Chapter Text
When Principal Noah retired, Sylus was supposed to be the next Linkon High’s principal.
He’d been the strongest candidate for years. He got the skills, the teachers’ favors, even Principal Noah himself had Sylus shadowed him five weeks before leaving the school. But then all of a sudden the school’s foundation decided to transfer Caleb Xia instead.
Of course this sparked some arguments. Mostly from the senior teachers who didn’t like this decision. While Caleb had the degree and was more than eligible, he was still an outsider. He was also younger than Sylus, who was already deemed as the youngest person almost appointed as principal. Some petty rumors had spread saying the Foundation put Caleb so they could have more control over the school.
Truth be told, Sylus never cared about politics. Becoming a principal was never his ambition either. Even if he was a little disappointed, So long as Caleb could prove himself capable, Sylus had no problem losing the opportunity. And thankfully, Caleb Xia did. Six months in, he managed to resurrect the dying literacy program and had the students’ interest significantly increased. Thanks to his connection to the Foundation, the teachers also had easier approvals for extracurricular programs and study trip funds.
Still, despite those achievements and how the school had been running smoothly after the takeover, he had yet to gain the favors from the senior teachers. In Caleb’s early days, they didn’t even bother to hide their discontent. On every teacher’s meeting, they would question and criticize everything he said, would half-ass their presentations, sometimes they would provoke him by focusing on Sylus instead. Saying things that implied he was the better fit for principal.
It was childish and petty. Sylus hated it. Although they had stopped after he gave them a ‘cold’ reminder, their provocation was far more effective than he’d thought. Because since then, Caleb seemed to hold a grudge against him. Like some sort of pay-it-forward manner, he used every chance he got to give Sylus a little revenge. Annoying antics that gave Sylus a constant headache but not harmful enough to tell HR.
This ‘trial trip’ was just one of hundreds of examples.
“I’m so jealooouuss,” from Sylus’s phone screen, he saw Rafayel threw himself to the bed. “I should’ve sneaked into your suitcase.”
“I don’t understand why he didn’t invite you too. We both proposed the tour, it’s reasonable for you to join us.”
Rafayel chuckled. Propping his face onto his palm. “Nahh, I couldn’t go there even if I want to. Zaynie and I have our summer plans pretty packed.”
“Ah, yes,” Sylus remembered now. The couple volunteered to teach at orphanages. They’d asked Sylus to join the other day, but Sylus’s presence alone could make a child cry (it happened numerous times). Middle and high school students were more of his expertise.
“Today’s the first day, isn’t it? How did it go?”
“Great. We brought the kids to the park, Zayne made them identify parts of trees and collect their leaves, then back in class we created crafts out of them.” said Rafayel. “Anyway, back to you. I’m not a stranger to Caleb’s antics pushing your buttons, but this one low key surprised me. Like, a personal survey? He didn’t even bring that up during our meeting.”
“I suppose he’s allergic to seeing me relaxed and have a nice vacation,” Sylus cast a quick glance at Caleb, who was still processing their check-in at the concierge. “One, he picked me up at 5 am for a 12 pm flight. Two, he thought the suitcase lock he had was not good enough so he made us go around the airport shops to buy the cheapest one. It’s a fucking airport, Rafayel. Of course everything is expensive there? Oh, and three, the shop he did choose was the furthest from our gate.”
“Holy shit that is super messy,” Rafayel cringed. “He really dragged you to it, huh? Even after you said no?”
Only when Rafayel asked that did it dawn on Sylus.
Had he… tried to say no? Now that he thought about it, Sylus wasn’t sure if Caleb didn’t give him a chance to refuse back in the principal’s office or if he just— didn’t.
He couldn’t let Rafayel to know about this, so Sylus only shrugged. Whichever it was, he regretted coming to this trip either way.
“Well, cheer up. Caleb’s a big guy in the foundation, maybe this is just his excuse to have a vacation,” Rafayel continued. “And it’s about time for you two to break that weird ass tension—”
“What?”
“What— oh hi, baby,” a hand cupping Rafayel’s face made the man shift his attention. Sylus vaguely heard Zayne’s voice telling Rafayel that dinner was ready. “Alright. Wanna say hi to Sylus—oh, okay. Sylus, Zayne says hi and tells you to enjoy Yogyakarta. I gotta go now. Smell ya later!”
Heaving a sigh, Sylus put his phone back into his pocket and went back to the concierge desk.
“Here you go, Sir. Room 808, enjoy your stay.”
Sylus expected the concierge to give him another card. But she only looked at him and Caleb with a polite smile, like she was waiting for them to leave.
“Sorry. There must be a mistake. Shouldn’t there be two rooms?”
The concierge checked the computer, “According to the system here, Mr Xia only—”
“There was no mistake. I did book one room,” Caleb took the card. He thanked her once again and grabbed his suitcase. Sylus begrudgingly followed him to the elevator.
“Why?”
“Why not? You don’t mind sharing rooms, right?”
“I do, actually.”
Caleb tapped the card on the scanner. The number eight button lit up and the elevator began to ascend.
“Well, each room will be shared with three to four students, I have to see if the room is spacious enough for that amount of people,” Caleb shrugged. “I’d hate to deviate from you and Rafayel’s perfect itinerary, but if you’re hesitant to share, then I’m afraid we’ll have to reconsider this hotel for the trip’s accommodation, Mr Qin.”
How. Dare. He.
“For someone who’d hate to deviate from my perfect itinerary, you sure strayed a lot this morning.”
“You’re welcome to book another room, if you’d like.”
All Sylus thought about during the flight was how much he couldn’t wait to get to the hotel. Brew some tea and have some quiet, peaceful space for himself. There was no more room available (he’d checked) and Sylus wanted to keep his plan on not spending a dime on this trip, so guess he had to say goodbye to that.
Caleb’s counter jab ended their conversation. They finally found their way to their room. Its door opened with a little beep once Caleb tapped the card onto the knob.
A faint scent of lemongrass and something floral welcomed them. Sylus quietly placed his suitcase to the luggage rack. Well, at least they got twin beds. Though Sylus didn’t know why the thought of Caleb getting them to share one bed even crossed his mind in the first place.
He blamed the jet lag.
Meanwhile, Caleb’s gaze hadn’t stopped wandering around. Inspecting every inch. “You sure we can fit four students here?”
“We’ll try to book rooms with two double sized beds. The hotel also offers extra bed discounts for this kind of arrangement.”
“I see.”
Sylus threw himself to the bed by the window. The plush surface gave his back sweet relief. “I hope it passes the principal’s holy standard.”
Caleb peeked into the bathroom and gave an approval nod. “Yeah. We can work with this.”
“Good.”
Sliding through the gap between Sylus’s bed and the window, Caleb spread open the curtains to check out the view.
“The maps told me there’s a french bakery a few hundred meters from here. How about we grab a bite?”
“I’m afraid that’s not on my perfect itinerary either, so I’ll have to pass.”
That came out a bit too petty for his own liking, but Sylus was too exhausted to care.
“Sylus.”
“Hmm.”
Usually, he would hear a minute or two ramblings from the principal. Instead, Sylus heard a soft rustle and felt the side of his bed sank. He jolted as the first thing he was Caleb, arms propped on each side of Sylus’s shoulders to cage him in.
“Oh, what the hell—”
“I have to get this outta my system, so,” said Caleb. “What happened at the airport was my fault. I’m sorry. But I really do mean it when I said I only want to see how this trip works for the students.”
Sylus raised a brow. “And you’re saying this because…”
“I just wanna tell you that I have no ill intention to worsen my tour guide’s mood. Not this time, at least,” Caleb flashed a small grin. “And I’d like to offer an apology. If not with french pastries, then anything else.”
The close proximity between their faces and the uncharacteristic softness sent a weird twist in Sylus’s gut.
“I appreciate this rare sincerity, Mr Xia,” he slowly pushed Caleb’s shoulder away from him. “But right now, the only thing that would make me feel better is to let me rest for the night.”
“Okay, okay.”
Getting back on to his feet, Caleb went to open his suitcase. Saying he wanted to take a shower and something else Sylus didn’t quite catch because drowsiness began taking over him. The last thing he saw was Caleb throwing away his shirt, his back muscles flexing as he stretched before entering the bathroom. Sylus would’ve rolled his eyes, but he was completely knocked out for the day. Deciding to grumble about Caleb not putting his dirty shirt to the laundry bag in his dreams instead.
And when he woke up again, it was already dark. The curtains were closed. Room warmly illuminated by the lamp in the corner across Sylus’s bed.
And Caleb was nowhere to be seen.
Sylus checked his phone. 10.30 pm. No texts or missed calls.
He dragged himself out of the bed. Oh, well. When the Principal did get in trouble, Sylus would be the first one to know. Like always.
As his soul was in the process of entering his body, Sylus took the mug that was sitting near the electric kettle. Carefully taking a sip of the warm tea. Black with a little sugar, just how he liked which, took Sylus a moment to realize, he did not make.
Nor did he buy whatever was inside that brown paper bag.
Sylus picked up the bag, taking out the small paper note to reveal a couple of croissants settled at the bottom. Faint scent of butter and almond greeted him.
‘Gonna do a bit of sightseeing. I’ll bring back some local takeouts,’ was the only thing written on the note. The image of Caleb flashed his mind. With that stupid grin as he offered pastries as truce (while being on top of him, but that shouldn’t matter). The fact that all it took was some bread for Sylus to give in should’ve frustrated him. But he was pushing 40 and holding pettiness for that long would give him nothing but a headache. So he accepted the peace offering, hoping the next four days would be more bearable.