Adrian didn't expect things to feel… normal.
Not completely.
Not like everything was fine.
But normal enough that he didn't have to think about every step he took.
It started with small choices.
And for the first time—
He was making them without hesitation.
—
The next morning, Adrian got ready like usual and went downstairs.
Everyone was already there.
Dante was arguing with Nico about something pointless again, Marco was on his phone, and Alessio was eating without paying attention to any of them.
Adrian sat beside him.
"You're earlier than me now," Alessio said without looking up.
Adrian shrugged.
"…I wake up earlier."
"Or you don't go back to sleep," Dante added.
Adrian glanced at him.
"…That too."
Dante smirked slightly.
"At least you're honest."
Adrian didn't respond.
But he didn't look uncomfortable either.
That was new.
—
Halfway through breakfast, Adrian spoke.
"…I'm walking in with someone today."
The table went quiet for a second.
Not tense.
Just surprised.
Alessio looked at him.
"Mira?"
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
Nico raised an eyebrow.
"You made a friend?"
Adrian frowned slightly.
"…I didn't say that."
Dante leaned back.
"Sounds like it."
Adrian didn't argue.
He just said,
"…I said I'd meet her."
Marco looked at him carefully.
"And you want to?"
Adrian paused for a second.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
That was the important part.
Not that he was meeting someone.
But that he wanted to.
Marco nodded once.
"Alright."
No questions.
No pressure.
Adrian liked that.
—
At school, Adrian didn't wait near the usual spot with Alessio.
Instead, he stood closer to the entrance.
Alessio noticed but didn't stop him.
"You sure?" he asked.
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
Alessio looked at him for a second.
Then said, "I'll see you later."
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
It wasn't a big moment.
But it meant something.
He was choosing to do something on his own.
—
Mira showed up a few minutes later.
"You actually waited," she said, slightly surprised.
Adrian shrugged.
"…I said I would."
She smiled a little.
"Most people don't mean it."
Adrian didn't respond to that.
He just started walking.
She walked beside him.
Not too close.
Not too far.
That balance made it easier.
—
For a while, they didn't talk.
Then Mira said,
"You're less tense today."
Adrian glanced at her.
"…You're noticing again."
She shrugged.
"I said I wouldn't ask. I didn't say I wouldn't notice."
Adrian looked ahead again.
"…It's fine."
Mira tilted her head slightly.
"That means you're okay with it?"
Adrian thought about it.
"…I don't mind."
That was new.
Before, he would've shut that down immediately.
Now—
He didn't feel the need to.
—
During class, Adrian focused like usual.
But this time, when something confused him, he didn't hesitate.
He raised his hand.
The teacher explained it again.
He understood.
Simple.
No stress.
No frustration.
That was also new.
—
At lunch, Adrian didn't sit quietly waiting for someone to talk to him.
He spoke first.
"…Do you want to sit with us?" he asked Mira.
She looked at him, surprised.
"You're asking me?"
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
She smiled slightly.
"Okay."
Alessio watched the whole thing without saying anything.
But when Mira sat down, he gave Adrian a quick look.
Not questioning.
Just noticing.
Adrian ignored it.
But he understood.
—
The conversation wasn't complicated.
Nico wasn't there.
Dante wasn't there.
So it was quieter.
Easier.
Mira talked about something random from class.
Alessio responded sometimes.
Adrian listened.
Then added small things.
Not a lot.
But enough.
And for once—
It didn't feel forced.
—
After school, Adrian didn't feel drained.
Again.
He noticed that.
He wasn't counting the minutes until he could leave.
He wasn't trying to get away from everything.
He was just… done with school.
That was it.
"You're getting used to it," Alessio said as they walked out.
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
Mira walked with them again.
"You don't look like you hate it anymore," she said.
Adrian glanced at her.
"…I didn't hate it."
"You looked like you did."
Adrian thought about that.
"…Maybe I did."
Mira smiled slightly.
"Now you don't."
Adrian didn't deny it.
—
Back at the mansion, Adrian didn't go straight to the living room.
He stopped in the hallway for a second.
Thinking.
Then turned and went to Marco's study.
He knocked once.
"Come in."
Adrian stepped inside.
Marco looked up.
"What is it?"
Adrian hesitated for a second.
Then said,
"…I think I'm doing better."
Marco studied him.
"…Explain."
Adrian shifted slightly.
"…I don't feel like I'm trying all the time anymore."
He paused.
"…Some things just happen now."
Marco nodded slowly.
"That's progress."
Adrian looked down at his hands.
"…I talked more today."
"That's also progress."
Adrian nodded.
"…It didn't feel hard."
Marco leaned back slightly.
"That's how it's supposed to feel."
Adrian looked up.
"…I didn't think it would."
Marco didn't respond to that.
But his expression softened slightly.
—
Later that evening, Adrian sat in the living room again.
Nico and Dante were back to arguing.
Something about a game this time.
Adrian listened for a while.
Then said,
"…That doesn't make sense."
Both of them stopped and looked at him.
"What?" Nico asked.
Adrian shrugged.
"…Your argument. It doesn't make sense."
Dante smirked.
"Look at him, joining in again."
Adrian didn't react.
He just added,
"…You're both wrong."
Nico leaned forward.
"Explain."
Adrian did.
Not perfectly.
But clearly.
And for once—
They actually listened.
—
That night, Adrian went to his room and opened his notebook again.
He didn't hesitate this time.
He wrote immediately.
I chose to wait for her
I spoke first
I didn't feel forced
He paused.
Then added one more line.
I think I'm getting used to this life
He stared at the words.
They didn't feel strange.
They didn't feel like something temporary.
They felt real.
—
When he lay down that night, he didn't think about the past first.
He thought about the day.
The choices.
The conversations.
The small moments.
"…I'm choosing things now," he said quietly.
That was the difference.
Before—
Things just happened to him.
Now—
He was deciding.
And that made everything feel different.
Adrian closed his eyes slowly.
And for the first time in a long time—
The future didn't feel uncertain.
It felt open.
And that was enough.