The midday sunlight streamed through the high windows of Professor Alonso's office, pooling on the aged wood of his desk. Carlos stood stiffly near the door, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His jaw was tight, and his gaze darted around the room as if looking for an escape route.

Fernando looked up from the papers he was sorting, a touch of surprise crossing his face at the early visit. "Carlos," he said, setting his quill aside. "This is unexpected. What brings you here?"

He hesitated, shifting on his feet before stepping closer. "I need your help," he said finally, his voice low but urgent.

Alonso raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Go on."

Carlos took a deep breath, his words tumbling out in a rush. "In two days, Lando wants me to go out with him to see the constellation over the lake. But it's the full moon, and I- I can't be there. He's already suspicious enough as it is. I need an excuse, something believable."

Fernando studied him for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing. "I see. And you can't think of a reason yourself?"

Carlos' distress flared. "If I could, I wouldn't be here. Lando's smart, okay? If it's not solid, he'll see right through it."

Fernando tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair, considering. "Very well. What about this: I'll say I need your help with a delivery arriving late that evening. Something fragile- perhaps rare potions ingredients or enchanted artifacts. You'll need to assist with cataloging and safely storing them. It's mundane enough to be believable, but important enough to justify your absence."

Carlos frowned, mulling it over. "And you think he will believe that?"

"If I tell him it's an urgent favor I can only entrust to you, he will," Fernando replied firmly. "He knows your aptitude and my trust in your abilities."

Carlos exhaled slowly, nodding. "Alright. That could work."

Fernando leaned forward slightly, his tone softening. "You've managed to keep this secret for a long time, Carlitos. But remember, secrets have a way of unraveling, especially with someone as perceptive as Lando."

He stiffened. "I don't have a choice. Not yet."

Fernando's expression shifted, regret flickering in his eyes. "You should consider how much longer you can keep this up. What about next month?"

Carlos blinked, caught off guard. "¿Qué?"

"The full moon will come again next month," Fernando said, his tone calm but pointed. "What excuse will you give then? And the month after that?"

He scowled. "I'll figure it out when I get there."

Fernando sighed, rubbing his temples. "You can't keep relying on last-minute lies. He'll start noticing the pattern."

"That's my problem, not yours," Carlos shot back, but his voice wavered.

His gaze softened, but his voice remained firm. "You trust Lando, don't you?"

Carlos hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Of course I do."

"Then why not confide in him?" Fernando leaned forward, his eyes searching Carlos' face. "He's your friend. If anyone would stand by you, it's him. Carrying this alone-"

"I'm not telling him," Carlos interrupted, his voice sharp. "It's too risky. You of all people should understand that."

Fernando's expression darkened slightly, guilt flickering across his face. "I do understand, more than you think. But this secret of yours will only grow heavier the longer you keep it from those who care about you. One way or another, Carlitos, the truth has a way of coming out."

He stiffened, his hands balling into fists. "I'll deal with it when I have to. For now, just stick to the plan."

Fernando sighed again, leaning back. "Very well. I'll speak to Lando later today. But think about what I said. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."

Carlos avoided Fernando's gaze, muttering a quiet "Gracias" before turning to leave the office.

The air was crisp and cool under the ancient tree where Oscar sat, legs stretched out and a plate of toast balanced on one knee. He glanced up as Carlos approached, his expression neutral but curious.

"Buenos días," Oscar said around a bite of toast. "You look like you've been awake all night."

"Hola. Feels like it," Carlos replied, dropping down beside him. He leaned against the trunk, his shoulders slumping.

"Let me guess," Oscar said, his tone dry. "You went to Alonso for your latest crisis?"

"Sí," Carlos admitted, not rising to the bait.

Oscar raised an eyebrow, his chewing slowing. "And?"

"He came up with something about a late-night delivery," Carlos said. "Rare ingredients or artifacts. Said it'll sound convincing enough if he's the one to tell Lando."

Oscar snorted softly. "Convenient. Must be nice having a professor who'll lie for you."

Carlos stiffened and shot him a glare. "It's not like I had a choice. You know why I can't be there."

Oscar's smirk faded, his gaze sharpening. "Yeah, I do. But it won't work forever, mate. Lando's not an idiot. He'll start putting things together."

Carlos sighed, scrubbing a hand through his hair. "I know. But I can't deal with that right now. This is the best I can do."

Oscar tilted his head, studying him. "You're really wound up about this, aren't you?"

Carlos looked away, his jaw tightening. "You think I like lying to him? To everyone? It's not exactly fun, Piastri."

For a moment, he was silent. Then he shrugged, his tone softening slightly. "Look, I get it. You're in a tough spot. But maybe you should be asking yourself how long you're planning to keep this act up. Lando's gonna figure it out eventually, and the fallout's gonna be worse the longer you wait."

"I don't need your advice," Carlos muttered.

"Clearly," Oscar said with a faint smirk. He took another bite of toast, chewing thoughtfully before continuing. "Still, if Alonso's covering for you, it'll probably work. Just don't expect me to bail you out when Lando starts asking questions."

"I wasn't planning to," Carlos said, his voice quieter now.

Oscar sighed, leaning back against the tree. "Good. Because you've got enough on your plate without dragging me into it."

Carlos glanced at him, a flicker of gratitude in his expression. "Gracias."

"Yeah, yeah," Oscar said, waving him off. "Just don't mess this up, alright?"

"I'll try," Carlos said, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

The sun spilled over the courtyard, warming the cobblestones and casting long shadows beneath the trees as Lando sat on a bench, a book resting on his lap, untouched for the past hour. His fingers fidgeted with the edges of the pages as his thoughts wandered, tangled with worry and frustration over Carlos' recent behavior.

"Lando," came a familiar voice, calm but firm.

He looked up to see Professor Alonso standing a few feet away, his hands clasped behind his back. The professor's sharp gaze was softened by a hint of concern.

"Professor," Lando said, sitting up straighter. "What are you doing here?"

Alonso gave a small smile. "Looking for you, actually. May I join you?"

Lando nodded hesitantly, sliding over on the bench to make space. Alonso sat down, his posture relaxed yet composed.

"You've been distracted," he observed, his tone more of a statement than a question.

Lando sighed, looking down at the book in his lap. "I guess I have. It's just... things have been weird with Carlos lately. Again. I don't know what's going on with him, and it's-" He hesitated, then shook his head. "It's frustrating."

Alonso nodded slowly. "I can see why you'd feel that way. But I promise you, it's not as personal as it seems. Carlos has... a lot going on."

"That's what everyone keeps saying," Lando said, his voice edged with annoyance. "But if it's not personal, why does it feel like he's shutting me out?"

"Because he cares about you," Alonso said simply.

Lando looked up, confused. "That doesn't make any sense."

"It does, if you think about it," Alonso said, leaning forward slightly. "Sometimes, when we care about someone, we try to protect them from things we think they can't- or shouldn't- have to handle. That's what Carlos is doing. He's not pushing you away; he's trying to shield you."

Lando frowned, his hands tightening around the book. "I don't need shielding. I just need him to trust me."

Alonso was quiet for a moment, studying Lando carefully. Then he spoke. "That's part of why I'm here. Carlos asked me to tell you that he can't make it to see the constellation."

"What?" Lando said, his eyes widening in surprise. "Why not?"

Alonso's expression was calm but serious. "There's a delivery arriving late that evening- something fragile and important. Rare potions ingredients and enchanted artifacts, to be precise. Carlos is helping me catalog and safely store them."

Lando blinked, his surprise turning into confusion. "But why Carlos? Couldn't someone else do it? I thought he was excited to see the constellation with me."

"He was," Alonso said, his voice gentle. "But this delivery requires someone with a steady hand and a good head for detail. Carlos has proven he's more than capable of handling delicate tasks like this."

Lando's shoulders sagged, his frustration mingling with a sharp pang of disappointment. "He could've told me that himself," he muttered.

"He thought it would be easier coming from me," he said, his tone careful. "He didn't want you to feel like he was choosing work over you."

Lando let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. "It's still frustrating. I just... I feel like he doesn't trust me enough to be honest."

Alonso placed a reassuring hand on Lando's shoulder. "Carlos trusts you more than you realize. But trust isn't always about sharing everything at once. Sometimes, it's about giving someone the space to handle things in their own way."

Lando looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. "It doesn't feel that way."

"I know," Alonso said gently. "And I won't pretend that it's easy. But give him time. Carlos has a lot weighing on him right now, and while he may not say it, he values your support more than you know."

Lando hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I'll try to be patient. But it's hard not knowing what's going on."

Alonso's expression softened. "I understand. And for what it's worth, I think you're doing more for Carlos than you realize, just by being there. It has always been like this with him."

Lando managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks, Professor."

Alonso stood, smoothing his robes. "You're welcome, Lando. And remember- Carlos might not always show it, but he's lucky to have you as a friend."

As Alonso walked away, Lando stayed seated, his thoughts a mix of emotions- frustration, worry, and a small glimmer of hope. He didn't fully understand what was going on with Carlos, but one thing was clear: he wasn't ready to give up on his best friend. Not yet, and not ever.