Silent Affection

Chapter 5: Cracks in the Silence

The following day, Kiomie returned to the library with her thoughts in a whirl. Yesterday’s study session with Theo had left her feeling unsettled, in the best way possible. He was so different from what she had imagined—more open, more present. And yet, there was still something about him she couldn’t quite place, like a puzzle with a missing piece.

When she arrived, Theo was already there, as usual, sitting at their designated spot. He looked up as she approached, offering her a small nod in greeting. Today, though, there was something different in his demeanor—he seemed distracted, his usual calmness slightly frayed.

“Hey,” Kiomie said, setting her bag down. “Everything okay?”

Theo’s eyes flicked toward her, then away again. He seemed to hesitate before responding. “Yeah, just… stuff on my mind.”

Kiomie nodded, unsure whether to push or let it go. Normally, she would have taken his answer at face value, but something told her this wasn’t just a casual brush-off. Something was bothering him, and it was clear that it ran deeper than he was letting on.

They sat in silence for a few moments, both pretending to focus on the project. But Kiomie couldn’t ignore the tension in the air. Theo’s usual easy presence was absent, replaced by a tightness in his shoulders and the way his fingers tapped restlessly against the table.

Finally, unable to take the silence anymore, Kiomie spoke up. “You know, if you want to talk about whatever’s bothering you… I’m here.”

Theo glanced up, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before he looked away again. His jaw clenched, and for a second, Kiomie thought he was going to brush her off. But then, much to her surprise, he sighed, leaning back in his chair.

“It’s… complicated,” he said, his voice lower than usual. “I’m not really good at talking about stuff. At least, not personal things.”

Kiomie offered a gentle smile. “That’s okay. You don’t have to if you’re not ready. But I’m a good listener, if you ever need one.”

Theo was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the book in front of him. It was clear he was thinking, wrestling with something inside his head. Kiomie waited patiently, giving him the space he needed to decide whether or not to open up.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Theo spoke. “My dad… he’s been in and out of the hospital for a while now. It’s not something I like to talk about with anyone, but… it’s hard to focus on anything when that’s always in the back of my mind.”

Kiomie’s heart sank at his words. She hadn’t expected this—had never imagined Theo was dealing with something so heavy on his own. It explained so much about his quiet demeanor, his tendency to keep to himself. Suddenly, the silence that surrounded him felt less like a choice and more like a shield.

“I’m really sorry, Theo,” she said softly. “That must be really hard to deal with, especially on your own.”

He shrugged, but the motion was half-hearted. “It is what it is. I’ve learned to just… cope. But sometimes, it’s like I can’t keep it all together, you know?”

Kiomie nodded, understanding more than she had before. She knew what it was like to carry a burden, to feel like you had to hold everything together for the sake of others, even when you were crumbling inside.

“If you ever need to talk, I’m here,” she said again, her voice gentle. “And I mean that.”

For the first time since they had started working together, Theo’s expression softened, the guarded look in his eyes easing just a little. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “I appreciate that.”

The air between them felt lighter now, as if Theo’s confession had broken through some invisible barrier. For the rest of their study session, they worked in comfortable silence, but it wasn’t the same as before. There was a new understanding between them, an unspoken connection that made Kiomie feel like she was finally starting to see the real Theo, the one hidden beneath the quiet.

As they wrapped up for the day, Theo glanced at her, his expression thoughtful. “I’m sorry for dumping all that on you. I didn’t mean to make things heavy.”

Kiomie shook her head. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me.”

Theo gave her a small, almost shy smile before standing up. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, same time,” she agreed, watching as he left the library.

As he walked away, Kiomie couldn’t help but feel like they had crossed a line in their relationship—something deeper than just partners in a school project. And for the first time, she realized she didn’t just want to understand Theo; she wanted to be there for him, to help him carry whatever weight he was holding alone.

Because in the silence between them, something more had begun to grow. Something neither of them had expected.