I didn't want to skip class, but his innocent face was too hard to resist. I nodded and walked outside with him. We found a spot on the ground and sat on a plain rock. He gazed up at the clear sky and let out a sigh. He remained silent for a while, and I didn't want to disturb him because he seemed so at peace. This was the side of him I wanted to see. All I knew was that I didn't want to see him in pain. I realized I had been staring at him for a while without even blinking. I looked up at the sky and wondered to myself - 'Is it wrong to gaze at your friend like this? He's my best friend, so it shouldn't be strange if I want to see him relaxed and happy. But why do I feel different?'

"Rehaan," Tevin called out softly.

I turned to look at him. His eyes were shining brightly in the sun.

I nodded. "Hmm..." I didn't want to say much.

"You have something to ask me. Go ahead and ask whatever you want," he said, pausing for a moment before exhaling. "I'll answer all your questions."

"Are you sure you're ready?" I inquired.

He nodded. "I'm ready for you. I can tell you anything," he assured me.

I moved closer to him. "About what the teacher mentioned earlier..." I trailed off, rubbing my nose.

"That," he said with a forced smile, then continued, "It's just that, you know I always come here on my bike. The truth is, my parents didn't allow me to ride it. They were afraid I might get into an accident. But I didn't listen to them and wanted to ride, so they asked our teacher to keep an eye on me. That's all," he explained.

"And are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, I've been dealing with that since I was a kid. I'm used to it," he mentioned.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I just said," he replied, looking at me to see my confusion. "Rehaan, I grew up in a household with two teachers. Just think, if I misbehaved or got bad grades, who would it reflect poorly on? My parents. If a teacher's child misbehaves, people will say that if a teacher can't even discipline their own child, how can they teach others? It would be a huge disappointment for them."

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I began to grasp his point. Tears welled up in his eyes.

"My parents instilled this in me from a young age. They emphasized the importance of education but never taught me about the value of life. They loved and cared for me, but I always felt like it was because they wanted to maintain a certain image. I always felt this pressure inside me. Haven't we all heard that we're like pressure cookers, filled with the expectations of others? I've experienced more than that. All I can say is that they don't want a son who fails. I've always followed their rules until now. But Rehaan, I envy other kids who can do as they please."

I reached out and held Tevin's hands. He gripped mine tightly and lowered his head.

"Rehaan, I'm tired of that life. I want to live happily. I want to be a rebellious kid. I'm done with being the good kid. I want to drink, smoke, and do all the things boys do. I want to decide for myself what's right and wrong." Tears streamed down his face.

"Tevin, please... don't say anymore," I interrupted, patting his shoulder. He looked up and hugged me, and I held him close as he cried.

"Rehaan, I don't want to be the good boy anymore. I don't want to please everyone," he confessed.

"Tevin, you can live life on your terms. I'll always have your back. I promise," I assured him, shedding tears alongside him. It was the first time I cried for someone other than my parents. It was the first time I felt strange hugging another man. I couldn't quite place the feeling at that moment. And when I finally understood it, I had lost him completely.

To be continued...