Night had fallen. The evening light had long sunk beyond the horizon when Alvano finally arrived home. The dark sky, adorned with countless stars, gave off a sense of peace, though the chill of the rainy season was starting to creep into the air. He opened the door quietly, and as always, the familiar scent of the house that had long been his home welcomed him warmly.
His grandfather, who had been waiting in the living room, immediately rose from his chair when he heard the door open. His face showed a hint of worry, but it quickly softened into a warm smile when he saw his grandson return safely.
"Alvano, you're home late today," his grandfather said, walking toward him. "Nothing happened, right?"
Alvano gave a small smile and shook his head. "No, Grandpa. I just stopped by the old school with Theo for a bit."
"Oh?" The old man looked slightly surprised, but his expression soon deepened into something more thoughtful. As Alvano began recounting how they had walked around the school, reminiscing about their old memories, his grandfather listened quietly. Yet, the lines on his face revealed faint shifts—like someone remembering something not entirely pleasant. For a brief moment, his eyes turned distant.
Alvano didn't notice. He was too focused on the warm bowl of soup his grandfather had placed on the dining table. The steam carried the fragrance of spices that instantly relaxed his tired body after a long day. Warm food always felt better during the rainy season.
"This soup is really good, Grandpa. Thank you," he said with a genuine smile.
"Always eat something warm when the weather's like this," the old man replied softly. "Don't catch a cold."
After dinner, Alvano went upstairs to his room. He changed out of his uniform into something more comfortable, then lay down for a while before opening his phone. He opened a learning video app, trying to focus as usual.
But his mind wouldn't settle. Theo's words from earlier that day kept echoing in his head—about his power, about living normally, about keeping his secret. Alvano gazed at the night sky through his window, his feelings beginning to twist and tangle.
He sat on his bed, staring blankly at the glowing phone screen. The video kept playing, but his thoughts were elsewhere. With a long sigh, he muttered softly, almost as if speaking to himself,
"What am I, really…?"
The confusion he had long buried resurfaced. He wasn't like other teenagers. He was different—completely different. He possessed something no human should have—a power beyond reason, like something out of a fantasy novel, a sci-fi movie, or a children's animated show.
He looked down at his palm. On the surface, it appeared normal. But he knew there was something within him that wasn't. A force that couldn't be explained by logic. A power that could move objects without touch. A power that could shift gravity around him. A power that became dangerous when his emotions lost control.
His mind drifted back to the past—the first time it ever happened. He was still in middle school then, and it had been a terrible day. He had once again been the target of bullies. They mocked him, insulted him, even hit him—all because of one thing that haunted him: he was an orphan.
That day, they locked him inside the gymnasium. The mental pressure almost broke him. His tears mixed with his suppressed rage, until finally, the power burst out—wild and uncontrollable.
He remembered it vividly. Everything around him began to float—chairs, shelves, sports balls, even the coach's whistle hanging on the wall. They all lifted into the air, spinning in chaotic motion. Anyone who tried to get close was thrown back, as if an invisible shield was protecting him. The objects seemed to guard Alvano, creating an unseen barrier between him and the world. No one could stop it.
No one except Theo.
While everyone else fled in terror, Theo stepped forward. Slowly, he walked into the chaos, his steps steady. The floating objects seemed to avoid him, as if Alvano's power recognized his presence. Then, Theo wrapped his arms around him—no words, no hesitation. Just a firm, warm embrace.
That simple gesture calmed the storm. The objects fell to the floor, and the room returned to silence, though fear still lingered in everyone's eyes. No one dared ask what had happened, and the school later buried the incident as if it never existed. But from that day on, Alvano knew—his life would never be the same again. And he also knew Theo wasn't just a friend. He was the only one who truly understood the darkness and mystery within him.
Now, sitting in his room, Alvano hugged his knees and looked out the window at the night sky. The world outside was quiet, yet inside him, the storm still raged. He was beginning to understand—having such a power wasn't easy. He had to keep it hidden, live normally, and protect others from it.
Theo's words from earlier replayed clearly in his mind:
"If you want to go to school like usual, then just live as we always did."
"Use your power to help people, not to hurt them."
"As long as you can keep your secret, then keep it."
Those words echoed like a mantra. Theo was right. He couldn't let his emotions take over. The world wasn't ready to accept someone like him—and maybe, he wasn't ready either.
He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"I have to be stronger than this," he whispered.
Stronger not just in power, but in spirit. He needed to stay grounded in a fragile world—and above all, he needed to make sure his power would never harm the people he loved.
That night, Alvano made a silent vow. Tomorrow would be a new day, and he would face it better than before. Because possessing power meant carrying a burden of responsibility.
Pulling the blanket up to his chest, he let his thoughts quiet down. Beneath all his unease, he knew that tomorrow would always come—and he had to be ready. With his eyes growing heavy, he whispered in his heart,
"I'll protect everything… as best as I can."