𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧 ᴊᴏʏʟᴀᴅᴀ / ɢᴇᴍғᴏᴜʀᴛʜ

Ch. 18 ~ Love dilemma

"Fin, how are you?"

Amity asked the question while they were playing football together. Griffin wasn't really in the mood to play, but he needed something to distract himself and take his mind off things. It had been quite some time since he last hung out with Amity, and deep down, he felt a bit guilty. Lately, he had been giving most of his attention to Wyatt and hadn't spent much time with anyone else.

Now that he finally had the chance to be with Amity again, he wanted to make it count. He knew they had missed moments together, and he hoped this small time they shared could help bring back the closeness they used to have.

"I'm okay. Want to play another round?"

Griffin replied with a cheerful tone, even though he was forcing himself to sound happy. He bent down, picked up the ball from the ground, and kicked it hard, sending it flying across the field. Amity let out a laugh and quickly ran after the ball. In that moment, everything felt lighter. Without needing to say anything more, they began playing again, chasing, kicking, and laughing as if nothing else mattered. For a little while, he forgot his worries and simply enjoyed being with his friend, like the old times.

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"How's your son?"

Lobo talked to Theo as they sat together, sipping coffee at their favorite café. It was a small, quiet place they often visited whenever they needed a break or had something serious to discuss. Since they become friends, it had become their go-to spot for sharing thoughts and updates, especially about the case they were both working on. The familiar smell of coffee and the calm atmosphere helped them think clearly as they talked things through.

It had been three whole months since Wyatt and Griffin last saw each other. During that time, things had been calmer between their families. There were no more arguments or worries, and it seemed like everyone finally had a chance to breathe. On the outside, everything looked peaceful. But deep down, each person could feel that something was different now. The distance between Wyatt and Griffin had left an emptiness, like a quiet space where something important used to be. Even though no one talked about it out loud, the change was there, quietly felt by everyone. Both Wyatt and Griffin were acting differently. Neither of them showed interest in going out or joining big events, especially those organized by their group.

Wyatt tried to stay busy by focusing on his work and the responsibilities he had. It helped him keep his mind off things. On the other hand, Griffin spent most of his time studying, using school as a way to stay distracted. Neither of them talked about how they truly felt, but it was obvious that being apart had taken a toll on both of them. The silence between them spoke louder than words. Even though they acted like everything was fine, anyone who looked closely could see that the distance had hurt them more than they were willing to admit.

"I'm not sure if I should say Griffin is doing fine, because honestly, I can see that he's not okay. My son barely talks to us anymore, and it breaks my heart to see him like that. I also feel sorry for my husband. Griffin just keeps ignoring Dian, and I know it hurts him."

"Don't you think we've been too strict with them? Wyatt hasn't said anything, but I can tell he's struggling too. He's been pushing himself too hard during training. Even at night, when everyone else is asleep, he's still walking around the camp like he can't rest."

Lobo was deeply worried about his son. Even though he and Wyatt weren't very close, and Wyatt never really shared his thoughts or feelings with him, Lobo knew his son always listened. Wyatt never argued or talked back. He followed whatever Lobo told him to do, not only because Lobo was his father, but also because he was their leader.