Silent Bond || EstWilliam au

Two

William sat at his usual seat, near the window, focused on the worksheet in front of him. His hand moved steadily, pencil gliding over the paper as he worked through math problems with precision. The classroom was buzzing with the low hum of chatter, students casually exchanging words between classes, but William paid no attention to any of it. He'd long since stopped caring about the idle conversations around him. His mind was consumed with one thing—doing better, being better.

He wasn't always like this, though. A year ago, William would've been at the center of all the noise, laughing loudly with his friends or cracking some careless joke. He had spent most of his time goofing off, skipping study sessions, and causing his teachers no end of frustration. But now, things were different. Now, William was someone else, someone with purpose.

His grades had improved drastically, and word about it had spread around the school. No one had expected the rude and troublemaker William to suddenly become one of the top students in his class, but it happened, and it didn't go unnoticed. He had gone from barely scraping by to scoring well above average. Some of his classmates who used to mock his lack of effort were now eyeing him with curiosity, admiration even. Some had even begun to approach him, trying to get close to him as his reputation transformed from a brat to a focused, driven student.

"Hey, William," a classmate called out from a few seats away, "how did you manage to ace the last history quiz? You got any tips?"

William glanced up briefly, his expression indifferent. "I just studied."

The other boy laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Right, right... just study. Makes sense. Hey, maybe we could, I don't know, study together sometime?"

"No," William replied flatly, not committing to anything. He looked back down at his worksheet, signaling the end of the conversation.

It wasn't just the boys in his class either. Every now and then, William would find small gifts under his desk or in his locker—snacks, cute little notes, even a couple of love letters. He never reacted to them, just silently pocketed whatever was left for him without much thought. Admirers had started to emerge, girls who admired his newfound discipline and focus, or perhaps just the fact that his soccer skills were gaining attention around the school. But William didn't care. He didn't need friends or admirers. He wasn't here for that anymore.

William's true solace came during soccer practice. He had joined the team around the time he started getting serious about his studies, and soccer became his outlet for everything. The physical exertion, the focus it required, the camaraderie without the pressure of close relationships—it was everything he needed. Most of the soccer guys didn't know much about who he used to be, which made things easier. He could just be another player, without all the baggage of his past hanging over him.

Among them was Hong, a quiet guy like William, who didn't speak much but had a strong presence on the field. Hong wasn't in the same class as William, but the two had developed an unspoken understanding. They often sat together during lunch breaks, even though neither of them talked much. They didn't need to. There was a comfort in the silence between them.

One day after soccer practice, William and Hong were walking toward the locker room, wiping sweat off their faces with towels. The air was thick with the smell of the grass and the sounds of their teammates chatting in the distance.

"You're getting better," Hong said suddenly, his voice low but genuine.

William shrugged. "I practice."

Hong nodded. "You focus a lot. More than the others."

There was a pause as they both entered the locker room, the clanging of metal lockers and the sound of showers in the background.

"Guess it's just how I am now," William replied, his tone almost resigned.

Hong glanced at him as he opened his locker, pulling out his bag. "I like it. I mean, you're serious. Not like the others who only talk."

William smirked faintly, throwing his towel into his own locker. "Yeah. Less talk, more play."

The two exchanged a brief, knowing look. It was a simple conversation, but for William, it was enough. Hong didn't push him to talk about his past or his personal life. He didn't pry, and that was why William liked being around him. They didn't have to explain anything to each other; they just understood.

During lunch the next day, William sat at their usual spot, waiting for Hong to finish his class. He watched other students milling around the cafeteria, his eyes briefly landing on a group of boys from his class who were loudly talking about some game they played the night before. They didn't even notice him sitting there, and he preferred it that way. He wasn't interested in reconnecting with his old classmates, not after how they used to treat him.

When Hong finally arrived, tray in hand, he sat down across from William without a word. They ate in comfortable silence for a while, both of them focused on their meals.

After a few minutes, Hong looked up. "You've been getting more followers."

William blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Instagram," Hong clarified, poking at his food with his fork. "You're kinda famous now, huh? Everyone's talking about your soccer games."

William frowned slightly, leaning back in his chair. "I don't really care about that."

Hong nodded, unfazed. "Doesn't seem like you do."

William returned to his meal, shoving a spoonful of rice into his mouth. It was true—his Instagram had blown up ever since he started excelling at soccer. More and more people were following him, commenting on his photos, sending him DMs. But William didn't engage with any of it. He posted the occasional picture, usually of something simple like his soccer cleats or a sunset, but he never responded to the messages. He didn't see the point. All of this sudden attention felt hollow.

"You don't care about being popular?" Hong asked casually.

William shook his head. "Not really. I'm just here to play. That's it."

Hong smiled faintly, the corner of his lips twitching upward. "Sure."

After that, the conversation dropped back into their usual silence. But for William, that was enough. He didn't need to explain himself, didn't need to justify why he didn't care about popularity or friendships. Hong got it. And that's why William liked being around him more than anyone else. They both existed in their own little world, away from the noise and drama of everyone else's expectations.

As time went on, William's grades continued to rise, and his reputation at school shifted even further. More and more students wanted to know how he did it, how he turned things around so dramatically. They asked for study tips, advice, anything they could learn from him. But William never let anyone get too close.

The only real connection he maintained was with Hong. And even though they never talked much, William appreciated the steady, uncomplicated friendship they had. On the field, they worked together seamlessly, their quiet understanding translating into sharp, coordinated plays. Off the field, they sat together in silence, never needing to fill the air with unnecessary words.

It wasn't perfect—nothing about William's life was—but in a way, this was enough for him. For now.