The seminary bell rang loudly across the courtyard, echoing through the tall stone buildings.
Michael walked through the gate with his small bag over his shoulder, his eyes scanning the familiar environment. The quiet discipline of the place felt very different now after everything that had happened during the past few days.
The vacation.
The hospital.
Lucas.
His chest tightened slightly at the thought.
Students moved around the courtyard, greeting one another after the short break. Some carried books, others laughed loudly as they reunited with friends.
But Michael's eyes searched for only one person.
And then he saw him.
Lucas stood near the chapel steps, speaking with a few other seminarians.
For a brief moment their eyes met.
Neither of them smiled too openly, but the look they exchanged carried a warmth that words could never explain.
They both quickly looked away.
Being careful had already become necessary.
Michael pushed open the dormitory door slowly.
The familiar smell of books, polished wood, and old walls filled the room. His bed was exactly where he had left it, the small desk beside it still neatly arranged.
But before he could even drop his bag—
"Michael!"
Sam's voice exploded from the other side of the room.
Michael barely had time to react before Sam jumped up from his chair and grabbed him in a tight hug.
"You're finally back!" Sam said, laughing.
Michael laughed too and patted his back.
"I've been gone for like three days, not three years."
Sam stepped back and looked at him carefully.
"You still look alive, so that's good."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"Was that ever in doubt?"
Sam crossed his arms dramatically.
"With you? Always."
They both laughed.
"Your aunt is better now?"
Sam nodded while sitting on his bed.
"Yeah, she's doing much better. My mother practically forced me to stay two extra days though."
"That's good," Michael said sincerely.
Sam leaned back on his elbows.
"So while I was gone… what did I miss?"
Michael hesitated slightly.
"Not much."
Sam stared at him for a long moment.
Then he slowly smiled.
"Oh no."
Michael frowned.
"What?"
"That smile," Sam said, pointing at him. "That is not a 'not much' smile."
Michael shook his head.
"You're imagining things."
Sam leaned forward with curiosity.
"Michael."
"What?"
"Did something happen while I was gone?"
Michael just hissed.
Sam immediately pulled his chair closer, curiosity all over his face.
"So," he said eagerly, "tell me everything.
Michael blinked.
"Everything about what?"
"Your mysterious three-day trip," Sam said.
Michael blood immediately felt warm with shock on his face.
"How do you know about that", he said
Sam laughed.
"Remember I have his Whatsapp number",
"He posted some pictures of you and him during the vacation with a caption, my best friend."
Michael smiles at first but pretends to be serious.
"Ok now that you know", Michael said
Michael leaned back on the bed with a small smile.
"It wasn't mysterious."
Sam stared at him.
"Michael, you literally went for a full long vacation without calling me to join you or send some pictures to me."
"It was just a short vacation."
"That is absolutely not true," Sam said proudly.
Michael shook his head, still smiling.
"It was peaceful though."
Sam leaned forward.
"What did you do?"
Michael thought for a moment.
"There were hills… flowers everywhere… and a river nearby."
Sam sighed dramatically.
"That sounds illegal."
Michael laughed.
"We also cooked."
Sam stared at him in disbelief.
"You cooked?"
"Yes."
"And the food survived?"
"Barely," Michael replied with a grin.
Sam shook his head.
"I should have been there to supervise."
Michael leaned back comfortably, enjoying the light conversation.
For a moment Sam studied him quietly.
"You look different though," Sam said.
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"Different how?"
Sam shrugged.
"Just… happier."
Michael paused for a second, then looked away slightly.
"Maybe the break helped."
Sam smiled.
"Well whatever happened on that vacation… I'm glad it worked."
Later that afternoon the seminarians gathered in the main hall.
The rector stood at the front, adjusting his glasses before speaking.
"This year," he announced, "our seminary will participate in the Inter-Seminary Academic and Cultural Competition."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"The competitions will include choir, debate, theology quiz, and sports. We expect our seminarians to represent this institution with excellence."
Excitement filled the hall.
Students began whispering and discussing which competitions they would join.
Lucas leaned slightly toward Michael from the row behind him.
"You're definitely joining the debate,"
Lucas whispered.
Michael glanced back briefly.
"And you're definitely joining the choir."
Lucas grinned.
The dormitory had grown quiet that evening.
Most of the seminarians had gone to evening prayers, and the corridor outside Michael's room was calm. A soft breeze slipped through the slightly open window, rustling the pages of a book on his desk.
Michael sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone.
For a moment he hesitated.
Then he finally tapped Grace's contact and lifted the phone to his ear.
The call rang twice before someone answered.
"Hello?"
Grace's voice came through the speaker, softer than usual but still cheerful.
Michael's face relaxed immediately.
"Grace."
She laughed lightly.
"Wow… someone sounds serious. Are you calling to check if I'm still alive?"
Michael shook his head with a small smile.
"Don't joke like that."
"I'm kidding," she said. "I'm fine."
Michael leaned back against the wall.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better," she replied. "Much better actually."
He let out a quiet breath.
"And Mom and Dad?"
"They're here," Grace said. "Mom refuses to leave the hospital room. Dad keeps pretending he's calm but he checks the doctor every five minutes."
Michael chuckled softly.
"That sounds like them."
Grace's voice grew warmer.
"They miss you too."
Michael looked down at the floor.
"I wish I could stay longer."
"You already came to see me," she said gently. "That meant a lot."
They talked for a while after that.
Grace told him about the nurses who kept scolding her for trying to sit up too often. Michael told her about returning to the seminary and how the place already felt busy again.
At one point she suddenly asked,
"Did you see Lucas today?"
Michael blinked.
"Yes."
Grace hummed knowingly.
"I like him."
Michael laughed quietly.
"I know."
"He looks at you like you're the most important person in the room."
Michael didn't answer immediately.
A small smile appeared on his face instead.
After a moment he cleared his throat.
"So… what did the doctors say today?"
Grace sounded calm.
"They said I'm improving."
Michael straightened slightly.
"Really?"
"Yeah," she replied. "Actually… I'm being discharged today."
Michael sat up fully.
"You're serious?"
"Mm-hmm."
"But I'll still be on medication," Grace added quickly. "And they want regular check-ups."
Michael nodded slowly even though she couldn't see him.
"That's still good news."
"It is," she said.
There was a small pause.
"Michael?"
"Yes?"
Grace's voice softened.
"Don't worry too much about me."
Michael leaned his head back against the wall again.
"That's impossible."
Grace laughed.
"You've always been like that."
"Well," Michael replied quietly, "you scared me."
There was silence for a second.
Then Grace said gently,
"I'm okay now."
Michael smiled faintly.
"I'm glad."
They talked a little longer about home, about their parents, and about the small things happening in the hospital.
Finally Grace sighed softly.
"I should rest before they let me go home."
"Okay," Michael said.
"Take care of yourself too," she added.
"I will."
"And tell Lucas I said hello."
Michael laughed quietly.
"I will."
The call ended a moment later.
Michael lowered the phone slowly.
For the first time since the terrible hospital news…
his heart felt a little lighter.
The following days became busy.
Michael spent hours in the library preparing for the debate competition. Books on theology and philosophy surrounded him as he carefully wrote notes and arguments.
Lucas, meanwhile, practiced with the choir.
His voice carried beautifully through the chapel during rehearsals, making even the older priests nod with quiet approval.
But despite the busy schedule, Michael and Lucas remained careful.
They met less often.
Sometimes their communication happened through small tricks
A folded note hidden between pages of a library book.
A quick message sent late at night.
A brief glance across the dining hall that lasted only a second.
Sometimes that was enough.
But not everyone was blind.
Francis had begun noticing things.
The way Lucas occasionally looked toward Michael during meals.
The way Michael sometimes avoided certain conversations when Lucas was nearby.
Francis said nothing.
But his eyes watched.
Competition day finally arrived.
Students from other seminaries filled the grounds, their uniforms different but their excitement the same.
Michael stood among the debate participants, adjusting his collar.
Across the courtyard Lucas stood with the choir group.
When their eyes met briefly, Lucas raised his fist slightly in encouragement.
Michael smiled.
The day passed with intense activity.
The debates were fierce.
Arguments about theology, morality, and philosophy filled the hall.
When Michael finally delivered his final speech, the room fell silent as he spoke with calm confidence.
By the end, the judges applauded.
Later in the chapel, the choir performance began.
Lucas's voice rose above the others with powerful clarity, filling the high ceilings with beautiful harmony.
Even visiting priests whispered impressed comments.
By evening the results were announced.
"Our winners this year…"
The rector paused dramatically.
"…St. Louis Seminary!"
Cheers exploded across the courtyard.
Students laughed, hugged, and congratulated one another.
Michael and Lucas both stood among the celebrating crowd.
But neither of them could celebrate properly there.
Not openly.
Later that night, after most of the students had returned to their dormitories, Michael walked quietly toward one of the empty classrooms near the back corridor.
A few seconds later the door opened behind him.
Lucas slipped inside and closed it softly.
For a moment they simply looked at each other.
Then Lucas laughed quietly.
"We actually won."
Michael nodded.
"You were amazing in the choir."
"And you destroyed that debate," Lucas replied.
The excitement between them slowly turned into something softer.
Lucas stepped closer.
"You know I wanted to hug you earlier."
Michael smiled slightly.
"That would have caused a scandal."
Lucas chuckled.
"Probably."
The room was quiet except for their breathing.
Then Lucas gently pulled Michael closer.
The hug came first.
Warm.
Relieved.
Happy.
Michael rested his head briefly against Lucas's shoulder.
"You have no idea how proud I am of you," Lucas murmured.
Michael looked up.
Before either of them could think twice, their lips met in a quick, tender kiss.
Just a moment.
Just enough to celebrate.
But they weren't alone.
Outside the classroom door, Francis stood silently.
His phone was already raised.
Click.
The camera captured the exact moment.
Inside the room Michael and Lucas separated, unaware.
Francis looked at the photo on his screen and smiled slowly.
Later that night Michael's phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown sender.
He opened it.
His blood ran cold.
It was the photo.
The picture of him and Lucas kissing.
Another message appeared beneath it.
"Meet me behind the old storage building tomorrow night."
Michael's hands began to shake.
"If you don't do exactly what I say…
this picture goes on the school portal."
Michael stared at the screen in horror.
For the first time since falling in love with Lucas…
their secret was no longer safe.