Adrian didn't question it at first.
The feeling of being safe.
Of belonging.
Of things staying the same.
He just accepted it.
Day by day.
But slowly—
Something changed.
Not around him.
Inside him.
He started to believe it.
—
The morning started like usual.
Adrian woke up, got ready, and went downstairs.
He didn't stop at the top of the stairs anymore.
Didn't listen first.
Didn't check who was there.
He just walked down.
Straight into the noise.
"Morning," Nico said.
"…Morning," Adrian replied.
Dante glanced at him.
"You're getting used to this."
Adrian shrugged.
"…Yeah."
Marco watched him for a second, then went back to what he was doing.
No one questioned it.
No one pointed it out too much.
And that made it easier.
—
At breakfast, Adrian reached for something across the table without thinking.
His arm brushed against Nico's.
Before—
That would've made him pull back immediately.
Now—
He paused for a second.
Then just continued.
"…Sorry," he said.
Nico waved it off.
"It's fine."
And that was it.
No reaction.
No tension.
Adrian went back to eating.
That moment stayed with him.
Because it didn't turn into anything.
It just… passed.
—
At school, things felt even more steady.
Adrian met Mira at the entrance again.
"You're consistent now," she said.
Adrian looked at her.
"…You said that before."
"And it's still true."
Adrian didn't argue.
He just walked beside her.
After a few steps, he said,
"…I think I believe it now."
Mira glanced at him.
"Believe what?"
Adrian thought for a second.
"…That things aren't going to suddenly change."
Mira didn't respond immediately.
Then she said,
"That's a good thing to believe."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
—
During class, Adrian didn't hesitate as much.
When something confused him, he asked.
When he knew something, he answered.
When someone asked him for help, he helped.
It wasn't forced.
It wasn't planned.
It just happened.
And no one made a big deal out of it.
That made it easier to keep going.
—
At lunch, Adrian noticed something else.
He was talking more than usual.
Not a lot.
But more.
"…That doesn't make sense," he said at one point.
Mira looked at him.
"Explain."
Adrian did.
Clearly.
Without stopping halfway.
Without second guessing.
When he finished, Mira nodded.
"Yeah, that makes sense."
Adrian leaned back slightly.
"…Okay."
Alessio watched him.
"You didn't hesitate."
Adrian glanced at him.
"…I didn't notice."
"That's the point," Alessio said.
Adrian thought about that.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
—
After school, Adrian didn't feel the need to check his surroundings constantly.
He didn't look over his shoulder.
Didn't react to every movement.
He just walked.
Talked.
Listened.
Normal.
"…You look calm," Mira said as they reached the gate.
Adrian looked at her.
"…I feel calm."
She smiled slightly.
"Good."
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
—
Back at the mansion, Adrian didn't think about whether he should join the others.
He just did.
He walked into the living room and sat down.
No hesitation.
No pause.
"What are you watching?" he asked.
Nico looked at him.
"You're asking now?"
Adrian shrugged.
"…Yeah."
Dante smirked.
"Look at him."
Adrian ignored the comment.
He just watched.
Listened.
Stayed.
—
Later that evening, Marco called him into the study again.
Adrian walked in without knocking this time.
Marco noticed.
"You didn't knock."
Adrian paused.
"…Do I have to?"
Marco looked at him for a second.
Then said,
"No."
Adrian nodded.
"…Okay."
He sat down.
Marco leaned back slightly.
"You seem different."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"…Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because it's true."
Adrian looked down at his hands.
"…I think I believe it now."
Marco didn't ask what.
He already knew.
"That you're safe?" he said.
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
Marco watched him carefully.
"And?"
Adrian hesitated.
"…And that I'm staying."
Marco didn't respond immediately.
But something in his expression softened.
"That's good."
Adrian nodded.
"…It doesn't feel temporary anymore."
"It's not," Marco said.
Adrian looked up.
"…I know."
And this time—
He actually meant it.
—
That night, Adrian didn't open his notebook immediately.
He sat on his bed for a while, thinking.
About the day.
About the conversations.
About how things felt.
Not just calm.
Not just normal.
But steady.
Like they weren't going to disappear.
After a while, he reached for the notebook and opened it.
He wrote—
I believe it now
He paused.
Then added—
I'm safe here
Another pause.
Then—
I'm not waiting for something bad to happen
He stared at that line.
Because that was the biggest change.
Before—
He was always waiting.
For something to go wrong.
For something to shift.
For something to break.
But now—
He wasn't.
He leaned back slightly.
Looking at the page.
"…This is real," he said quietly.
Not a question.
Not doubt.
Just a fact.
—
When he lay down that night, he didn't think about the past at all.
Not even for a second.
He thought about tomorrow.
About school.
About the people around him.
About the life he was living now.
And for once—
The future didn't feel like something uncertain.
It felt like something he could step into.
Without fear.
Without hesitation.
Adrian closed his eyes slowly.
"…I'm okay," he said quietly.
And this time—
There was no doubt in it.
Just truth.