Chapter 6 CONSEQUENCES OF CROSSING THE LINE

When the bus finally pulled into the station, they both sighed in relief, grateful to escape the awkward silence. They gathered their bags and stepped off the bus, only to spot their parents waiting for them near a parked car.

"There they are!" Mrs. Anderson called, waving enthusiastically.

Time and Kornel waved back, their expressions brightening as they walked over. Mr. Philips stepped forward to help with their luggage, while the two mothers enveloped the boys in warm hugs.

"Welcome back, boys!" Mrs. Philips said with a smile.

"How was the journey?" Mr. Anderson asked as they loaded the bags into the car.

"It was fine," Time replied, his tone cheerful despite his lingering doubts.

As they climbed into the car and began the drive home, Kornel stole one last glance at Time. He hoped Time would let the matter go, but something told him that this was far from over.

As they arrived home, the Philips car pulled into the driveway, and as they parked, everyone stepped out, carrying the boys' remaining luggage. The compound was bathed in the soft glow of porch lights, welcoming them back home. The Philips led the group toward their house, inviting the Andersons to join them for dinner, as a takeout KFC meal they had pre-ordered was on its way.

"Make yourselves comfortable," Mrs. Philips said warmly as everyone settled into the living room. Kornel and Time placed their bags near the stairs, ready to sort them later, while their parents exchanged stories about the boys' graduation ceremony.

Not long after, the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the food. Mr. Philips brought in the packages, and everyone gathered around the dining table. They laughed, talked about their college experiences, and savored the meal, the evening filled with a sense of familial closeness. Time and Kornel exchanged glances occasionally, but Kornel seemed unusually quiet, his thoughts elsewhere.

After dinner, the Andersons thanked the Philips for their hospitality and began to head back to their own house. As they were leaving, Time hesitated and turned to Kornel.

"Hey, can I stay over in your room tonight? Like old times?" Time asked casually, a hopeful smile on his face.

Kornel's expression shifted slightly. He looked at Time, then quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh... not tonight, Time. I think you should just go home and rest. We'll see each other in the morning."

Time blinked, caught off guard. "Oh... okay," he said, trying to hide his disappointment. "If you say so."

The refusal felt out of character for Kornel, and it left a strange feeling in the pit of Time's stomach. But he forced a smile, said goodnight, and followed his parents back to their house.

As soon as the Andersons left, Kornel carried his bags upstairs to his room. He unpacked in silence, placing his clothes neatly into the wardrobe and organizing his desk. But his mind kept wandering back to the events of the previous night.

Why couldn't Time remember? Or was he just pretending not to? Kornel replayed the kiss in his mind, the way Time had looked at him, the way he had spoken those words-"I love you, Kornel." It had felt so real, so raw. And yet, here Time was, acting like nothing had happened.

Kornel sighed, sitting on the edge of his bed. Should I tell him? he wondered. But what if it was just the alcohol talking? What if Time didn't mean it? He shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away. After a while, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep, though his dreams were filled with fragmented memories of the night before.

Meanwhile, at the Andersons' house, Time was in his room, sitting on the edge of his bed. He had unpacked his things but found himself unable to relax. The thought of Kornel refusing to let him stay over was gnawing at him. Kornel had never said no before-not when they were kids, not during their high school years, not even in college.

"Why now?" Time murmured to himself.

He leaned back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered to the previous night, trying to piece together what had happened after he'd gotten drunk. He remembered the games, the drinks, the laughter-but everything after a certain point was a blur. He had woken up in his room that morning, with no memory of how he'd gotten there.

"Did I do something?" he wondered aloud. His brows furrowed as he tried to recall, but nothing came. He replayed Kornel's words from the bus ride earlier. 'You didn't, dear. If you had, I'd tell you.' Kornel's tone had been playful, but something about it felt off-like he wasn't telling the whole truth.

Time sat up, running a hand through his hair. "What if I did do something, and he's just not telling me?"

The thought made him anxious. He couldn't shake the feeling that something important had happened, something Kornel was keeping from him. He sighed, lying back down and pulling the covers over himself. Despite his best efforts, his mind kept spinning with questions until he finally drifted off into a restless sleep.

The next morning, Time woke up early, his thoughts still clouded by everything that had transpired over the past few days. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between him and Kornel. Determined to talk to Kornel and figure things out, he headed straight to the Philips house. He walked up to the door and knocked, his heart beating slightly faster with each passing second. Mrs. Philips opens the door and answered with a warm smile, greeting him kindly.

"Good morning, Time! Come on in. Kornel's in his room," she said, stepping aside to let him through.

"Thanks, Mrs. Philips," Time replied, giving a small smile as he made his way upstairs to Kornel's room. He knocked softly on the door, and Kornel's voice called from inside.

"Come in."

Time opened the door and stepped in, seeing Kornel standing by his desk, packing some things into a bag.

"Hey, Kornel," Time said, his voice tentative. "I was wondering if you wanted to come over to our place for breakfast like we usually do?" He hoped the familiarity would help break the awkwardness between them.

Kornel turned, a slight frown tugging at the corners of his lips. "I can't today," he replied, his tone a little distant. "I'm going with my dad to his company. He wants to show me around so I can start learning about the business. Obviously, I'm going to take over when he retires, so it's important."

As Kornel spoke, Mr. Philips entered the room, having heard the conversation. He smiled warmly at Time and greeted him. "Good morning, Time! How are you?"

"Good morning, sir," Time replied. "I'm doing well, thanks."

Mr. Philips chuckled lightly and continued, "Well, as you can hear, I'm going to be taking Kornel with me to the company now. It's about time he starts getting involved in the business. I'll be handing it over to him soon enough, and this is the best way to prepare him. It'll help him adjust, and he'll be ready for everything when it's time."

Time nodded, his mind processing the information. It made sense, of course, but part of him had hoped for a different kind of morning. He understood, though, that Kornel had responsibilities now, ones that were shaping his future.

"Okay, I understand," Time said, trying to mask any disappointment in his voice. "Well, if you need anything later, let me know. I'll head back home."

As he turned to leave, he glanced back at Kornel, who gave him a reassuring smile. "We'll catch up later, alright? See you in the evening."

Time smiled in return, feeling a bit more at ease. It was good to know that Kornel hadn't completely shut him out. He left the room, heading to his house to find his mom, who was preparing breakfast. Time explained the situation and asked if Kornel's breakfast could be packed up for him to take.

"Of course, dear," Mrs. Anderson replied. She quickly packed Kornel's breakfast in a flask, making sure to include everything he would need for the busy day ahead. "Here you go," she said, handing it to Time.

"Thanks, Mom," Time said with a smile, then walked back to Kornel's house.

As he arrived at the Philips house, Kornel and Mr. Philips were about to leave for the company. Time approached them, holding the flask in his hand.

"Here you go, Kornel," Time said, offering it to him. "Your breakfast."

Kornel smiled and took the flask. "Thanks, Time. You didn't have to, but I appreciate it. I'll see you later tonight."

"See you," Time replied with a wave. He watched as Kornel and his father left, then headed back to his own house, feeling a little lighter now that things seemed a bit more normal again.

Back at his house, Time had breakfast with his parents. The conversation was light, but his mind kept drifting back to Kornel. He tried to focus on applying for jobs-mainly looking for companies that offered opportunities for artists like him-but his thoughts were still scattered.

Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson left for Mr. Anderson's shop. Mrs. Philips had also gone out to buy a few things she needed. The day passed in a quiet blur, each person going about their own tasks.