Tired

Sean was hot on the heels because he was chasing after Peter and Susan, their forms ahead of him as he called out, "Wait up, guys!" He propelled himself forward, his strides determined and his voice carrying the urgency of his plea.

Upon hearing Sean's voice, Susan and Peter ceased their progress, turning back to face him. Their faces mirrored concern, and they gestured for him to hurry, warning that time was running out.

Responding to their summons, Sean quickened his pace until he reached their side. Stopping alongside them, he took a moment to catch his breath, inhaling deeply and exhaling with an exhale as if to shed the fatigue that had momentarily gripped him. Once he felt reinvigorated, he raised his gaze to meet Susan and Peter's expectant stares. A flicker of anger danced across his features as he confronted them. "So, you guys were actually trying to leave without me, huh?" he accused, his tone a mix of reproach and frustration.

Susan and Peter averted their gazes, their faces betraying the signs of guilt that Sean's words had unearthed. His accusation was uncannily accurate, and their discomfort spoke volumes.

Taking in their reactions, Sean's eyes narrowed with a mix of disbelief and indignation. "I was right, wasn't I? You two were actually planning to ditch me?" He crossed his arms over his chest, his stance reflecting the gravity of the situation. He fixed them with a serious gaze, unyielding in his stance.

Caught in the crossfire of Sean's scrutiny, Susan cast a furtive glance at Peter, a nonverbal cue that conveyed the need for him to step in. In response, Susan's foot connected with Peter's posterior, eliciting a yelp of surprise. "Ouch! What was that for?" Peter protested, turning to face Susan with an accusatory glare.

Sizing up the situation, Susan signaled for Peter to address Sean's concerns. She seemed intent on avoiding direct eye contact, her actions suggesting an admission of guilt.

Before Peter could voice his explanation, another swift kick from Susan preempted his words. He winced and opened his mouth to protest again, but the threat of another kick kept him in check.

Suppressing his irritation, Peter redirected his attention to Sean and let out a sigh of resignation. "Don't be mad. We thought you might change your mind and join Sarah to head home," Peter said, his voice laced with a mixture of regret and embarrassment. His gaze remained averted, his reluctance to meet Sean's eyes apparent.

The unexpected voice of Sarah interjected into the conversation, her arrival serving as a timely interruption. "It's not like that, Sean," she said, dispelling the tension that had started to build. Her presence seemed to diffuse the mounting conflict, redirecting their focus to her.

As their pace adjusted to accommodate Sean's presence, Susan offered an explanation. "We slowed down so you could catch up after talking to Agent Sarah," she clarified, her words a soothing balm to the earlier tension.

Capitalizing on Susan's entrance and her explanation, Susan chimed in with a supportive nod, further diffusing the tension. She exchanged a glance with Peter, a gesture of agreement that bolstered the united front they were presenting to Sean.

Seizing the opportunity to further alleviate the situation, Peter stepped closer to Sean, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. The earnestness in his expression was evident as he met Sean's gaze. "Do you really think we'd leave our best friend behind?" Peter asked, the sincerity in his voice underscoring his devotion to their friendship.

Suspicion lingered in Sean's eyes, his gaze flickering between Peter and Susan. Gradually, their unwavering reassurance began to erode his skepticism, and he relented, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I guess I knew deep down you guys wouldn't abandon me," he conceded, his voice carrying a mixture of relief and affection. The smile he wore held a touch of vulnerability, revealing the depth of his emotions.

The genuine warmth radiating from Sean's smile was blinding in its brilliance. Peter and Susan exchanged glances, momentarily shielded their eyes from its radiance, and exchanged a subtle nod. The smile that had pierced their defenses left behind a trace of guilt in its wake, a quiet reminder of the rift they had momentarily caused in their camaraderie.

Their guilt, however, was short-lived, as Sarah's voice once again cut through the air. "Let's start heading home," she suggested, initiating a collective agreement. Sean and Peter responded in unison, their voices harmonizing in a shared affirmation.

The trio commenced their journey homeward in unison. As minutes ticked by, the sight of Sean's house emerged on the horizon. With a wave, he bid his companions farewell. In response, both Susan and Peter reciprocated the gesture, a dual goodbye wave. Subsequently, Peter and Susan embarked on their separate paths towards their respective residences. Sean remained stationed at the front of his dwelling, his gaze fixed until the figures of Susan and Peter gradually faded from view.

A deep yawn escaped Sean as he stood in front of his apartment. This involuntary response served as a reminder that it was time to head indoors and prepare for sleep. Feeling the weariness settle in, he reached for the doorknob, swung the door open, and stepped inside his house.

***

Sean reached the front door of his house. He hurriedly opened it, as the weight of sleep began to overcome him. Swiftly entering his room, he flung his schoolbag to one side. Without a moment's hesitation, he raised one leg, jumping and kicking in an attempt to remove one pair of his shoes.

The shoe swung out and landed on the floor. Sean repeated the action for his other pair of shoes. With no time to waste, he promptly began unbuttoning his uniform while walking towards his bed. Finally succeeding, he flung his uniform to the edge of the room. His next endeavor was to pull off his trousers, but the heavy blanket of sleep had already descended upon him, causing him to drift off.