Chapter Text
2:30 pm, Tuesday
It's right after last period; everyone is packing their things up, relieved their exams are finally over and they've gotten their results. Relief washes over Ly’lac, a little bit of distress, too. She doesn't usually care for her grades, she has always been a decent student, fairly passing her classes despite never getting perfect results. But this time instead of her usual she got a D-.Though it is a barely passing grade, her usually being satisfied with that, she feels amiss about it this time. Her grades have been woeful this semester.
Once the bell rings she leaves the classroom, making her way to the old park behind the school. Finding shade; she lies down on the grass, her back against a mossy stone wall. The park is old and no one visits. Except for the bird chirps and the faint sound coming from the school, it's quiet. The weather is breezy, but not too cold. She closes her eyes for a moment.
??: Hello? anyone there?
She hears footsteps followed by a voice.
TC: ly'ly!
It's Bobo. How'd he figure she would be here? She doesn't immediately respond. She's fuddled after all. Since it's a pretty estranged place, she didn't expect anyone to come find her here. And Bobo? Doesn't he have people he needs to talk to? Something to do with all those friends he has? He's always busy after all, isn't he?
TC: yøu knøw that fløør is cøvered with germs and all that stuff yeah?
GC: hi.
GC: why are you here?
She didn't mean to sound mean, but it came out that way.
TC: wøah man what's up with the tøne?
TC: let's chill.
He sits on the floor next to her. Ly’lac can't see his face from this angle.
GC: yeah sorry...
GC: i just didn't expect you to be here.
TC: i thøught i saw a frøwny face in the hallway.
GC: doesn't explain why here.
It really doesn't. The old abandoned park isn't exactly Ly’lac's favourite place in the world. She has been here only a few times before, though she doesn't remember why she stopped coming.
TC: if i say i saw yøu walking here wøuld yøu believe?
GC: hmm...
TC: thats what happened brø!
TC: i dønt have any psychic pøwers that tell me where yøu are at all times.
TC: i swear.
TC: :)
GC: well okay mister.
GC: are you here to give me life advice?
TC: dø i get to knøw why yøure lying øn the fløør first?
She hesitates. Because her reasoning is dumb. Is that even her reasoning? She never cares for her grades, so why would she suddenly become so depressed over one test? He will definitely laugh at her if she says she's upset over a math test. Even if he doesn't mean to harm her feelings. She can't blame him either, it's pretty embarrassing.
GC: it's nothing...
Although she can't see his face, she can tell he's staring at her waiting for an actual answer.
GC: ok.
GC: but don't laugh.
TC: when have i ever.
GC: shushsushush...
She fixes her position. She sits next to him. She unfolds the test result and shows it to him just long enough for him to see her score but not her answers, then quickly crumbles and shoves it in her pocket.
GC: i told you it was nothing.
Bobo covers his mouth, trying not to let out a chuckle. He smiles at Ly’lac.
GC: i'm never speaking to you ever again.
TC: hey hey hey man.
TC: økay my apøløgies.
TC: what was that, a D minus?
TC: thats nøt sø bad!
GC: right.
TC: even if it was that bad thats nø reasøn tø cøme lie øn dirty musky fløørs.
Ly’lac scopes him out.
GC: you're sitting on the dirty musky floor.
Bobo closes the gap between them making their shoulders touch.
TC: thats tø shøw sølidarity my dude.
GC: ok.
TC: i didnt knøw yøu wørried øver silly stuff like this.
GC: worry over silly stuff...
GC: what did you get?
TC: hmm...
GC: bobo what did you get.
There's a moment of silence as Bobo breaks eye contact.
TC: A+
GC: oh shut up.
TC: hey, yøu asked!
GC: you said you didn't study.
TC: that my friend,
TC: is because i didn't study.
GC: get out.
TC: why am i getting bullied?
GC: i think i'm the one getting bullied here...
TC: øh but nøw yøu're making me sad brø.
TC: real sad!
TC: care tø tell me why yøu suddenly decided tø be a straight A student?
TC: ør maybe yøu want me tø guess?
GC: i did not decide that.
GC: look it's...
GC: ... i actually want to hear what you think first.
TC: let's see...
TC: yøu think yøu gøt møre than that in yøu.
TC: i think if yøu før ønce put yøur mind and søme effort intø it im sure yøu cøuld dø wønders, man.
TC: it's nøt like yøu're stupid.
TC: maths gøt nøthing øn gøød øl ly'ly here.
TC: :)
TC: øther subjects tøø, døn't get me wrøng.
TC: høw's that?
GC: um... how's what.
TC: dude.
TC: did i get it right??
TC: is that why yøu're sad?
Ly’lac's mind had already drifted during Bobo's life advice talk.
GC: oh.
GC: right.
GC: no not exactly...
TC: damn.
Ly’lac let's out a vague chuckle at Bobo's reaction. He really did sound upset that he didn't get it right.
GC: what you said...
GC: they aren't exactly wrong either.
GC: so don't cry.
TC: cøme øøøn.
TC: what dø yøu take me før?
GC: yeah ok.
GC: it's my mom.
Ly'lac can tell that was not the answer Bobo was waiting for. She can see he is confused; after all Bobo always knew Ly’lac's mom as a kind woman, someone who never makes a big deal over her child's grades, or anything, really. All she did up until this point was take care of Ly’lac's overall wellbeing. It would be an unexpected reaction from her.
TC: yøur mom??
TC: the hell, man?
TC: that's messed up, i thøught she was chill.
GC: bobo stop she's fine.
GC: she just does so much for me.
GC: i thought the least i could do for her is be good at school like a normal kid but i can't even manage that.
GC: makes me feel like...
GC: selfish in a way.
GC: you know...
GC: kinda fucked up.
GC: ik i was never at a "wow" level when it comes to school.
GC: but this one hit harder...
TC: hey brø, i get what yøu mean.
GC: how come.
TC: yøu want things tø be fair between yøu twø.
TC: but she's yøur møm, man.
TC: she's gøtta dø all that stuff før yøu, øbviøusly.
TC: that's her jøb.
TC: yøu're nøt øbligated tø pay her back at all.
TC: døn't worry yøurself øver søme løusy schøøl wørk.
TC: i knøw høw it feels tø want tø make sømeøne that is special tø yøu happy.
TC: and i knøw yøu want her tø be happy with yøu.
TC: but she already is.
TC: yøu're a gøød kid!
TC: yøur møm is prøud øf yøu.
TC: yøu're lucky tø have sømeøne like her, ly'ly.
TC: and she's lucky tø have sømeøne like yøu, øf cøurse.
TC: :)
Does he really get it? He never had to give anyone anything in return of anything. Even if he did, he could manage to do it effortlessly; has he ever felt the pressure to make someone proud? How can he say he understands Ly’lac? It's hard to tell if he's putting on a show or genuinely thinks they're on the same level.
GC: i guess...
GC: this is dumb.
GC: i should go back to not caring.
TC: that's a relief.
GC: what that mean.
TC: shit, sørry brø did that cøme øut wrøng?
TC: i meant i like yøu this way.
TC: yøu døn't care abøut anything, in a gøød way.
TC: just døing what you wanna dø.
TC: even if it's just døing nøthing møst øf the time.
TC: i think it's great.
GC: you always do whatever you want too tho.
GC: and what you do is always more intense...
TC: yeah but yøu døn't have søme certain individual buzzing in yøur ear høw yøu're "wasting POTENTIAL!"
GC: hah...
GC: thanks bobo.
TC: yøu're welcøme. :)
Bobo managed to make Ly’lac feel not alone, somehow. It doesn't really matter how he did it, what matters is that Ly’lac is feeling better. It's a mystery how life changing this conversation was, because all these things were already bright as day. These same topics get brought up by many others, many times a week. But it felt different this time.
The two exchange smiles before Bobo's phone starts ringing.
GC: is it your "fans" calling.
TC: i døn't know.
GC: ? who is it?
TC: i døn't knøw dude.
The caller isn't added on Bobo's contacts.
GC: you think it's a scammer?
TC: mayhaps...
GC: ...is that a new phone?
TC: yees.
GC: girl i thought you changed your phone last year.
TC: i did.
GC: ???
GC: fuck you.
TC: wøw that was uncalled før.
GC: did you break your old one or something?
GC: is that why you haven't been answering my calls.
Bobo's phone stops ringing. Bobo's head slowly turns to Ly’lac.
TC: man.
TC: i førgøt.
TC: i gøt a new number, sørry.
TC: i actually førgøt tø tell you, dude, løl.
Ly'lac is confused. Why would he need a new number? What for? And more importantly how could he forget to tell her? Aren't they close friends?
GC: why did you even get a new number.
TC: wøah wøah, bøundaries, man.
GC: okay..?
GC: you're being weird as hell right now.
TC: there are things i døn't think i can ever tell yøu ly'ly, nø øffense.
GC: rude...
GC: can i have your number then.
TC: that's a little fast.
TC: i just came here.
GC: stop making things weird.
TC: :)
GC: hold on let me get pen and paper.
TC: why døn't i just give you a call so yøu can save it?
GC: my phone's dead.
TC: øf cøurse it is.
GC: ...screw you.
GC: you don't deserve my number.
Ly'lac goes through her bag to take out a small notebook and a pen, she hands them to Bobo.
TC: this kinda like when we first met.
GC: yeah...
TC: yøur phøne was dead that time tøø.
TC: that thing's battery is fucked up.
TC: yøu shøuld get a new øne.
GC: my phone is my business.
GC: it's not as easy as it is for you...
TC: i'll buy yøu øne.
TC: cønsider it an act øf kindness.
GC: no i'll pass...
GC: i like my phone.
Bobo hands the notebook and pen back to Ly’lac. The writing is big enough to fill the entire small page. There's a small smiley face at the bottom of it, a little heart, too.
GC: cool.
TC: did yøu get the secret message?
Ly’lac thinks he meant the heart, she doesn't really want to address it. She puts them back in her backpack.
GC: um... no.
GC: i didn't get anything.
TC: it was at the back.
GC: the back?
TC: yeah, gø øn, read it.
TC: :)
Ly’lac takes out the notebook again, she turns the page to see what the "secret message" is.
“før my friend ly’lac, whø still hasn’t memørized her øwn number at the grand age øf 15.”
Humiliating...
GC: bobo.
TC: løll.
Ly’lac can feel her cheeks getting warm. It's not her fault her memorization skills are awful.
TC: it's øk brø.
TC: it's møre rømantic this way.
Ly’lac can feel her cheeks getting scorching. She opens her mouth ready to say something as Bobo's phone starts ringing again.
It's the same number.
Bobo's staring at his phone, seemingly trying to recognize the number but its no use.
TC: im gønna pick it up.
GC: scary.
Bobo finally picks the phone up. He almost seems stressed. He turns his back to Ly’lac; then puts the phone to his ear and waits for someone to respond, which doesn't take that long. A conversation starts, Ly’lac can't quite hear the other end.
TC: øh hey.
...
TC: nø.
Ly'lac can hear the other end getting louder and louder.
TC: løl i'm kidding.
TC: økay yøu can støp yelling.
Out of pure curiosity, in effort of trying to hear the full conversation Ly’lac moves Bobo's long, untied hair and puts her head on Bobo's shoulder, her head is peeking through strands of hair. She can hear the phone better now, as their faces are uncomfortably close.
It's a familiar voice. She still can't make it out, though.
TC: ly'ly, uh.
TC: i think this øne's før yøu.
For her? Who could he calling Bobo to contact her? Could it be her mom trying to reach her? Had she left her worried?
GC: okay...
Bobo hands his phone to Ly’lac. He backs off, leaving a small gap between them.
GC: um...
GC: who's this.
AA: What the hell, Ly’lac!
Of course. Ly’lac lets out a deep sigh. Both because she's glad its not her mom, and also because she has to listen to bullshit for the next few minutes.
GC: hi sorry, what's up?
AA: "what's up" I'll tell you what's up.
AA: Where have you been?
AA: Del'fi and I have been worried sick!
AA: We spent an hour checking every classroom, every stall, even every locker, just trying to find you!
AA: You won't even respond to our calls.
AA: At first I thought you may have simply blocked Del'fi's number like you always do over small arguments, but I couldn't reach you too, so I obviously figured something must've happened to you.
AA: Oh, the countless scenarios.
AA: At some point, I even hoped I had been blocked as well, goodness me!
AA: But we both know you would never, I am your emergency contact, after all.
AA: So I made the bold decision to call your...
AA: Eugh...
AA: Your rather close colleague.
AA: In hopes of that your phone had just "died".
AA: And lucky us, we have found you at last!
AA: Safe and sound...
AA: We will be right there.
AA: Right...
AA: Ah, Ly’lac.
AA: Where are you, exactly?
GC: ...
AA: Ly’lac please tell us where you are so we can all go home.
AA: It is about to rain, dark clouds are upon us and I'm well informed you don't have an umbrella.
AA: Worry not, Ly’lac.
AA: I will gladly share mine with you.
AA: And no, I won't be asking for anything in return. You know how courteous I am.
AA: Believe me when I say I'd walk you all the way to your home, but alas, I have to be home early and I'm already late as it is.
AA: I will take you to the bus stop, then we will part ways.
AA: ...
AA: Ly’lac.
AA: Are you still there?
AA: Would you be so kind and tell me where you are?
GC: do i have to...
AA: Whatever that means.
AA: Of course you do, how else would I find you and ensure your safe and dry voyage.
Ly’lac sighs. She'd hoped to spend more time with Bobo. It's hard to find him unoccupied during the day, he's always either with his other friends or working on his own projects. This is probably the most they've talked face to face. Though they do talk a lot it's mostly through socials or on phone. It's different, and it feels nicer when they're next to eaxh other.
It looks like Ly’lac has to leave, though. Someone very important is awaiting. Her thoughts reflect on her face, it's clear she doesn't want to leave just yet.
Given that Ly’lac's sullen face makes Bobo titter and smile, he must've seen right through her. She hears him, she tries to mask it.
GC: i'm at the park.
AA: The park?
AA: Do you mean the haunted park behind the school?
GC: oh my god girl stop it is not haunted...
GC: yes that park.
AA: Um.
AA: Why are you there?
AA: You remember what happened to Del'fi there, don't you?
AA: We don't go there anymore.
Sudden realization hits Ly’lac. Del'fi became extremely sick the last time they visited here. That's why AA deemed this place as cursed, or haunted, or whatever. And after that they all promised to never return, but that was months ago, maybe even more than a year. How could she even remember that?
GC: sorry i forgot...
AA: Sigh... we will discuss this later.
Discuss? Really? She's lost her mind.
AA: We'll be there in a few minutes.
AA: Don't you go anywhere else, Ly’lac.
AA: We looked for you long and hard enough, don't make things more difficult.
GC: ok bye ttyl.
AA: Do not "ok bye" me.
Ly’lac hangs up the phone. At least she got a few minutes to give condolences to Bobo. After she hangs up she turns to him to hand the phone back. His head is resting oh his knees and his arms are crossed in a way that makes only his eye visible. He's staring at her. Has he been staring at her the whole time? Now that's embarrassing. Their eyes meet. Ly’lac has a completely still and indifferent face. She hands him the phone.
GC: here.
Bobo, without changing his position, takes his arm out and grabs the phone, he doesn't break eye contact.
TC: sø yøu're leaving?
GC: yeah.
GC: she's right though...
GC: it'd be a bummer if i got caught under the rain.
GC: i don't know how she knows but i really don't have an umbrella.
GC: i usually bring it with me.
GC: sometimes she knows stuff.
TC: must be a real gøød øbserver.
GC: huh...
GC: i guess so.
There's a subtle wind. Then a few raindrops. Rain starts to fall.
GC: i didn't expect it to rain today.
TC: me neither.
They don't exchange words any further. Ly’lac is looking off into space, it's hard to tell what she's thinking about. Bobo's eyes are closed. Nothing outside the sound of rainfall can be heard for the next minute, until Ly’lac breaks the silence.
GC: bobo.
TC: yeah?
His eyes are still closed, his arms almost cover his entire face, and his voice is muffled under his sleeves.
GC: do you wanna...
GC: hang out together later this week?
Bobo puts his head up, his face is slightly puffy. It looks like he almost dozed off. He turns to Ly'lac.
TC: hang øut?
GC: yeah.
TC: like what?
GC: uh..?
GC: just you know.
GC: hang out.
GC: like this.
Bobo fixes his posture.
TC: like this?
TC: "this" this?
TC: ly'lac this is so fucking børing.
Boring? Ly'lac had thought it was nice. Guess the feeling is not mutual.
GC: well it doesn't have to be exactly like this.
GC: we can go somewhere, do something...
GC: whatever is fine.
GC: i don't know bobo i thought it'd be nice to spend time together.
TC: nø yøu're right.
TC: i just wøuldn't want it tø be like this.
TC: but sure, we'll plan something.
GC: ok...
GC: when are you free?
TC: uuuuhhh.
TC: any time after school is fine.
TC: during school is fine, tøø.
TC: ly’lac we shøuld escape the fucking schøøl.
TC: then we can gø tø a bar ør sømething.
TC: nøw that's quality time.
GC: escape?
GC: why don't we just not go in the first place...
TC: why skip the fun part, silly!
GC: they wouldn't let us in the bar we're not even of age.
TC: ly'lac were yøu børn yesterday brø.
GC: are you saying we get fake ids?
TC: that ør we just sneak in.
GC: ehh...
That's a bit out of Ly’lac's comfort zone. If she gets caught her perfect relationship with her teachers will be ruined. Being good is the only thing she's good at school. Besides she doesn't even like drinking, she doesn't drink. She finds no amusement in sloshing her already foggy mind.
GC: can i decide later.
TC: fiine.
TC: yøu gøtta dø sømething fun eventually dude.
TC: watching cartøøns will ønly get yøu sø far.
TC: if yøu're wørrying yøur silly little head øver highschøøl reputatiøn, støp that.
TC: like brø, i'm being genuine.
TC: nøne øf what thøse øld hags and sags think will matter in a few years.
TC: the møment yøu graduate everything yøu did here will be nøthing but a memøry.
TC: let them be memøries wørth remembering at least.
TC: if yøu wanna hang øut with this dude sø bad, yøu gøtta have it his way.
TC: økay, that's bullshit.
TC: we can dø it yøur way, tøø.
TC: what we dø may be the møst førgettable and schløck thing ever.
TC: but it would be with yøu, sø it can't be that bad.
TC: før reference, i can't imagine sitting døwn and having this cønversatiøn with any øf my øther brøs.
TC: :)
Ly’lac returns a smile. Maybe he's right. She's not sure about ditching school, or getting in a bar just to end up not even drinking. But she has time to decide. It won't be life changing, but firsts are always scary.
GC: i'll think about it.
TC: sweet.
Someone is shouting Ly’lac's name.
GC: they're here.
GC: see you later bobo.
TC: take care brø.
TC: make decisiøns wisely.
GC: right...
Ly’lac stands up, she's been sitting for more than an hour so now she has to crack every individual bone in her body.
TC: øh wøw yøu're sø stiff.
TC: yøu really have nø møtiøn in yøur life.
GC: can you stop commenting on every aspect of my life.
TC: sincerest apøløgies.
Once she's done doing her stretches she picks up her bag and holds it above her head to use it as a cover from the rain.
GC: ok bye for real now.
TC: :)
She turns and walks away, dropping something from her pocket. It's her math test she crumbled earlier. Bobo picks it up and starts analyzing it.
A very bright idea sparks in his head.
Ly’lac spends her night thinking about Bobo's idea of hanging out. She's not used to doing illegitimate stuff, she does skip classes from time to time but she's never left school during the day without permission. She knows Bobo has, escaping with him would greatly lower her chances of getting caught. But what would she gain from it? Bobo might think she's cool, sure. She doesn't exactly have any qualities that make her seem "cool", maybe this would make her one of the new cool kids at school, but she doesn't really care about that. What if the school tries to contact her mom, what then? Let's say they left the school without issue, Ly’lac still doesn't want to get wasted or high. Assuming that's what Bobo is going for, what the hell is she going to do? Just sit there and watch him? That'd be weird.
Bobo said they could do things her way too. But Ly’lac knows well that he would be bored out of his mind. They both get bored of things easily, but Bobo is just so unenthusiastic about anything that doesn't embrace jeopardy. If they're going to spend some time together without Bobo wanting to blow his brains out it'll have to be his way. Besides, maybe this'll even be good for her. Her life is static, her routine never changing.
She's a girl that helps her mom in the nursery home and spend time with crones. One thing she's ever gotten in trouble for is accidentally burning her mom's favourite pot in the kitchen when she was 6. One thing she would seriously get in trouble for if she gets caught by her mom is her cranky collection of small explosives, and lighters she's pocketed solely for their exquisite looks. She carries around a lot of lighters for someone who doesn't smoke. There's been times she got caught with torpedoes at school but her excuses were always believable to her teachers.
Ly’lac is lying on her bed staring at her ceiling, deep in thought. But she can think about this later, it's not the end of the world, is it?