The silence after the call didn't last this time.
Lucas stared at his phone for a while… then sighed.
He didn't want to go the distance again.
Not after everything.
So he called.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then—
"Hey."
Michael's voice.
Lucas leaned back slightly, closing his eyes for a second.
"…Hey."
A pause.
But not the uncomfortable kind.
"I thought you were busy," Michael said.
"I was," Lucas replied. "But not more than you."
A soft exhale came from Michael's side.
"…You're trying."
Lucas smiled faintly.
"I am."
Silence again.
Then—
"I missed you," Lucas said quietly.
There was no hesitation this time.
Michael didn't answer immediately.
But when he did—
His voice was softer than it had been in days.
"I miss you too."
Lucas let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
"I mean it," he added. "Even when I'm talking to other people… even when I'm busy… you're still there."
Michael smiled slightly.
"You're getting better at saying things like that."
"I've always felt them," Lucas said. "I just didn't always say them."
A small pause.
Then—
"I love you."
This time—
It didn't feel heavy.
It felt… right.
Michael closed his eyes briefly.
"I love you too."
And just like that—
Something settled again between them.
Later that evening—
Lucas sat at his desk, phone in hand.
A message from Lina.
"Can I have Daniel's contact?"
Lucas stared at it.
Then typed:
"I don't have it. I'll ask."
Across the world—
Michael's phone buzzed.
"Lucas?" he answered.
"Yeah… quick thing," Lucas said. "Lina asked for Daniel's number."
Michael glanced across the room.
Daniel was there—
Reading.
"Daniel," Michael called.
He looked up.
"Yeah?"
"Lina wants your number."
A pause.
Just a second.
Then—
"Oh… okay. Yeah, that's fine."
Casual.
Too casual.
Michael watched him for a moment.
Because behind that calm tone—
There was something else.
A small smile.
A spark in his eyes.
"…You're excited," Michael said.
Daniel scoffed lightly.
"I'm not."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"You are."
Daniel shook his head quickly.
"I just said it's fine."
Michael smiled slightly.
"Mm."
Then he sent the contact.
And just like that—
Something new quietly began.
The texts started simple.
"Hi."
"Hey."
Then questions.
Then jokes.
Then longer conversations.
And somewhere between:
Late replies
Shared thoughts
Small laughter
It stopped feeling like strangers talking.
And started feeling like something else.
Something easy.
Something real.
The screen flickered to life.
For a second, it was just movement—shaky camera, a blur of light—
Then—
A small face filled the screen.
"HELLO!"
Michael blinked, caught off guard.
Then he laughed.
"…Whoa—hey," he said, leaning closer. "Who are you?"
The boy grinned proudly, holding the tablet too close to his face.
"I'm his brother!"
Michael raised an eyebrow slightly, amused.
"His brother?" he repeated. "Does this brother have a name?"
The boy straightened immediately, like he had been waiting for that question his whole life.
"Jasail," he said confidently. "My name is Jasail."
Michael smiled warmly.
"Well, Jasail," he said, "I've heard nothing about you… which means I've been lied to."
Jasail gasped dramatically.
"Hey! That's not true!"
From somewhere off-screen, Lucas' voice cut in—
"I didn't lie, I just—"
"Shhh!" Jasail hushed him quickly, eyes still locked on Michael.
"I'm talking."
Michael laughed.
"Wow… so this is how it is?"
Jasail nodded seriously.
"Yes. I'm the boss."
Michael leaned back slightly, playing along.
"Alright, Boss Jasail. What should I know about you?"
Jasail thought for a moment.
Then—
"I like football. And cartoons. And… I don't like vegetables."
Michael nodded thoughtfully.
"Valid," he said. "Very valid."
Jasail leaned closer again.
"What about you?"
Michael smiled.
"Well… I like quiet places, reading… and talking to your brother."
Jasail's eyes widened.
"I knew it!"
Michael laughed again.
"You're very sharp, you know that?"
"I know," Jasail said proudly.
From the side, Lucas finally stepped into view, shaking his head slightly—but he wasn't annoyed.
He was smiling.
Watching them.
Just… watching.
And for a moment, he didn't say anything.
Because something about this—
It felt right.
Too right.
Jasail and Michael were already laughing like they'd known each other for years.
Easy.
Natural.
Unforced.
Lucas leaned lightly against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze softening.
He's good with him…
The thought came quietly.
But it stayed.
He'd be a good father someday.
Lucas didn't realize he was smiling wider until Jasail called out
"Lucas! Stop staring like that!"
Michael chuckled.
"Yeah, Lucas. You're being observed."
Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Both of you are teaming up already?"
"Of course," Jasail said. "He's my friend now."
Michael nodded.
"I've been promoted."
Lucas laughed softly.
Footsteps approached.
Then—
Their grandmother appeared.
Warm.
Gentle.
Present.
"Ah… so this is Michael," she said.
Michael sat up straighter.
"Yes, ma."
She smiled kindly.
"You've chosen my grandson," she said. "That alone tells me you are strong."
Michael didn't interrupt.
Didn't rush.
He just listened.
"He has been through a lot," she continued. "So take care of him."
Michael nodded slowly.
"I will."
Lucas looked away slightly, swallowing something he didn't want to show.
They talked a little more—
Light things.
Small jokes.
A few laughs.
Then Jasail suddenly leaned back into the frame.
"Don't go yet!"
Michael smiled.
"I won't. But I have to say goodbye for now."
Jasail frowned slightly.
"Promise you'll call again?"
Michael raised his hand playfully.
"I promise."
Jasail squinted.
"No, say it properly."
Michael laughed.
"Alright… I, Michael—"
"Say your full name!" Jasail insisted.
Michael laughed harder.
"Okay, okay— I, Michael… promise to call Jasail again."
Jasail nodded slowly, satisfied.
"Good."
Then he grinned.
"Promise oath!"
Michael shook his head, smiling.
"Promise oath."
They both laughed.
"Bye, Michael!" Jasail said, waving excitedly.
"Bye, Jasail."
The screen shifted as Jasail ran off, dragging the tablet away—
Until finally—
It settled again.
Now it was just them.
Silence.
Soft.
Comfortable.
Michael tilted his head slightly.
"…When did they get there?"
Lucas exhaled softly.
"About a week ago."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"And you didn't tell me?"
Lucas winced slightly.
"…I'm sorry."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I've been caught up with everything. I didn't think—"
Michael shook his head gently.
"I'm not angry."
Lucas looked at him.
Really looked.
"You're not?"
Michael smiled faintly.
"I know how your schedule is."
A pause.
Then softer—
"And I'm glad they're with you."
Lucas' shoulders relaxed.
"They wanted to come earlier," he admitted. "Especially Jasail. He kept asking about you."
Michael blinked slightly.
"Me?"
Lucas nodded.
"He said he wanted to see 'the person that makes you smile at your phone.'"
Michael laughed quietly.
"…He's too observant."
"Runs in the family," Lucas said.
Their eyes met through the screen.
And something settled again.
Lucas leaned forward slightly.
"One day," he said softly, "you'll meet him properly."
Michael held his gaze.
"Not through a screen."
Lucas nodded.
"Not through a screen."
A quiet pause.
"I love you," Lucas said.
Michael didn't hesitate.
"I love you too."
And this time—
It didn't feel distant.
It felt close.
Even across the miles.
The call ended slowly.
But the warmth stayed.
Years passed.
Not quickly.
But steadily.
Through:
Calls every day
Late-night conversations
Quiet support
They stayed.
Through everything—
They stayed.
Michael and Lina became close.
Not just acquaintances—
But partners in growth.
Working together.
Building.
Understanding.
Lucas continued managing everything—
But this time—
He wasn't alone in it.
And somewhere else—
Lina and Daniel had become something real.
Not rushed.
Not forced.
Just…
Right.
Final year.
Michael sat in a quiet lecture hall.
"Your final project," the professor said,
"will determine your future."
A real case.
A real defense.
Michael stared at the paper in front of him.
He didn't know what to choose.
Until—
Later that night—
Scrolling through his phone—
He saw it.
A headline.
Then another.
Stories.
People.
Lives.
African LGBTQ individuals—
Attacked.
Killed.
Silenced.
Just for existing.
Michael's chest tightened.
"…What kind of world is this?" he whispered.
His hands clenched slightly.
Because suddenly—
This wasn't just news.
It was personal.
It was real.
It was them.
He leaned back slowly.
Eyes still on the screen.
Then—
He spoke.
Quiet.
But certain.
"I'm taking this case."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Because now—
He understood something clearly.
For the first time…
this wasn't just about love—
It was about fighting for people like them.