At the library.
"I don't understand a thing… Why do we even have to study subjects like this? We don't use these problems in daily life…"
Admitting defeat, Aiden slumped over his math guidebook with a groan.
"Stop wasting time and study…" Ayaan replied, lightly tapping Aiden's forehead with his pen.
"You've been staring at the same page for half an hour and still haven't moved forward," Aiden pointed out.
"I'm trying to figure it out…" Ayaan muttered, his eyes fixed on the problem.
"What?"
"How did it suddenly become one? They didn't explain that step at all," Ayaan said, frustration creeping into his voice.
"My mom recently arranged a tuition teacher for me. How about you join too?" Aiden suggested.
"I don't think Aunt will allow it…" Ayaan replied, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
"Then what if my mom talks to her? There's no way she'd refuse," Aiden said confidently.
Ayaan fell silent. He already knew it wouldn't work.
"Library is not a place to talk."
The sharp voice startled them. They turned around—only to see Liam. Relief instantly spread across their faces.
"You almost gave me a heart attack… I thought it was Devil Marie…" Aiden muttered.
"Devil Marie?" Liam asked, confused.
"The librarian…" Ayaan explained.
Liam let out a quiet laugh. "Can I sit here?"
"Of course, sit," Aiden said, gesturing to the chair.
Liam sat across from Ayaan and opened a guidebook. But before long, his attention drifted. His eyes subtly shifted toward Ayaan, noticing the slight frown on his face.
"Is it difficult?" Liam asked.
"A bit… I don't really understand the method they used here," Ayaan said, turning the book toward him.
"It's actually simple…" Liam said.
Taking a pen from his pocket, he leaned forward and began writing out the solution, explaining each step in a clear, easy way.
"It's really simple…" Ayaan murmured, checking the answer again with newfound clarity.
"If you get stuck on anything, just let me know. I'm pretty good at arithmetic," Liam said casually.
Aiden's eyes lit up immediately. "Then Liam, why don't you tutor Ayaan in your free time? He's been struggling with math lately…"
"Aiden…" Ayaan shot him a look, clearly caught off guard by the sudden suggestion.
But before he could protest further—
"I don't mind," Liam said without hesitation. "You can come to my house after school."
"Huh…? O-Okay…" Ayaan nodded, still slightly stunned.
Aiden leaned back with a satisfied grin, as he became once again useful for his friend's love life.
From then on, Ayaan began going to Liam's house after school. In the quiet evenings, Liam would arrange the living room for their one-hour study sessions, making sure Ayaan felt comfortable.
Both of them liked each other but kept those feelings hidden deep in their hearts—afraid that confessing might distance them from one another.
One day.
"Tomorrow is your birthday?"
Ayaan asked curiously after noticing Liam's date of birth on his ID card. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't even remember it," Liam replied with a faint smile. "Mom and Sis were always the ones who got excited about it. They would start preparing a week in advance…"
As he spoke, his expression dimmed slightly. This time, they weren't by his side.
"Why are you getting sad? Aren't I here to celebrate your birthday with you?" Ayaan said instinctively.
Realizing how it sounded, he quickly corrected himself. "I mean—we… me, Aiden, Joy…"
"Yeah…" Liam said softly. "But tomorrow's Sunday. How are you going to inform them?" he added teasingly, knowing Ayaan didn't have a phone.
"That…"
Ayaan hesitated, unsure what to say.
After a brief pause, Liam spoke again, his voice quieter this time.
"It'll be enough for me… if you're there with me tomorrow."
Ayaan's heart skipped at those words.
"Of course… I'll be there," he replied shyly.
The next day.
Before heading to Liam's house, Ayaan opened his small savings, determined to buy him a gift.
He spent hours searching through different shops until something finally caught his eye—a delicate crystal shaped like a half-moon, with two boys sitting on it, holding hands.
The price drained all his savings.
Still, he bought it.
Holding the small box carefully, Ayaan made his way to Liam's house—only to stop when he saw a luxurious car parked outside.
Slowly, he stepped closer.
Through the gate, he saw Liam happily hugging a woman.
"Thanks, Mom… it's really an unexpected gift…"
Ayaan's gaze shifted to the car keys in Liam's hand.
The realization hit instantly.
That car… was the gift.
His fingers tightened around the small box. Compared to that, his own gift suddenly felt insignificant.
Unable to bring himself to step forward, Ayaan quietly turned away before anyone could notice him.
Back in his room, he placed the gift on the table and lay down on the bed in disappointment.
At some point, sleep took over. He didn't know how long he had been asleep when a faint sound woke him.
Ayaan looked around—and froze in surprise. Liam was standing outside his window, knocking softly on the glass. Startled, Ayaan rushed over and quickly opened it, letting him in.
"Are you crazy? What are you doing here?" Ayaan asked, panic in his voice.
"Why didn't you come today?" Liam demanded as he stepped closer. "You said you would… so why didn't you keep your word?"
His voice softened, but the hurt remained. "I waited for you the whole day… I even wanted to introduce you to my mom. Why didn't you come?"
Ayaan lowered his gaze. "That…" He couldn't bring himself to say it.
"That what?" Liam pressed.
In that moment, Liam's hand accidentally knocked the gift box off the table.
It fell to the floor—
crack.
The sound of something breaking filled the room.
"Ayaan—"
But Ayaan had already pushed past him, dropping to his knees. With trembling hands, he opened the box.
The crystal inside was shattered. Pieces lay scattered, small cracks running through what once had been whole. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered, his voice breaking. Seeing the tears fall, Liam panicked. "Hey… don't cry. It's just a crystal—we can buy another one. Why are you crying over this?"
Ayaan shook his head. "It was a gift… I bought for you…" he said, his voice trembling.
Liam went still. "…For me?" Realization hit him instantly. His expression softened, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked gently, crouching down to check the pieces. "Are all the parts here?"
After making sure nothing was missing, he looked back at Ayaan. "Aren't you going to give it to me?"
Ayaan shook his head again. "It's broken… No one gives a broken gift on someone's birthday."
"What if I don't mind?" Liam reached out, gently wiping Ayaan's tears. Then he cupped Ayaan's face in his hands, his touch was warm and gentle.
"Just give it to me," he said softly, almost pleading.
"But…"
"I'll truly treasure it."
There was something sincere in his voice—something that made Ayaan hesitate… and then slowly give in.
Glancing at the clock, Ayaan noticed there were only five minutes left until midnight. Taking a quiet breath, he held the broken gift carefully.
"Happy birthday…" he said softly.
"What did you say?" Liam leaned closer with a faint smile. "I didn't hear you."
Ayaan hesitated—then stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him.
"Happy birthday…" he repeated, his voice gentle. "I'll pray that happiness always finds its way to you..."
After that silence settled between them.
In that quiet, their heartbeats echoed—perfectly in sync, yet both tried to suppress the sound, as if afraid it might reveal their true feelings.