Chapter 88. Calm before storm
Adrian sat quietly in his airplane seat, staring out the small oval window at the world below. The plane had just ascended, and the sight of the clouds, golden and soft against the sunlight, should have felt magical. Instead, Adrian felt a weight in his chest, a tightness he couldn’t shake. He had never felt so reluctant to leave before—never so tied to a place, a home, and someone he loved.
He pressed his forehead against the cool glass, the hum of the plane’s engines a dull backdrop to his swirling thoughts. When Wuner Hudel had sent him abroad years ago, he remembered the excitement he’d felt then. It wasn’t just the thrill of going to a new country; it was the freedom, the chance to leave behind the suffocating confines of a family that he didn’t feel connected to. Back then, he had practically counted the days until he left.
But now, as he thought of Ethan’s warm embrace, the laughter of the twins, and the quiet strength of the home they had built together, the tears he’d been holding back began to spill silently down his cheeks.
The girl sitting beside him, a young woman with curly brown hair tied in a messy bun, glanced over and noticed his tears. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she hesitated before speaking. "Hey... are you okay?" she asked gently, her voice tinged with concern.
Adrian turned to her, startled by the sudden intrusion into his thoughts. He quickly wiped his tears with the back of his hand and forced a weak smile. "I’m fine," he murmured, though his voice betrayed him.
The girl didn’t look convinced. "You don’t look fine," she said, her tone kind but insistent. "You know, it’s okay to be upset. I’m leaving home for the first time too, and I already miss my parents like crazy." She smiled a little, though her own eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I guess I’m a bit of a crybaby."
Adrian’s heart softened at her words. For a moment, he envied the simplicity of her sorrow—missing her parents was something he could relate to in theory, but it came with so much more weight now. Hearing her talk about her family made him think of his own real parents, Cain Sebanil and Jesper.
He sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. He hadn’t even said goodbye to them before leaving. After spending two months reconnecting with them and seeing how much love they had showered him with, he felt ashamed. They had waited so long to find him, and yet he had left without even a word.
Adrian promised himself that as soon as the plane landed, he would call them. He needed to hear their voices, to apologize for leaving so suddenly.
The girl beside him offered him a piece of chocolate from her bag, her way of cheering him up. Adrian accepted it with a grateful smile. Though the ache in his chest didn’t lessen, her kindness reminded him that he wasn’t alone in his feelings.
Back at the Levistis estate, Ethan sat in the living room, staring at the empty space where Adrian had been just hours ago. His elder brother, Leclair, lounged nearby, sipping tea with an amused look on his face.
"You know," Leclair began, his voice teasing, "you’re moping. It’s not a good look on you, little brother."