Silent Bond || EstWilliam au

Five

The morning light poured into the kitchen as William descended the stairs, fixing his uniform, ready for school. His mother was already up, humming softly as she moved around the kitchen, preparing breakfast. The scent of freshly cooked eggs and toast filled the air, making his stomach rumble. He hadn't slept well the night before, his mind restless, but food always seemed to lift his mood.

As he entered the kitchen, something caught his eye—a large box sitting on the counter, unmistakably a football shoe box. William frowned in confusion, his brow furrowing as he approached it. The sleek design of the box was unfamiliar to him. He didn't recall needing new football shoes, and he certainly hadn't asked for any.

"Mom, whose shoes are these?" he asked, his voice rough from sleep as he gestured toward the box.

His mom looked over her shoulder, a warm smile touching her lips. "They're for you, William."

"For me?" He gave the box another look, tilting his head slightly. "I didn't ask for any new shoes."

Without waiting for further explanation, William opened the box, curiosity getting the better of him. Inside lay a pair of football shoes, pristine and clearly imported. They had a sleek, modern design—something you couldn't easily find in local stores. The brand name and style were foreign to him, not the kind he usually wore.

He lifted the shoes out of the box, turning them over in his hands, examining them from every angle. "These are... really nice," he admitted quietly, though his confusion only deepened. "But I've never seen these around here. Did you go all out or something?" He looked at his mom, half-joking, but there was genuine curiosity in his tone.

His mom smiled softly, watching him with gentle eyes. "I didn't buy them."

William blinked, his hands still holding the shoes. "Then... who did?"

There was a pause, and for a moment, his mother seemed to hesitate, as if weighing her words carefully before answering. "They're from Est."

William's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his brother's name. "Phi Est?" His voice came out softer, almost disbelieving. He set the shoes back into the box, staring at them as if the answer were written somewhere in the folds of the packaging. "Phi Est gave these to me?"

His mom nodded. "Yes, he stopped by yesterday. A quick visit."

A rush of emotions surged through William—surprise, confusion, and something darker, deeper. He felt his stomach tighten. "He was here? Yesterday?" His tone turned sharp, frustration building in his chest. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't he come see me?"

His mom sighed, her smile fading into something more somber. "He had a flight to catch this early morning. It was a short visit. He didn't want to disturb you while you were at school."

William's blood began to boil. The shoes suddenly felt heavier in his hands, almost like a burden. "He didn't want to disturb me?" His voice was low, but the bitterness was palpable. "He comes all the way here, gives me some shoes, and leaves without even seeing me?" He threw the shoes back into the box, his hands trembling. "Does he even care about me?"

His mom's face softened, her eyes filled with concern as she stepped toward him. "William, I'm sure Est didn't mean to upset you. He's—"

But William wasn't listening anymore. His chest heaved as the anger and hurt bubbled up inside him, hot and uncontrollable. He clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. "He never takes me seriously. He doesn't care! He hasn't cared since he left!"

His mother stayed silent, knowing that words wouldn't reach him right now. She could see the pain in his eyes, the way his emotions were spilling out uncontrollably. It's clear, William's emotions were spilling out of the bottle he had been sealed this whole years.

She wanted to comfort him, to tell him that Est did care, that Est missed him, but she knew William wouldn't hear it in this moment. Not through the walls of hurt he had built up over the years.

William shoved the lid back onto the box with a sharp click and stormed out of the kitchen, his heart pounding in his chest. Grabbing his bag, he flung the front door open and stepped outside, the cold morning air hitting him in the face. His mind was a whirlwind of frustration, betrayal, and sadness, and all of it boiled down to one thing: Est had been here, and he hadn't even bothered to see him.

How could he?

As William walked to school, the weight of the situation bore down on him, making his steps feel heavy. He clenched his jaw, he's view blurred due to the tears he held back, trying to fight back those weak emotions. He hated feeling like this—vulnerable, weak. He had worked so hard to put distance between himself and the pain of Est leaving. He had worked so hard to become better, to improve, to show that he didn't need his brother's validation or affections anymore.

But it was all a lie.

Deep down, he knew it.

He wiped angrily at the tears that began to slip down his cheeks, quickening his pace as if running could somehow outrun the hurt that gnawed at him. Est had left him behind—again. And this time, he didn't even have the decency to say goodbye properly.

When he reached the school gates, his eyes were red-rimmed, though he tried to hide it. The usual clamor of students and teachers seemed muffled in his ears as he walked to his locker, his thoughts replaying the conversation with his mom over and over. Est had come back, but not for him. He'd come back just to leave again.

William couldn't understand it. Couldn't understand why, after all these years, Est still couldn't be there for him the way he wanted. He was angry—not just with Est, but with himself. He was angry for still caring so much, for still wanting Est in his life despite everything. For hoping, deep down, that things between them could go back to the way they were.

But now... he wasn't sure they ever could.

As the day dragged on, William tried to push the thoughts of Est out of his mind, but it was impossible. Every time he looked at the soccer field, every time he saw a pair of football shoes, he was reminded of his brother—the brother who had once been his best friend, his protector, the one person he thought would always be there.

Now, all he felt was emptiness.

He didn't talk much to anyone that day. Not to Hong, not to his classmates. He just kept his head down, focusing on the game, the one thing that still made sense to him. The one thing he could control. But even then, his heart wasn't in it, his mind elsewhere, lost in a sea of unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

By the time school ended, the anger had settled into a deep, aching sadness that William couldn't shake. He walked home slowly, his hands shoved into his pockets, his mind replaying the events of the morning in a loop. Est had come and gone, leaving him behind once again.

And William wasn't sure how much more of that he could take.

When he finally arrived home, he went straight to his room, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. The box with the football shoes sat on his desk, untouched, mocking him with its presence. He glared at it for a moment before turning away, unable to bear looking at it any longer.

He sat on the edge of his bed, his hands gripping the edge tightly as the tears finally fell, silent and heavy. He hated this. Hated how much power Est still had over him. How much he still longed for his brother's approval, his love.

But most of all, he hated how much it hurt to know that, once again, Est had left him behind.

And this time, William wasn't sure he would ever forgive him.