Last days at international high

Morning came quietly to the Walker residence. Soft golden sunlight slipped through the tall cream curtains, painting long streaks of light across the polished wooden floor. Outside, the neatly trimmed gardens swayed gently beneath the cool morning breeze, while birds perched on flowering hedges sang cheerful melodies to welcome the new day. Inside the mansion, almost everyone was awake. Everyone... ...except Henry Walker. His bedroom reflected the quiet elegance of a wealthy family. A king-sized bed occupied the centre of the spacious room, its navy-blue duvet lying untidily across the mattress after another restless night's sleep. A large mahogany wardrobe stood against one wall, while a sleek study desk rested beside a wide glass window overlooking the estate. Books, neatly stacked files, and several academic awards shared space with football medals and trophies earned through years of dedication. Above the bed hung two Real Madrid posters. One had faded with age, its corners beginning to curl, while the other was bright and new. Henry had refused to remove the older one. It had been his first football poster, a birthday gift from his father many years ago, and he intended to keep it there for as long as he could. Everything in the room had its place. Everything was neat. Everything was organised. Except the young man sleeping peacefully beneath the morning sun. Henry Walker lay sprawled across the bed, one arm hanging lazily over the edge while his blanket rested on the floor. At eighteen, he had perfected the remarkable talent of sleeping through almost anything. The bedroom door opened slowly. A tall young man stepped inside with a knowing smile playing on his lips. It was Dave. At twenty-two, Dave Walker looked every bit the confident young adult. He was slightly taller than Henry, with neatly trimmed black hair, expressive brown eyes, and an easy smile that could brighten even the dullest room. Though undeniably handsome, there was always a playful glint in his eyes that hinted he was probably planning something he shouldn't. Unlike Henry, Dave rarely thought before acting. He was adventurous, impulsive, and forever finding himself in situations that required lengthy explanations to their parents. Yet beneath that carefree nature was a fiercely loyal brother who loved his family more than he ever admitted. Standing beside the bed, Dave folded his arms and shook his head. "You really can sleep through the end of the world." He reached out and gently nudged Henry's shoulder. Nothing. Henry didn't move. Dave laughed quietly. "Still asleep?" He tried again. This time he nudged him a little harder. "Henry..." Silence. Only the soft rhythm of breathing filled the room. Dave sighed dramatically. "You're unbelievable." He glanced toward the window before smiling to himself. "Alright then..." He leaned forward and gave Henry one final nudge. "The third nudge." Henry's eyebrows twitched. A soft groan escaped his lips before his eyelids slowly fluttered open. For a brief moment, his vision remained blurred. Then it cleared. "...Dave?" His sleepy voice was barely above a whisper. Dave grinned. "Morning, little brother." Henry rubbed his eyes before sitting upright with a yawn. "When did you get home?" "Late last night." Henry blinked twice. "I thought you were supposed to be in school." Dave rubbed the back of his neck and gave an awkward smile. "Well... things didn't exactly go as planned." Henry narrowed his eyes. "What happened this time?" Dave let out a nervous chuckle. "You'll hear about it soon enough." Henry sighed, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "So... another problem?" "You could say that." The brothers shared a laugh—the kind that only brothers who had grown up together could understand. Henry swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. At eighteen, he had grown into a young man who attracted attention without ever asking for it. Standing just over six feet tall, he possessed the lean, athletic physique of someone who spent countless hours training on the football field. His broad shoulders, naturally toned frame, neatly trimmed dark hair, and calm hazel eyes gave him an effortless charm that many admired. There was a quiet confidence about him. Never pride. Never arrogance. Simply confidence born from discipline and humility. Teachers respected him. Students admired him. Even strangers often found themselves trusting him after only a few minutes of conversation. Henry picked up a clean white towel from the chair. "I'm going to take a shower." Dave nodded innocently. "Go ahead." Henry stopped at the bathroom door and looked back. "And don't touch my things." Dave placed a hand on his chest. "Me? Never." Henry raised an eyebrow. "I know you too well." Both brothers laughed before Henry disappeared into the bathroom. A few moments later, the sound of running water echoed through the room. Dave remained where he was. For exactly five seconds. Then... His eyes wandered toward the bedside table. A beautiful silver wristwatch rested inside a leather tray, its polished surface sparkling beneath the morning sunlight. Dave slowly walked over. "Now that's a beautiful watch..." He picked it up carefully, turning it from side to side as he admired the craftsmanship. "You always get the best things, brother." Unable to resist, he slipped the watch onto his wrist. He smiled proudly at his reflection in the dressing mirror. "Looks good on me." Just then... The bathroom door clicked open. Henry stepped out, drying his hair with a towel. He stopped. His eyes fell immediately on Dave's wrist. "...Seriously?" Dave froze. A guilty smile slowly spread across his face. "I was only trying it on." Henry walked closer and stretched out his hand. "My watch." Dave removed it reluctantly. "I knew you'd notice." Henry chuckled softly. "You've never been good at hiding anything." Dave looked down at the watch before speaking quietly. "Can I... have it?" Henry looked at him for a few seconds. Then, without another word, he gently placed the watch back into Dave's hand. "If you like it that much..." He smiled warmly. "...it's yours." Dave stared at him in disbelief. "Seriously?" Henry nodded. "You've wanted a good watch for months." Without thinking, Dave pulled his younger brother into a tight hug. "Thank you, bro." Henry laughed. "You're welcome... now let me breathe." The cool morning breeze greeted him immediately, carrying the fresh scent of dew-covered flowers from the neatly manicured gardens surrounding the Walker estate. For a brief moment, he stood still, taking a slow, deep breath. The tension that had filled the dining room lingered in his mind, but he pushed it aside. There was nothing he could do about it now. Adjusting the strap of his school bag, he walked down the paved driveway toward a sleek black Mercedes-Benz C-Class parked beneath the shade of a flowering tree. It wasn't the most expensive car in the family's garage, but it was the one his father trusted him to drive. Henry unlocked the car with the press of a button. Beep. The headlights flashed. Just as he reached for the driver's door— "Bro!" Henry turned toward the familiar voice and couldn't help smiling. Lucas was jogging toward him, waving both hands excitedly. Unlike Henry, Lucas wasn't particularly tall. He stood at about five feet eight, with a slim build, chocolate-brown skin, curly black hair that always seemed impossible to tame, and bright brown eyes that sparkled with endless energy. There was always a smile on his face, even on the worst of days. Many people wondered how the two had become such close friends. Henry was one of the brightest students in school—disciplined, calm, and admired by teachers. Lucas... Well, Lucas somehow managed to survive every examination by the narrowest of margins. Yet their friendship had never been about grades. It had begun years ago, and neither of them had ever looked back. The moment Lucas reached him, he spread his arms dramatically. "My guy!" Henry laughed before pulling him into a quick brotherly hug. When they stepped apart, Henry playfully ruffled Lucas's curly hair. "You're getting louder every holiday." Lucas groaned as he tried to fix his hair. "Will you stop doing that?" "I've been doing it for years." "And I still hate it." "Good." The two burst into laughter. "So," Henry asked, unlocking the passenger door, "how was your holiday?" Lucas sighed deeply. "It started well." "And?" "It ended with my result." Henry raised an eyebrow. "That bad?" Lucas scratched the back of his neck. "I barely passed Mathematics." Henry wasn't surprised. "What about English?" "I passed." "Biology?" Lucas smiled proudly. "I passed that too." Henry folded his arms. "And Chemistry?" Lucas looked away. "We don't have to talk about Chemistry." Henry chuckled. "I'll take that as a failure." Lucas threw his hands into the air dramatically. "That subject has sworn an oath against me." Henry laughed. "No, you've sworn an oath against reading." Lucas placed a hand over his heart. "I tried." "For how long?" Lucas thought for a moment. "...Thirty minutes." Henry stared at him. "For the entire holiday?" Lucas smiled sheepishly. "I got distracted." "By what?" "My sketchbook." Henry smiled knowingly. That sounded exactly like Lucas. Although he struggled academically, there was one thing Lucas could do better than almost anyone. Drawing. Give him a pencil, a blank sheet of paper, and enough time, and he could create breathtaking works of art. Landscapes, portraits, cartoons, buildings—he seemed capable of drawing almost anything that came to mind. It was his escape. His passion. Unfortunately, books didn't excite him the same way. Henry had spent years helping him with Mathematics, English and Science, even whispering the occasional answer during examinations whenever the opportunity presented itself. Without that help... Lucas often joked that he would probably still be repeating the same class. Henry smiled and shook his head. "One day you're going to study as hard as you draw." Lucas laughed. "And pigs will fly." Henry pointed toward the passenger seat. "Hop in." Lucas didn't need to be told twice. He swung the door open, tossed his backpack onto the back seat and settled comfortably. "Now this is how every school morning should begin." Henry climbed into the driver's seat, started the engine and fastened his seatbelt. "You ready?" Lucas flashed his usual grin. "Always." The Mercedes rolled smoothly out of the Walker estate and onto the main road. As the city slowly came to life around them, the two friends continued talking about their holidays, laughing over old memories, teasing one another, and completely unaware that this ordinary school morning would soon become the beginning of a story that would change their lives forever.