"Isa," Lea wailed, dragging the a to the next century. It irked Isa when the redhead whined his name like that, but it also made him feel a little warm and fuzzy in his chest.
Lea was waiting for him outside his classroom for lunch. Many students passed by them, chatting with their friends as they walked by.
Isa rolled his eyes to feign irritation as he approached the redhead. “Hey, Lea.”
Lea wrapped his arms around Isa as soon as the bluehaired was within reach, clutching his best friend tight. “I already miss you so much.”
"Geez," Isa tried to mask the smile curving up his lips. He didn’t want to seem too delighted that Lea was missing him that much already. He pushed Lea away by the face. “We just saw each other this morning.”
"Wha-what? Didn’t you miss me?” Lea looked like tears were forming in his eyes when Isa pushed him away. Isa started walking to the cafeteria, while Lea followed suit. “We’re not in the same class anymore. We’ve been classmates our whole lives! Doesn’t it bother you?” Lea pulled a face of disgust, then shock, then horror.
Isa sighed and shook his head at how Lea was acting, still feigning he wasn’t gloating at how much Lea’s missed him when they’ve just been a few hours apart. “Yeah, but, like I said, we still see each other in the morning, in the afternoon on the way home, and even now. We still eat lunch together. Isn’t that enough?”
"I’m so disappointed you don’t get it, Isa." Lea crossed his arms. "Things are just different when you’re not there. Got it memorized?"
"That phrase again?" Isa huffed. "Would you stop that? I’m getting sick of it."
"The phrase is so cool, right? Oh, hi!" Lea waved to classmate who passed them by before continuing. "You’ll have to get used to it, Isa. I’ll use it ‘til I die! Got it memorized?"
Lea prattled on about what cool move he could do with his newfound catchphrase (with Isa rolling his eyes every so often at how silly his friend was) all throughout lunch. While listening, Isa wondered how he and Lea were going to spend the rest of the year, like this, with Lea prattling full throttle as if making up for the time he spent without Isa.
Isa honestly wouldn’t mind if that meant Lea would always be looking for him as soon as classes finish.
= = =
The following week, Lea was transferred to Isa’s class, by his mom’s request.
"I can’t believe Mr. Even even came to your house to beg your mom to request your transfer." Isa started. They were on their way home from school.
Mr. Even was Lea’s and Isa’s homeroom advisor for the past two years. He saw the changes in Lea’s attitude when Isa wasn’t there, and it was too much for him to handle. (Lea became incontrollable, like wildfire. He looked too bored.) He came to Lea’s mom one afternoon, almost begging to his knees. He claimed his hair was turning white at a faster pace than usual since the start of the school year.
Lea stopped walking to laugh out loud. (Isa stopped, too.) Lea’s laughter rung in Isa’s ears and settled in his chest. “Well, Isa, I guess that just means they see how compatible we are.”
It must’ve been the roar of Lea’s laughter that made Isa’s heart beat faster then. How compatible we are.
"We’re inseparable, Isa." Lea continued, and beamed at the bluehaired so brightly, Isa couldn’t help but look away. He was burning red to his ears. "Even the teachers see it."
Isa started walking away to hid his embarrassment. Lea skipped to catch up to him.
"Whatcha thinking about, Isa?" Lea asked after a few moments of silence passed them. He didn’t know how else to start the conversation when Isa looked deep in thought like he was.
"Ah, well, I was just thinking." Isa started, "We don’t have to be together all the time, you know. We—" He paused mid-sentence, thinking of how to properly phrase his next words. Lea was turned to him, face serious and patiently waiting for what he was about to say. "What I mean is, well, what matters isn’t how often we’re together, but how much we think about each other…" He trailed the last few words, then added, "I think."
Lea took a few moments to let the thought sink in. Isa took the silence as a sign he was saying insane things.
"Know what? Never mind. It’s stupid."
"No, no, no!" Lea took hold of Isa’s arm to stop him from walking. "It’s great. It’s awesome." He looked straight into Isa’s eyes, so deep, so blue, so genuine. Lea felt like he was staring at galaxies in them. "I’ll get it memorized, Isa!"
Isa shrugged his arm off Lea’s grip and rubbed his hand on Lea’s face, trying to rub off that annoying grin. (And also to hide the blush he was well sure was forming on his cheeks again.) “Stop looking so happy, you goof.”
"Can’t help it." Lea took hold of Isa’s arm again. "Hey, wanna get some ice cream? There’s this new ice cream shop that opened down the street."
"Sure, lead the way."
Being classmates again meant Lea won’t be looking for Isa as much as he did these past few weeks. But with the way Lea looked so happy beside him, Isa hoped every second they spent with each other is another moment tattooed to his memory for Lea to think of when they do spend time without each other.