Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Karin turned towards it and called out, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and Layla peeked inside with a smile, "May I?"
"Of course, you don't need to ask," Karin replied warmly, standing up.
Poseidon followed, searching for a comb on his desk.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," Layla asked, setting aside her files.
"Not at all. Come, sit with us." Karin took Layla's hands and guided her to the nearby desk.
Meanwhile, Poseidon had found the comb, but as he turned around, a sudden jolt shot through his arm. The comb slipped from his grasp and clattered to the floor.
Layla and Karin turned to him, startled.
But, Poseidon simply blinked in confusion. There was no pain. Just a brief, inexplicable stiffness in his arm that disappeared as quickly as it had come. He flexed his fingers experimentally, a small frown forming on his face. "What was that…?" he wondered, unsettled.
"Poseidon?" Karin and Layla called, moving closer to him.
"What happened? Are you alright?" Layla asked, gently touching his arm.
Karin bent down and picked up the fallen comb, her concern evident.
"It's nothing," Poseidon reassured them with a smile, "I was just caught off guard."
Layla exhaled softly and took his hand, leading him to the bed, "Come, sit down for a moment."
As Poseidon settled onto the mattress, he clenched and unclenched his fist, still puzzled.
"Tell me the truth. What happened?" Layla pressed, gently stroking his other hand.
Poseidon met her gaze with a reassuring smile, "Really, Aunt, it's nothing to worry about. My hand just stiffened for a second. It's fine now."
Layla's eyes narrowed slightly. "Muscle stiffening… in his arms?" Alarm bells rang in her mind. "Has this happened before?" she asked, exchanging a glance with Karin before gesturing for the comb.
Karin handed it to her immediately.
Poseidon thought back for a moment before nodding, "A few times. It started a couple of days ago, but it's nothing serious. Maybe it's because of my frequent seizures."
Layla frowned, swallowing hard as she carefully ran the comb through his hair. "Upper body involvement…? Is his condition progressing to upper body acute paralysis as well? Anxiety tightened in her chest. This isn't right." She finished combing his hair, her thoughts still swirling.
"Aunt?" Poseidon's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She blinked and looked down at him, "Yes?" But as she took in his freshly combed hair, his usually tight curls now smoothed into a soft, rounded bob, except for a few stray curls on his forehead. Her worry was momentarily forgotten. A laugh bubbled up from her chest before she could stop it, "Pfft! Haha…"
Poseidon tilted his head, confused, "A-aunt…?"
Layla turned to Karin, still chuckling, "Oh dear, doesn't he look adorable?"
Karin, catching sight of his hair, couldn't help but giggle, "Right? He does."
Layla laughed again, "Haha, Helios would've loved this if he were here."
Poseidon blinked, slightly flustered, "W-why? Does it look weird? Should I get a haircut?"
Layla smiled, setting the comb aside and gently adjusting his curls, "Silly boy, if I were you, I wouldn't change a thing."
Poseidon nodded, still unsure why they found it so amusing. But if something as simple as this could make them smile. Make them happy. Then it was worth it.
"Helios will come back late today, right?" Layla asked, pulling up a chair and settling in front of Poseidon.
"Yeah," Poseidon replied, his voice carrying an undertone of guilt, "The inter-academy nationals are coming up. Team selection, practice matches—it all takes a lot out of him. He's been getting tired earlier these days."
As he spoke, an unshakable heaviness settled in his chest. He was the Cricket society's vice-captain, yet instead of standing beside Helios, fighting through the pressures together, he was here, locked in a battle against his own body. The burden of leadership, of holding everything together, had fallen squarely on Helios' shoulders. No matter how many people were there to support him, he was still the captain. The load was his to carry.
And Poseidon… Poseidon could only watch. The frustration of it gnawed at him. He wanted to help, to be there, to fight alongside him but the words to ask for that chance never seemed to come.
Layla gave him a gentle smile, "Don't let it get to you too much. Sehan will be here soon to keep you company." Setting her stethoscope, she began his checkup.
Poseidon hesitated before adding carefully, "Aunt… there's something else as well."
Layla straightened slightly, "What is it?"
Poseidon's fingers curled into his palms as he struggled to find the right words. "Helios has been acting… different. It's not just because he's tired. I don't know how to explain it, but… he feels distant. Maybe even avoiding me." His brows furrowed, "I don't get it."
Layla exchanged a brief but knowing glance with Karin.
"I-I don't know," Poseidon continued, his frustration slipping into his tone. "Did I say something? Or, did something he didn't like? If I did, he could just tell me. But instead, he keeps saying it's nothing and then drifts off like he's lost in thoughts," he exhaled, his mind drowning in endless possibilities, each one leading him further from an answer, "Is something bothering him…?"
"Maybe… he's just under a lot of pressure," Layla offered with a reassuring smile.
"Pressure from what?" Poseidon asked, his expression falling slightly. "He can at least talk to me about it… Or maybe—" He sighed, "Maybe I should just give him some space."
Layla's gaze darkened. She knew exactly why Helios was acting this way. Ever since she had told him about Poseidon's surgery. The burden of it, the load of breaking the news. He had been carrying it like a silent, inescapable nightmare. She took a deep breath. There was only one thing she could do. "Poseidon…" she called softly.
Poseidon's eyes met hers instantly, full of hope, desperate for something, anything, to ease the restlessness clawing at him. But the moment Layla looked into his deep, sea-blue gaze, her resolve wavered. The words caught in her throat, her confidence crumbling under them. She bit her lip before forcing a small smile. "Thank you," she said instead, "For taking care of him all this time. You have no idea how much relief it gives me to know he has a brother like you watching his back."
Poseidon blinked, caught off guard by the sudden sentiment. Then, a warm, genuine smile spread across his face. A heartfelt kind of smile. The kind that shone with admiration and unwavering loyalty. "Aunt," he said, his voice steady, "you don't have to thank me for that. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. And Helios."
His gaze softened, "To me, he's like a wall. A sturdy, unshakable wall that I can stand behind without fear of getting hurt. But I don't want to just hide there forever. I want to make him strong too. I don't want him to carry everything alone. So I try to lay the foundation for other walls behind him. To make sure he's surrounded by people who will hold him up if he ever falters."
Sehan. Mirza. Haadi, Ebraham, Claude, Azazel, Lucifer, Coach Zavian. Ezekiel. All the people Poseidon had made sure were always there for Helios, even if he couldn't be, "Until the day comes when I can finally step out from behind him and stand beside him, like another wall, just as strong. I want to take care of him, the way he's always taken care of me."
Layla swallowed hard. These were the most earnest, proud, and deeply felt words she had ever heard from him. And in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to tear this illness apart from his body, to ensure it never ever came near him again. But all she could do was nod, her voice gentle yet firm, "I'm glad he met you, Poseidon. We all are." A quiet resolve settled in her tone, "So never stop fighting. We'll be right here, by your side."
Poseidon held her gaze for a moment before nodding. And something in the way he did. So full of quiet conviction, told her that for him, everything he did, everything he endured, revolved around this. Around them. Around the unbreakable bonds that wove them all together.
And nothing, not even fate itself, would take that away from him.