Chapter Text
Today is the last day of the midterm exams at their school, the week of torture finally end. They just need to wait for the final exam at the end of the year and they can have free days.
Flux is with Snowbird and Gotoga, the three of them seem to be faring quite differently in the wake of the exams. Flux appears unfazed, as if the exams were nothing to him. Snowbird looks completely overwhelmed, feeling as though his brain might explode at any moment, and is in desperate need of something to cool it down. As for Gotoga, imagine his state as somewhere between the other two, neither entirely unbothered nor completely overwhelmed.
They go to the first floor to meet up with the others. As for Snowbird, he decides to go get a cold drink first and catch up with them later.
On the first floor, they just meet with Rotation and NewKids, but Thomas isn't there yet. Perhaps no one in his class has dared to hand in first.
It takes only for a few minutes, less than five, for him to appear and join the rest of the group. His face looks completely relaxed, it seems he has aced his exams. Or, perhaps he simply doesn't care about the result. Since he is in his final year, his focus is naturally on university. (Right??? Or was it just me? Wait, no, I'm not like that, help.)
Rotation has started airing all his grievances about the exam questions. It’s the usual story, the questions that appeared on the test looked vastly different from what had actually been taught. Occasionally, amidst his ranting, NewKids will chime in, adding his own voice to the mix. Gotoga and Thomas will offer only brief replies before he launches back into his rapid-fire stream of complaints.
Flux pays no heed to their protests. Instead, he’s more annoyed by his phone, which has been receiving a barrage of messages ever since he stepped out of the classroom. His eyes are glued to his phone screen, scrolling through his club group chat. Next week, he has to train his junior for the performances for each club, which will be held in a few weeks. Seriously? In remedial week? No wonder they’ve been so noisy all this time. After all, who would want to start the practice as early as the remedial week? No, wait, right after the midterm exams. Can't they postpone the practice for a week? This is going to be stressful, he doesn't want to grow gray hair at this age. Hopefully, he won't have to do remedial at all.
Actually, starting during a remedial week isn't a problem, since practice sessions take place outside of class hours. Still, though, do they really have to deal with this while their minds are preoccupied with grades?
Approximately every three weeks after the odd semester midterm exams, their school holds performances from each club, which will be performed by the 10th graders. The time for practice is according to the agreement of each club. During practice, they'll be monitored by the 11th graders. Where are the 12th graders? They’re no longer focused on participating in club activities because they're in their final year before college, but they can also participate in monitoring if they want. It's up to them. But who would actually want to watch people train? Just sit there and watch them practice, nothing else. Unless, of course, they want to become a coach or instructor while they're at it.
Theater club, that's the club that Flux joined. For some reason, his club requested early practice. According to him, they can practice independently, which is what he did last year. Besides, who the fuck made the policy that their practice need to be monitored? And, why is his year in this club so eager to start practice early? Who chose the club president??? No, he didn't vote for them. He cast a blank vote, he didn't fill out the election form at all.
While Flux is still protesting in his head, Thomas suddenly nudges his arm. He lifts his head, and is met with a look of astonishment that asks what's wrong. It's no wonder that Thomas is curious, Flux’s face is easily discernible when he's upset. He can be expressive when he isn't aware, but he can also be completely straight faced when he wants to.
Flux simply shakes his head and gives a short answer, “Club.” He then tucks his phone into his pants pocket. It’ll be better if he doesn't think about monitoring next week's practice for now.
“Oh, monitoring the 10th graders' practice, right? Enjoy your incredibly busy year, I guess.” Thomas flashing a mischievous smile. Finally, his friend will get to experience what he has gone through the previous year.
A breath escapes from Flux’s mouth. He's well aware that the 11th grade is the busiest year for every student there. They're the ones who will be on the committee, they're the ones who coordinate 10th grade club activities, they're the ones who will step up as presidents of various organizations. And, they're sent to participate in academic olympiads or tournaments. The 10th graders still lack experience, the 12th graders are already preoccupied with college preparation, it's the 11th graders who occupy that pivotal middle ground.
“Okay … when is Snowbird coming?” asks Rotation, who’s already squatting on the floor, apparently, he has grown tired of standing. NewKids is also squatting beside him. It seems their train of complaints has come to an end.
“Didn't you guys say earlier that he was just buying a drink?” asks NewKids, the question is more directed for Flux and Gotoga. “Are you sure he didn't … get lost?”
“Do you think he's new in this school or something? There's no way he lost.” Gotoga shakes his head.
NewKids simply shrugs. It's possible he has forgotten how his school looked, right?
Speaking about Snowbird, Flux tries to glance around. His eyes might just catch sight of him in the distance, walking closer with a cold drink in hand.
However, instead of Snowbird, he seems to see a familiar figure waving at him. He has to squint, as his vision is slightly blurred at that distance. Once he realizes who the figure actually is, his gaze returns to normal and he wears a questioning expression. Without saying a word, the figure suddenly signals Flux to nudge the person standing next to him.
Flux briefly looks away, so the other person won't see him roll his eyes.
He taps the arm of the next person beside him, Thomas. The brunette haired figure immediately turns toward Flux, a questioning look on his face. And, Flux simply points behind them with his eyes.
As Thomas turns around, he’s greeted by a white haired figure standing right in front of him. Yep, in front of him stands a Micro. What's their relationship? Believe it or not, they have been dating for nearly a year.
Long story short, they were paired up for a class assignment and worked on it for days. Then … BOOM!!! A feeling arose. A few weeks later, they confessed their feelings, it was mutual, and they started dating, hooray!
Their relationship was supposed to be a secret at first, that is, until the one person with no concept of privacy caught them alone together, and the news inevitably spread. From then on, it became an open secret, until eventually, the word ‘secret’ was dropped altogether. They stopped holding back, openly displaying their affection, anywhere, anytime, and in front of anyone.
Flux turns to face his friends again, letting the two of them talk in peace. If he wants, he can also eavesdrop, but he doesn't feel like it. However, why would he eavesdrop on their conversation? Maybe they're just exchanging stories or discussing when their next date will be. Or … the sort of things people in relationships usually do.
Without him realizing it, one of his friends has vanished from his spot, Rotation. Only NewKids remains, still squatting there, the person who should have been beside him is gone.
Flux nudges Gotoga, who’s focused on his phone, forcing his friend to look up for a moment.
“Where has Rotation gone?” Flux asks, pointing to the empty NewKids side.
“If I'm not wrong, he said earlier that he wanted to take a quick walk around the hallway,” Gotoga replies before turning his attention back to his phone.
Okay … that’s going to be a problem again if "quick" doesn't actually mean quick at all. They’re already tired of waiting for Snowbird, let's not have them waiting for Rotation, too.
Flux wants to take his phone back out of his pocket to warn Rotation in case he hasn't returned by the time Snowbird arrives ….
“Fluixon?” A familiar voice sounds from behind him, calling his name. Familiar, yet a voice he rarely heard.
“What?” Flux turns around, his hand still trying to reach for his phone. But the moment he sees the figure before him …. Yeah, forget whatever he has just intended to do with that phone. He hasn’t expected to come face-to-face with this person.
Saparata, Micro's twin, stands before him. What does he want from Flux?
"This is your necklace, right?" asks Saps while showing the silver necklace in his hand. The necklace dangles from his hand, revealing a bluish-green gem hanging there.
That necklace looks exactly like Flux’s long-lost necklace, he has even forgotten just how long it has been missing. How did it end up in Saps’s hands? He didn’t steal it, did he? That’s impossible, if he had stolen it, why would he return it?
Flux simply remains silent, staring at the necklace, then at Saps, and back to the necklace again. He immediately reaches out to take it from Saps, a rather impolite move, but so be it. He examines the piece closely, its shape, its color, and even the gemstone set within it. If only there were an incandescent light nearby, he might have been able to verify whether it's truly his or not.
But the question is, was there anyone else at that school who wore a necklace adorned with an expensive gemstone, other than him? It's certainly his missing necklace, isn't it? Why does he even find himself wondering whether or not the necklace actually belonged to him? It was obvious, right?
Flux stops thinking about it and immediately fastens the necklace around his neck. He looks at the gem hanging there closely before tucking it beneath his sweater vest, concealing it from the outside world.
“Where did you find it?” Flux asks in astonishment. He hasn’t managed to find it himself on the day the necklace first went missing. “And … how did you know it was mine?”
“Do you remember graduation day?” Saps asks. Of course, Flux remembers. Several club members had been asked to perform at the start of the event, and he was one of them. “I think you had already gone home by then, but I was still there with some other SC members, tidying up. I happened to walk past the theater room, and some of my classmates were still there. They called out to me as I passed and handed me that necklace, saying it belonged to you. They said they’d found it in your costume while they were clearing the costumes away. They could have just held onto it and given it to you at the next club activity in the new semester. But they didn't want to keep it over the break for fear of losing it.”
"Why don't you hand it over to the teacher? Or to my class? You can also hand it over to Snowbird, your little brother?”
“Dude, a necklace with a gem that looks that expensive? I’m afraid the teacher here might just keep it for themselves. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t be tempted by the thought of money?–”
“Why didn’t you?” Flux asks suspiciously.
“Huh?” Saps is instantly confused.
“Why didn’t you keep it for yourself?”
“You want me to keep it and not give it back to you? Don’t you want your necklace back?”
Flux shrugs. “I was just asking.”
Saps, still looking puzzled, gaze at Flux, who appears cold. He decides to just let the question slide.
"Besides, when am I supposed to see you in your class? I have classes too, and ours are on different floors. You always vanish from your class the moment break starts, no matter how fast I run over there. Am I supposed to scour the ends of the earth looking for you during the break? I need time to hang out with my friends, too. And I had no idea you were actually close to my little brother, he never mentioned a thing. I didn't even know my twin's partner was a close friend of yours." Saps sigh as he runs his fingers through his hair, sweeping it back.
After the last word left from Saps's mouth, Flux manages to steal a glance at the person beside him. And of course, the two of them immediately stop talking and turn toward Saps. Saps, too, realized that the couple he has been talking about has fixed their eyes on him.
“I’m not wrong. You never mentioned that you were close to Flux.” Saps shrugs, wearing an expression that seems to declare an undeniable truth.
“You never asked me,” Thomas replies. True enough, Saps has never asked him if he knew anything about Flux.
“What are you doing here?” Snowbird, the younger sibling of Saps and Micro, suddenly appears behind them. He's finally back, of course, with an open can of cold drink in his hand. He glanced at Micro and Thomas, then at Saps and Flux. “Are you trying to date my friend, too?”
“Huh?” Saps hasn't expected that question from his little brother. Snowbird raises an eyebrow, waiting for an answer. Saps simply raises a finger and points alternately at himself and Flux.
Hearing Snowbird’s question makes Flux feel flustered. He immediately lowers his head and closes his eyes, avoiding eye contact with anyone. He bit the inside of his cheek, struggling to maintain a deadpan expression.
“You want me to date Flux?” Saps asks in return. He grins widely, making his brother annoyed to see it.
Flux hasn't expected Saps to respond like that. His hands clenched the hem of the sweater vest he’s wearing, it felt as though he might tear it apart at any moment.
“Ugh, I absolutely refuse to let you date him.”
“But would you be okay with me being with Thomas?” Micro interjects suddenly. He just has to go and butt in when no one is even talking to him.
Snowbird furrows his brow and lets out a long, sharp hiss. Without another word, he shoves both his older siblings away from his group of friends. “Get lost, you two! Go home!”
“Hey, who’s the older sibling here?” asks Micro, who has been pushed quite a distance away.
“I don’t give a fuck. Why should I care?” Snowbird waves his hand, making a motion as if shooing them away. Without even checking whether they have left, he turns back to his friends without saying another word.
Despite the considerable distance, Thomas still manages to wave at Micro. Micro smiles and waves back.
Flux looks up, wait, when did Rotation come back? He doesn't give it another thought, even though it has nearly been an issue just moments ago. Instead, he steals a glance at Saps. And … Saps is looking back at him, and his brain instantly goes … WARNING!!! EYE CONTACT!!! DIVERT GAZE IMMEDIATELY!!!
Just a few things that have just happened were enough to make his heart race. Oh, if he has no shame, he might even be doing a backbend right now. As if he could actually pull off a backbend, anyway. What on earth would it look like for a Fluixon to suddenly do a backbend? Wouldn't seeing him do that be the stuff of nightmares? Just imagine it, how terrifying would that be?
Snowbird notices it. He has been aware of Flux’s odd behavior for a while, even though he has only caught glimpses of it out of the corner of his eye. He glances in the direction his brothers have gone before taking another sip of his drink.
“Do you like my brother, Flux?” Snowbird asks after draining his drink. He doesn’t look at Flux, remaining focused on checking whether the can is truly empty.
Before Flux can answer the question, Rotation cuts in, adding a few more. “Hold on, I just got back. Flux likes your brother? Which one?”
Flux is just about to speak up and put a stop to their conversation, but Gotoga beats him to it. “The one who became the SC president. Surely he wouldn't be into someone Thomas is already dating.”
“It’s certainly possible, though.”
Oh, come on, let him answer first. The moment he opens his mouth, a voice comes out, then another, and another pile on, can't they just wait for him to answer? Fortunately, NewKids wasn't really listening to what they were saying, and Thomas, standing right next to him, wasn't saying anything either. At least … not yet.
“If you want his number but are afraid to ask Snow, I actually have it,” Thomas whispers beside him. Could it really be called a whisper if all his friends could hear it?
Flux rubs his face. He feels a mixture of anxiety, annoyance, and embarrassment swirling within him. Oh no, why is Thomas joining in, too?
“Whose number are you asking for?” NewKids looks up from his phone, instantly catching up on the conversation they’d been having. Rotation, standing right next to him, leans in and whispers a quick explanation of what they have been talking about. It draws a look of genuine surprise from NewKids. “You like Sa–”
Rotation, who’s beside him, immediately silences him. "Shh, don't say his name out loud.”
Flux exhales. It's a good thing Rotation has managed to cover NewKids' mouth before he blurts out the name. Had Rotation not done so, the rumor might have spread, unfounded as it is (even though Flux does have feelings for him). Besides, even though the area is clearing out, who won't recognize the current student council president? And the people here have loose lips, one has to be careful with what is said.
“So … you really like my brother, right?” Snowbird asks for the second time, confirming his initial question.
“What makes you think that?” Flux counters. He realizes that dodging a question like that would only cause him trouble. Whatever answer he gives, they’ll inevitably interpret it as a “yes.”
“Did you realize your ears turned red earlier? Especially when I brought up the word ‘date’ in front of him,” Snowbird replies, pointing at Flux’s ears, the tips of which are still visibly red.
Flux’s hands instantly fly up to cover his ears. He looks at Snowbird in disbelief. There's nowhere left to run. “This is outrageous.”
“So, you really like him? Since when? How?” Curiosity begins to stir in Rotation. He leans forward, moving closer to where Flux is standing.
Flux clutches his neck, which is perfectly fine, and lets out a heavy breath. His gaze sweeps across the expressions on his friends' faces as they look back at him, they're waiting for an answer. But Flux isn't ready to give them what they wanted. What will they think if they hear he has fallen in love at first sight? It's truly embarrassing.
He simply closes his eyes and gives a slow shake of his head, a sign that he refuses to answer. Yet, he offers a single phrase, "Some other time.”
Their conversation ends after Thomas suggests they all leave. He realizes that Flux has felt a bit pressured by the questions asked earlier. Besides, they have been standing there for quite a while and need to stretch their legs.
They spend their time wandering around the city, not the whole city, just a small part of it. They just need to hang out together after a week of exams. Oh, and look, Rotation and NewKids have briefly split off from the group, only to return showing off a small fish they have managed to catch. Needless to say, the fish is already dead from a lack of water.
On their way back, they pass the river, the very spot where Rotation and NewKids has just been fishing without rods. They decide to sit on the bank, a few meters back from the water's edge. Well, everyone except Rotation and NewKids, that is, the pair has already started hunting for fish again. Gotoga is also there, walking along the riverbank, though it isn't clear what he's looking for, and occasionally getting splashed by the other two. (I wonder what kind of background I'm actually using…dawg…)
Flux sits with Thomas and Snowbird. He remains silent, his fingers playing with the gem hanging from his necklace.
“Can I ask you something?” asks Snowbird, reclining on one of the rocks there.
“Does this still have something to do with your brother?” Flux murmurs, his voice barely audible. He really doesn’t want to continue with that topic.
Snowbird sits up and stretches. Lying on those rocks has been a terrible idea, why has he even done it in the first place? He turns his head toward Flux. “I just want to know why you like him.”
Thomas puts his hand on Flux's shoulder, giving him support for his emotions. "If you don't want to answer, you don't have to. Right, Snow?”
Snowbird simply nods. He doesn't press for an answer, he’s just curious.
Flux’s hand stops toying with the gem. He tilts his head back, gazing at a sky adorned with cirrostratus clouds drifting slowly on the breeze. He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. And his final answer is, “I don’t know.”
Silence.
No one speak.
Flux lowers his head again, gazing down. His eyes are fixed on the gem still in his hand, its color is shifting toward emerald green.
“I just–”
Boisterous laughter draws their attention. It's Rotation laughing. Not far away, NewKids appears completely drenched.
“I said don’t push me!” NewKids shouted in annoyance.
Rotation is still laughing, he can't stop. "You slipped on your own, why blame me?”
Without a second thought, NewKids swiftly shoves Rotation back, sending him tumbling down as well. They both end up soaked, yet Rotation still manages to laugh. A more ruthless retaliation, some would say.
Standing on the riverbank, Gotoga can only stand silently and shake his head in exhaustion as he watches the two of them. Seriously, are they still in elementary school or already in high school?
“Hey, don’t you guys want to give it a try?” Rotation waves his hand high in the air.. He's still sitting on the riverbed, fortunately, the water is shallow, it only reaches his waist while he's seated.
“Won’t you guys get in trouble if you come home with your clothes soaked like that?” Thomas asks from a distance.
“Hey, I caught a fish!” NewKids exclaims as he lifts a medium-sized fish in his hands, only for it to slip right back into the water. “Oh, what was it you said earlier?”
“He said you’d end up being left behind here like lost children,” Snowbird remarks, speaking off the cuff. He's fed up with their reckless behavior.
A few minutes passes, and Rotation and NewKids emerge from the river, at a loss for how to dry themselves off, well, they have only themselves to blame. Gotoga also returns from hunting along the riverbank, keeping his hands hidden behind his back.
“Hey, Flux, I’ve got something for you,” says Gotoga, a smile etched on his face that makes Flux feel uneasy.
Flux is already bracing himself to stand up. He knows something is about to go wrong.
Gotoga brings his hand out from behind his back, revealing a medium-sized frog he has just caught.
Flux immediately springs from his seat and puts a safe distance between himself and the other. He promptly gives Gotoga an unfriendly finger.
“Hey, this is cute,” says Gotoga, stroking the head of the frog that's still in his grasp.
"Cute, your eyes!?" Flux retorts, he will never find anything cute about a frog.
Snowbird lifts himself up slightly to look at the frog in Gotoga’s hand. “I can’t lie, it really does look cute from here.”
He directs the frog toward Snowbird. But Snowbird merely moves to push Gotoga’s hand away from his face, a look of disgust on his features.
They remain there for a while, until the sky turns orange and the sun settles on the western horizon. Only then do they stand up and head back to their respective homes.
Flux and Thomas live in the same direction, and their homes aren't too far apart. They have known each other since childhood, perhaps since elementary school? Or maybe even earlier. They walk side by side, exchanging a few words with every step.
Until Thomas asks, “Do you mind if I ask since when you’ve liked Saps?”
Flux falls silent for a moment. He weighs whether or not he should answer the question. Perhaps, if he only answers when, he won't mind. Just need to answer the time. Besides, he’s only with Thomas for now. Surely he can be trusted. A little. Maybe.
“Don't tell anyone, though.”
“Don't worry. I won't tell anyone... I guess."
Flux immediately turns toward him with a look of protest. "What do you mean by that?"
Thomas gives a short laugh and waves his hand. "Just kidding. I'll keep this between us, relax.”
Flux can only snort in annoyance before turning his gaze back to the road. He doesn't want to imagine what might happen if word of this ever got out.
“The school’s annual event finale,” Flux replies briefly. He tries to avoid looking at Thomas, he doesn’t want to see his best friend’s reaction.
Thomas tries to recall when the school's annual event has last taken place, then calculates the number of months that has passed since then. "Oh, seven months ago. That’s quite a long time to keep your feelings a secret from your friends.”
Flux runs his fingers through his hair. "Maybe it's because you guys have never seen my reaction to seeing him before. Besides, I rarely see his face, either.”
Over the past seven months, the number of times Flux saw Saps's face was so low it could be counted on the fingers, wait, not just the fingers of the hands, but the toes too. Still, while it was rare, it wasn't that rare.
They arrive in front of Flux’s house. Before they part ways and Flux go inside, Thomas takes a moment to say, “Hey, my offer still stands. If you want his number–”
“Enough, for fuck’s sake.” Flux rubs his face in despair, yet he feels the corners of his mouth turn up slightly.
Thomas chuckles softly before continuing down the road toward his house. They say goodbye and wave to each other before Flux steps inside his home.
At night, after a quiet dinner, Flux sits on the edge of his bed. He's the only child in the family still living with his parents. Cynikka has left for college, while Ender has a job and rarely comes home. How many more years until Flux can be free like them? That's likely what has been on his mind ever since his sister left for college. He doesn't want to remain cooped up in this house for much longer.
Back before Cynikka left for college, he didn't feel as alone as he does now. Even though being close to his sister sometimes felt like being bullied, the kind that comes with the territory of siblinghood, she had always been there whenever Flux needed her, without even having to be asked. The bond of siblinghood really needs to be researched.
Flux immediately puts the matter out of his mind and looks at his necklace, which instantly reminded him of Saps. Has he made a bad first impression? Like … seriously, why did he suddenly ask why Saps chose to return the necklace? Of course he would. What a stupid question. He should have realized how kind-hearted he was, it's written all over his face. Wait … don't judge a book by its cover! But he’s indeed known for his kindness, everyone knows that.
He lays back on the bed, his legs still dangling over the edge. His eyes gazed up at the ceiling. He lifts the gem on his necklace, one end of it is turning a reddish-purple, just a small section. Yep, this really is his necklace.
He turns onto his side, resting on his right ribs. He draws up his legs until they're fully on the mattress, curling into a near-fetal position. He keeps the gem clutched in his hand, as if it might vanish at any moment. His mind keeps replaying the events of the afternoon. It has been a moment where he was close to Saps, closer than a meter apart. And … Saps has called his name. It was a small thing, yet it brought him a unique kind of happiness. He holds the gem against her heart, eyes closed, and finds himself smiling widely at the mere memory of it.
At such close range, he could see just how tall Saps was, or perhaps it was simply that he himself was short. He hadn't expected the top of his head to reach only as high as his ears. Oh, and that snow-white hair of his, tied back, how he longed to touch it, to play with those long locks, to style them, or to do whatever he pleased with them. And then, as he reached out to return his necklace that had been lost for so long … if only he hadn't snatched the necklace back so quickly, he might have been able to touch his hand, even if just for a fleeting moment. Goodness, what on earth was going through his mind?
He rolls over, shifting his weight from his right side onto his stomach. He crawls over to grab a nearby pillow and immediately buries his face in it. He feels like boiling water. If he screams, will anyone hear him?
He lifts his head slightly from behind the pillow. His mind is still racing, replaying the moment of their closeness. Could he ever be that close again? Could he ever talk to him again? Could he ever—
Flux gives himself an imaginary slap. He shakes his head vigorously, banishing the chaotic, scattered thoughts filling his mind. It will be best to lower his expectations, the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. He doesn't want disappointment to disrupt his life.
It might be that the chances are virtually non-existent. But virtually still leaves a sliver of a chance, doesn't it? It doesn't mean achieving it is truly impossible.
Once again, he mentally slaps himself. Why's he thinking like this? Never mind, just forget it, he doesn't want to end up bitterly disappointed. If anything, he should focus on the worst-case scenarios. That will help lower his soaring expectations.
— * —
The next day is Saturday, and The Conspiracy is supposed to spend time together again, but one member can't make it because, well, that’s the fate of having a significant other. It isn't exactly a case of prioritizing a partner over friends, he has simply made plans with his boyfriend beforehand, and the schedules happened to clash. So, what can they do? They either have to let that one person sit it out, or ….
They decided to reschedule the meetup for Sunday.
They decided to meet at a cafe near their school during the day. Meeting in the daytime was actually Thomas's request. Yesterday late at night, he had suddenly messaged their group chat asking to meet in the middle of the day, as he was certain he would struggle to wake up in the morning.
And, of course, that was exactly the case. Just as Flux was ready to head out, he took a moment to send Thomas a message, but there was no reply. He waited a few minutes, yet still nothing. It hadn't even been seen, let alone answered. So, Flux left without waiting for Thomas, even though the original plan had been to go to the cafe together. He decided to let the guy catch up on his own.
What kind of date was he on yesterday that left him unable to get up in the morning? Did he only manage to go to sleep at the crack of dawn? Oh, wow.
At the cafe, they simply have to wait for Thomas. Their table is cluttered with cups of coffee, some empty, others untouched, including the one belonging to Flux. A pastry sits before Rotation, but instead of eating it, he’s playing with it. Snowbird promptly slaps his hand for doing so.
A few minutes pass, yet there's no sign of Thomas. NewKids has started playing a game on his phone, and Rotation leans in slightly to watch. Meanwhile, Gotoga, Snowbird, and Flux pass the time chatting casually, whether about their classes or still discussing the previous day's exam, it's hard to tell.
The tinkling sound of the bell hanging above the entrance reaches their ears. At the same time, they all turn their heads toward the entrance. Finally, that person has arrived.
Thomas finally arrives, his hair still somewhat dishevels and his breathing slightly labors, it looks like he has been in a rush. Before he can try to find his friends, he hears someone calling him. It was Snowbird. He walks over to them and takes the empty seat next to Flux.
“Sorry, I just woke up.” Thomas slumps back limply into his chair. “Yesterday–”
“Yeah, yesterday you were out on a date with that precious boyfriend of yours all day, staying out so late until you lost track of time,” Gotoga replies in a lazy drawl. “What were you two doing, anyway? Hooking up?”
Thomas is taken aback. What kind of question is that? “I’m still in high school.”
“But you’re not underage anymore.”
He wants to retort, but just as he opens his mouth, NewKids cuts in. “Why are we suddenly talking about this? Rotation isn’t old enough to hear this stuff yet.”
“Hey, we’re the same age, remember?” Rotation exclaims, swatting NewKids on the shoulder. The recipient of the blow just grins sheepishly in response.
Has it been mentioned that Rotation and NewKids are still in 10th grade? If not, well, they are. They are still new to high school life. The ages within their groups vary quite a bit.
Snowbird sighs, massaging the bridge of his nose. Sometimes, being part of this group feels overwhelming. Flux remains silent, patting Snowbird’s back as if offering support.
“By the way, Flux, you got a letter from someone.” Thomas reaches into his pocket and pulls out a slip of paper that has been folded several times until it was tiny.
He places the folded paper on the table, right in front of Flux. The recipient looks annoyed.
This isn't the first time he has received a letter from someone. He has lost count of how many times he has been handed a note confessing to him. Ah, the perks, or perhaps the burden, of having a handsome face. Yet, something about this situation puzzles Flux. Usually, he receives such letters either directly from the person or simply left on his classroom desk. (I just found out that the phrase "he has" can be shortened to "he's"...fml)
But why's this letter being passed on through Thomas? Besides, Thomas is a year ahead of him. It's highly unlikely the letter came from an 11th-grader. Could it be …. No, it couldn't possibly be him, right?
“Who is this from?” asks Flux, who still refuses to touch the letter.
Thomas shrugs, but a smile plays on his face, as if he’s keeping a secret. “Just see what’s inside.”
Flux’s hand moves hesitantly to pick up the slip of paper from the table, turning it over to examine every side. Slowly, he unfolds it. For some reason, he feels nervous just opening the letter. If his hunch about who wrote this for him was right, he might just faint on the spot. Well, that was an exaggeration, but he truly won't expect that person to be the one writing it. Besides, why would he write a letter to Flux anyway?
Rotation, who’s sitting across from Flux, rises from his seat and immediately darts behind Flux's chair to peek at the contents of the letter.
“You’re so nosy.” Flux glances back, glaring at Rotation, who’s standing behind him.
“Is curiosity not allowed these days?” Rotation asks, feigning innocence.
Flux simply rolls his eyes and tries to ignore Rotation’s presence behind him. He takes a stance to unfold the final crease, his heart still beating uncontrollably. What’s there to be nervous about? He’s used to receiving letters from others, yet the feeling of opening this particular letter is different. He’s afraid his expectation might be wrong. He’s afraid that the person who has written it might not be … him.
He takes a deep breath, not forgetting to exhale, trying to calm himself down. Calm down, calm down, there’s nothing to worry about with this letter. Everything will be fine. Life will go on as usual, nothing will change. He’ll still go through high school just like always, studying in class, doing group projects, and working on practical assignments with the others. Nothing. Is. Going. To. Change.
The final crease is unfolded, revealing a series of words handwritten in dark blue ink.
Hi Flux :D (I can call u that, right?)
Flux is left speechless. Snowbird, who has been secretly peeking from beside him, is instantly dumbfounded. Rotation gasps loudly. And Thomas simply chuckles at the reactions of the three of them.
It's me Saps.