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Caelus heard of Dan Heng, well, rumors of him actually
Black raven hair, glasses between his eyes, and of course, his infamous attitude towards people who approached him. Dan Heng's classmates tend to ignore him, pretending he was only an invisible figure beyond people. Caelus never saw the boy himself when it was his first year of highschool since the latter was in another class. He never thinks about it too much and he learned it would be rude to stick his nose out of curiosity.
Time passed on quickly and the second year started. Caelus saw the said boy seated alone in the middle of the class. No one even bat an eye when they passed him. Caelus just thinks he is one of those people, there were types of people who actually enjoyed being alone with their thoughts. But to the point of ignoring of said person is.. wrong in many ways to him
Caelus remembered when he tried to initiate a conversation in his first year. He was still fresh, nervous, and excited about what comes next in his chapter. He didn't remember clearly the person he tried to converse with but remembered how annoyed they were to the point they raised the volume of their voice. "I don't need your pity, I like being alone" was the point of their conversation.
Caelus wasn't pitying anyone, he was just interested in them.
"Some people prefer to be alone sometimes, Caelus. It's not your fault for being curious. And I promise that part of you is a good thing."
Those words resonated within him and put a stop to his little dilema. His Dad always knows what to comfort him, it's like his reading Caelus's mind with magic.
"It's amazing how he's always gloomy."
"I know right?"
"Who?" Caelus asked the two whispering girls out of curiosity
"Ah Caelus! It's Dan Heng obviously, where have you been?" The girl with long hair jokes
"Carrying some stuff for Bronya."
"Ehh, really? You sure you don't have a crush on her? You two would look good together." The other girl comment with a teasing tone, playfully nudging his elbow
Caelus didn't mind the teasing honestly, it wasn't true after all. But he has something in mind rather than entertain his classmates.
"Caelus?"
"Caelus, where are y-"
"Dan Heng, what are you reading?"
The two girls gasped, quite loudly for both ears to hear.
"I could hear you guys from here, you know."
He decided to ignore them anyways
Caelus just hoped he didn't scared Dan Heng with how quick his legs phased towards where Dan Heng's sitting. He tends to get overly excited.
"Uh"
Ah, maybe he's just awkward? He's not gonna punch him or anything right? Dan Heng's build was thin though, why did he think of the latter resorting to violence?
"It's.. a novel I recently picked up. Are you interested?" Dan Heng finally spoke up
"Mhm, i always saw you with different books but their cover artstyle are quite similar. Is it the same author?"
"Ah yes, they are the same."
Caelus knowingly smiled "I see, everyone said you're weird but you're just normal to me."
Dan Heng froze at this
Caelus didn't notice the impact of his words and just laughed.
"Ah just you know, I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at the fact people had the time to judge you but haven't talked to you." The two girls at the back flinched
"You're the weird one though.." Dan Heng mumbled
"Hm? What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything."
Caelus just shrugged it off, not pushing the topic further.
He always has a good intuition for people, Caelus felt like Dan Heng is not far different from him, and his theory was mostly right. But he has a slight guilt over his stomach for not talking to him half of the semester. They could have been super close friends in their first year here as well. He sighed at his useless thoughts. Ah, how he wished they were in the same classroom last year.
He and Dan Heng were similar because they were both essentially awkward. Caelus only learned the best way for him to communicate is offering help, not chatting about the latest music hits. Talking is just not his forte you could say.
Maybe little by little, Caelus hoped, that they could be at least close friends this year
~
The grayed hair boy was busy, he was never this busy before entering this school. Somehow, his classmates liked him for some reason. Maybe the fact he likes to help them in many ways or maybe he was friendlier than other students. Well, Caelus was just being his usual self.
It's a shame that he can't join them for karaoke or little trips to arcades. No one had the chance to ever ask why Caelus is always on the rush to go home everytime the bell rings, usually because he's a fast runner.
Aside from studying, he was always busy at home. Cooking, vacuuming the house, just chores. Caelus's parents was always busy, the least he could do to help the burden is making sure the house was tidy.
knock knock
"Coming!"
Good thing he was near the door, he was taking out the trash anyways. Not that Caelus wanted to throw it all out. It's a shame really, there were still useful things but his sister complained how it stinks. He argued he could just wash it, but her sister still said no.
March 7th was the name she chose to agreed since it was also the day Caelus found him malnourished on the streets when she was just a child. Little Caelus was strong enough to carry the little girl alone and ran as quickly as he could.
Caelus's dad tried to find the cotton candy haired girl parents through the police and they're in no luck. Through the boy's request, his dad decided to take care of March as their own.
"What's your name, young lady?"
She just shook her tiny head "Don't remember."
His father was saddened to hear those words coming from a child, younger than his own.
"Uhm" she shyly turned to Caelus
"Nii-san, what date is it today?"
"March 7th."
She nods excitingly "Mm! I want my name to be that!"
Hence how March was always by Caelus's side when their parents were too busy to go home. Despite how they met, she was brighter than the summer sun. It was nice to see the young ragged cloth girl turning into a morning star.
Caelus opened the door while still carrying two black plastic bags. All he could see was March's knees covered in dirt and a drip of blood under her nose.
"March! What happened?!" Caelus quickly grabbed a cloth to wipe the blood off
"Hehe, sorry for worrying you. I tripped when I accidentally dropped the ice cream I was about to eat." March scratches her hair awkwardly
"Seriously? While carrying groceries?"
"I said I was sorry, but no worries because this nice onii-san helped me!"
Caelus quickly glanced in horror at the said brother
Crap, i accidentally ignored him this whole time
"Well..If she's okay, I'll get going then." He dismissed
March grabbed his wrist "Aw come on, at least have tea with us! My nii-chan here really needs some friends."
That statement earned March a scolding hit at the head
Caelus sighed and then smiled at the stranger "Thank you for helping my sister, she's a handful sometimes" ignoring the little "hey" complaint from March
Well he thinks it's alright to invite over someone. Despite his rough appearance with those piercings, Caelus could roughly count there were four at his right ear, the grayed hair boy could tell he is a good guy inside ( he hopes his guts weren't lying). Caelus wonders if those holes hurt a lot in the past. Ah, he knows not to pry too much.
"Help yourself in, I'll boil some tea for us or are you rather a coffee person?" Caelus politely smiled
"Tea is fine, and thank you for your hospitality." He bows
They sat together in the living room, with a table separating them both. March was washing up upstairs and joined them with Caelus already warming up her hot chocolate.
"Seriously, thank you again for helping. And careful, it's still hot"
"I happened to pass by, it was nothing." He slurped the hot cup of tea carefully
"I didn't expect you to be so good at house chores, Caelus. Do you always do this alone?"
"No, no, March always helps me with-"
Caelus stopped stirring his cup
Eh? Did he.. even told his name yet?"
"Hold on, do you know me?" He pointed at himself.
The latter only looked at him, confused
"Sorry, wait, are we.. how do you know me?"
"Of course I know you?"
Okay, that didn't help Caelus's confusion
"You're Caelus from Class A right?"
"We attend the same school?!"
The stranger looked at him, once more, confused "Yeah? Of course we do. Caelus, It's me, Dan Heng."
A mental picture of the difference the Dan Heng he knows and the Dan Heng in front of him felt unreal
I thought gap moe only exists in mangas?!
Caelus dropped his spoon "Oii, don't drop-" his sister's scolding wasn't heard because her poor brother is questioning his existence.
"Caelus?" He waved to the seemingly shocked boy. "Is he okay?" Dan Heng turns to March.
"Mm, mm" March nods "Sorry he's so dramatic sometimes."
"I am not!" He bangs the table
"Oh, his back."
~
"Was I not getting enough sleep yesterday? Why does he looked so different?? Do gap moes exist in real life? More importantly, why does he hide the fact his so hand-"
Caelus quickly slapped his cheeks to stop that thought, his classmates looking at him worriedly. There were some quick whispers of "Poor Caelus, was the student council using him again?" "I bet you beg him to help with your homework again" and some other assumptions that Caelus didn't bother to hear.
"No, no, no, don't think that far, I'll just talk to him normal like yesterday." He glanced again at Dan Heng, peacefully reading a book as always.
Caelus buried his head under the book he was reading (he didn't know it was upside down) contemplating on whether or not he should approach Dan Heng or not.
"Deep breaths Caelus, deeply breaths"
He swiftly went over to his desk and made Dan Heng flinched in surprise
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Caelus led the somewhere quite, near an open space that students rarely went by
"You want me to come over to your house again??" Dan Heng asked suspiciously
"Not me! March won't stop bothering me about making friends. So I thought maybe I could convince her if I invited you over?" Caelus awkwardly shrugged, waiting for Dan Heng's answer
"I-"
Caelus quickly cut off whatever Dan Heng was about to say, afraid of the accusation of him being a creep "Gaaah, nevermind sorry. It was stupid, i never should've ask-"
"Caelus."
Dan Heng carefully grabbed the latter's wrist from hiding his face. And Caelus, stupidly blushed at this, his stupid gentle action. He wished he could find a trash bin to jump in.
"Yes?"
"I would love to come over." He curved a rare, soft smile
Nope
No
Caelus didn't just combust on the spot
~
Caelus found some interesting fun facts about Dan Heng from his thoroughly visits
1.Dan Heng is an absolute master at baking!
One day, Dan Heng came over and brought over some chocolate cake. It was sweet and with a hint of bitterness, just like how Caelus liked it. He thought Dan Heng bought it from a nearby bakery and asked what's the name so maybe Caelus could treat Dan Heng some too.
"No need, it would be awkward to see me at work."
"Hah? You work there?"
Dan Heng gave Caelus a card with a writing "Lunae Bakery" on it
"Yeah, my family runs that place."
"So.. is this cake baked by your mom or your dad?" Caelus points at the already half eaten dessert
"Oh that one you just ate? It was me."
Why the heck do say it with a straight face, and why are you sparkling
"Can i-"
"No, you still have to pay." Dan Heng scolds
"At least a friend discount?"
"Why bother with a discount?" Caelus frowned and pouted at this
"I'm planning to bring over more desserts in the future, anyways. For you and March"
Caelus perked up "Really?!"
This boy only gets excited if the word "dessert" is in a sentence.
Dan Heng scoffed at this "You're so easy please"
2. Dan Heng is definitely shorter
"Dan Heng"
Sounds of light tip toed feet towards Dan Heng who is leaning near the fridge.
Caelus was making curry for three. While waiting, the gray haired was curious if he was taller or shorter than Dan Heng. Was it curiosity? Or did he see it as a competition? Maybe both. From a far view, Dan Heng looked tall, so why does he look short now?
"Hmm?" Dan Heng answered not looking at Caelus
Caelus on the other hand, kept measuring the top of his head to Dan Heng's more than once.
"What are you doing?" Finally stopped reading his book and looking at Caelus, catching his attention.
"Measuring our heights."
Gray eyes landed on his slightly tipped feet "You won't get accurate data if you cheat"
Feet returned flat on the floor, causing Caelus's hand that was still measuring Dan Heng's height to directly hit his hair. He forgot to retreat his hand.
With no warning, Caelus instinctively ruffled Dan Heng's black hair into a mess while brightly laughing. It was just exactly how Caelus imagined how fluffy his strands of hair are.
"See? I'm definitely taller!"
Dan Heng only grumbled, he wished he was taller to shut his friend up.
3. Dan Heng gets along with March surprisingly very well!
March was 5 years younger than them, naturally she was the shortest, she's annoyed at this. Dan Heng likes to buy March school supplies to her liking. Cute pens, notebooks, sometimes he brought extra muffins for March. It was like she has another brother now and March loves them both. She was always sad whenever Dan Heng had to leave early, always tried to drag Dan Heng by the hand back to their living room.
The cute March was also a perspective girl. Her eyes always set on the best photographic scenery in their neighborhood. She also loves to take pictures with her new blue pink polaroid from her nii-san, and took photos of its original owner.
"Nii-san, why don't you become a model?"
Dan Heng scowled at this "Because I don't want to. Plus, seeing my face plastered in magazines sounds like a nightmare." Dan Heng just got goosebumps imagining it
"Ehh, nii-chan said he would be happy to buy fashion magazines if you're in it" March lazily rested her chin on the table
The raven head spluttered his tea, poor tea was wasted
"Caelus said what?" Dan Heng was shocked, and embarrassed. Mostly embarrassed on how red he is now, March didn't comment on it
"Nii-chan is annoying when he is bragging about you, you know? He always said he was jealous of how pretty and handsome you are when I showed him photos of you." March then stopped to drink a portion of her juice.
"Does Caelus nii-chan talk about how cute I am? He probably does hehe." March giggled by herself
Dan Heng's brain already stopped processing at the word "pretty" and "handsome"
Never thought his highschool years he would be described in those words. He doesn't understand why Caelus is always complimenting him, doesn't those words far more matching to describe Caelus himself?
Caelus
Why did that boy approach him when everyone avoided him? Compared to Dan Heng who's always described as gloomy and scary, Caelus was like a star to him. Sparkling like a constellation guiding him in every possible way when he got lost. The reason why he enjoyed school more now was not because of the books he could escape reality with, it was Caelus who dragged him out of the dark box he was previously sealed in.
"Dan Heng? What's up? March dragged me here saying you're broken?" Caelus waved his hand to snap him out while still carrying a basket of clothes he was about to wash
He was not in daze anymore, Dan Heng swiftly snatched the full basket Caelus was carrying and started walking towards where their washing machine was located.
"Eh, Dan Heng? Where are you going with that?"
"It looks heavy, just consider it as a thanks for the tea and snacks." He said, not facing Caelus
March watched the interaction between the two while nibbling on the leftover cookies Dan Heng left. She noticed pinkish colors, slightly covered with dark hair, on the tip leaf of the ears.
Ah, March probably will cheer for them, especially Dan Heng. Caelus smiled more when the latter was present. March could admit she was a bit jealous of Dan Heng but seeing her brother happy made March forget it. Her brother deserves nothing but the best.
Good luck, Dan Heng nii-san! March mentally cheered and gave Dan Heng an encouraging thumbs up at him.
"?"
4. Dan Heng is unusually.. uhm.. possessive?
Now Caelus couldn't get the concept of Dan Heng like this, they're not even in a relationship.. yet.
He doesn't realized this yet after a couple of weeks they became close friends actually. But the amount of notes popping out here and there started to get Caelus worried.
Like for example, the time when Caelus was delivering two stacks of boxes to the student council. Were they heavy? Yes they were but Caelus thought he could handle them properly without messing up the files inside of it.
He steadily carried them half way through until he bumped into Gepard.
"Ah, sorry, didn't see ya there. Good thing i didn't drop it"
"Caelus? Do you want me to help? I'm just on my way to discuss the upcoming school event with Bronya." Gepard offered
"Hm, you sure? Are you not in a hurry?"
"I'm sure, besides you looked like you're struggling." Gepard looks at Caelus's trembling legs
The blonde haired carefully lifted the box on the top and started carrying it besides Caelus.
"Thanks, man. It's definitely lighter now." He sighed in relieved
"No problem, you could always ask me for help. It's the least I could do after the good deeds you did for the student council" Gepard smiled
"Oh come on, it was nothing." Caelus jokingly nudged the taller boy and laughed
Little did he know behind them was the one and only Dan Heng, watching it all unravel.
After Caelus was done, he dusted away his pants and proudly cleaned his hands by clapping them both up and down.
"Was that Gepard?"
Caelus jumped "What the heck, Dan Heng! You totally jump scared me!" (He had flashbacks of Dan Heng inserting those CDs of old horror movies)
"And yeah that's Gepard, why did you ask?" Caelus now curious
Dan Heng then turned away and mumbled something incoherent
"Come on, what's the matter?"
"You could've asked me to help.." he still mumbled but clear enough for Caelus to hear
"I didn't see you in the hallway though?" He stupidly asked
"Nevermind, it was nothing." Dan Heng face palmed
And the day after that, Dan Heng started sticking to Caelus like glue. At the canteen, walking towards class, sitting near him in class, then walking towards the toilet. Caelus turned to a usual pokered face Dan Heng, not bothering to explain himself
"Oii! I want to pee and you can't just join me!" Caelus slammed the washroom door, he doesn't care if it hits the latter's nose
Then he continues to get more out of character.
"Ah Caelus, here's the canned iced coffee you asked me for."
"Than-"
The brown labeled can was swiftly snatched from getting into Caelus's hand and they both looked at Dan Heng who quickly drank it dry.
"DAN HENG?!" Caelus loudly shocked
He tried to retrieve his coffee back but Dan Heng was stupidly quick at dodging his every move. Why is he using his skill for something dumb?!
"What the heck, Dan Heng! Get one yourself! And you don't even like coffee!" Caelus tiredly hits Dan Heng on the shoulder, exhausted from trying to get his drink back but no avail
Gepard just stands there, watching them bicker, mostly Caelus complaining to the unchanging expression student who he just learned was named Dan Heng
This is hilarious Gepard quietly snorted, holding back a laugh and left the scene unnoticed. He looks back and thought they got along nicely
Caelus could feel something cold bumped into his forehead. He questionably looked at Dan Heng who is holding the same iced canned coffee towards him
"If you wanted a drink, you could've just asked me." He gently gives it to Caelus's palm, motioning the latter's fingers to grab the can
It was weird
Instead of cooling off from the summer heat, his face felt hotter than before.
Drinking his coffee, glancing at Dan Heng's side profile who now sat quietly beside him, decorated in rosy pinkish colors similar to his.
He knows he's not the only one who felt warmer than usual in the summer heat
~
"ACHOO!" Caelus sniffled, blowing away his snot with tissue
This morning, he got this bad feeling in his throat. Caelus thought he just needed to drink water since he felt dry. It got worse as time went by, he kept coughing and sneezing.
It's still summer yet the grayed haired boy somehow caught his worst enemy, the "flu"
"This sucks"
He hated that his body started to feel sluggish and muscles ache all over his limbs. Not to mention his nose was clogged up, acquiring him to force blow it from time to time. Caelus missed breathing fresh air without sneezing or coughing.
The boy wishes he could go to school, invite Dan Heng to hangout at the roof to enjoy the breezy wind, fighting the summer heat. He really wants to eat ice cream with Dan Heng while walking home.
"Where are you going?!"
March successfully stopped her brother and checked his temperature with the new thermometer they bought a week ago. The old one was accidentally stepped on by March, causing it to be broken in half. His stupid brother who is clearly burning up was forcing himself to school.
March had enough, forcing and pushing him all the way from the exit door to his room. Pushing him gently again to make him lay on the bed.
"Nope, you're not going anywhere. Just one day of no school won't hurt anyone." She slapped a wet cloth on his forehead
"Does she really need it to slap it though?"
"I'm going to school now! Rest up, nii-chan!" She switched the lights off, closed the door, then running off
"She sure has grown up"
Caelus thinks before drifting off to sleep, succumbing to his already tired body
Slowly opening his eyes, Caelus heard rustling that seemed to be plastic. Turning his head over to see his school uniform. The room was slightly illuminated by the light from his window, the light tells him it's still morning. March couldn't possibly be home yet.
"Ah, you're awake. I made some porridge even though it's cold now. Would you like to eat now?"
Caelus slowly got up to his sitting position, still half asleep looking at Dan Heng's uniform. His eyes were half open, hair was not combed yet, causing some strands of gray hair to stick up.
"Cute" Dan Heng mentally slapped himself
Caelus always dressed neat in school, it's nice that only he knows what Caelus looks like at home. Simple clothing, pink and blue hair pins keeping his side bangs in place. Dan Heng has a theory that those were March's but it fits him in a unique way.
Composing himself, Dan Heng focused on his sick friend, seemingly confused on his unannounced arrival
"March panicked saying you're dying and called me to check up on you, have you eaten your medicine yet?"
Caelus only shook his head side to side, he seems more awake now.
"School hasn't started yet?" His voice was hoarse, Dan Heng was taken back a bit
"Don't worry about that and focus on getting better."
Dan Heng opened the cabinet nearby while asking it's owner where the medicine were at. He opened the second cabinet and looked for the white flu tablet. Ah, he should do something about the cold porridge that's sitting quietly at the table. Dan Heng thought Caelus would be awake when he arrived so he cooked a simple meal. Simple but has tons of nutrition and easy to swallow.
"I'll be ba-"
He heard a loud thump, like something fell
"Caelus?"
He was tucked in bed a second ago, how is he on the floor now?!
"Caelus, what happened?" Dan Heng quickly checked on him, there were no bumps or bruises. While Dan Heng was busy checking on Caelus's condition, he grabbed Dan Heng by the wrist
"Where are you going?"
"Huh?"
"Where are you going?" Caelus repeats, not budging
"I'm getting you warm porridge, let's get you back to bed."
He tried to free himself slowly but the latter only tightened his grip even further. Dan Heng was about to open his mouth but then felt something wet on his grabbed hand.
"Are you going to disappear just like mom?"
Caelus suddenly starts bawling his eyes out, sobbing, and Dan Heng.. he doesn't know what to do. He isn't the type to comfort people, he wishes he knows how now. This is the first time Dan Heng saw Caelus cry. Should he hug him? Should he be quiet and stay by his side until he calms down?
Dan Heng doesn't know anything about Caelus's mother, he never talked about it. In the past, he was afraid to open some old wounds from his simple question like "When's your mom coming home?"
He knows Caelus has a father who is present at least from March, but Dan Heng never met him. This assures him to ask Caelus without hurting him.
"Oh Dad? Yeah he comes home once in a while because he's super busy." What he said
He needs to do something, his heart aches seeing the boy who easily smiles in front of him spilled dripping tears.
"Caelus, look at me." He tries to sound as gentle as possible
Green meets teary gold "I'm not going anywhere"
Caelus wasn't responding, he repeats "I'm not going anywhere, Caelus. I'll be by your side even if you get angry, sick, or bored at me. I will stick to you like a glue just like I did many times before. And I can assure you I'm not the type to make empty promises and you know that."
The latter finally lessened his grip bit by bit, he guesses Caelus now felt assured. Dan Heng instinctively erased a tear by his thumb from Caelus's lower eye.
"Let's get you back to bed."
Dan Heng heats up the porridge like he promised, also fills the glass cup from before with room temperature water. The porridge he made was simple, there were shredded chicken, added bits of carrots for veggies, and some chopped onions since he read somewhere that they were good for fighting off the cold. He hopes Caelus takes a liking of it.
Dan Heng went back to his room to meet a sleeping Caelus. He puts the tray of hot porridge and water on the small table nearby, and slowly walks over, sitting on the corner of his bed trying not to wake the sick boy up. The porridge can wait later, he thought.
"What am I gonna do with you" Dan Heng fondly sighs, removing wet gray bangs from covering his sleeping face
"I heated up the porridge I made and also got you another glass of water, I guess you were sleepy from the medicine you took huh?" Dan Heng caresses his hair, the latter seemed to not mind, even seeking the warmth from his touch. It squeezed his heart.
"Caelus" his tone serious yet hushed now "I love you."
He paused
"It's been awhile, sorry I didn't say it earlier"
He stands "I'll send you the material of what we learned today later"
Then Dan Heng got up and left, just like that. After hearing the door gently shut, Caelus directly sits up with his mouth agape, eyes widened from shock. A bit dizzy from sitting up too fast.
"I was so surprised that I felt my flu went away"
Caelus hugs both legs and groaned frustrated with his head hiding on the space he created with his arms. He felt his temperature just went up.
"How am I supposed to face him now?"
Will their relationship change when Caelus said he heard what Dan Heng said? Or will it stay the same like before? Should he pretend nothing happened? He's scared. He is so scared of losing Dan Heng.
Caelus likes him, he knows, more than a friend. The more he spends time with Dan Heng, the clearer his feelings were for his friend. He likes everything about him. How gentle he is with his actions, how he rambles at Caelus about fun facts about any topic they were in, how shy he is when ordering food from the counter. And top of the list was how Dan Heng takes care of him and March like family. Everything about him was perfect to Caelus's eyes, even if Dan Heng himself thinks some are a character flaw.
These thoughts make Caelus get butterflies in his stomach.
"I should probably get some rest"
~
"Caelus isn't back yet?"
Dan Heng and Gepard surprisingly got closer. The misunderstanding from last time made the blonde member of the student council interested. Gepard somehow ran into Dan Heng more frequently in school, that's how they became friends. He never thought Caelus would be friends with Dan Heng since their personalities are clearly the polar opposites. But somehow they fit each other like a glove.
"No he hasn't, didn't Caelus texted you?"
"No.."
Now this is rare
"Did you guys have a fight or something?" Gepard asked
"It's.. nothing like that."
Then Caelus was finally back to school after two days of absence.
"Where's Dan Heng?"
"Oh, Caelus, you're back. Dan Heng will probably sit over there by the window. Maybe you shou-"
Gepard was about to suggest a table near Dan Heng but Caelus instead quickly sat in the opposite direction without saying anything. His weird behavior than usual caused him to raise an eyebrow. Maybe he's still recovering? Gepard thinks he shouldn't pry, his suspicion might be off.
He regretted not suspecting anything.
Gepard was minding his own business like any normal student does in the afternoon, eating his lunch. He sat down on a wooden bench in the school's garden, Gepard was blessed by peace and quiet. It was a nice change of atmosphere.
Everything was normal until he heard rustling from one of the bushes. A cat? Or a squirrel? Gepard tries to guess while he awaits the creature emerging itself.
A raccoon? Nope, it was his dearest friend somehow hiding in the metal silver trash can.
The racoon in question seemed to be busy hiding from something to not notice Gepard was there. He tried to squint in the direction Caelus was looking at.
Black hair, red eye liner that anyone could somehow vaguely recognize from afar, and seemingly glancing left and right
"As if he was looking for something"
Gepard glances at Caelus, still in the trash can, once more
"Or someone.."
Seriously, what happened between them?
He and Caelus have known each other for a fair amount of time. They met when Caelus accidentally made an explosion with a canned coke, causing both of them to suffer having sticky hair for the entire day. It was a funny first impression. He knows him enough that Caelus is the type to stay silent when something was troubling him, which made Gepard annoyed and they even fought once because of it. He didn't clearly remember what they fought about but Gepard remembers it was his fault anyways.
Gepard always sees Caelus and Dan Heng together when he's busy with something else. He was proud of Caelus for making another friend other than him, he really needs company.
As his friend, it wouldn't hurt to ask.
"Caelus, what happened between you and you know who?"
They're now at the rooftop, Gepard doesn't want to complicated things if there were other people listening
Caelus only nervously smiled "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Now, Gepard is popular for his firm and calm personality. Everyone knows why Gepard was chosen to lead the disciplinary committee. But for the love of Aeons, Caelus somehow broke those traits of his.
"We talked about this, no more staying silent about what's troubling. We made a promise that applies to both of us, didn't we?" His eye twitched
Caelus sighs in defeat "Okay, okay, you win."
Caelus sighs again before continuing "Dan Heng confessed to me when I was asleep, two days ago, I think. He probably knows I was awake and-"
"What?" The poor canned tea on Gepard's hand, was crushed.
"Wait, wait, don't get mad! I want to answer him properly but I don't know what to say!" He frantically defend himself
"I'm not mad and just answer him truthfully, don't overthink it."
"How could I not overthink.." His imaginary puppy ears dropped
Gepard sighs "Dan Heng has been looking for you the whole day, you know. He was worried about you and seeing you two like this kinda makes me sad, so just talk to him okay?" He ruffled Caelus's hair in attempt to comfort him
"Okay.."
~
Did Dan Heng regret he confessed to Caelus? Now the said person was avoiding him, yes he kinda does. He looked for him everywhere ever since Gepard told him Caelus was here today.
Lo and behold, Caelus was the one running towards him after school ended.
"Caelus-"
A slight calloused hand covered Dan Heng's mouth from any speaking further
"Let's talk while we get further away from school."
They walked in each other's presence in awkward silence. Dan Heng wasn't saying anything since Caelus told him to. Why is he obedient to that anyways?
"Were you awake at that time?" Dan Heng thankfully broke the silence
"Yeah.." Caelus awkwardly answered, he was about to say something again but Dan Heng beat him to it
"No need to rush your answer, you can think about it."
"I don't need to, I'm sure of it, I already have the answer." Caelus, who was avoiding, finally made eye contact with Dan Heng. The grayed hair suddenly clasped the latter's hand with his. Dan Heng only slowly blinked.
Caelus inhales and exhales "I love you too, Dan Heng. I don't know much about you but I want to know more about you. Could I do that?"
Although Caelus is clearly blushing from his own statement, Dan Heng saw Caelus's eyes were ever so determined to say those words, he must've thought about what to say thoroughly in the entire walk. But he could feel Caelus trembling thanks to their joined hands.
"Of course, and I'll do the same." Dan Heng's mouth curved, darn, Caelus was blinded by the same smile he witnessed many months ago.
"Since when he's this cute" Dan Heng absent mindedly thought, well it's true, Caelus is always adorable to Dan Heng. He could say that out loud now.
Maybe he already thought the word "cute" fits Caelus perfectly since the day they first met? Or was it because Dan Heng came over to Caelus's house frequently and saw many sides of him he never saw before?
How the latter sometimes walks tip toeing while approaching him, how his golden eyes sparkles on the trinkets he found near trash cans ( Dan Heng tries to stop Caelus but fails ), everything about him was just adorable.
"Should we test something?"
Dan Heng slowly reached over the latter's cheekbones, caressing it slowly by his hand's backside. Caelus flinched slightly, but he didn't retreat from the touch. Slowly and steadily, he moved from his cheek towards ash gray hair, tucking them behind revealing his right side ear. Dan Heng was right, this kind of hairstyle also matches him.
"U-um, Dan Heng?"
Finally, breaking from the trance, Dan Heng blinks once again at Caelus like he just woke up from a nice dream. Seems like he's been doing that frequently.
The door clicks "Nii-chan, why aren't you coming in-"
March freezes
Dan Heng's hand still hovering on his brother's tucked hair behind the ear, his brother red as an apple, March has connected the dots.
March quickly closes the door before it seems running up the stairs and shouting
"DAD, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS!"