CHAPTER 17: Under Watchful Eyes
The living room was quiet, filled only with the low murmur of voices and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall.
Leo lounged comfortably on the couch, one arm thrown over the backrest, looking completely at ease—like he owned not just the space, but the atmosphere itself.
Micah sat across from him, posture straight, one leg crossed over the other. A glass of water rested loosely in his hand, his fingers wrapped around it with absent-minded control.
"You're still terrible at replying to messages," Micah said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Leo barely reacted. "If it's not important, I don't reply."
Micah scoffed lightly, tilting his head. "Everything I send is important."
"That's your opinion."
Micah let out a short, amused laugh. "You've gotten worse."
"And you haven't changed."
Their conversation flowed easily—familiar, effortless. There was a rhythm between them that didn't need effort, didn't need thinking.
Like nothing could interrupt it.
—
At the entrance, Liam paused.
His hand hovered slightly at his side as his eyes took in the scene before him.
Leo looked relaxed.
Micah looked calm.
And the space between them felt… natural.
Too natural.
Something twisted sharply in Liam's chest, catching him off guard.
He stepped in anyway.
Leo noticed him first.
"Liam," he called, his tone immediately lighter, warmer. "Finally decided to come downstairs?"
Liam forced a small nod. "Yeah."
Micah's gaze lifted.
It landed on Liam briefly—calm, unreadable—
Then moved away.
Like it didn't matter.
That small action hit harder than it should have.
Liam felt it settle somewhere deep, uncomfortable.
He walked in slowly, unsure where to stand, where to look, what to do with himself.
Leo's eyes followed him, sharp beneath the casual surface.
"You look off," he said suddenly.
Liam stiffened slightly. "I'm fine."
Leo frowned faintly. "Did something happen?"
There was a pause.
Too short.
Too loud.
Liam shook his head quickly. "No."
Leo's gaze shifted.
From Liam—
To Micah.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
Something unreadable flickered across his expression before disappearing just as quickly.
Then he leaned back again, exhaling lightly.
"Good," he said. "For a second, I thought someone gave you a hard time."
The words were light.
But they landed heavy.
Liam's fingers curled slightly at his side.
Micah didn't respond.
He simply took a slow sip of water, like the conversation had nothing to do with him.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
"I said I'm fine," Liam added, quieter this time.
Leo studied him again.
Longer.
More carefully.
Then his gaze softened, just a little.
"Alright," he said. "Come sit."
Liam hesitated.
His eyes flickered—briefly—to Micah.
Then away.
"Okay."
He moved forward, his steps measured, controlled, before sitting a few spaces away from Leo.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Leo watched him carefully, then raised a brow slightly.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked. "You sound flustered."
Liam opened his mouth, but Leo didn't stop.
"Aren't you happy to see me? Didn't you miss me?" His voice softened, a trace of guilt slipping through. "Because I did. Sorry I wasn't replying to your texts."
That was Leo.
Open.
Honest.
Expressive.
But only when it came to Liam.
Everyone knew it—Liam was Leo's most cherished person.
Liam's chest tightened.
"No… it's really nothing," he said quickly. "I'm happy you're back. I missed you."
His voice softened, more genuine now.
"I understand you were busy. I've just been feeling a little sleepy, that's all."
He smiled sheepishly, trying to reassure him.
Trying to ease that faint guilt in Leo's eyes.
Because he knew his brother.
Leo felt things deeply—especially when it came to him.
And Liam didn't want him to know.
Didn't want him to know what happened that morning.
Didn't want to risk destroying the friendship between Leo and Micah.
Or maybe…
Maybe he just didn't want to lose the only way he could still see Micah.
—
A quiet pause settled between them.
Leo didn't push.
But he noticed.
He was noticing everything.
—
Liam stayed where he was, trying to look normal—trying to feel normal.
But all he could hear was the echo of the morning.
"We didn't finish your tutorial."
The words replayed in his mind, cold and careless.
Like it meant nothing.
Like he meant nothing.
Leo started talking again, pulling Micah back into their conversation, but Liam barely listened.
The voices blurred into the background.
His attention kept drifting.
Back to Micah.
The way he sat—calm, composed.
The way he spoke—steady, controlled.
The way he didn't look at him again.
Not even once.
A sharp, quiet jealousy settled in Liam's chest.
It didn't make sense.
He didn't want anything.
He wasn't asking for anything.
So why—
Why did it bother him this much?
"…Liam."
He blinked.
Leo was looking at him again.
"What?"
"You're spacing out," Leo said, studying him closely. "Again."
"I'm just tired."
Leo didn't look convinced.
Not even a little.
But this time, he didn't question it.
Instead, his gaze shifted briefly to Micah.
Then back to Liam.
Something silent passed through his mind—something he didn't voice.
Not yet.
—
Across the room, Micah finally set his glass down.
The faint sound echoed softly, cutting through the quiet.
"I'll head out," he said calmly, standing up.
Leo looked up, surprised. "Already?"
"Yes."
Leo clicked his tongue, stretching slightly. "I just got back and you're already leaving." He let out a tired breath. "Well, you can go. I actually need to rest. I'm so tired I might just sleep immediately."
Micah didn't respond to that.
His attention shifted.
His eyes flickered—
Just once—
Toward Liam.
Brief.
Controlled.
Unreadable.
Then gone.
"I'll see you later," he said.
Liam didn't respond.
He couldn't.
And just like that, Micah walked past him—
Close enough for Liam to feel his presence—
The faint shift in air.
The quiet weight of it.
But not close enough to touch.
The door opened.
Then closed.
—
Silence settled in the room.
Heavy.
Different.
Leo leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees, his fingers loosely clasped together.
"Okay," he said.
Liam's heart dropped instantly.
"What?"
Leo looked at him directly now.
No smile.
No teasing.
Just quiet focus.
"What's going on with you?"
Liam swallowed.
"Nothing."
Leo held his gaze, unblinking.
Then—
"You sure it's not Micah?"
Liam's breath hitched.
His fingers tightened slightly where they rested on his lap.
And that—
That was all the confirmation Leo needed.
—
Leo leaned back slowly, eyes still on Liam, his expression shifting into something more thoughtful now.
Not angry.
Not yet.
But aware.
Too aware.
He exhaled quietly. "Liam…"
His voice was softer this time.
Careful.
"Did something happen between you two?"
Liam's chest tightened instantly.
"No."
Too fast.
Too sharp.
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying."
Leo watched him for a long second, his gaze steady, searching.
"You've been acting strange since you walked in," he said. "You won't look at him. You're distracted. And now you're tense just from me asking."
He tilted his head slightly.
"That's not 'nothing.'"
Liam looked away.
His jaw tightened.
"I said it's nothing."
Leo didn't respond immediately.
He just watched him.
Carefully.
Patiently.
And somehow—
That patience felt worse than pressure.
—
The clock ticked loudly on the wall.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
"I won't force you," Leo said finally, his voice calm.
Liam's shoulders relaxed—just slightly.
"But if something happened," Leo continued, quieter now, "you tell me."
A pause.
"I don't like being the last to know when it comes to you."
Liam's throat tightened.
Guilt crept in, slow and uncomfortable.
"I know," he said softly.
Leo leaned back again, exhaling through his nose.
"Good."
But his eyes didn't leave Liam.
Not even for a second.
And in that moment—
Liam realized something.