Chapter Text
Emil, a devoted Christian, in a family full of Christians in Norway, is a nice young boy with a belief of what is wrong and what is right. He attend church on Sundays along with his big brother. He wears a clothing that shows modesty, and he prayed every few hours.
He knew this was the right way to live, everything is normal, they do their own religion's practice, but to Emil he doesn't feel connected in some sort of way, he feels this practice started to turn into a chore. Not like he doesn't wanna distance himself from the religion but there are times where his parents scolded him for committing a "sin" just because he stumbled upon a novel about two boys in love.
Especially Lukas, his brother controls every fiber of his being. Wherever he go, Lukas always follows, like an authority that doesn't leave.
Lukas do this to show "love" and "protection from the evil".
Today, Emil is moving to a different school because his last school was too far away from his home. He didn't even have friends back there so probably he didn't really have a reaction to it.
Todays his first day. He packs his school supplies, checking if he had everything, even his bible because he couldn't leave without it, he takes a cross necklace the silver glimmering under the sunlight of winter. Emil wore a sweater made by his brother, pants, and loafers.
" I wonder what new people I meet. " he said, putting the bagpack behind him. He prays to get in school safely.
Right as he goes to school, he didn't expect that this school would include a lot of individuals with such different tastes. Some wear clothes that are slightly revealing, he wonders how did they got in with that, these people are the opposite of his old school, makes sense since its a Christian school. Emil felt overwhelmed, like he is lost on the sea of people, everyone here felt like they're making a sin out of themselves, he don't belong here. He fears that being in here would be a punishment from God.
His thoughts snapped from the sound of the bell and he hurriedly sprinted his way towards the classroom. He takes an empty spot of the seat and all the students make their way to theirs also.
The teacher entered which Emil is glad they look decent.
"Hello class 11-A, my name is Mrs. Hedervary your advicer and a teacher of languages and you lot do seem to have a unique appearance, I couldn't wait to hear more all about you! " she said with enthusiasm, showing genuine interest and a friendly approach. "You know what today is when it's the first day of class? You guessed it! Introduction. "
"How about lets start at the back since starting at the front seems repetitive nowadays! "
All the students glanced at Emil who's at the back right corner of the seat.
lucky me.. he thought. He stood up and all those eyes are scaring him, like they think he's too polished for their own liking.
As he stops on the front, he gather the courage to introduce himself. "Hello, my name is Emil and I'm 16 years old. Thats all.. "
No words came out of the students, they seemed to just observe him and wait for him to finish, the silence stretched until Hedervary speaks, "alright Emil, nice to meet you. Next!! "
Right as Emil walked back to his seat, he bumped into someone on accident and in instinct, he keeps apologizing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry-"
The boy just shrug it off and continues walking, Emil didn't notice who he was and sat down back to his chair. Finally as he ragained back his focus, his eyes widened at the student now introducing himself.
"My name is Wong Ka Lung, call me Leon, thats my nickname. I'm from Hong Kong. As you can see, I love to style myself and it may seem intimidating but once you meet me, I'm, like, opposite of that. "
Emil looks at him once again and yeah, he is intimidating, he don't wanna go near him but he seems nice..? No, wait, his brother said people that wears edgy clothes or styles that looks too much are a sign of sin! Bad boys are bad no matter their personality are.
He finally averted his gaze after that.
At lunch, Emil is sitting alone, opening his lunch box revealing a lamb meat with salmon and mushed potatoes. He prays first, thanking the food to God before eating it. After a few minutes later, Leon decided to approach his table. Dropping his lunch box to the table and sat right in front of him.
"Never seen you around in this school before, I'm Leon. " he extended his hand for a hand shake, but Emil didn't dare to touch it. That was awkward so he puts it down immediately. "Sorry-"
"Oh, no, it's okay. I'm just not comfortable with people.. " Emil shyly said.
Leon doesn't press further more and eats his own food. Dimsum with soy sauce to the side and rice. As he eats, he spoke. "You're Emil, right? " the other nods. "So... What brings you here to this school? "
"It's the closest school. " Emil replied shortly.
"I see... " Leon stared at the food Emil has and smirks. "Can I have some salmon? I mean, if you don't mind? I'll trade the dumpling for ya. "
"O.. Okay..? " he lets Leon takes the salmon and replaced it with a dumpling, he doesn't understand. His parents taught him these kind of people are bad, mean, aggressive, but all those harsh description about them seems to conflict Emil. Especially since Leon is the prime example of the opposite.
"I don't get it, why are you nice? " Emil asked curiously.
Leon stopped eating for a moment and answers his question. "Why not? Like I said, I'm more than what I look like. " he stated at Emil's clothing. "Don't you look a bit old school with those clothes? "
"I don't think so. I look perfectly fine, unlike you guys who wears like.. Like those mean people. "
"Mean people? " the Hong Konger was confused. "What style appears in your head when you hear mean people? "
"I don't know, like that? " Emil points at his clothes.
Leon is silent for a moment before barking a laugh, he thinks Emil is funny- wait, is he insulting him?? Is he trying to make fun of him? Or is he sick?
"You're so funny, Ice. Can I call you Ice? It sounds better that way since you look like an ice cube. "
"That is not funny and also don't call me ice. "
"Sure, ice. " Leon smirked.
Emil frowned, this boy is getting on his nerves, but then again he should stay calm and not resort to any aggression that may count as sin.
"Look at you, you're already offended. " Leon points it out. "Like chill! I just wanna be your friend. " he takes out his phone and opens an app. "My username is Leonn_ what about yours? "
"I don't use my phone that much, but mine is EmilBondevik. "
Leon types in the name and nods, "got it. Wow, you really post nothing here.. " he said, checking his social media.
"Because we're not allowed to post anything about our personal life. " Emil replied. wow, he's quite mysterious.
"Got it. "
Emil got back to his house and slumps down the couch. He just wants to go to sleep, but the pending chores downstairs are probably awaiting him. Meanwhile his mind lingers on Leon, that boy is strangely different from anyone even from the perception of what Christians told him.
His phone buzzed and he immediately takes it our to check.
@Leonn_: sup!
Emil, who isn't used to receiving messages, he was about to reply until Lukas called out to him.
"Emil, help me out with the bedsheets." His voice echoed through the room. Emil lets out a sigh and walks up the stairs. "Coming." He said.
Wondering what's gonna happen next now that he have a new friend.