EXCHANGE OF HEARTS [BL]

CHAPTER 15

Race was fully healed. He could now move his shoulder without feeling any pain.

He was healed, but his father, Isaiah, was still worried about him. Even though his father didn't show it, Race could feel Isaiah's concern for his well-being.

Because of that shooting incident, Isaiah had been restless, unlike Hades, who remained calm. Isaiah was so worried that, without telling Race, he had hired bodyguards to watch over him wherever he went.

Race could see them everywhere; wherever he turned, he noticed people quietly observing him.

He couldn't blame his father since that incident was very traumatizing. When Race first left the hospital, he himself was restless, fearing he might be shot again. He was also afraid to leave their house, worried that what happened at the Russo mansion might happen again.

But as days passed, Race's fear subsided. Nothing had happened to him in eight days. No one had tried to harm him, and Race thought that maybe he wasn't the target of the shooting. He believed he might have just been caught in the crossfire or mistaken for someone else.

Eight days had passed, but he still hadn't heard a word from Atlas. Atlas hadn't shown up at school or contacted him in any way. Not even a text or a shadow of Atlas had appeared.

He was worried. Race was worried about Atlas. Their last interaction was when Atlas visited him in the hospital with his friends, and since then, Atlas had never shown up or contacted him.

He was concerned because he felt like Atlas was hiding something from him. Race noticed it when Atlas visited him in the hospital. It seemed like Atlas wasn't telling him everything, especially when Race patted Atlas on the back and saw him wince. Race knew something was off, that Atlas was hiding something from him.

For eight days, Race had been waiting for a text or call from Atlas. As hard as it was to admit, he missed Atlas.

He felt foolish.

When Atlas was around, he would push him away because he didn't want to feel the strange sensation he felt whenever Atlas was near. He felt strange when Atlas was close, and he didn't want to feel that because he couldn't explain it.

But now that Atlas was gone, he found himself longing for his presence. Every time he went to school, Race found himself looking for Atlas, hoping to see him waiting at the gate to greet him and tease him.

He was truly going crazy.

Race was walking to his next class when his phone suddenly rang.

He stopped and immediately grabbed his phone from his pocket. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Atlas's name on the screen.

He took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't believe it! He felt a surge of excitement as soon as he read Atlas's name on the screen. He tried to calm down, but he couldn't; his heart was still racing with excitement and joy.

His hands were shaking as he read Atlas's text.

Atlas: Hey, how are you doing?

His phone beeped again.

Atlas: Jesus. I know this is crazy and not so fucking me, but fucckk, Race! I really miss you, okay?

Race stared at his phone in shock. He couldn't hear anything but his heart pounding fast and loud in his ears. It felt like something had hit his heart when he read Atlas's text.

He didn't respond immediately. He didn't know what to say to Atlas's text.

He saw three gray dots on his screen, meaning Atlas was typing something.