The morning sun was warm and bright, shining on the small town as students hurried to school. At the center of all the noise and laughter was one name everyone knew—Lucas.

Lucas was the most popular boy in school. He was tall, handsome, and always smiling in a way that made people like him instantly. Girls admired him, boys respected him, and teachers trusted him. To many, he seemed perfect.

But wherever Lucas went, there was always another boy by his side—Stephen.

Stephen was different. He wasn’t loud or shining like Lucas. He had plain clothes, a quiet voice, and he didn’t stand out in a crowd. Most people might have forgotten him if he wasn’t always with Lucas. Some even joked that Stephen lived in Lucas’s shadow. But the truth was, Lucas never let Stephen disappear.

Every morning, a shiny black car stopped in front of Stephen’s small house. It was Lucas, rolling down the window and calling out with a playful grin, “Hurry up, Stephen! We’ll be late.”

Stephen always sighed, but he smiled too. He would climb into the car, and together they drove to school.

They were inseparable. Lucas came from a rich family, while Stephen’s family was only middle class, but that never mattered to Lucas. To him, Stephen wasn’t just a friend—he was like a brother. Sometimes, people even teased them, saying, “You two should just marry each other already.”

Lucas only laughed and threw his arm over Stephen’s shoulder. “Why not? He’s my favorite person.”

Stephen laughed too, though deep inside, those words stayed with him longer than he wanted to admit.

Even though Lucas was popular and often got attention, he never dated anyone. Girls liked him, and even some boys were brave enough to flirt with him, but Lucas always turned them down. What made him different was how he did it—he never laughed at anyone or embarrassed them. He always found a kind way to say no.

One autumn afternoon, a shy girl named Lily decided to take her chance. Lily was the quiet type. She wore glasses, kept her head down in class, and didn’t talk much. But everyone noticed how she blushed whenever Lucas walked by.

That day, as the school was about to close, Lily stood by the library doors. The sky was painted in orange and pink as the sun went down. She clutched her books tightly, waiting nervously.

When Lucas and Stephen came out, she called softly, “Lucas.”

He stopped and smiled warmly at her. “Hey, Lily. Do you need something?”

Stephen glanced at her. He could see her hands shaking and her face turning red. He guessed what she was about to say.

Lily looked down at the floor. Her voice was small and rushed. “I… I like you. Will you be my boyfriend?”

There was silence for a moment. Stephen felt the air grow heavy, waiting for Lucas’s answer.

But Lucas didn’t laugh. He didn’t act surprised. Instead, he stepped closer and spoke gently. “Lily, you’re really pretty. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

Her eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected that.

“But,” Lucas continued, “I’m not ready for a relationship right now. It wouldn’t be fair to say yes when I can’t give you what you deserve. I’m sorry.”

Lily’s face turned even redder, but this time it wasn’t from shame. She looked relieved. He hadn’t crushed her feelings—he had respected them. She gave a small nod. “Thank you… for your kindness.”

Lucas smiled. “Of course.”

She walked away, her steps lighter than before.

Stephen looked at Lucas. “You didn’t have to say all that. Most guys would just say no.”

Lucas shrugged, grinning. “Yeah, but I’m not most guys.”

Stephen shook his head, but he smiled too. That was Lucas—always different, always shining. Sometimes, Stephen felt small standing next to him. But somehow, being with Lucas made him feel special too, like he belonged to something brighter.

As they left the school, the evening air was cool and soft. Lucas bumped Stephen’s shoulder. “Want to grab burgers before I drop you off?”

Stephen laughed. “You’ll spoil me.”

“That’s the point,” Lucas said with a grin.

They walked on together, side by side as always. To everyone else, Lucas was the star and Stephen was just his shadow. But Stephen knew better. Lucas never treated him like “less.”

What they didn’t know was that life wouldn’t always stay this way. Their bond was strong now, but the future held tests they couldn’t see coming.

For now, though, they were just two boys, walking home as the day turned to night—the popular boy and the quiet friend who never left his side.

The next morning, sunlight poured through the classroom windows. Students shuffled in, dropping their bags and chatting while the teacher began writing on the blackboard. The room smelled faintly of chalk and paper.

Lucas sat near the middle row, lazily twirling his pen between his fingers. Beside him, Stephen was already focused on his notebook, scribbling down every word. Lucas, however, seemed only half interested, as usual.

While the teacher’s back was turned, a boy from the next row leaned over and slipped a folded note onto Lucas’s desk. Lucas raised an eyebrow, curious, and quietly opened it under the table.

The handwriting was neat but nervous.

“You’re really handsome. Will you go on a date with me?”

Lucas stared at the words for a moment, then a small smile spread across his face. He glanced back at the boy who had written it. The boy’s cheeks turned red as their eyes met.

Lucas didn’t laugh. He didn’t tease. Instead, he pulled out his pen and carefully wrote a reply on the back of the note.

“Thank you. But I’m not ready for a relationship. I’m sorry.”

He folded it neatly and passed it back. When the boy opened it, he looked surprised—but not hurt. His lips curved into a small smile, and he gave Lucas a quick nod of thanks.

Stephen, who had been watching the exchange out of the corner of his eye, sighed quietly. Lucas never changed. He was always kind, even when he had to reject someone.

The rest of the school day passed slowly. By the final bell, the halls were buzzing with students eager to leave. Lucas, however, had basketball practice.

As soon as he entered the court, cheers erupted. Dozens of girls filled the benches, waving and giggling. A few boys stood among them too, shouting encouragement. The sound of his name echoed around.

“Lucas!”

“Over here!”

“Shoot, Lucas, shoot!”

Stephen sat near the back, trying to stay out of the chaos. He watched as Lucas dribbled across the court, moving like water—smooth, fast, impossible to ignore. The ball left his hands and sank perfectly into the hoop. The crowd cheered louder, their voices bouncing off the high ceiling.

For everyone else, it was exciting. For Lucas, it was exhausting.

He loved the game, but sometimes he felt trapped inside the noise of his own fame. The endless confessions, the rumors, the stares—they never stopped. Every smile he gave turned into gossip. Every rejection, no matter how gentle, made someone whisper behind his back.

He wanted, just once, to be normal. To play basketball without an audience. To walk the halls without eyes following him. But no matter what he did, attention clung to him like a shadow.

When practice ended, Lucas sat on the bench, wiping sweat from his forehead with a towel. He heard the girls still giggling, some even arguing about who cheered louder. He let out a long sigh.

Stephen walked over with a bottle of water. “You okay?”

Lucas took it and drank. “Yeah. Just tired. Sometimes it feels like… no matter what I do, I can’t escape being Lucas.”

Stephen chuckled. “That’s because you’re you. People notice you even when you’re just breathing.”

Lucas gave him a playful glare. “That’s not comforting, you know.”

The next day brought something different. As the first period started, the teacher cleared his throat and gestured to the doorway.

“Class, we have a new student joining us today. Please welcome Benjamin.”

All heads turned. A tall boy with dark hair stepped inside. His eyes were calm but sharp, the kind that made you curious even before he spoke. He wore the standard school uniform, yet somehow, it looked better on him than on anyone else.

“Introduce yourself,” the teacher said.

Benjamin bowed slightly. “My name is Benjamin. I just transferred here. I hope we can get along.” His voice was low, smooth, carrying a quiet confidence.

Whispers filled the classroom immediately.

“He’s handsome!”

“Where is he from?”

“Do you think he’ll join the basketball team?”

Lucas, who usually didn’t pay much attention to new students, found himself staring. His chest felt strange, like something had shifted inside him. His stomach fluttered, light and nervous, almost like butterflies.

He blinked and quickly looked away, confused.

Why was he reacting this way? He had met dozens of people before. He had rejected countless confessions without his heart skipping a beat. But now, just from seeing Benjamin’s face and hearing his voice, something was different. Something he couldn’t explain.

The teacher pointed toward an empty seat near Lucas and Stephen. “Benjamin, you can sit there.”

As Benjamin walked past, Lucas’s eyes flicked up again. For the briefest moment, their gazes met. Benjamin’s lips curved in the faintest smile before he sat down.

Lucas turned his head quickly, his ears warm. He didn’t even notice Stephen watching him carefully, a puzzled look in his eyes.

The day went on as usual, but Lucas’s mind wasn’t steady. During lessons, he caught himself glancing at Benjamin more than once. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but something about the new boy pulled him in.

By the time the bell rang, Lucas wasn’t sure what this feeling meant. He only knew one thing: for the first time in a long while, someone had shaken the calm balance of his life.

And he had no idea where it would lead.

Lucas had always been good at staying calm. It was one of the things people admired about him. No matter how many people confessed to him—slipping love letters into his locker, shyly stammering in front of him, or even boldly declaring their feelings in the middle of the hallway—he never lost control of himself. He could smile, be polite, and then move on like nothing had happened.

To everyone else, he seemed untouchable, like someone who couldn’t be shaken. Lucas was the type of person who could keep a straight face even when the whole class whispered about him. He had perfected the art of appearing confident, collected, almost untouchable.

But ever since Benjamin arrived, things felt… different.

It started small, almost too small to notice at first. A glance across the classroom, eyes catching for just a second longer than necessary. A smile that felt warmer, softer, more directed. A laugh that didn’t just fade into background noise but clung to Lucas’s ears, echoing in his chest long after it had passed.

And whenever Benjamin sat near him, it was worse. Lucas’s chest would tighten, his heart thudding like he had run a race even though he hadn’t moved at all. His thoughts scattered in every direction. His usually calm demeanor wavered, though he tried desperately to hide it.

What’s wrong with me? Lucas asked himself again and again. He had never felt this way before. Not with any girl who had confessed, not with the boys who admired him from afar. All those feelings others projected onto him—desire, affection, admiration—he had never really returned. This was new. Strange. Confusing.

At first, Lucas convinced himself it was nothing. Curiosity, maybe. After all, Benjamin was new. Anyone would pay a little more attention to the new transfer student—his accent, his style, his easy smile. That was normal. That was logical.

But the more time they spent together, the harder it became to believe his own excuses.

Benjamin soon slipped into their small circle as though he had always belonged there. He often joined Lucas and Stephen at lunch, sometimes bringing his own stories that had them laughing so hard they nearly choked on their food. After school, he walked with them partway, hands in his pockets, throwing out jokes that made Stephen snort and Lucas grin despite himself.

The three of them fit together easily—maybe too easily.

Stephen welcomed Benjamin without hesitation, always cracking jokes, always finding ways to include him. And Lucas… well, Lucas pretended nothing was wrong. On the outside, he was still the same Lucas everyone admired: friendly, confident, unbothered. But inside, he was restless. Uneasy.

Every time Benjamin leaned closer to talk, Lucas’s throat felt dry. Every time Benjamin’s hand brushed against his, even by accident, Lucas had to force himself not to jerk away or, worse, hold on. Every time Benjamin smiled at him—really smiled—Lucas’s stomach twisted with strange butterflies he couldn’t explain.

He hated it. He didn’t understand it. And no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t control it.

One afternoon, when Benjamin had gone home early, Lucas and Stephen found themselves hanging out alone. It felt almost nostalgic, like things had been before Benjamin appeared. The two best friends stopped at a small café near school, the kind of place where the bell above the door jingled when you entered and the tables were pushed close together.

They sat by the wide front window, milkshakes in front of them, straws poking out at awkward angles. The late afternoon sunlight spilled through the glass, painting the table golden. Outside, students in uniform drifted past, chatting loudly, while a couple of adults hurried home from work.

Stephen stirred his drink lazily, making the ice clink against the glass, before glancing sideways at Lucas. “You’ve been acting weird lately.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, keeping his face calm. “Weird? Me?”

“Yeah,” Stephen said with a smirk tugging at his lips. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed. Every time Benjamin’s around, you get this… strange look on your face.”

Lucas froze for a fraction of a second before quickly scoffing, trying to mask it with practiced ease. “You’re imagining things.”

Stephen leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand with mock seriousness. “Am I? Or is there something you’re not telling me?”

Lucas shifted uncomfortably in his chair, eyes flicking to the condensation running down his glass. He sighed, the weight of his confusion pressing on him until the words slipped out before he could stop them.

“I don’t know, Stephen. It’s just… when Benjamin’s around, I feel… strange. Like my chest is too tight. Like I can’t think straight.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, messing up the strands he usually kept neat. “I don’t understand it. I’ve never felt this before.”

For a moment, Stephen just stared at him. Lucas braced himself for a serious lecture, maybe some teasing, but then—suddenly—Stephen burst out laughing.

Lucas gave him a sharp look. “What’s so funny?”

Stephen grinned wider, his eyes glinting with mischief. “You like him. Don’t you?”

Lucas nearly choked on his drink. He sputtered, coughing, his face heating against his will. “What?! No! Don’t say stupid things like that.”

Stephen leaned back in his chair, folding his arms triumphantly. “Oh, come on. You totally like him. Look at you—blushing just from talking about him.”

“I am not blushing,” Lucas snapped, quickly averting his eyes. He made a disgusted face, as if the accusation itself was ridiculous. “He’s a guy. And so am I.”

Stephen only laughed harder, nearly doubling over in his chair. He clutched his stomach like Lucas had just told the best joke in the world. “So what? It’s okay if you’re gay, Lucas. Nothing wrong with that.”

Lucas glared at him, jaw tight, lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m not. You’re crazy.”

“Sure, sure,” Stephen teased, drawing out the words like he was humoring a child. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Lucas rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, trying to look as bored as possible. He gave Stephen a side glance, voice dripping with irritation. “You’re annoying, you know that?”

Stephen smirked, sipping his milkshake with exaggerated innocence. “Maybe. But I’m also right.”

Lucas groaned and buried his face in his hands, wishing he hadn’t said anything. Why had he trusted Stephen with even a fraction of his feelings? His best friend was supposed to help him, not laugh at him until the whole café turned to look.

The worst part was that Stephen’s words lingered, repeating themselves in Lucas’s mind no matter how hard he tried to ignore them.

You like him. Don’t you?

Lucas shook his head quickly, muttering under his breath. “This is stupid. It’ll go away. It’s just… a phase or something.”

Stephen chuckled softly, but there was something gentler in his tone this time, almost thoughtful. “Whatever you say, Lucas.”

Lucas gave him another sharp side glance, but he didn’t reply. He couldn’t. His chest felt tight again—not just because of Benjamin this time, but because he was afraid Stephen might actually be right.

He didn’t want to think about that.

Not yet.