Helios said nothing at first. Then, gently, he raised a hand and wiped away Poseidon's tears, just as he wiped his own.
Poseidon hiccupped, waiting, needing an answer.
"Poseidon Agiel…" Helios finally said, his voice quiet but unwavering. "They stand before fate with the same fire burning in their eyes as you have right now. Face it head-on and declare,'Till my last breath, I will not give up!' So never, ever give up, my brother."
Poseidon gasped, his breath hitching. Something in his chest shifted. In the face of despair, something within him flickered, small, but undeniably present. And, once again, it crept in that faint hope he was willing to cling to. Despite countless setbacks, it emerged once more from the deepest depths of despair.
Helios sat beside him, holding his trembling hands as Poseidon let his emotions pour out. "I'm… scared," Poseidon whispered.
"I know," Helios murmured.
"I don't think I can do it," Poseidon admitted, voice small.
"Silly," Helios chuckled softly, his grip firm, "I'll make sure you do."
Poseidon hiccupped, "I'm serious."
"And, so am I," Helios replied poised.
A fragile silence passed between them, until finally, Poseidon wiped the tears under his chin, looking up with watery eyes, "Thank you."
Helios ruffled his hair with a grin. "Save it. You know…" His gaze drifted to the doorway where their friends still stood, shaken yet pretending they hadn't seen a thing, "Those boys pulled themselves to the semi-finals."
Poseidon's eyes widened, "The semi-finals?!" His doubts and fear all vanishing almost instantly. "Haha, really?! Get in here, all of you!" Poseidon called, stretching his arms open.
Laughter and warmth filled the room as Azazel rushed in, hugging him tight, followed by Ezekiel, "We really, really made it, Vice-captain!"
Poseidon beamed, looking at them in awe, "I had no idea…"
"Yeah, right," Claude snickered, "I had this feeling that I'll be hearing this the day you said you'd be watching us on TV."
Poseidon rubbed his temple awkwardly, "I'm sorry…"
Mirza nudged Claude playfully before patting Poseidon's shoulder, "Tch, just leave him. He likes to stir trouble."
And, for the first time in a long while, Poseidon smiled. A real, unguarded smile. The warmth in the room, the joy and camaraderie surrounding him, was unlike anything he had felt before. And in that moment, something within him decided.
For them, he wanted to live.
"I'll do it," he said.
The room stilled. Helios and the others turned to him in surprise.
"I'll go through with the surgery," Poseidon repeated, his eyes glistening with an unspoken strength.
A stunned silence lingered before Haadi rushed to his side, gripping his hand lightly. "Are you sure?!" he asked, hesitant but hopeful.
Poseidon nodded, his gaze firm, "More certain than ever. So go all out in the semi-finals while I fight my way back to you all."
"Yes!! Go for it Little sea!" Cheers went as Helios exhaled, glancing at Sehan, who let out a relieved sigh.
Ebraham laughed heartily. "Oh, I adore you so much. Just you wait and see. Once you get that surgery, you'll be unstoppable!" He pulled Poseidon into a tight embrace.
Poseidon chuckled, warmth filling his heart. Amid all his fears and doubts, this—this was undoubtedly his answer.
_____
The day of the surgery and the Inter-Academy semi-finals had arrived, overlapping like two storms colliding. The academy and the hospital buzzed with restless energy. Coaches, instructors, and teammates streaming in and out of Poseidon's room, offering words of encouragement, fleeting smiles, and silent prayers.
Meanwhile, Helios and the rest balanced between intense practice sessions, hospital visits, and brief moments of respite at home. And just like that, the final day was upon them. A hushed stillness had settled over the hospital that morning.
The clock struck seven. In the dimly lit corridor outside Poseidon's room, the team gathered. Jerseys on, gear slung over their shoulders, faces etched with quiet anxiety. Their breaths, deep and measured, betrayed the nerves constricting their chests.
Inside, Poseidon lay motionless on the hospital bed, his pale complexion stark against the sterile white sheets. IV lines ran into his arm, the ventilator rising and falling in rhythm with his shallow breaths. Sedated, he remained unaware, caught in the fragile space between consciousness and the impending surgery. Within the hour, he would be wheeled away, right before his teammates' eyes, before they left for the biggest match of their lives.
"Captain..." Ezekiel's whisper barely carried through the corridor, fear lacing his voice.
Helios forced a smile. One meant to reassure, but the tension in his clenched fists told another story. "It's going to be alright…" his words held conviction, yet the tremor in his voice betrayed the turmoil within, "I trust him, Ezekiel. And, I want all of you… to trust your vice-captain too."
"We will." The team responded in unison, their voices low yet resolute.
"Yeah, he's going to pull it through. Just you wait," Mirza swallowed nervously.
Claude and Haadi hummed in agreement while Ebraham dabbed Helios's back.
Helios's gaze remained fixed on the hospital window, his eyes locked onto Poseidon's unmoving figure.
Then, Layla approached. "There you boys are…" she greeted, her voice carrying a calm steadiness.
"Yes, Aunt. Is everything ready?" Ezekiel asked, concern evident in his tone.
Layla offered a comforting smile, "Everything is ready. And everything will be fine, if you believe it. Believe in Poseidon. Believe in yourselves."
The team nodded, but Helios stood frozen, his body rigid, his eyes never leaving the window.
Layla stepped closer, reaching out. Her touch startled him, his body tensing beneath her hand. "Easy…" she murmured, giving his arm a reassuring pat.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Helios's forehead. His breath hitched. "Mother…" The word escaped him in a whisper, strained, almost fragile.
Layla's voice softened, yet it remained firm, "Heli, my love… believe in me and your father. We will save Poseidon."
Helios swallowed hard, his throat constricting around a tangle of emotions. His lips trembled as he nodded, his voice breaking. "I—I believe you both… so please, please… save my brother. Save my best friend." His shoulders shook, his hair falling over his eyes as he struggled to contain himself.
Without hesitation, Layla pulled him into an embrace, "Of course, we will. We'll save your brother… and my dear friend's little boy too." Then, turning to Ezekiel and the others, she beckoned them forward.
One by one, they joined in the embrace, warmth enveloping them all. "Don't be afraid," she said softly. "Be brave—braver than ever before—and give it your all in today's match. You have my full support. And in return, I will give my very best in the surgery today."
"Yes…" Helios murmured, straightening. He wiped his eyes, though his gaze remained fixed on the window, "Mama… I want to see him. All of us, one last time before the surgery."
Layla hesitated. "Helios…"
"Please." Helios' voice trembled, but the desperation in his eyes was unwavering.
Layla exhaled slowly before nodding, "Alright. I'll talk to your father and the doctors first. Just wait for me." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving them in silence once more.
A while later, she returned, an assuring smile on her face.
Claude, Ebraham, Azazel, Lucifer, and Ezekiel exchanged glances before turning to Helios with encouraging nods.
"Let's go," Mirza murmured, stepping forward.
As he gently twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open, a cold shiver ran down their spines, their breaths hitching. The room was silent, save for the steady beeping of the machines.
The monitor displayed the jagged lines of Poseidon's pulse, steady but fragile. What once felt like home, the study desk, the couch, the paintings on the wall, the wardrobe, now seemed strangely unfamiliar, distant, and unrecognizable.
Helios swallowed hard, his steps heavy as he approached the bed. The others followed, their gazes lowered, fists clenched, hearts thumping rapidly. A storm of emotions crashed over them, fear, uncertainty, dread, hope all at once.
Suddenly, unable to endure the heaviness, Haadi turned, clutching Mirza's jersey with trembling hands, choked sobs wracking his body. Mirza placed a reassuring hand on his back, whispering, "Shh… be brave."
Azazel too reached for Helios's hand, gripping it tightly.
Helios smiled, though his own hand shook. He pulled Azazel closer as the boy clung to him, tears threatening to spill.
Claude stepped forward, ruffling Poseidon's icy hair with a small, fond smile, "Best of luck, little sea. We'll all be waiting."
Helios stared at Poseidon, his emotions tangled in a chaotic mess.
Beside him, Ezekiel hesitantly reached for Poseidon's hand, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "If only I hadn't been so stubborn… If I had just listened to him," Ezekiel whispered, voice thick with regret, "He wouldn't have worked so hard to get me on the team. He wouldn't be lying here like this."
Helios placed a comforting hand on Ezekiel's back, "It's not your fault. None of this is."