Sylvian was not feeling well, but he insisted on going to school. He could tell that his aunt was feeling anxious about him and wanted him to stay home and rest, while she popped over to the pharmacy and go grab some medicines for him, but he kindly declined. "I can manage" he said to his aunt while deep down his own thoughts were belittling him for wanting to stay in bed for another hours. The thought of leaving Akiel by himself in Chemistry, which was a time when everyone was working on projects and collaborating with a thinking buddy made him feel guilty for not being at school. So, he begrudgingly got dressed and forced himself to get to school with an ache in his chest and head pounding.
From the beginning of the day, Sylvian had seemed quieter than usual. He even opted to eat lunch with his class and was not inclined to move from his spot. He had to try to keep up with his notes during English, and on his History session, he was at the point of mentally forcing himself to keep focused.
At long last, it was Chemistry again. He limped into the classroom and saw that Akiel was already sitting in his spot. Together, they ended up talking about their project - picking the topics, the ingredients, and planning out their research. They took thorough notes and created a plan: Akiel's house for the first session on Friday, Akiel's house for the second session, and finally, Sylvian's house for the big review to check for mistakes and finish touches.
Over the course of their project sessions, the two of them began to really grow together—not as friends, but more so partners bound by necessity. The closeness between Akiel and him was purely mechanical, formed around togethering and responsibility.
Only a few weeks later, Sylvian was celebrating his actual 18th birthday! As promised, his parents sent him expensive gifts and a huge amount of pocket money that lasted for weeks. His aunt put on such a party. She invited cousins, her friends, and even some work colleagues. The night was wonderfully chaotic with love and laughter. It was great to see his parents on video link, and although they couldn't be present it was lovely to watch the celebration unfold. When he finally cut the cake, everyone who cared for him or even loved him surrounded him. Sylvian felt an internal glow of gratitude toward everyone who participated to make a special event for him.
At midnight and in warm and cozy pajamas, Sylvian lay in bed thinking about this day. He was aware that while his parents were not there, at least he was able to connect with them over video. Sylvian still carried the disappointment of years past when they had promised him surprises for when he turned 18. However, the disappointments of the past, albeit softened by years, were calmed by the kindness of his aunt and having so many friends and family surrounding him for his special day.
He smiled gently, knowing he could finally relax. For the first time in a long time, Sylvian was at ease, as he drifted off, taking warmth and love from family and the quiet thrill of adulthood beginning to bloom.