Cuori in evoluzione

In my reflection

Chapter 4

Liam was no longer the same boy who had moved to Hillsboro just a few months earlier. The boy who had tried to stay unnoticed, who lived in constant fear of being judged, now seemed like someone from another life, almost like a different person. He was still a bit introverted, but something inside him had changed. He felt more confident, less controlled, and was beginning to understand what it really meant to accept himself—not just for how others saw him, but especially for how he saw himself in the mirror. He looked at himself and, finally, saw who he truly was: a boy who deserved to be happy, someone who no longer had to hide.

The thought of how he had gotten to this point made him smile. There had been a time when he couldn't even imagine being this comfortable with himself. But Theo had made a profound impact on his life. Not just because he had helped him look beyond his fears, but because, with Theo, Liam had learned to discover a part of himself he never thought he could accept.

Their friendship had evolved, transforming into something Liam didn't even know how to name. If he were honest with himself, he would have to admit that it was something deeper, something that went beyond mere friendship. But, despite being aware of what he felt, the fear had never really left him. Every time he thought of Theo, his heart raced. But a part of him tried to stay calm, to not be overwhelmed by the impulse to take a step that would change everything.

One morning, Liam woke up with a feeling of discomfort he couldn't explain. It wasn't the usual discomfort of hiding a part of himself, but something more intimate, more confusing. The thought that, perhaps for the first time in his life, he was about to face what he considered his greatest fear: confessing his feelings to Theo.

It felt like a huge step. Not because Theo wouldn't accept his feelings, but because Liam was afraid he wasn't enough. What if, after all, Theo didn't feel the same way? What if, after admitting to himself how deep his feelings were, he faced a reality where the boy he loved saw him only as a friend?

The fear of rejection paralyzed him. But at the same time, he no longer wanted to hide. He didn't want to live with that discomfort inside him anymore. He knew that, no matter how difficult it was, he had to take that step. If he truly wanted to be free, if he truly wanted to be himself, he had to face this truth. He had to face Theo.

The school day passed slowly, as it often does when you're anxious. Every time he saw Theo, his eyes tried to catch his, to read something in them that perhaps he had missed. Theo, as always, was confident, a little cheeky, but always sincere. There was never anything he hid, nothing unspoken between them—at least, that's what it seemed like. But maybe that's why Liam felt even more anxious. His anxiety grew every time Theo looked at him, as if he were waiting for something, as if he somehow sensed that there was more between them.

At lunch, they sat together, as usual. The silence between them was never heavy, but that day it felt stronger, like an invisible wall separating what Liam wanted to say from what he still couldn't bring himself to say. Theo looked at him, tilting his head slightly, and for a moment, he paused, as if he felt the same tension. "Are you okay?" he asked, his tone betraying a light but genuine concern.

Liam nodded, but couldn't hide his insecurity. "Yeah, I'm just thinking," he replied, and even his own words sounded empty. "Thinking about what?"

Liam felt like his words were at the bottom of a deep well, too far to be reached. But he knew he had to say them. He had to speak, or he would never get past the barrier he had built around himself.

"I'm serious," he continued, trying to keep his voice steady, but his heart was pounding. "I can't keep hiding what I feel." He sighed, taking a deep breath. "I like you... I like you more than I ever thought I could."

Theo looked at him silently for a moment, his eyes full of understanding, but there was no surprise. His reaction was calm, but a slow smile spread across his face. "I knew," he replied, his voice sounding so natural, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Liam stood still for a moment, waiting for a reaction he perhaps hoped he wouldn't hear but secretly longed to hear. Theo didn't need to say anything else, because everything was already written in his eyes, in the smile that now slowly spread across his face. "I knew," he repeated, as if it were a simple and normal fact.

Liam didn't know what to say. He felt like a part of him had finally been set free. "I... I didn't think it would be this easy," he murmured, the tension he had accumulated over the weeks dissolving in a wave of relief.

"It's not," said Theo, taking a slow, confident step toward him. "It's never been easy for anyone. But you're ready to face it, and for that, I admire you."

Liam, feeling the warmth of Theo's smile, felt his heart beat faster. He didn't know exactly what would happen next, but in that moment, in that small act of courage, he finally felt complete. The fear he had always lived with, the fear of being judged by others, vanished. He was now free to be himself.

And as Theo hugged him, Liam realized that everything he had tried to hide had never been a burden. It was just a part of him that needed to be accepted. And now, with Theo by his side, that part of him was finally free.

Liam knew that his life would never be the same. But for the first time, he didn't care. He was ready to live, to show himself, to be whoever he wanted to be. And he had another realization: there was no fear that could stop him, as long as he had Theo by his side.

It was only the beginning, but it was the right beginning. The beginning of his true life.

Hi! 🌟

Congratulations on finishing the latest chapter of In My Reflection! 🎉 I hope Liam and Theo's journey has touched you 💖

This is certainly not the end of their story. Their journey can always continue, and there are many more hearts to discover, more adventures, emotions, and love to experience. So, if you've grown attached to our characters, keep following us! New stories are on their way, and I can't wait to introduce you to new worlds, emotions, and challenges.

A huge thank you for staying with us until the end of this chapter. I promise you that In My Reflection is just the beginning! 🌈✨

See you soon with new stories,
Blue

PS: The song for this chapter is Still Into You by Paramore.

This song represents the growing realization of Liam's feelings for Theo. Even though it talks about a love that's already happened, the song expresses the fresh and genuine emotion of a love that is still growing and evolving. When Liam finally accepts his feelings and confesses to Theo, Still Into You captures the sweetness, hope, and courage that come with such a major turning point.

Note: I'm not a native english speaker so there might be some mistakes in my translation