Beyond The Fine Line

Chapter XXXIII - The Wheels Start Turning

The sky was a vivid blue, unmarred by clouds, and the sun already blazed high, casting a sharp glare on the garage's corrugated metal roof. Inside, the air was dense and humid, carrying the tangy aroma of motor oil, creating stifling conditions.

A rhythmic clatter echoed from the back, where Izzy worked on a disassembled engine. Nearby, an old oscillating fan struggled to push the hot, sticky air around the room, its mechanical hum barely audible over the buzzing of cicadas outside. The garage door was half-open, inviting in a slight breeze that carried the distant sounds of the bustling city.

Izzy paused, hearing the familiar roar of a motorbike engine, then wiped his hands on a rag and turned around just in time to face Sean walking his bike inside.

"It has been a while, little brother," Izzy said knowingly, leaning on a nearby column. "May I inquire where you spent the last several days after rushing out of here in the middle of the night?"

Sean rolled his eyes. "Isn't it obvious?"

"A couple of weeks ago, I would have said yes, but after watching you all depressed recently, I'm not sure anymore," Izzy replied honestly. "Besides, he would be back in London by now, right?"

"Jay extended his stay for a few months."

Izzy gawked at him. "Does it mean you two are together?"

Sean smiled, a genuine and happy smile Izzy hadn't seen in years.

"I'm happy for you," Izzy said, ruffling his black hair. "So, how did you manage to get him?"

"I finally realised that when you truly love someone, you meet them where they are at instead of constantly trying to push their boundaries or tiptoe around them... and that honesty goes a long way," Sean replied, his voice much softer than usual.

When Victor mentioned that Jay had been alone for too long, it truly sunk in for Sean. It made sense of the things he had already noticed – the way Jay seemed confused by the simplest displays of affection or how he would always withdraw when they got too close. Sean worried that something must have happened to make Jay wary of letting people in. He wasn't sure what it was – possibly a relationship gone wrong – but it didn't matter. He couldn't change the past, but he could be there for Jay now and slowly, day by day, convince him that they were worth the effort.

"Anyway, Fort and Win should be here soon as well," he said, heading towards his loft. "We need to prepare for our next move now that exams are over."

"What about Jay?"

"It's not something we should drag him into, Izzy."

"You're right," Izzy agreed, knowing Jay's legal career would go up in smoke if they got him into trouble. "I'll try to help as much as I can."

"Focus on Sari and Lizzy, okay? They need you more than we do."

"I know, but still... you need a voice of reason, and if Jay isn't here, then I'm your second-best option."

"I keep forgetting how much of a pain in the ass you can be," Sean laughed, climbing the stairs. "Let me know when the guys are here."

Part of him had worried that his tiny loft would feel suffocating after spending so much time at Jay's spacious penthouse. But on the contrary, it felt just as it always did – a home. Small and worn down, it was something worth fighting for, just like their whole district. It was a shame Tay couldn't join them; after all, it was his fight too. Sean tossed his bag on the floor and chuckled at his own thoughts. The fact that he even considered Tay showed how much things had changed over the last few months.

Suddenly, his phone lit up with an unknown number. Assuming it was either the university or hospital about this month's payment, Sean answered the call. After a lengthy conversation, he dropped onto the bed with a stunned expression.