Weight of memories

The shrill sound of Leo’s phone ringing pierced through the quiet of his room, pulling him from a deep sleep. He groaned, rolling over and letting it ring for a few moments longer before finally reaching for it, still half-asleep.

“Hello?” he mumbled, eyes still closed.

“Leo! Look at the time!” Arie’s voice came through the line, sharp and urgent.

Leo cracked one eye open, squinting at the clock on his nightstand. “Shit!” he exclaimed, realizing it was past 8 AM. He shot out of bed, adrenaline kicking in as he sprinted to the bathroom.

After a quick shower, he threw on his clothes, barely managing to button his shirt as he dashed down the stairs. As he reached the front door, he spotted Arie waiting in the car, arms crossed and a smirk on his face.

“Drive fast!” Leo shouted as he hopped into the passenger seat.

Arie raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Sure, but you owe me a drink tonight if you want that.”

Leo shot him a look, rolling his eyes. “Fine, whatever. Just go!”

Arie chuckled and pulled out of the driveway, navigating through the morning traffic. They arrived at the office building in record time, and Leo jumped out of the car, ready to make a run for it.

Hey, Leo!” Arie called after him, holding out a strawberry drink. “Don’t forget this!”

Leo turned back, a grin spreading across his face. “Aww, such a caring best friend!” he teased, watching as Arie made a face of mock disgust.

“Just get to work!” Arie replied, shaking his head with a laugh.

With the drink in hand, Leo dashed into the building, weaving through the bustling crowd. As he entered the office, he spotted Mimi at her desk.

“Leo! You’re late! Go upstairs before you lose your job!” she called out, her tone a mix of concern and urgency.

“Okay, okay!” Leo replied, hurrying toward the stairs.

He reached Mr. Thom office, knocking quickly before entering. Mr. Thompson looked up from his desk, a sigh escaping his lips as he regarded Leo.

“Late again, I see,” he said, shaking his head. “You need to avoid this if you want to keep your job.”

“Sorry, Mr. Thom,” Leo said, trying to catch his breath. “It won’t happen again.”

Mr. Thom handed him a file. “Here are the details for the models who will be at the gala. I need you to prepare everything we may need.”

“Got it,” Leo replied, taking the file and glancing through it quickly. “I’ll get right on it.”

Good. Now get to work,” Mr. Thom said, returning to his paperwork.

Leo settled back at his desk, the familiar hum of the office surrounding him. He took a long sip of his strawberry drink, savoring the sweet flavor as he opened the file Mr. Thompson had handed him. The pages rustled softly as he flipped through them, his mind still racing from the morning’s chaos.

But then, he froze. His eyes landed on a name that sent a jolt through him: Jaxon.

In an instant, the drink he had just sipped shot back up his throat, and he sputtered, a few droplets escaping his lips and splattering onto the desk. “What the—?” he muttered, staring at the name in disbelief.

Panic surged through him, and he felt the walls of the office closing in. He couldn’t let this affect him—not now, not with everything at stake. He slammed the file shut, the sound echoing in the quiet space, and bolted from his desk.

He hurried to the restroom, pushing the door open with urgency. Once inside, he splashed cold water on his face, the shock of it jolting him back to reality. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, taking deep breaths to steady his racing heart

“Get it together, Leo,” he whispered to himself, trying to shake off the wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He couldn’t afford to be distracted, not with the gala looming ahead.

As he dried his face with a paper towel, he reminded himself of the task at hand. Jaxon’s presence at the event would complicate things, but he had a job to do. He needed to focus on the preparations, to ensure everything went smoothly, regardless of the past that now loomed over him like a shadow.

With one last deep breath, Leo straightened his shoulders and stepped out of the restroom, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead

The rest of the day dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity as Leo threw himself into his work, desperately trying to keep his mind off the name that had rattled him. He organized files, coordinated with the team, and double-checked every detail for the upcoming gala, but Jaxon lingered in the back of his mind like an unwelcome guest. As the clock finally ticked closer to the end of the workday, a mix of relief and exhaustion washed over him. He grabbed his phone and dialed Arie’s number, hoping for a distraction.

“Hey, man,” Arie answered, his voice casual.

Hey, can I crash at your place tonight?” he asked, hoping for a change of scenery.

“Sure, but I’m not doing any therapy sessions,” Arie replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Whatever,” Leo said, rolling his eyes, but a small smile crept onto his face.

A short while later, Arie arrived to pick him up. They got into the car, and as they drove toward Arie’s house, Leo fell into a contemplative silence. Arie glanced over, trying to lighten the mood, but all he received in return were a few side-eyes from Leo.

When they finally reached Arie’s place, Leo grabbed his small work bag and headed straight for the bedroom, flopping onto the bed. Arie followed, chuckling as he watched Leo’s dramatic entrance. “What happened?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Leo sighed, turning his head to look at Arie. “Jaxon is attending the gala we’re conducting.”

Arie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Huh?”

“Yeah,” Leo said, closing his eyes as memories flooded back. “I just woke up to that news.”

Arie sat up, concern etched on his face. “Are you okay with it?”

Leo nodded, though his heart felt heavy. He closed his eyes again, drifting into thoughts of the old days when everything had been fine and fun, before the complications of the past had crept in.

They were seated in the dance studio after a long practice when Jaxon leaned in closer.

“Hey, Leo,” Jaxon said, nudging him playfully. “You know what would make this day even better?”

“What’s that?” Leo replied, a teasing smile on his face.

Jaxon leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a mock-serious tone. “How about you go out with me? Like, officially?”

Leo’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and he looked away, trying to hide his smile. “Oh, come on! You can’t be serious!”

“I am!” Jaxon laughed, clearly enjoying Leo’s reaction. “Just think about it. We’d be the cutest couple in school.”

Maybe,” Jaxon said, winking. “But seriously, what do you say?”

Leo pretended to ponder, tapping his chin dramatically. “Hmm, let me think… Nope! I refuse to date you, Mr. Popular!”

Jaxon burst into laughter, and Leo couldn’t help but join in, the playful banter making the moment feel light and carefree. “You’re impossible!” Jaxon exclaimed, shaking his head.

“Yeah, but you love it!” Leo shot back, his heart racing as he realized how much he enjoyed this playful exchange.

“Maybe I do,” Jaxon said, a soft smile on his face. “But I’ll keep asking until you say yes

“Good luck with that!” Leo replied, still blushing but feeling a warmth in his chest that he couldn’t quite explain.

Now, lying on the bed, Leo smiled at the memories, the sweet teasing and laughter echoing in his mind.

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