Work Text:
Hakeem takes a deep breath, knocking once—twice. He felt incredibly nervous of what’s to come inside-
inside this dorm in particular.
Zahrin's face was never so pale, he had practically yelled for Hakeem to do something between paces. Such allegations were unheard of, at least for someone with such a prestigious image to hold onto.
Ariz was always different, but no one expected this different.
Fahmi was a tad bit calmer, in ways that was so Fahmi-like. He didn't pester or pull strands of his hair out like Zahrin did.
“Takkan la Ariz buat macam tu, mesti Naim fitnah je.”
He said, collected. Because he trusted Ariz, he believed Ariz wouldn't do something so much so.. predatory.
Zahrin's panic and Fahmi's calmness dwelled something into Hakeem. A consideration- a theory. He was stuck between both boys' contrasting opinions. He didn't know which side he agreed with more.
On one end, he never knew Ariz well. mutual tolerance—respect, sure, but calling eachother direct friends was always a stretch. Hence, the reason he was here in the first place, to ask the man himself. If Ariz would even give him an answer.
“Masuk!”
Hakeem flinched, drenching away from his reverie, his breathing suddenly felt a little too ragged as he twisted the door knob open.
Inside, Ariz laid flat. He looked to have just finished training, of course he had, the manifesto was just tonight after all. Sweat stuck his clothes to his skin, Hakeem tries not to make it too obvious that it bothered him. It was a peculiar sight.
“Fuiyoh, Kapla Interim.” Ariz teased, smiling through his crooked breathing. “Rasa bangga pulak aku-”
“Betul ke apa Naim cakap tadi?”
The smiling faltered, washed out. Hakeem furrowed his eyebrows, the odd confusing feeling from before flooding his body again. Fuck, what was he even saying? Of course it’s all fake news.
“Mengarut la aku, memang la semua tu fake je. Apa la aku ni percaya sangat.”
But Ariz stood still, he didn't remark or cackle in disbelief like Hakeem expected. In fact, Ariz was pale. Too very pale.
Suddenly worry asserted itself— a chill feeling that leaves Hakeem shivering in dreadful discomfort.
Hakeem didn't know why Ariz stayed so quiet, he needed him to say something, anything damn it. But he didn't, Hakeem could have sworn he saw something close to guilt wave over his eyes.
no, no, no.
“Ariz, tu semua fitnah je kan?”
Hakeem scoffed in disbelief, in utter genuine disbelief. He couldnt believe what this situation was further implying.
What would Kahar do in this situation? Surely he had an idea, an incredibly wise and clever idea at that. A counter. Kahar would solve this, but right now waiting for him to come and solve this is not an option.
“Ariz.. jawap la.” Hakeem scurried in a panic frenzy, “Kenapa kau tak jawap?”
“Aku..” Ariz starts, eyes vacant as he tries to piece together loose stringed words. “Aku..” he tries again, his hand skating up Hakeem's knee. “Wey, Hakeem, kau jangan la jibam, please wey..”
Hakeem flared, swatting Ariz's hand away. “Jijik gila sial!” he snarled, “J-angan pegang aku.”
“Hakeem, tolong la jangan jibam, aku.. aku boleh masuk penjara kot!”
“Bagus.” Hakeem raged, “Orang macam kau, tak layak jalan la setapak dengan kitaorang!”
“Hah!” Ariz snort, guttural and unpleasant. The drastic shift from panic to amusement leaves Hakeem unsettled. “Kau sedar tak kau ni siapa? Kau pernah sekali cermin diri sendiri tak, Hakeem Rizal?”
Hakeem flinched. He hadn’t. Never.
“Kau tu justify kan pergaduhan, buli, semua kau butakan mata kan demi apa? Protection?”
“Lepas itu, siapa eh yang tanggungjawab racun hampir separuh batch?” Ariz's face contorted into something sinister, his grin strikingly horrifying. He looked as if he was thinking, with a hand on his chin. Something Hakeem has never seen before, at least not in this version.
Hakeem wouldn't be able to differiance him for the very devil and was there even a difference? “—yang kantoikan tradisi Kudrat ke orang luar?”
“Hakeem.”
“Hakeem.”
“Hakeem.”
“Kalau kau bukan diri kau ni, aku rasa Kahar dah lama buang kau.”
And suddenly his skin felt a little too thick, like it became a size or three too unfit. Of course, Ariz of all knew. He was there, every second of the way to their relationship. An adopted member.
Hakeem needed the dread to waver, for him to seem unbothered but it wouldn't be quick enough. He isn't Kahar.
“So kau nak jibam aku?”
Ariz falter once more, intrigued. “Kau tak jibam aku, aku tak jibam kau.”
Hakeem hated how the deal felt too tempting for his liking. “So da la kan.”
Hakeem turns, heading his way back before a call halts him. “Taknak wish aku goodluck ke?”
Hakeem storms out anyways.
————————————————————————
Fuck.
This was not going his way. How is it that his first experience as Kapla is met with this anyways? Just his pure luck.
Hakeem stomps his way to the nearest vending machine, desperate for a treat to subtle his raging nerves.
He wasn't just gonna let Ariz slide, but at the same time he could practically hear Kahar’s disapproval for letting Ariz rat them out if he did.
“Hakeem.” Naim greets, curtly. Naim looked composed, different to whatever Hakeem probably looked like.
“Oh hi.” Hakeem smiled, turning to the glowing vending machine. “Air apa yang sedap eh agaknya?” he tries, scanning through his options.
“Amirr suka Cherry pop.” Naim mindfully answers, cradling the said drink. Hakeem falters.
Oh?
Hakeem couldn't help but feel like there is something more to their relationship, Naim had been too specific with his answer after all.
He sighed, turning to the boy. “Kau suka air apa?” he then asked, raising a careful eyebrow.
Naim hesitated at his question, as if it was something genuinely difficult. Like Hakeem had asked a question miles away from the syllabus.
“Cherry pop kot.” he answers finally, Hakeem nodded in conclusion.
Oh.
That was what that was all about.
.
“Kalau kau kalah?” Ariz snickered, the vision evident in his eyes. He already saw Naim failing and the battle hasn't even started yet. Far from that.
Naim’s eyes darkened, staring with deadly intent. Even Hakeem was startled by it and he’s seen Kahar’s wrath. “Kalau aku kalah..” he says, voice rasp with warning.
“Aku keluar sekolah ni.”
“Aku pun.” came Amirr’s voice. Not even gracing them a single glance. Instead he focused on the puny boy, rubbing soothing strokes on his back. Visibly distracted with something.
Naim halts, before his composure reemerges just as quickly. Hakeem had thought it was rather strange, how they acted like they came glued together, inseparable. Two peas in one tight pod.
.
“Cepat la pilih air, telan duit baru tau.”
Hakeem flinched, startled. “Oh ye.” he sheepishly grins, turning to the vending machine.
He hadn't really made a decision, not really. Shoving in money had been something sort of like out of his consciousness, a subconscious thing.
Hakeem doesn't always go for sodas. The fizz mixed with the chance of dying far too early scares him shitless.
The only time he does get them however, is when Kahar errands him to.
Kahar finds comfort in sodas, drinking it as he would a beer. Hakeem is positive he takes it as one too. If Strawberry Lime tasted anything like a beer does.
Snorting, Hakeem buys the Strawberry Lime.
“Sial, lama betul pilih.” Naim scoffed, though it only carried playfulness. Like Naim found it amusing. “Suka betul kau dengan air tu, setiap kali jumpa kat sini mesti air tu la kat tangan kau.” he grinned, purchasing another Cherry pop, presumably for himself.
Hakeem laughs, “Tak ada la selalu.”
————————————————————————
“Kenapa kau pergi beli air tengah malam?” Hakeem asked, shifting his seat on the table. “Kau kan terpaling skema.”
Naim grinned to himself, staring at his drink with genuine fondness. As if it was something comforting. “Sebab Amirr nak.” he says, sipping one of the sodas.
Hakeem snorted. “Naim, kau ni—”
“Apa?”
“Whipped gila sial.” he says with a cackle, “Sumpah whipped gila babi.”
Naim raised an eyebrow, “Whipped?” he asked, looking lost. Hakeem halts, still very amused. “Kau ni pandai sahaja.”
“Whipped ni macam.. kau ikut apa orang kau sayang suruh.”
Naim nods, “Memang la, dia bestfriend aku.” he reasons. As if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Bestfriend? Itu ke apa kita panggil blatant homosexuality sekarang?” Hakeem snorts, watching as a crimson red hue slowly flush away Naim’s tan skin.
“Apa benda kau merepek ni?” he stammered in an instant, jumping up from his seat. Naim would look furious if he wasn't so visibly flustered as well. “Blatant homosexuality apa benda sial?”
Hakeem remained unfazed, “Blatant homosexuality tu..” he pointed a finger at Naim’s chest, “—kau.” Naim stuttered a gasp, “Aku straight okay!”
“Straight lagi scoliosis budak-budak sekolah ni.”
“Merepek. Merepek. Merepek.” Naim chanted, overlapping Hakeem’s teasing remarks on his behaviour. Hakeem grinned, “Siapa top? Nak kata kau tapi kau ni whipped sangat..”
“HAKEEM.” Naim screeched, shoving his hand to muffled whatever unhinged nonsense Hakeem had to say. “Diam sial, nanti mula la ada junior fikir lain!”
But Hakeem didn't seem deflated, in fact he seemed more intrigued with the idea. Tempted. He pulls Naim’s hand away, “Aku dengan Kahar okay je.” he reasons mindfully, “Mana tau korang boleh lawan kitaorang jadi favourite couple sekolah ni~”
Naim scoffed rudely, “Itu bukan favourite couple, diaorang cuma suka tengok Kahar lembut macam pondan.”
“Hm. My softie.” Hakeem supplies, jovial.
“Kau tau tak siapa ajar aku perkataan whipped ni?” he later asked, looking at Naim.
The question piqued Naim’s interest, making immediately raise his head. “Siapa? Aku ingat da ada harapan untuk markah BI kau.” he snorts, an evident poke to Hakeem’s very poor English scores.
Hakeem rolled his eyes, “Kahar ajar.” he says, that dreamy voice emerging. Because a mere reminder of his boyfriend was enough to catch him, Hakeem believed it was true love sparking through his very cell.
Naim, in all his one tracked ideas, raised an eyebrow. “Kahar kata kau ni whipped ke?” he asked, though his tone suggests he already knew his answer. Shame it isn't the correct one though, at least in this situation.
“Kahar kata dia whipped, untuk aku.”
Naim seemed surprised at that, very surprised. As if such things were unheard of. Hakeem knew Naim didn't expect that outcome, because as close as he was with them. He wasn't close. Not by a long shot.
A mere junior, another loosely tied crown prince to the High Council hierarchy. He didn't know any of them well, Naim was just another friend.
“Kahar.. yang kata?” he repeats, flabbergasted. Hakeem nods, “Ye la, takkan Amirr kot.”
Naim frowns, further giving evidence of something more. Jealousy. Hakeem’s favourite kind. “Babinya perangai, aku mention nama pun kau da buat muka.”
The prefect halts, the evident jealousy fading from his face quickly. The imagination of Amirr being Hakeem’s drifting from his mind, a miniscule amount. At least. “Mana ada buat muka.”
“Ada. Nak aku amik gambar?” Hakeem teases, sipping his soda, that fortunately has lost most of its fizz. Making it somewhat bearable.
Hakeem glances at his bright yellow watch, a gift from Kahar during their earlier friendships. “Lambat da ni, 10:31.”
Naim visibly panics at his statement, reaching for both of his sodas. “Sial la, aku lupa nak bagi kat dia!” he says, taking a step away. “Hakeem, sorry do, aku kena bagi air kat Amirr ni!”
Hakeem smirked. Usually people would avoid things that would get them shipped, but Naim seemed to be actively seeking it. Even if he doesn't say so, contrary. A silent demand with how he behaves. A guilty pleasure of sorts.
Hakeem watches Naim jogs away, the smile fading as he remembers what will happen tonight. When the clock hits twelve, Naim will fight Ariz.
Despite all the Kelanai-Kelaini shits he should be prioritizing, he longed to see Ariz fall. An echoing fall that breaks all his bones.
“Naim!” he bellows. Naim swifted, already far ahead. He looked clueless, different from when he was with Ariz. Naim looked calm, which was his usual, yet it felt foreign.
“Menang tau.”
Naim hands him a determined nod, Hakeem feels confident, as he was with Kahar. That raging trust he so very believed in. Hakeem knew Naim wouldn't let him down.
Yet when the manifesto session arrived, he felt nervous. Trembling in his own skin. He believes Naim, he really does. But the thought of leading the fight was an eerie unknown concept. Hakeem feels so unworthy of being a substitute for something so upscaled now.
“Sesi Winnie the pooh.” he stuttered, suddenly unsure of every little thing.
Despite his own slip ups, Naim proved himself. He won and he won damn well. Naim smashed Ariz’s dick to smithereens, a horrifying but deserving sight.
Hakeem is unsure what this means for the puny kid, who he has learned is named Danial Haikal, a form 2 under his house. Tragically unknown. Hakeem wouldn't be surprised if Naim and Amirr are his only friends here.
“Kejap, mana Danial?”
And then Hakeem realises the kid left, he was too preoccupied with whatever romantic tension Naim and Amirr had going on to notice.
Amirr abruptly released his cradling of Naim’s face to run outside and look for Danial.
Naim stands there, as if in a daze. A trance caused from Amirr’s touch. And then, as if waking up from a dream, he follows Amirr out.
Hakeem thinks Naim's so incredibly whipped.