Morning settled gently over the Vedman household.
By the time Felix finished freshening up, the smell of breakfast had already spread through the house. He headed downstairs to find his father seated at the dining table, reading the newspaper with the calm focus Felix remembered well.
His father always looked most at ease in the mornings.
His mother had just served poha onto the plates, moving around the table with quiet efficiency.
Felix took his seat.
They ate in comfortable silence. The clinking of cutlery and the rustling of newspaper filled the room. It wasn't awkward. It was the kind of silence that existed between people who didn't feel the need to fill every gap with words.
Breakfast and dinner together had always been a family ritual in the Vedman household.
After a few minutes, Felix spoke.
"Dad," he said carefully, "I want to help at the shop."
Krishna lowered the newspaper slightly. "Help?"
Even Radha looked surprised.
"After school," Felix continued. "Part-time. I want to understand everything—how you manage stock, how you deal with customers, how money flows in and out."
Radha said gently, "If you need money, you can just ask."
Felix shook his head immediately. "That's not it."
Krishna folded the newspaper and placed it aside, giving Felix his full attention.
"I don't want allowances," Felix said. "I want responsibility."
Krishna raised an eyebrow.
"This shop," Felix continued, gesturing vaguely toward the storefront's direction, "it's more than just a way to survive. I know how much it means to you. I want to help you grow it."
Krishna leaned back slightly. "You're still in school."
"I know," Felix replied. "And I promise it won't affect my studies."
"But you're already managing studies and sports," Krishna said. "Why the sudden interest in a part-time job?"
Felix answered seriously, "I want to be independent. I want to see the real world with my own eyes. And if I can't work here, then I'll find work somewhere else."
That made Krishna pause.
"You'd rather work outside?"
Felix nodded. "If I have to. I want to earn what I get."
Krishna looked at his son for a long moment. Not suspiciously. Not defensively.
Proudly.
"Alright," Krishna said at last. "You can help. But if your grades drop, this ends."
Felix smiled, relief and determination mixing in his chest. "Deal."
The decision settled quietly between them—simple, but meaningful.
After breakfast, Felix and Alex went to get ready for school.
A few minutes later, hurried footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Alex appeared in a slightly messy uniform, fumbling with his shoelaces.
"You're late," Felix said.
Alex groaned. "I know."
Krishna and Radha are already used to Alex being late.
"We are going," they said in unison.
"Take care," Radha said.
They stepped outside together, the morning air cool against their skin. Alex's middle school was on the way, so they walked side by side, backpacks slung over their shoulders.
For a while, they talked about nothing—classes, teachers, complaints that only made sense to siblings.
Then Felix spoke casually.
"So… how's your tournament going?"
Alex froze mid-step.
Felix noticed immediately.
"What do you mean?" Alex said too quickly.
Felix stopped walking.
Alex took a few steps before realizing and turning back. "What?"
Felix looked at him calmly. "There was an online tournament recently."
Alex's eyes widened. "How do you know?"
Felix didn't answer right away. "Did you play?"
Alex sighed. "Yeah."
"And?"
"I won," Alex said defensively. "I even got prize money."
Felix nodded slowly. Winning wasn't the issue.
"What if you hadn't?" Felix asked. "Don't you know how risky it is to put money into online tournaments? What if it was a fraud?"
Alex frowned. "I would've managed. And I checked twice before participating."
"That's not an answer," Felix said gently.
Alex looked away.
Felix stepped closer. "You're talented. I know that. But talent doesn't give you the right to take risks alone."
Alex clenched his jaw. "I didn't want to bother anyone."
Felix's voice softened, but his words stayed firm. "You shouldn't hide things like this. Not from me. Not from Mom and Dad."
Alex swallowed. "I'm sorry."
Felix placed a hand on his shoulder. "Next time, if you need money—or support—you come to me first. I'll also look for official esports competitions for you. No shortcuts. No secrets."
Alex nodded slowly. "Okay."
Felix squeezed his shoulder once. "Now go. You're already late."
Alex ran toward the school gate, glancing back once before disappearing inside.
Felix stood still for a moment longer.
He remembered how, much later, Alex had lost another tournament and tried to fix things the wrong way. That had been the moment when the distance between them began.
'Not this time,' Felix thought.
He turned and continued toward his own school.
Halfway there, the roar of an engine cut through the quiet morning.
Felix looked up.
A sleek sports bike rolled to a stop beside him, polished metal catching the sunlight.
Nikhil sat on it, helmet under his arm, grin wide and unrestrained.
"Well?" Nikhil asked. "Jealous?"
Felix laughed softly, pretending to be shocked. "Ooooh. Since when did you turn into a movie hero?"
"My first bike," Nikhil said proudly. "Dad gifted it yesterday—right after I got my license."
Felix circled the bike slowly. "So this is why you were acting mysterious yesterday."
"Jealousy doesn't suit you," Nikhil said smugly.
Felix smirked. "I'm just wondering how many traffic rules you plan to break today."
"Only the legal amount," Nikhil replied.
"Hop on," he added. "We're getting late."
Felix didn't hesitate.
The engine surged as they took off, wind rushing past them, the city blurring into motion. Laughter escaped Felix before he could stop it.
These memories weren't heavy.
They were warm.
As they neared the school, Felix spotted Dev standing near the gate.
Dev's expression shifted instantly.
"Is that—no way."
Nikhil revved the engine once before parking.
Felix stepped off.
Dev stared at the bike. Then at Nikhil. Then back at the bike.
"How is he allowed to bring this inside the school perimeter?" Dev asked slowly.
Nikhil grinned. "Perks of having a license."
Dev shook his head. "Unfair. Completely unfair."
Felix chuckled. "You're just upset he didn't pick you up first."
The three of them walked toward the gate together, still arguing lightly about the bike.
Students streamed in around them. Noise. Laughter. Chaos.
As they entered the school grounds, Felix glanced back once at the road they'd come from.
'Step by step,' he thought.
And this time, he was choosing every one of them.