The Arcadia house buzzed with the usual energy. Laughter and shouts echoed as the fraternity brothers battled it out on Just Dance, limbs flailing in exaggerated moves. The sharp scent of burnt popcorn mixed with the stickiness of spilled soda, a chaotic symphony of college life. Amidst the chaos, jij stood out.
Upstairs, Leonardo sat in his room, isolated. Dark circles framed his eyes, and his desk was a battlefield of discarded notes, drained highlighters, and an empty can of Monster perched precariously atop a textbook. Finals week had been unrelenting, even for someone like Leo, who thrived under pressure. But this time, the weight felt unbearable.
He had tried explaining it—his need for solitude to recharge. Words had failed him, stumbling awkwardly as he tried to convey the strain he felt. He didn't expect jij had interpreted his withdrawal differently. Miscommunication, that silent saboteur, had woven its way between them.
Leo thought the argument was behind them, that the tension had dissipated. He believed the storm had passed. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Later that afternoon, seeking solace, Leo booted up his Switch to immerse himself in Stardew Valley’s gentle world. But something was off. His saved data was gone. Not just in Stardew Valley—in every game. Hades. Animal Crossing. Sims 4. So much more. A cold realization settled over him as he stared at the screen. Only jij had access to his password. It had to be jij.
Anger surged through him, an unfamiliar and overwhelming tide. Leonardo, usually calm and composed, felt something primal awaken. His fists clenched, his knuckles whitening as he slammed them against the door. Once, twice, three times, the wood groaning under the force.
"Che cazzo..." he muttered, his voice low and trembling with barely restrained fury. He stormed downstairs, each step a thunderclap. The laughter and music in the living room ceased abruptly as he entered, his presence like a sudden storm darkening the horizon.
The Arcadia brothers froze. Even Felip, always quick to challenge, instinctively took a step back. Leonardo’s face was a mask of unfiltered rage, his dark eyes smoldering.
His gaze locked onto jij, who stood amidst the now-silent room. Without hesitation, he marched toward them, each step deliberate. The air around him seemed to crackle with intensity.
"A di puttana!" he roared, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade. "HOW DARE YOU DELETE ALL MY SAVED DATA BECAUSE WHAT!? I DIVORCED YOU IN STARDEW AFTER WE ARGUED ABOUT ME NEEDING SPACE? Pezzo di merda!"
His voice rose, shaking the very walls. Every word dripped with hurt and anger, raw and unchecked.
Felip moved to intervene, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Leo, man, calm down. This isn’t—"
"Stai zitto!" Leo snapped, his words sharp enough to cut. Felip froze, stunned into silence. Leo had never spoken to him or anyone like that before, never shown this level of unrestrained fury. He was always such a gentle mumbling soul.
Turning back to jij, Leo’s expression twisted further, a mix of betrayal and heartbreak. "That’s it! You vipera! WE’RE DONE! I never want to see you again! DON’T YOU EVER TALK TO ME!"
His hands shook as he reached for the frog phone charm dangling from his keychain—a small token of their bond. He yanked it off with a swift motion and hurled it at jij. The charm struck their chest lightly before falling to the floor with a faint clatter, its symbolic weight far heavier than its physical impact.
"Vaffanculo!" he spat, his voice cracking. With a final glare, he turned on his heel and stormed back upstairs. The slam of his door reverberated through the house, the lock clicking into place like the final note of a tragic symphony.
The living room remained still, the Arcadia brothers exchanging uneasy glances. Felip ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "What the hell just happened?"
No one answered with the rest of the Arcadia brothers exchanging shocked expressions.
