The Weekend Promise
1363 Words
The hybrid academy grounds glowed under the late afternoon sun, and the training arena was finally quiet after the second session. Students poured out of the lecture hall in groups, chatting loudly, laughing, and replaying moments from training.
James walked beside Kennedy and Jersey, still thinking about everything.
His parents.
Lena.
And the strange way everyone had suddenly started whispering about T. L.
---
James had barely recovered from meeting his parents.
Mrs. Erica Dickson and Mr. Eric Dickson had welcomed him with tears and open arms, as though they had been waiting sixteen years for that exact moment.
The moment they saw him, they both rushed forward.
“James…” Mrs. Erica whispered, her voice trembling.
James stood frozen for a second.
Then something inside him broke.
He stepped forward and hugged them both tightly.
His mother held his face in both hands, smiling through tears.
“You’ve grown so much.”
Mr. Eric smiled warmly.
“You look exactly like I imagined.”
James swallowed hard.
He had so many questions.
But somehow… in that moment, all of them disappeared.
He only said quietly,
“So… you’re really my parents?”
Mrs. Erica laughed softly and kissed his forehead.
“Yes, sweetheart. We are.”
---
They sat together for a while under one of the academy’s crystal canopies near the hybrid dormitory.
His parents explained how they had worked for HEROES all these years, how they were forced to keep their identities hidden for his safety.
James listened silently.
Then he smiled.
“I made friends already.”
Mrs. Erica leaned forward.
“Oh? Tell us.”
James nodded.
“There’s Ava. She’s in tribrids.”
His father smiled.
“That’s nice.”
“And there’s T. L… she’s from my orphanage too. She—”
The moment he said her name, both his parents exchanged a quick glance.
A subtle one.
But James noticed.
Mrs. Erica’s smile faded slightly.
“T. L?” she repeated.
James nodded.
“Yeah. She’s one of my best friends.”
Mr. Eric cleared his throat.
“You should be careful who you get close to here.”
James frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Mrs. Erica forced a smile.
“Oh, nothing. It’s just… some children carry trouble around them.”
James stared.
“She’s not trouble. She’s just—”
His father interrupted gently.
“She’s the girl with no powers, right?”
James paused.
He nodded slowly.
Mrs. Erica sighed.
“She may not belong here, James.”
James felt something tighten in his chest.
“She’s still my friend.”
His mother said nothing after that.
But her expression said enough.
And James didn’t like it.
---
Trying to clear his mind, James later introduced Lena to them.
Lena had just walked over after speaking with some hybrid students.
She smiled politely.
“Hi.”
James turned.
“Oh— Lena, these are my parents.”
Lena nodded.
“Nice to meet you, sir… ma’am.”
Mrs. Erica’s eyes widened immediately.
She leaned closer to James after Lena walked away.
“Wow.”
James blinked.
“What?”
Mrs. Erica smirked.
“She’s pretty.”
James nearly choked.
“Mom.”
Mr. Eric laughed under his breath.
Mrs. Erica tilted her head.
“Is she your girlfriend?”
James’ face turned bright red instantly.
“What? No! She’s just a friend!”
Mrs. Erica crossed her arms with a knowing smile.
“Just a friend. That’s exactly how your father started.”
Mr. Eric raised both hands.
“I’m innocent.”
Mrs. Erica laughed.
“He said the exact same thing. ‘She’s just a friend.’ Next thing, we were dating.”
James groaned.
“Mom…”
She grinned.
“I’m just saying.”
James quickly stood up.
“I have to go.”
Both his parents laughed.
As he walked away, they called after him.
“We love you, son!”
James turned back and smiled despite himself.
“I love you too.”
---
Later, he found Lena standing near the fountain courtyard.
She turned when she saw him.
Her blonde hair moved gently in the wind.
She smiled.
“How was it?”
James stopped.
“What?”
“Meeting your parents.”
James nodded.
“It was… good.”
Lena smiled warmly.
“That’s nice.”
James stared at her for a second too long.
Then without thinking, he said,
“They’re amazing.”
Lena nodded.
“That’s good.”
James swallowed.
“And… you’re amazing too.”
Lena froze.
“What?”
James’ eyes widened.
His brain screamed at him.
Why did I say that?!
He quickly waved his hands.
“No—I mean— in training. You were amazing in training.”
There was a pause.
Then Lena laughed softly.
“Oh.”
James exhaled internally.
Saved.
Barely.
Before either of them could say more, two girls called out from behind.
“Lena!”
Lena turned.
It was her friends — Reliance and Stacey.
Reliance smirked.
“Come on, we’re waiting.”
Lena looked back at James.
“I have to go.”
James nodded awkwardly.
“Yeah… okay.”
She smiled.
“See you later.”
As she walked away, James kept staring after her.
Smiling like an i***t.
---
Suddenly—
A hand slapped his shoulder from behind.
James jumped.
Kennedy burst out laughing.
“Guy!”
Jersey was beside him, grinning.
“You’re nailing it.”
James frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Kennedy crossed his arms.
“That girl likes you.”
James scoffed.
“She does not.”
Jersey pointed dramatically.
“She held your hand earlier.”
Kennedy added,
“And she smiled at your bad joke.”
James blinked.
“That wasn’t a joke.”
Kennedy slapped his shoulder again.
“Exactly. Even better.”
James shook his head.
“You guys are impossible.”
Kennedy grinned.
“So how was meeting your parents?”
James’ expression softened.
He looked ahead.
“It was… strange. But good.”
Jersey nodded.
“That’s lucky.”
James looked at them.
“What about yours?”
Kennedy shrugged.
“Mine are in another division. Haven’t seen them yet.”
Jersey smirked.
“Mine are too busy pretending they’re secret agents.”
They all laughed.
---
That evening, the hybrids had their second training session — theoretical combat studies.
The directors lectured them about strategy, missions, and power control.
James tried to focus.
But half the time he was staring at Lena a few rows ahead.
Kennedy elbowed him twice.
“Eyes on the board, Romeo.”
James whispered sharply.
“Shut up.”
---
At the end of the session, Mr. King-J stepped forward.
The hall went silent.
He smiled.
“One more announcement.”
Everyone looked up.
“This weekend, there will be a full academy gathering.”
The room erupted in murmurs.
Mr. King-J raised a hand.
“A celebration party.”
That made the hall explode in cheers.
He continued,
“All divisions will attend.”
Norms.
Hybrids.
Tribrids.
Quadrips.
Hexadriples.
“One evening. One academy. You are free to socialize, interact, and enjoy yourselves. Training resumes after.”
The hall became louder.
Kennedy slowly turned to James.
A wicked grin spread across his face.
James immediately knew that look.
“No.”
Kennedy pointed dramatically.
“This…”
He leaned closer.
“…is your chance.”
James blinked.
“My chance for what?”
Jersey answered instantly.
“To ask Lena to the party.”
James nearly fell out of his chair.
“What?!”
Kennedy grinned wider.
“Oh yes.”
Jersey nodded solemnly.
“This is fate.”
James shook his head.
“No. Absolutely not.”
Kennedy laughed.
“You already called her amazing.”
Jersey added,
“Twice.”
James buried his face in his hands.
“This is a disaster.”
Kennedy leaned back, smiling.
“No, my friend.”
He pointed toward Lena, who was laughing with Reliance and Stacey across the hall.
“This…”
He said dramatically.
“…is the beginning of a love story.”
James groaned.
And both boys burst into laughter.
- Writer
