"Hey!" Mirza's broke through exasperated, "How much longer are you hogging the phone? We want to talk too!"
A sudden scuffle on the other end as Claude argued, "Tch! What's your problem?! Let me—hey!"
Because, Poseidon could clearly hear a sigh from Haadi and Ebraham in the background.
"They're worse than kids, huh, Ezekiel?" Azazel's amused voice cut through.
Poseidon shook his head in disbelief, "Easy there…"
"Hey, give it back! That's Coach Zavian's phone!" Mirza fought.
"Huh? It's his, so why are you being so annoying?!" Claude argued back.
And then, "Could you two just tone it down already?!" Coach Zavian came next and finally, after what felt like an eternity, the chaos settled, leaving Poseidon giggling. "Hey, how's Ezekiel?" he asked once the noise died down.
"He's right here. Want to talk?" Ebraham replied, the phone finally reaching his safe and trusted hands.
Poseidon hummed in agreement.
A moment later, Ezekiel's hesitant voice came through, "Hello…?"
"Hey, Ezekiel. How are you?" Poseidon asked.
A pause. Then, a soft reply, "F-fine. What about you?"
Poseidon exhaled, "If I said I was doing great, you wouldn't believe me. So, I'll say I'm fine. I'm fighting."
Ezekiel hummed quietly.
Poseidon's gaze lowered, "Thank you for helping me that day. I owe you."
"Don't," Ezekiel interrupted, "I could say the same to you for whatever you did, but I won't, because I know you wouldn't like that. So, I don't want to hear it from you either."
Poseidon smiled, "I see… thank you."
After a brief silence, Ezekiel finally spoke again, "I'll be waiting."
Poseidon listened intently.
"I'll be waiting for you at the Inter-Academy Nationals. So hurry up and get better. I want to play alongside you," Ezekiel continued, his tone resolute.
Poseidon, momentarily taken aback, nodded, "I won't promise, but I'll try."
A hum of approval followed.
"And the Society?" Poseidon asked, "Are you comfortable there? Is everyone treating you well?"
Ezekiel didn't answer right away.
"Haha, he's gone speechless," Claude teased.
"Yup, he's doing great, aside from nearly drowning in a river or worse," Mirza added with a chuckle.
Poseidon's eyes flickered to Helios, suspicion creeping into his expression. "What are you up to?" he asked skeptically.
Helios, ever nonchalant, shrugged, "What would I be up to? I'm on a vacation, right in front of your eyes 24/7."
Poseidon however didn't buy it. Narrowing his eyes, he warned, "Don't you dare tease him."
Helios rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah."
At last, Ezekiel sighed, "I'm fine. Don't worry…"
But before he could say more, Claude swooped back in, snatching the phone and reigniting the chaos.
Both Poseidon and Helios sighed in unison.
"They're a mess," Helios muttered.
Poseidon nodded, "I agree."
A moment later, Haadi's voice broke through, "Hey, Poseidon…"
Poseidon immediately responded, "Yeah?"
"There's too much noise here. We'll talk properly when we visit you, okay?" Haadi said.
Poseidon smiled, "Yeah, I'll be waiting. Take care."
"You too, little sea," Haadi said warmly before the call ended.
With a deep exhale, Poseidon set the phone aside.
"Done already?" Helios asked, flipping another page.
"Yeah. They were a mess," Poseidon replied, lowering his legs from the bed. He gazed out the window, watching the children play, a soft smile resting on his lips.
Just then, Poseidon turned to Helios, who was deeply engrossed in his book, barely acknowledging his presence. With a sigh, he rolled his eyes. "Geez… what are you reading now? It's been days. Pay me and my boredom a little attention, will you? Or, do you expect me to sit here and admire your face…?" He stood up and leaned over to glance at the book, only to freeze. The words 'Guillain-Barré Syndrome' stared back at him, almost mocking his existence.
Helios' sharp gaze lifted, observing him carefully.
Poseidon's expression darkened. His eyes, a moment ago, lively, dimmed with something between annoyance and anger. His lips pressed into a firm line before curving into a forced smile. He stood up, his demeanor composed but betraying the irritation simmering beneath. "Sigh~ at it again, huh?" he muttered, walking back to his bed and settling down, "Didn't I tell you it's pointless? You just don't listen."
Helios met his gaze, "And how do you know that?"
Clicking his tongue, Poseidon reached for his phone and earphones from the bedside table, "Honestly…? You're wasting your time. You really don't know how to give up, do you?"
The words didn't faze Helios. Instead, he closed the book with a decisive thud, the sound echoing in the room.
Poseidon's eyes flickered toward him. Helios' expression was unwavering, "No, I don't."
Poseidon smirked, "You're too tenacious."
"And you're too resigned," Helios countered.
Instantly, the air shifted. Poseidon's fingers twitched, his smirk faltering ever so slightly as he stared at Helios, who held his gaze firmly. A long silence stretched between them.
Then Helios took a step forward. "That's the difference between us, Poseidon," he said.
Poseidon swallowed, the tension pressing against his throat.
"You endure, endure, and endure, until the pain becomes second nature. Until you're willing to accept it, live with it, let it shape you. You've come to terms with your limitations. While I…" Helios' voice softened, but his conviction remained steady. "I don't. I find ways to surpass them, end them. To overcome them before they define me. Fear. Hesitation. Doubt. I refuse to carry them with me."
Leaning in slightly, a gentle yet knowing smile played on Helios' lips, "You… have always seen me strong, Poseidon. Always, when you're awake. Just try looking at me when your eyes close. You might understand what it's really like."
Poseidon didn't reply. He didn't need to. Helios' words had already stripped him bare.
Then, as if sealing the conversation, Helios reached forward and grasped Poseidon's phone from his grasp. "And, one day, I'll prove it," he said with quiet confidence. "You'll live and see that I was right all along. This… is our fight. Our final challenge," he grinned.
Poseidon lowered his gaze. He wasn't sure what he felt in that moment. But one thing was certain—relief. A relief so deep that nothing else could compare to it.
Then, with his usual smirk, Poseidon looked up, "So, if I survive, you win? And if I don't, is that my victory?"
Helios' fingers twitched, irritation flickering in his eyes, "Yeah, hell right. Only if I let you win."
Poseidon burst into laughter, "Pft! Haha! You're quite intimidating when you're angry."
"Tch, and you make my blood boil with those words of yours. I'm leaving," Helios muttered, clicking his tongue as he walked toward the door.
"Huh?" Poseidon blinked, turning in surprise, "H-Hey, I was just joking! At least give me my phone back. I need to listen to the midnight commentary. I missed it last night!"
Helios turned back at the doorway, smirking in mock irritation, "Oh? I have dotted on you a lot hun~ and that has spoiled you rotten. This is your punishment for annoying me. So, bear with it." With that, he walked out.
Poseidon blinked, processing Helios' words before chuckling softly, shaking his head, "Silly… you have no idea how much I want 'you' to win this time." He then turned, intending to lie down, when suddenly his gaze shifted towards something resting on the desk beside the window where Helios stood. Frowning, he walked over. It was Helios' phone. The earphones, neatly wrapped around it, as if deliberately left behind.
Poseidon exhaled sharply before laughing again, shaking his head in amusement. If Helios had taken his phone, he left his own there. Where was the punishment in that? Even he didn't know. "That silly boy… he's just like Uncle and Aunt." He picked up the phone, a rare softness in his expression, before heading back to bed.
---
As Helios walked through the corridor, the medical encyclopedia resting in his hands, a familiar voice called out, "Heli!"
Helios turned sharply, eyes widening, "Mother?" A smile broke across his face as he approached Layla, reaching for her hands. "What is it, Mother?" he asked.
But, instead of responding, Layla let go of his hands and pulled him into an embrace.
Helios hesitated, momentarily confused, before wrapping his arms around her in return, "Mama? What's wrong? Do you need my help?"
Layla shook her head, resting against his shoulder. She gently stroked his back, as if soothing a fragile infant. "It's…" she sighed, lifting her gaze to meet his.
Helios tilted his head, purple eyes brighter than the night sky itself, he offered her a warm, reassuring smile.
Seeing that familiar innocence in his eyes, Layla suddenly chuckled. "Such a child…" she murmured.
Helios laughed with her, his voice light and untroubled, but Layla's expression grew more serious, "I wanted to talk, Heli. Would you give me some of your time?"
Helios' gaze softened as he traced the exhaustion on her face. He nodded without hesitation, "Not just some of my time. You can have all of it."
Layla squeezed his hands, her voice barely above a whisper, "Thank you, love."