TYLER
My heart raced as we stood before Miles' house. The three of us-me, Erin, and I shared a mixture of excitement and apprehension. As I stared at the house, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by its architecture.
Its front view was a sight to behold, capturing the hearts of all who passed by. With its gracious porch, sturdy pillars, and intricate details, the house exuded a timeless elegance that transported visitors to a bygone era.
The house bore the distinct characteristics of the Craftsman style, embodying the principles of beauty, functionality, and simplicity. Its impressive facade showcased a harmonious blend of natural materials such as stone, wood, and brick. Intricate woodwork adorned the eaves, gracefully framing the large, warm-colored windows.
Erin, always the cautious one, voiced her concerns once again. "Tyler, I don't think this is a good idea," she said, her brows furrowed with worry. This was the fourth time she had expressed her doubts, and her voice was tinged with a hint of unease.
I turned to Erin, my eyes filled with determination. "Erin, chill. Just trust me on this, okay?" I said, my voice calm but resolute. I flashed a reassuring smile to both her and Charles, hoping to ease their growing anxiety.
"Wait here," I added, motioning them to stay put as I immediately went into Miles' front door and knocked three times. The chilly breeze rustled the fallen leaves around my feet as I waited anxiously. A few seconds ticked by, but no one opened the door. I furrowed my brow, wondering why there was no response. I was about to knock again, but before I could, the door swung open, revealing the serious face of a man staring back at me.
He stood tall and had a ruggedly handsome appearance, with a new haircut, a neatly trimmed beard, and piercing blue eyes. His brows furrowed as he assessed me, curiosity mingling with caution in his gaze. The silence between us was thick, filled with unspoken questions.
"Who are you, and what do you need from us?" He asked me, his eyes burning with intensity. His voice carried a weight of seriousness that made me nervous, causing my palms to become sweaty as I fumbled for words.
"A-ahh, good evening, Mr. O'Malley." I managed to stammer, struggling to maintain composure as the man's piercing blue eyes in front of me seemed unimpressed by my presence.
"Dad, who is that?" a voice suddenly yelled from behind the man, interrupting me before I could continue my remark. I turned my gaze and saw a figure approaching swiftly from across the room. It was a young man walking briskly with purpose. His stride was confident, and his expression was a mix of curiosity and concern.
Inferring that the man in front of me was Miles' father, as the young man drew closer, I realized it was Miles' sibling. His face seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place where I had seen him before. He had the same striking blue eyes as his father, but his hair was a darker shade of blonde, more closely resembling mine.
"Mom needs you in the kitchen; she said she needs your help. Go on, I'll take care of this," Miles' brother said to his father, who simply nodded and sluggishly strode away from us. 
"Hi, I'm Jackson, and I'm so sorry for my Dad; he's a bit grumpy sometimes." He extended his hand to shake mine as he introduced himself.
I shook Jackson's hand, noticing his warm, friendly smile. "No worries at all. I'm Tyler. Nice to meet you," I replied, returning his smile. I could tell that Jackson had a kind heart, and I felt an instant connection to him.
"Tyler, huh? So you must be the one Miles told me about; I've heard so many things about you," he said with a teasing smile. I smiled back at him, intrigued by the mischievous glint in his eyes. 
"And I see you brought his friends too," he added, his gaze shifting momentarily to the two people standing behind me near my car. I turned to look at them briefly before returning my attention to the young man before me.
"What brings you here, by the way?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity. I glanced at Miles' friends, unsure if I should give away our true intentions. But honesty prevailed, and I decided to confide in him.
"Oh, we're here to pay Miles a visit," I replied, flashing a friendly smile. "It's been a week since the last time he went to school; is he home?"
There was a brief moment of silence as Jackson's eyes darted between Miles' friends and me. His brows furrowed in concern, and I could sense a flicker of worry glimmering in his gaze. It took him a couple of seconds before he spoke again, his voice tinged with a mix of apprehension and caution.
"Yeah, he's home; he's actually up in his room right now, doing just fine," Jackson replied, his voice strained. He avoided my gaze, turning his attention to something behind me. Disappointment coursed through me, and I couldn't help but wonder why Jackson seemed hesitant to let us see Miles.
"Alright then, kindly send him our regards. Tell him we stopped by." I told him before turning my back on him, ready to leave, but then he stopped me.
"Wait!" he called out, his voice laced with urgency. I paused, my curiosity piqued and turned back to face him. His eyes darted nervously around the room as if searching for eavesdroppers.
"Before you go, you should see him upstairs," he added, motioning his head to come inside the house and follow him. I nodded in response as I followed him inside the house, making our way to the stairs towards Miles' room.
As I climbed the stairs behind Jackson, My mind raced with questions. Why did he change his mind so suddenly? What could be going on with Miles? The unease settled in my chest, causing my footsteps to become heavier with each step.
Jackson softly knocked on Miles' door three times before saying, "Miles, It's me; can we come in? There's someone here who wants to see you." But the only response we got was a piece of paper and a pen being slid under the door.
Jackson picked up the paper and read what was written on it. Curiosity got the better of me, and I quietly leaned closer to see what was written on the paper. It read, "Who is it?"
A mischievous grin spread across Jackson's face as an idea must've formed in his mind. To my surprise, with a playful twinkle in his eyes, he grabbed the pen and swiftly wrote his reply on the paper, stating, "It's your crush, Tyler! So open up the door, or I'll break it for the third time!" With a satisfied smirk, he folded the paper neatly and slid it back under the door, hoping to catch Miles off guard.
"I broke his door twice this week," Jackson suddenly said with a mix of laughter. "What, why?" I asked him, and he just smiled. It wasn't the answer I expected, but I knew there was a story waiting to be unraveled.
"Because he's been locking himself in his room all week, he almost didn't bother to eat a single meal, you know," He said.
Suddenly Miles' bedroom door swung open, and Jackson, Miles' mischievous older brother, burst into the room, thrusting me forward into Miles' room. Stumbling, I crashed right into Miles, who was equally startled by the sudden turn of events.
For a brief moment, as our eyes locked in surprise, I noticed the twinkle of mischief in Miles' deep, hazel eyes. His messy dark hair fell across his forehead, further emphasizing his perplexed expression. I could feel the warmth of his breath as our faces were mere inches apart, our gazes locked in a strange mixture of confusion and curiosity.
Time seemed to slow down as we stood in that liminal space, a mere breath away from one another. The air was charged with electric energy as the room fell silent, except for the sound of our breaths, synchronized with uncertainty.
Our unsettling reverie was abruptly shattered as we heard the click of the door closing behind us, separating us from the world outside. Reality crashed back into our senses, and we instinctively moved away from each other, creating a physical distance that matched the confusion in our minds.
"Enjoy yourselves, boys!" We heard Jackson yell from the outside making his way downstairs.
"Fuck!" I heard Miles murmur as he approached the door.
MILES
As my heart races, I can't help but wonder why Tyler visited me at home. My mind races with possibilities, causing me to become increasingly nervous. Maybe he's worried about me, or perhaps there's something urgent he needs to share. Doubts and fears swirl around in my head, and I wonder what the visit could mean. All I know is that I'm on edge, anxiously awaiting an explanation for Tyler's unexpected visit.
The unsettling reverie between Tyler and I was abruptly shattered as we heard the click of the door closing behind us, separating us from the world outside. Reality crashed back into our senses, and we instinctively moved away from each other, creating a physical distance that matched the confusion in our minds.
"Enjoy yourselves, boys!" We heard Jackson yell from the outside making his way downstairs.
"Fuck!" I murmured as I approached the door to escape the awkward silence between us. I tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. Panic welled up inside me as I jiggled the handle, desperate for an exit from this uncomfortable situation.
Sweat trickled down my forehead as I glanced back at Tyler, and he stared back at me, his face mirroring my shock and frustration. The room around us seemed to constrict, closing in as if mocking our inability to escape. Jackson indeed had a funny way of throwing unexpected curveballs, and here we were Tyler and I trapped together in my messy room.
"Jackson broke my door twice, and now we're stuck here because it's jammed again." I gently said, a bit disappointed. Tyler was looking at me curiously as if he were examining my whole persona. I followed my gaze to his eyes and realized that he was staring at my neck, so I immediately put on my hoodie to cover the bruise I was trying to hide. 
He must've noticed what I did, so he shook his head to get rid of his thoughts. These bruises are the reason why I chose to stay at home for a week because I didn't want anyone to notice or say anything about them.
We stood in silence for a moment, the air heavy with unspoken words. I could feel Tyler's curiosity pressing against the barrier between us, but I wasn't ready to reveal the truth just yet. It wasn't that I didn't trust him; I just didn't want to burden him with my problems.
Finally, he broke the silence. "Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
"Yeah, of course," I lied trying not to make myself obvious.
As usual, I was mesmerized by Tyler's beauty, and he caught me staring at him again. His expressive gray eyes shimmered with curiosity and a hint of amusement as he caught my gaze. A faint blush crept across my cheeks, betraying my embarrassment, but Tyler seemed unfazed by my accidental ogling.
"What brings you here, by the way?" I asked him, breaking the silence between us. Tyler glanced and walked around my room, his fingers lightly tracing the edge of a nearby study table. "I've come here to pay you a visit," he answered softly, his voice as alluring as his appearance. "And to check how you're doing, are you sure you're doing fine? You look pale, and you've lost some weight too," he added with a hint of concern in his voice.
"Are you worried about me?" I asked him, chuckling.
He glanced at me, grinning, and said, "Of course I am; you didn't go to school for a week, and I didn't hear anything from you. That's why I came here today to visit you." He came closer to me, putting his warm palm on my forehead as if he were checking my temperature.
"I'm fine, Ty, and I appreciate your concern," I assured him, attempting to push away his worries. His concern wasn't misplaced, though. Ty's smile widened at my words, revealing his dimples, which I had always found irresistible. He slowly withdrew his hand; even in his touch, there was a sense of care and tenderness that made me feel protected.
"I heard from Professor Wayne that you almost got a perfect score on your calculus exam?" He asked, so I was a bit surprised.
"Yeah, and thanks to you, Ty, I couldn't have done it without your help," I told him. Tyler just shrugged his shoulders in response as he turned his eyes around my room.
"You didn't have to give me credits, Miles," he replied as he took the familiar picture from my study table. His eyes glistened with a mixture of gratitude and nostalgia as he traced the contours of the picture frame with his fingers. The photograph depicted the two of us in our younger years, standing side by side as our faces lit up with joy and laughter. That picture was taken a few years ago during our trip to Palawan, Philippines, where I coincidentally met Tyler for the first time.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," I said, glancing up at Ty, who wore a warm smile on his face. "But just so you know, Ty, the only reason I still held onto that photo was because I didn't want to forget you or the memories we both shared at that time. It was the best memory I ever wished to forget."
Tyler's eyes softened, understanding the sincerity behind my words. I smiled back at him, my heart filling with a mix of nostalgia and relief. It had been years since we had talked to each other like friends. Tyler and I have known each other for a long time; we were kind of friends from the moment we met in Palawan, Philippines. We both spent months at that place; we shared countless adventures, exploring hidden caves with our parents, climbing coconut trees on our own, and chasing fireflies on warm summer nights at the beach.
But everything changed after our months of vacation came to an end. We thought we would be separating our ways from that day on, but then, coincidentally, we both just came from the same country and lived in the same city, but, still, we weren't able to see each other. Until one day, during my elementary school years, Tyler transferred to our school. I was happy to hear about the news. But when we saw each other, he seemed not to recognize me, so I decided to lay low, hoping that one day we would be brought back and continue what we had started.
"It's just so funny, you know? We used to be friends, but we both didn't know what happened to us," I said, with a playful smile dancing on my lips.
Tyler chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Yeah, it's like we fell out of touch without even realizing it. But here we are; fate must've brought us back together again."
His words hung in the air, and I felt my cheeks flush with warmth. The familiarity of our shared history mixed with the anticipation of rekindling our friendship sent a surge of excitement through me.
Silence enveloped us as we locked eyes, the years melting away as if time had never passed. Our laughter echoed, creating a symphony of joyful reunion. It was as if the universe was joining in our mirth, celebrating the reunion of two souls who had lost their way.
But just as our laughter subsided, a squirrel boldly leaped onto my window, as if mocking our moment. Both Tyler and I burst into another fit of laughter, our joyful reunion momentarily overshadowed by nature's antics.
"Anyway, did you come here alone?" I asked Tyler.
"No, I brought Erin and Charles with me so they could see you too; they never stopped worrying about you, Miles. If you like, we can go see them together," he said, and I nodded in response.
"This way," I said, motioning my head to follow me towards the opened window of my room.
"We're sneaking out," I whispered, barely suppressing a giggle that threatened to escape. The words hung in the air like a secret delightful secret that only the two of us shared.
Tyler chuckled, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "You always know how to make things interesting, Miles." I smiled, relishing the warmth of his laughter.
With silent precision, we climbed out of the window, the cool late afternoon air and the golden hue of the sun caressing our skin. Gently, we lowered ourselves onto the sturdy branches of the tree, our footsteps barely making a sound. We grinned at each other, feeling the familiar rush of freedom that came with breaking the rules.
Finally, reaching the edge of the tree's reach, we peered down into the ground. The distance seemed daunting, but not enough to deter us. We exchanged a silent nod before leaping off the final branch and landing gracefully on the ground as the soft grass cushioned our landing.
As soon as we got down from the tree, my heart raced as we sprinted across the lush green field towards Erin and Charles, who had been anxiously waiting in front of Tyler's car. The golden sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the scene and adding a touch of magic to this long-awaited reunion.
The moment our friends caught sight of us, their faces lit up, reflecting the joy in our hearts. Erin, with her flowing black hair, and Charles, with a mischievous grin, immediately abandoned their posts and sprinted towards us.
Arms outstretched, we crashed into each other with exhilaration, forming an embrace that spoke more than words ever could.
"Oh my gosh, I missed you," Erin whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
I nodded. "I missed you both too, so much."
"We were so worried about you!" Charles exclaimed as we all let go of the hug.
"I know, and I'm sorry I couldn't reach out to you sooner; Dad took away my phone for a week, you know," I explained to them, and they both nodded in response to their way of saying they understood my situation.
"Miles? You look pale, and wait you lose some weight?" Erin asked with a hint of concern in her voice.
"Are you alright, Miles? How are you doing?" Charles asked, looking concerned too.
"Guys, I'm fine, really; do not worry about me." I lied to them, but their faces showed a sign of disbelief. I can't tell them the truth right now, not when Tyler is here with us.