Chapter Text
Why did you come here?
You just arrived at Hillmount High, your former high school, yet you already feel a strong urge to turn around and head home.
"Come on, quit being a coward and move your feet," you scolded yourself as you stood outside of the venue. "Are you really going to waste the three hours you spent prepping just to change your mind at the last minute? You're better than that."
You took the time to clear your head, to remove the negative thoughts and pessimistic views that you harbored. Instead, you decided to think of something nice. Maybe you'll end up enjoying yourself tonight here at this stupid high school reunion?
"Woah, look at that ugly-ass car," you heard someone say, followed by some murmurs and giggles.
Out of curiosity, you turned towards the parking lot and found a car, painted with one of the most hideous shades of green that your eyes have ever laid upon, driving slowly before coming to a halt. You chuckled, your lips curling to a grin. Your former schoolmates are right— the car is hideous. Whoever owned it must lack taste or class.
Then, your smile dropped instantly as soon as the car owner stepped out.
"Yasper in the house!"
You immediately turned your head away from the parking lot and walked inside the venue in quick strides. Of course he owns that car, of course he does!
"Why are you running away? He's literally your friend in high school," you scolded yourself. "You can come up to him and say hi. Where's the harm in that?"
— 2006 —
"The difference between pyrimidines and purines lies in their structures. You see…"
You let out a dramatic sigh as you continue to listen to your professor's ramblings. You were never really a fan of chemistry. You can't understand shit, it's all complex, and some experiments can lead to accidents if you're not careful enough. Still, you forced yourself to pay attention.
Unlike your lab partner beside you.
"Yasper, can you quit texting?" you whispered, subtly turning your head towards him. "Before the prof busts your ass and takes your phone away."
Yasper lets out a frustrated groan before following your advice and turning his phone off. He turned towards you, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Sorry, Xavier's been bothering me," he whispered aggressively. "He was telling me about a song that he wrote and said that he cannot wait to see my reaction to it."
You rolled your eyes, your professor's voice fading in the background as your attention was fully on Yasper.
"My god, he's always our topic every time we talk, and it always feels like I'm listening to you rant about your toxic boyfriend," you replied. "You've gotta break up with him, man. Break up the band, I mean. Go solo."
Yasper and Eugene, who goes by Xavier now apparently, are in a band together named Ska-Pe Diem. The band is a mess, their music is hot garbage, and their stage presence is questionable at best. Still, you continue to support your friend-slash-lab partner anyway since he's really passionate about music and what he does.
However, recently, Xavier has been leaning more into pop, which Yasper doesn't like one bit. You see, Yasper is a ska guy. The ska genre has his heart, and he will always be loyal to it. So, he's been considering disbanding Ska-Pe Diem since Xavier betrayed him and chose pop. It's insulting to his craft.
"I know! I know!" he replied before running his hand through his hair in frustration. "I just need the right time to tell him, okay?"
"Mr. Lennov!" the professor suddenly exclaimed, making the two of you turn towards him. "Can you tell me which nitrogenous bases are pyrimidines and purines, please?"
"Uh…" Yasper squeaked before turning towards you for help.
— 2021 —
Nope, not just yet. Not after what happened on Saint Patrick's Day.
The school pathway is decorated with arches of white and green balloons along with pictures of the 2006 batch of students attached to an easel for support. You stopped in your tracks when you saw yours and stared at your old self.
"Damn, I really peaked in high school, didn't I?"
You suddenly felt melancholic, missing the days when you were young, wild, and free. You missed the banter, the parties, and the achievements you received in high school.
Now, you are a sad and pathetic adult who is barely holding it together. An adult who's constantly stressed, overworked, and has had too much caffeine in their system.
"Oh my goodness, are my eyes deceiving me?!"
You froze as you heard a familiar voice behind you. "Shit, there's no escaping now," you groaned internally before slowly turning towards the voice with a faux smile.
"Oh, hey, you guys! It's been a long time!" you exclaimed as you looked at the two men. "Aniq and…"
You stared at Yasper and observed his appearance carefully. He looks the exact same since you last saw him, except he lost his curls and has his fluffy hair a bit neater. He still looks like a dork, but an adorable one at that.
He was still the man who captured your heart in high school.
"Yasper," you said his name softly. "You still wear green clothes, I see. Good to see you again, old friend."
"Hah, you know me. I love my greens!" he replied enthusiastically before stepping closer to you. "How are you? It's been a while since I heard about you."
"Oh, just some boring work stuff, really," you replied awkwardly, shrugging the topic off. "And you? How's the music career?"
You noticed that Yasper's expression deflated for a quick second before returning to his usual self. "No luck," he simply answered with a tight smile. "BUT! I'm going to convince Xavier to bless my tracks tonight."
Oh, right... Xavier. THE Eugene Xavier Duckworth Jr. You almost forgot that you are schoolmates with that arrogant douchebag.
Before you had the chance to reply, the conversation was interrupted when you heard the sound of balloons popping. Startled, you and Yasper turned towards the source of the noise.
It's Aniq and Zoe, the woman who Aniq is in love with, tangled in strings of decorative balloons. They giggled together at their silliness, looking like a couple straight out of a cheesy romcom.
"They're totally hitting it off," Yasper whispered to you, and when you look at him, he's grinning from ear to ear, happy for his friend.
You smiled as you continued to stare at him.
Yup, you definitely still have feelings for this guy.