Slowly, Lucien pulled back from the hug and brushed his hands over Ash's cheeks, wiping away his tears. He gave a small, reassuring smile.
"Why are you crying?" he asked softly.
Ash sniffled, shaking his head. "You're the one making me cry."
Lucien let out a quiet laugh. "Don't worry...I'll be okay. Just keep going to school."
He added, "That video is probably causing a buzz in the media right now. I'd rather stay home for a while until it calms down."
Ash shook his head. "I'll stay with you."
Lucien placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "No...don't let my misunderstandings with Adrian affect your final exams. You need to stay focused. Didn't you tell me you wanted that scholarship?"
Ash nodded.
"Then keep going," Lucien said softly but firmly. "Focus on your future."
...
Ash drove Lucien's car toward the school, the morning air heavy with tension. His mind replayed Lucien's words, each one echoing in his chest like a quiet ache.
