Adrian woke up to the soothing sound of Chris's gentle humming. Chris was sitting next to him, a book in hand, his face a picture of deep contemplation.
"Hey," Chris said softly, as Adrian sat up. "How are you feeling?"
Adrian rubbed his eyes, feeling a lingering sense of grogginess. "I'm okay," he replied. "Thanks for letting me sleep."
Chris smiled warmly. "No problem," he said. "I figured you needed it."
As Adrian looked at Chris, he noticed a deep sadness in his eyes, a sorrow he hadn't seen before.
"Chris?" Adrian said softly, his concern evident. "Is everything okay?"
Chris looked at him, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. "I need to tell you something," he said, his voice trembling.
Adrian nodded, his curiosity piqued.
Chris took a deep breath before speaking. "I grew up in a neglectful home," he said. "My parents were always busy with their careers, and I was often left alone."
Adrian's eyes widened, shocked by what Chris was telling him.
"I remember feeling so alone, so unloved," Chris continued. "I would spend hours by myself, wondering why my parents didn't care about me."
As Chris spoke, tears began to well up in his eyes.
"But that's not the worst of it," Chris said, his voice barely above a whisper. "When I was 7, our nanny...she molested me."
Adrian felt a surge of anger and sadness, wanting to protect Chris from those who had hurt him.
Chris broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm so sorry, Adrian," Chris said, between sobs. "I'm so sorry for bullying you. I was just trying to cope with my own pain."
Adrian's eyes widened in shock. He had never expected Chris to apologize for bullying him.
"It's okay, Chris," Adrian said softly. "I forgive you."
Chris looked up at Adrian, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"Thank you, Adrian," Chris said. "That means everything to me."
As they sat there, Chris's tears slowly subsided.
"Thanks, Chris," Adrian said softly. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Chris smiled. "You'll never have to find out," he said.
"So, are we friends now?" Chris asked Adrian, his voice shaking with emotion.
Adrian smiled, feeling the vulnerability in Chris's voice. "Yeah, I think so," he said.
Chris couldn't control his emotions and hugged Adrian, smiling like he had won a lottery.
As they hugged, Adrian felt a deep sense of connection to Chris. He knew that their friendship would lead to something special and strong, something that would last a lifetime.
When they pulled back from their hug, Adrian saw the sincerity in Chris's eyes. He felt his heart beating faster and louder, and he couldn't understand what was happening to him.
Chris's eyes locked onto Adrian's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Adrian felt a flutter in his chest, and he looked away, trying to process his emotions.
Chris smiled softly and put a hand on Adrian's shoulder. "I'm glad we're friends, Adrian," he said.
Adrian looked up at Chris, feeling a sense of wonder. "Me too, Chris," he said. "Me too."