Prologue

Ael has always been quiet. Not the kind of quiet that fades into the background, but the kind that carries a weight. The kind that makes people wonder what's hiding behind those calm eyes.
Mateo, on the other hand, is sunshine with a heartbeat-warm, loud, and always moving. He wasn't supposed to notice Ael. Not like this.
Thrown together by a group project, the two boys start to share more than just answers. In between awkward silences and unexpected smiles, something begins to grow.
As their connection deepens, Ael is forced to face things he's kept buried-his identity, his fears, the shadows of anxiety. Mateo, too, has his own questions and quiet battles.
"Beneath the Quiet" is a slow-burn story about first love, self-discovery, mental health, and the beauty of finding someone who sees you-even in the silence.