake laughter.

Jamie looked at them once, shrugged, and said, “Don’t miss me too much.”

His bike roared one last time in that college street — his goodbye echoing through the walls that had seen every fight, every smile, every scar he left behind.

Hours later, the bus crossed the city border, entering another town — quieter, cleaner, and far more peaceful than the chaos he called home. Jamie hated it instantly. “Looks dead already,” he muttered, throwing his bag on the seat beside him.

When the vehicle stopped, Ellic was already there. Standing near a lamppost, wearing his usual plain shirt and calm expression, holding a file in one hand. His posture was neat, his face calm — too calm for Jamie’s liking.

Ellic smiled softly as Jamie stepped down. “Welcome, Jamie,” he said, voice warm yet distant.

Jamie’s eyes rolled. He walked past him without a word, muttering, “Whatever.”

Ellic turned to pick up his luggage, but Jamie stopped, glanced back, and — in his trademark arrogance — raised his middle finger before walking toward the apartment gate.

Ellic only sighed, a faint, tired smile tugging at his lips. “Still the same,” he whispered.

As they walked through the quiet street, the sound of the wind filled the space between them — two brothers, two worlds, one silence heavier than both.

But deep inside, neither of them knew — this small, strange town would soon become the place where their story truly began.

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Chapter 6 – The Admission

The next morning felt different — quieter, calmer.

Sunlight slipped through the curtains of the small apartment, cutting through the silence left from last night’s argument. Jamie sat on the edge of his bed, scrolling through his phone, pretending not to care.

Ellic stood by the doorway, a file in his hand. “Jamie,” he said gently. “Let’s go. I’ve spoken to the head office. There’s a government college nearby — you can continue your studies there.”

Jamie frowned. “Why do you care? I was fine in my old college.”

Ellic sighed, walking closer. “Because I don’t want you to waste your talent. You’re better than the stories people tell about you.”

Jamie looked at him for a long second — part annoyed, part confused. No one had said that to him in years.

A few hours later, they reached the Government City College — smaller, quieter, filled with normal students. No gangs, no parties, no fake smiles. Just calm faces and real books.

Ellic helped him fill out the forms, signed documents, and even spoke to the principal on his behalf.

When everything was done, they walked to a small roadside restaurant nearby. It wasn’t fancy — plastic chairs, ceiling fan humming, the smell of tea and fried food filling the air.

Ellic ordered two plates of noodles and two cups of coffee.

For a while, neither spoke. Then Jamie leaned back in his chair and said with a smirk,

“So, since you’re the elder brother and the working man, I guess you’re paying the bill, right?”

Ellic looked up from his coffee, half-smiling. “Of course. But someday, I hope you’ll treat me too.”

Jamie shrugged. “We’ll see about that.”

It wasn’t much — just a few words, a tiny exchange — but for Ellic, it felt like a small bridge built over last night’s silence.

As they left the restaurant, Jamie walked a few steps ahead, pretending to check his phone.

Behind him, Ellic watched quietly — the same proud smile on his lips, the same patience in his eyes.

He knew it wouldn’t be easy.

But at least now, Jamie had taken his first step forward — and Ellic was ready to walk beside him.

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Chapter 7 – The Pressure

Days passed quietly in the new town.

Jamie had joined the government college — new faces, new halls, same chaos. At first, he promised himself he’d stay calm. But some habits were harder to kill than memories.

By the second week, he’d already found a small group — boys who skipped lectures, smoked behind the canteen, and whispered about parties that lasted till morning. They liked Jamie instantly — his confidence, his fearlessness, his charm.

Soon, he became their center again — the same “leader” in a new place.

While Jamie drowned his days in laughter and trouble, Ellic’s world was completely different.

He worked at an office — small cubicles, strict deadlines, and a boss who hid cruelty behind fake politeness.

That evening, Ellic’s phone buzzed.

“Come to my cabin,” his boss said.

Inside, the man’s smile was sharp, his tone too casual. He began commenting on Ellic’s posture, his clothes — his voice dripping with things unsaid.

Ellic stepped back, uncomfortable. “Sir, please—”

The man interrupted with a smirk. “I know your type. You shout, you lose your job. Think carefully.”

Ellic froze. Every muscle in his body screamed to fight back, but he swallowed his anger, gripping the file in his hands until his knuckles turned white. He needed this job. He needed to survive.

By the time he reached home, his head ached with frustration.

And then he saw Jamie — half-drunk, lying on the couch, bottle on the table, eyes barely open.

For a moment, Ellic just stood there, the weight of his day pressing down on his chest.

He didn’t shout. He didn’t scold.

He quietly walked into the kitchen, prepared a few sandwiches, and placed them on the table near Jamie.

Without looking back, he said softly, “Eat if you want. I’ve made enough.”

Then he went to his room, closing the door behind him — not in anger, but exhaustion.

Jamie blinked, staring at the untouched food. For the first time, the silence felt heavier than any lecture.

He didn’t understand why Ellic didn’t yell, why he didn’t fight. But somewhere inside, a small part of him wished he had.

Outside, the night deepened.

Inside, two souls — one wounded by the world, the other lost in rebellion — drifted quietly under the same roof, bound by something they didn’t yet have words for.

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