Chapter Text
As the exam period drew nearer, Parrot became more withdrawn, more quiet. Not quiet in the sense that he studied without fail. Quiet in the sense that he stopped talking, disappeared from conversations, and never, ever, seemed to be online. Spoke called it suspicious acting. Wemmbu thought he couldn’t handle a joke. Flame grumbled that Parrot liked studying more than them. Theo knew it was something related to why he cried at night. No one knew the exact reason. No one seemed to connect the dots, that Parrot was like that every single year, around exam period.
People said he acted weird.
Stupid.
Selfish.
They expected him, as the smartest student in the level, to help weaker students.
But how could Parrot bear to help these struggling students?
How could he help someone?
How could he help people he barely knew?
The answer was, he couldn’t. Not when he had failed to save his best friend, 9 years ago, this time of the year.
And so he hid. He stopped correcting teachers, stopped volunteering answers, stopped meeting up with his friends. He wrapped himself in a cocoon of grief, using it to numb the guilt and the pain that he felt every day. Parrot would rush off after classes, making up random excuses of studying. He barely saw the rest of his friend group. His phone would buzz non-stop, ringing with concerned messages from friends, teachers, younger students, but often he would mute it or let it ring out.
He didn’t care.
Not now.
Not ever.
Of course, this wasn’t the first time. It happened every year, but the school still passed it off as “coincidences”. His parents knew the real reason, but they only made it worse. Last year, the school had complained to his parents. They had texted him, telling him this was wrong, that it wouldn’t be what Wifies wanted for him. They didn’t speak for five months after the fight that took place. Parrot loved his parents. He really did. But sometimes, just sometimes, the way they tried to guilt-trip him made him really, really pissed. They didn’t know Wifies the way he did. They never would. They did NOT get to use his name as motivation.
These days, the only person he spoke to was Theo, and that was only because Theo was his roommate. Some things, they had to do together. Other than that, Parrot barely spoke. When he did, his voice was hoarse from unuse. He knew the other people desperately trying to contact him. Students he’d once tutored, his friends, classmates who’d heard of his reputation, people who were failing classes. Parrot could help them. He could cope with tutoring the entire school. But whenever he tried to accept, his mind wouldn’t let him. All the sorrow, the regret, the pain, his mind couldn’t accept it. The feelings just stayed there, pressing against his thoughts and giving him constant headaches.
Actually, no one knew Parrot’s past. Not the school, not the group of friends he held close during the happier moments in the year. Not even Theo. Parrot never spoke about his childhood. In four years of friendship, Parrot always spoke about present moments, about experiences they’d shared, but never about how he’d grown up. Whenever Theo shared about his childhood, Parrot would force a smile before changing the topic. Everyone noticed. But they didn’t dare ask.
Then, two weeks before the exam, the teacher announced, “Today, we are proud to have a transfer student, he is from a different state but an equally respected school. Since he is new, I hope all of you take the initiative to welcome him and show him around.”
Someone knocked on the door and the teacher hurriedly opened it. “Everyone, please welcome the transfer student…” Parrot dropped his head onto the table, eyes closed. He didn’t have the time for this. He just wanted to get back to his room.
“woah…”
”damn he’s handsome”
Parrot rolled his eyes mentally. Girls. Well, and boys for that matter. His classmates were all idiots.
”There’s a space next to Boosfer. You can sit there!” The teacher told the transfer student. Good. That was in the front row. He wouldn’t have to speak to the transfer.
Class passed faster, and when it ended, everyone crowded around the new student, all clamoring to show him around. Usually Parrot would be disgusted by how easily his classmates got swayed by apparent good looks, but today he was grateful for the opportunity to sneak out unnoticed.
Or so he thought.
A moment later, Theo appeared next to him, grinning. “Parrot don’t you want to see the transfer?”
“I don’t, Theo. Why are you following me? Don’t you have a transfer student to bother or something?” The bitterness was evident in his voice. Theo stared at him. “You’re my friend. I can’t just leave you alone bro. Not when you’ve barely been eating OR sleeping recently.” “I know… it’s just…” “I get it. Exams stress me out too.”
If only that was the source of my stress. Parrot thought darkly as he continued walking without looking back. Theo didn‘t stop. Just continued following Parrot without a word.
“Parrot!”
“What do you—“ Parrot walked straight into another boy. Both had been looking down. Both fell to the ground with a sickening thud. “Bro I was trying to warn you.” Theo’s face appeared above his. Parrot groaned. “Bit late?” Theo laughed. “C’mon.” Parrot slowly gathered his fallen notes. “I’m not hungry, Theo.” “I don’t care. You’re coming.”
For a moment, it was just Parrot and Theo, arguing about stupid things. Then someone tapped Parrot on the shoulder and he looked up.
”Here.” The boy pushed a folder into his arms. “You dropped this.” Parrot looked up. THe boy was standing up, a small notebook in his hands. Parrot pushed himself up. The other boy had smooth, black hair, fringe that flopped over his brow on one side but was pushed aside by… something on the other. His eyes were deep purple, but looking into them felt like looking into something endless. Just the right amount of warmth, yet somehow radiating a coldness that made it difficult to look away. Something about the boy made Parrot pause, but he couldn’t tell what. The boy’s eyes searched his face for a moment, mirroring his mild shock and confusion. Then, as if on cue, both eyes dropped to the other’s neck. Where matching leather cords sat, crystal threaded through the centre. Parrot’s hand flew to his throat. The boy’s eyes widened.
”Parrot?”
Parrot felt his heart stop. His files dropped from his other hand with a loud clatter onto the floor, but neither party reacted. Behind him, he could hear Theo trying to tell him something, but he wasn’t listening. No. This wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be. Memories flooded into his mind. All of them was telling him something. The logical part of Parrot, the part he’d trained ever since they’d parted, told him it wasn’t possible. But… with everything that’d happened recently, who was he to say what could happen and what couldn’t?
”Wifies?”
The name slipped out from his mouth before he could help it. The boy took a step forward and Parrot froze, heart pounding fiercely. Oh no… What if it isn’t him? What if I made a mistake? Did I just reveal my secret to a stranger? Then the boy reached out a shaky hand to grab Parrot’s shoulder and everything vanished. All the doubt, gone. It was him.
Wifies, was back.
Parrot flung his arms around the latter. It didn’t matter that Theo was still watching. It didn’t matter that he would have to explain to Theo later. Wifies didn’t hesitate, instead returning the hug and squeezing Parrot so tight he thought he would explode. But Parrot wasn’t complaining. At least if he died here, he died happy.
“Miss me?” Wifies mumbled, breath hot against his ear.
”what do you think, idiot?” Parrot hugged him tighter before letting go to look at Wifies. “you look so different now”
”well the girls in your class certainly were gawking”
”mhm… WAIT” a sudden realisation hit Parrot as he processed Wifies’s words. “my class?!”
Wifies gestured behind him and Parrot was suddenly aware of Theo tapping his shoulder. Theo had a weird expression on his face. His lips were parted as if trying to say something but his eyes were also wide like he’d been frozen staring. Parrot looked at Wifies. “Did you do something?” Wifies looked back at him. They stared at each other for about five seconds before Parrot gave up and turned back to Theo. He waved a hand in front of Theo’s face. Nothing. He tapped Theo on the shoulder. Nothing. “Slap him.” Parrot whipped around. Wifies shrugged. “If he’s unresponsive the pain will shock him to his senses.” Parrot glared at Wifies. “Why do you always have to make sense?” Wifies smirked at him but didn’t reply.
And hence, Parrot slapped Theo.
On the face.
Hard.
The smack echoed through the hallway and students turned around to look. “wha-what?!” Theo stumbled, a few creative things slipping through his mouth. Parrot looked at him, unimpressed. “You were spacing out. Like I literally tried to poke you and you didn’t react.” Theo blinked sheepishly. Wait. Theo could look like that? NEW ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! Theo looked to the side. “How do you know Wifies?” Parrot stared at Theo. “how do YOU know Wifies?” Theo coughed into his hand and looked at Wifies for a moment before turning back. “He was the transfer student.”
Parrot’s brain exploded.
(clue: it didn’t)
But it might as well have.
Wifies? Transfer student?
Wifies grinned. “Didn’t know you lived here now.”
Parrot glanced at him, head angled in the slightest towards Theo. The angling of his head was so small, just a slight tilt of the head, that if you weren’t looking for it, you wouldn’t have seen it.
In that one glance, a million words were communicated. Even after nine years of separation, they still understood each other. Completely. Wifies shook his head slightly and Parrot nodded.
Theo looked at Parrot and Wifies. Sighed. “This is not going anywhere. I’ll ask you later.” Then he turned and walked off towards the canteen.
Leaving Parrot and Wifies alone. Well, not alone. The hallway was still crowded, and many people were looking at Wifies. Not much privacy, but it was more than they could ask for with Theo around.
Parrot breathed a sigh of relief. At least Theo hadn’t pushed too much and had just left.
Little did he know… Theo had gone to commit a worse crime.
But for now, Parrot could just enjoy a break with his best friend. And maybe, just maybe, life could become normal again.
Students trickled out of classrooms, and eventually all funneled into the canteen. Parrot could hear people talking about Wifies. He looked at Wifies. “… any idea why they are talking about you” Wifies looked at him like he was crazy. “i look amazing” “NO YOU DON’T” “yes I do” “your hair is literally all over your face.” Wifies gave Parrot a look, then used one hand to push his bangs up. “better?” Parrot shrugged and reached up, before pausing and looking towards Wifies for permission. “sure” Parrot grabbed his headband and pulled it off. Silky black hair spilled across his forehead. “HEY!” Wifies swiped at Parrot’s hand. Parrot tried to hold it away, but sadly, Wifies was taller. Quite a bit taller, actually.
It was inevitable that Wifies would get the headband back. Parrot was just trying to make it difficult. He forgot that Wifies was smarter. Wifies grabbed his arm and pinned it down, then plucked it out of the other hand with a smirk. Parrot scowled. “everyone is staring at us.” Wifies looked at him. “i think you know who’s fault that was” “definitely NOT mine” “whatever you say, birdie” Parrot ran a hand down his face. “can you stop calling me that? it’s embarrassing” “nope!”
By the time they got to the canteen, Parrot had learnt three new things about Wifies.
Firstly, he was still just as annoying, just slightly less protective. Enough to let him go to places alone.
Secondly, he was really, really attractive. Seriously. Girls, boys, everyone trailed behind them, trying to get him to talk to them.
Thirdly, he was still smarter. No matter how much Parrot studied, he was never going to be smarter than Wifies. Not that anyone knew. Wifies hadn’t answered anything that proved his intelligence yet. But Parrot was going to make him. Eventually
Wifies seemed happy with all of them. Especially the last one.
”Why did you leave anyways?” Parrot asked. “just curious.” He added, seeing the look on Wifies’s face.
Wifies sighed. “The doctor told my parents there was a chance I could get PTSD staying there. They wanted to bring me to a different hospital on the spot but I was too unstable. That’s how you managed to see me that last time. Because I refused to take my meds for a week.”
Parrot stared. “You did what?”
Wifies grinned. “I’m amazing”
“No, you’re not”
”He is!” A random girl from behind shouted. Giggles erupted around her. Wifies turned around. A girl with blonde hair was blushing while her friends egged her on. Wifies grinned. “Thank you.” He turned to Parrot. “See?”
Parrot faceplanted.
“That was NOT what I meant.”