Chapter 77 A Favor
Liam's POV
"What do you want from me, Liam?" Daniel asked.
The moment he opened the door and saw me standing there, his expression changed. His jaw tightened, and his eyes filled with quiet frustration he did not bother to hide. He was not happy to see me. I could not blame him. If our positions were reversed, I would probably feel the same. Maybe even worse.
He had every right to be angry. If I had never transferred to Suncrest Academy, if I had stayed away from Mia's world, things would have been different. Easier. She might be his girlfriend now. He might be the one walking her home, making her laugh, being the person she looked for first.
But life did not choose that path. And neither did I.
I was here now, standing at his door, carrying the weight of my choices. Walking away was no longer an option.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. I held his gaze even when the tension between us felt suffocating. I did not come here to argue, but I also did not come to hide.
He studied my face for a few long seconds, like he was deciding if I was worth his patience. Then he released a slow breath.
"You're lucky my mom likes you," he said.
His tone was calm, but the message was clear. He stepped aside and opened the door wider, letting me in without another word. It was not exactly welcoming, but it was not rejection either.
I walked inside and immediately noticed how different his home felt from mine. His house felt warm and alive. The air carried the comforting smell of home cooked food. Framed photos lined the walls, full of smiles and memories. It felt like the kind of place where people talked over dinner and stayed together in the same room just because they enjoyed each other's company.
Footsteps came from the kitchen, and then his mother appeared. The moment she saw me, her face lit up with a genuine smile.
"Liam! It's been a while," she said kindly.
"Good evening, ma'am," I replied, straightening a little out of respect.
She asked how I was doing and how school had been. She listened to my answers like they actually mattered. Before I could even finish speaking, she was already inviting me to stay for dinner.
"You should eat with us," she said. "There's more than enough food."
I glanced at Daniel. He looked away, clearly not excited about the idea, but he did not protest. That alone told me he respected his mother too much to refuse.
"Thank you, ma'am," I said. "I don't want to intrude."
"You're not intruding," she said warmly. "You're always welcome here. You're Daniel's friend."
The word friend settled strangely in my chest. Daniel and I looked at each other for a brief second. Too much had happened between us for that word to feel simple. There were things we both knew but never said. Feelings, misunderstandings, and one girl standing at the center of it all.
Still, I managed a small smile. "Thank you. I'd like to stay."
She returned to the kitchen, leaving us alone again.
The silence between Daniel and me came back quickly. It was heavy with history, with Mia, with choices neither of us could take back.
I did not come here just to share a meal.
I came because there were things that needed to be said. And sooner or later, I would have to find the courage to say them.
I rubbed the back of my neck, gathering the courage to speak. The words felt heavy in my throat, but I forced them out anyway.
"Look, I am sorry," I started.
Daniel's eyebrows lifted slightly as he looked at me, clearly confused by my tone.
"I wasn't sure what you're apologizing for, Liam," he said.
I swallowed and met his eyes. There was no point circling around it.
"About Mia," I said quietly. "About taking her away from you."
For a second, he just stared at me. Then he let out a short laugh and shook his head, like he could not believe what he was hearing.
"Taking her away from me?" he repeated. "Liam, Mia was never mine to begin with."
He leaned back a little, crossing his arms, but there was no real anger in his posture. If anything, he looked tired.
"She was never my girlfriend," he continued. "And if we are being honest, she only ever liked you."
He looked away after saying that, his gaze drifting to the floor like the admission cost him something. Like it was the truth he had already made peace with, even if it still stung.
"You don't need to apologize, man," he added more quietly. "You didn't steal anything from me."
His words should have relieved me. Instead, the guilt in my chest only grew heavier.
"I know that. But I still feel guilty." I responded.
I exhaled slowly, trying to explain what I really meant.
"You were there for her when I wasn't. You listened to her. You made her feel safe. While I was busy messing things up." I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. "Anyone in your place would have fallen for her. And anyone in mine would feel like they hurt a friend."
Daniel studied my face, like he was checking if I truly meant it.
"I never wanted to hurt you," I continued. "Not you. Not her. But somehow, it still turned out that way."
The room grew quiet for a moment.
Then Daniel sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little.
"You know what hurts more than losing a chance with Mia?" he said.
I looked at him, waiting.
"Watching her get hurt," he answered. "And when she cried because of you, yeah, I was mad. Not because I wanted her to be mine, but because she didn't deserve that."
His honesty hit harder than anger would have.
"But she still chose you," he went on. "Even after everything. That should tell you something."
I nodded slowly, my chest tight.
"It does," I said. "And that's exactly why I'm trying to do better now."
For the first time since I arrived, his expression softened a little.
"Then do better," he said simply. "That's all you owe her. Not me."
I let his words sink in. They felt more than fair. Still, I looked at him and said it one more time, because it mattered to me.
"I'm sorry, Daniel. For real."
He held my gaze for a second, then gave a small nod.
"Yeah," he said. "I know."
And somehow, that quiet understanding between us felt like the first step to fixing what we almost broke.
"But Mia was really hurt about what happened between you two. She still needs you, Dan," I told him.
He looked at me quietly, so I continued.
"I hope you can be close to her again. She misses spending time with you. And... I need you to be there for her too."
Daniel let out a heavy sigh before answering.
"I am still her friend, Liam. I just needed time to heal. But some pain does not leave that easily."
His words filled me with even more guilt. I knew I was part of the reason he was hurting.
So I asked him for a favor. I did not expect much, and I honestly was not sure he would do it.
But he did.
On the day of the game, I saw Mia in the stands wearing my jersey. She was in the front row, smiling and cheering.
My chest felt light. I could not stop smiling like a fool on the field.
For the first time, I played not because of pressure, not because of my family, but because I wanted to make her proud. And that day, I gave my best game for her.