Jaden rub his eyelid to try and adjust his vision. [What time is it?] He pulled his phone from the corner of his bed, [It's already seven?] Jaden groans in frustration. [ I did not sleep enough, I feel like I'm dying!] he pulled himself out of bed to start getting ready.
Jaden took out his phone to take a mirror selfie. [I look good here.]
"Should I call Cristine now?" he called Cristine, he washes his face as he waited for Cristine to answer the phone call.
"What the fuck do you want?"
"Can I ask you a favor?"
"What is it?"
"So, my friend wants to go to a gay club to go and explore his sexuality, or some shit. Can you take him to one?"
"What do I get in return"
"I don't know. Whatever you want, I guess."
"Fine, I'll take him. It just happens that I know a place near the school."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, don't forget to text me his name and section later."
"Oh no, he probably has a rehearsal after class. Just pick him up at the music room at 4."
"Nice, I have time to get ready."
"Okay, nice."
Jaden went out of the restroom, "Hey Jaden, I bought you breakfast."
"Thanks, man."
Elixir search about gay club for teens, while he walks to his classroom.
[They actually made clubs just for teens.] It's his first time going to a club, so he is trying to ready himself.
"Hey bro what ya doing?" JB ran to Elixir, he rested his arm on Elixir's shoulder as they walk.
"You're not with Drake today?"
"That's why I'm here. I am looking for him. Have you seen him?"
"No, I didn't-" loud footsteps were coming straight to them. They both looked behind them, it was Drake.
"What- huff* time is it?" Drake hangs on JB's shirt while gasping. After thinking he's late, Drake ran from his house to school.
"It's still 8:00. Do you want water?"
"Yes, please." Drake took the water that Elixir gave him. "Are you ok Drake?" JB looks really worried for Drake. "I'm fine don't worry. But I feel like I can no longer move."
"I can carry you." JB squatted signing Drake to climb on his back. Drake rested his body on JB's back. "Bye bro, see you later!" JB waved his hands' goodbye.
"See you later!" Elixir continued to walk. "Alex! wait for me" Elixir run to catch up to Alexandra. "Hey, do you know why no one showed up yesterday?"
"Leader messaged the group chat that the rehearsal will be canceled because of a sudden emergency. Did you not see?"
"I left my phone at my dorm yesterday."
"You must have waited long then." Alexandra laughed at Elixir, while Elixir looked at her annoyed. "How long are you going to laugh? It's not even that funny."
"Oh, come on, it's funny." Elixir sat next to Jaden. "You're already here? You were still changing when I left."
"You walk so slow- Shit!" Jaden slams his foot down.
"What happened?"
"We lost again." The frustration is written on Jaden's forehead.
"You'll do better next time." Elixir tried to calm him down. [I don't understand why he is so angry, it's just a game.]
"Whatever, I'll just stop playing for a while. Maybe my luck will come back later."
"Why did you run to school anyways?" JB asks Drake as he looks at him writing some notes.
"I can't find my keys to unlock my bike earlier. And I did not bother to look for the keys, cause mom said it was already 8."
"Ohhh... Can I copy your homework?"
"No, did I not remind you to do your homework last night?"
"I still forgot."
"You told me that you finished it!"
"It was the other homework!"
"This is our only homework!"
"Just let me copy it!" JB put Drake's hand between his, he looked at drake with his puppy eyes. "Please Drake~" Drake punched him, then pulled his hands away. "That's what you get for lying to me. And stop that, you look stupid."
"Fine, I'll just ask Maria-" Maria walked by, she hit JB on the head. "Shut up, I won't let you copy mine."
"Sorry Helios, I can't eat with you later. I have something else to do."
"It's fine." Helios looked back at his paper. Olivia overheard Helios and Aron's conversation and she waited for Aron to leave before she went to Helios. "Helios, did you heard the rumors about Leader having a girlfriend?"
Helios just shook his head no and continued to listen to Olivia's gossips. "I heard she is just a first year! And they say she is so cute, and sexy at the same time!"
"Good for him then..."
"I wish I also have a girlfriend like her." All of Olivia's words just became whisper on Helios's ears till he can't hear anything. He was too busy thinking about something to even listen to Olivia.
[I already accepted that Aron is straight. I am his friend; I should be happy for him.] Helios is so disappointed in himself. [What kind of friend am I?]
"Hey! Helios HEYYY! are you listening to me?!" Olivia's voice took Helios back to reality. "What? sorry I was thinking about something..."
"I was saying that we should congratulate Aron later."
"Yeah sure." Olivia went back to her chair. Helios just started to write songs wanting to distract his mind.
It's already lunch break, JB and Drake are waiting for Elixir in front of their classroom's door. "Come on Elixir! We're waiting for you!"
"You don't need to yell JB, he can hear you clearly."
"Let's go!" They all went to the cafeteria.
"Why is Maria not here?" Elixir asks them, out of curiosity. "She doesn't like eating with us." Drake answered.
"Hey, Drake, open your mouth." Drake opened his mouth, JB fed him some of his homemade fried rice. "Is it good?"
"Yeah, it actually is. Who cooked it?"
"I cooked it, delicious right."
"Yeah. Here, have some strawberry cake." JB ate a spoon full, some icing went to JB's lips. Drake wiped it for him. "Eat carefully." Once again Elixir became the third wheel. He watched them act like a 'lovey- dovey' couple. [Well, now I know why Maria doesn't like eating with them.]
"Hey, it's senior! Let's call him!" Elixir looked at the direction JB's looking at. He is looking at Helios. "Hey senior! Come eat with us!!" JB waved his hands at Helios. Helios went and sat next to Elixir, "Why are you here senior?"
"There's a lot of people in the other cafeteria." Helios avoided their eyes as if he is hiding something.
[Senior look more down than usual. Did something happen?]
"Did something happen recently, senior?" He ignored Elixir like usual. Elixir looked at JB and Drake, they don't seem to be paying attention to them. "You can tell me anything." Helios just kept eating, "I'll shut up then." Elixir stopped asking Helios, but from time-to-time Elixir would look at him.
[It fills like he would poke a hole on me.]
"Can you stop looking at me?"
"Sorry." Elixir tried to stop looking at his senior.
"I'll go now." Bid Helios.
Helios stood up and left the table, "Goodbye, senior!"
Helios walk on the hallways trying his best not to bump into Aron, he keeps hiding at every chance he could. He couldn't face Aron, after hearing that he has a girlfriend. [What am I even doing?] Helios finally reach his classroom; he sat down in his chair. [Fuck, I really hate myself.]
"Class dismiss, see you, tomorrow class." The teacher walks out of the class, Elixir noticed Helios walking past his classroom. [Seniors walking, here again, is the other hallway still close?] He run up to Helios, he tapped his shoulders when Helios was looking at the corner.
"OH. My. FUCKING. God!"
"Hey senior."
"Don't suddenly come to me like that!"
"Sorry, did I scare you? Why are you walking here? Is the other hallway still closed?"
"....Yeah..."
"Should we walk together until the other hallway is opened?"
"Do whatever you want."
"I have a question, senior."
"What is it?"
"Does your family know that you are gay?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I'm just curious. Were you scared when you came out to them?"
"Not really."
"They must be very accepting."
"You can say that. Why are you asking me so many questions anyway?"
"I just want to know you more, senior."
"Then ask me something that is less personal."
"Oh, okay... Let's start with your favorite food."
"Pork buns."
"Oh, that's what we ate last time. Let's go eat together again sometime."
They both arrive at the club room. "You both are finally here! We can start now."
While they practice, Elixir would look at Helios, noticing that he is a bit uncomfortable. [Senior was fine earlier; I wonder what's wrong.]
"Thank you for your hard work!" They all took their things.
"Elixir!" Elixir went to Cristine, "Hi, you must be Jaden's friend."
"Yahh, I'm Cristine."
"Nice to meet you." Elixir bowed at her, "Let's just eat together tomorrow, senior. Goodbye!"
Helios did not answer him.
"You planned to eat together without us?!" JB yelled at them. The looked on his face seems like he has just been betrayed by his friends. "Goodbye!" Elixir waved his hands at them.
Cristine noticed that someone is looking at her. She winked at Olivia then gave her a flying kiss. It made Olivia blush a little.
"Let's go to your room and change first."
"Okay."
"Hey, Elixir. Who was that girl holding an electric guitar earlier?"
"Oh, Olivia."
"Hmm.." Cristine smirked, knowing that she found someone that interest her.
"I'll go now too." Helios left.
As he walks outside, he heard some whispers. He followed the sound.
[I should just mind my business, but that voice sounds just like Aron.]
He peeked at the corner just to see Aron with his 'girlfriend'.
[I should go now.]
Helios left the school running.
[Well fuck, now I've done it. I have just hurt myself.]
"We're here, come on! My friends are waiting for us!" Cristine pulled Elixir inside the club.
"What's this bracelet they gave us?" Elixir pointed at the bracelet on their wrist.
"They gave that to us, so they won't give us alcohol."
"Ohh..."
"Ash! Andrea!!! We're here!!!" Her two friends came to them. "This is my friends, this is Ash. I met her here, and this is her girlfriend, Andrea."
"Hello, I'm Elixir. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too pre!" Ash was hit on her shoulders. "Umayos ka!" (Fix your attitude)
Andrea looked at Ash with her eyes widened. "Sorry for her attitude." Andrea smiled at Elixir.
"It's fine."
"Fuck, she's here again." Jaden played the game expecting to lose again. "Kali killed an enemy."
[When did she get so good] Jaden continued to play the game.
"Nice game!" [I'll rest for today.] Ting* A notification on his computer made Jaden look back. He opened his game, [What? A booster. Who gave me this?]
"Hi! I'm the new member on the server. I gave that to say sorry for yesterday." Jaden started to feel guilty.
"Oh, Ummm.... Thank you, and I'm sorry too, for being rude."
"It's fine I understand." [ No, you shouldn't, Idiot. You should be angry at me!]
"Still, I'm sorry. How did you get really good at the game?" Jaden change the subject to make himself forget about his stupid behaviors.
"One of my friends just helped me get used to this game."
"Ohh."
"So, you both will stay here for a week?" Elixir talks to Ash while they wait for Olivia and Andrea. Ash would tell him stories, about some of her experiences.
"Yeah, we came here to do something.... important."
"But how about school?"
"Nah, don't worry, pre. I left school a long time ago." Ash drank some of her beer, she then crosses her legs.
"Are you even old enough to drink?" Ash leans towards him to whisper. "Shhh! They don't know that I'm underaged!" She laughed hysterically. It was obvious to Elixir that Ash is already drunk.
"I suddenly remembered the time I tried to rob-" Andrea hit her head, "Aray!" (ouch!)
"Didn't I told you to shut up!" Andrea took Ash to the restroom to sober her up a bit.
"They're quite interesting am I right?!"
"Yeah, you can say that."
"Come on, let's go dance!" Cristine pulled Elixir to the dance floor, they both dance. Cristine keep hyping up Elixir, Elixir would blush every time she does.
"You're good at this!" A guy came up to Elixir, he started to dance with Elixir. He did not mind dancing with the guy, Elixir just went with the flow.
Elixir somehow didn't feel any sexual attraction or any other interest.
[I should go back now, but how do I leave?]
Elixir is too worried that he will offend the other guy if he leaves suddenly.
[What should I do?] He looked at Cristine to ask for some help. She's too busy talking to some girls on the other side of the room to even notice Elixir. His eyes scanned the room to look for Andrea and Ash, but both of them are gone.
[Just how unlucky am I?]
"It's getting late, you should sleep now."
"Yeah, you should sleep too."
"Good night."
"Good night too." Jaden closed the computer; he checked the time on the clock. It's already morning but Elixir is still not home. [I should call him. I'm getting a little worried.]
Elixir's phone rang in his pocket. [Just in time!]
"Sorry, someone is calling me." Elixir went to a corner.
"Hello, Elixir where are you?"
"Thanks man, good timing. I'll go home now."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"I'll hang up now." He ended the phone call then went back to the guy he was dancing with earlier. "Sorry, I need to go."
"Oh, it's fine."
"Bye."
[I'm finally going home! I should say goodbye to Cristine.]
"Hey Cristine, I'll go back to the dorm now."
"Yeah sure, I'll tell Andrea and Ash that you already left. Be careful!"
Elixir left the club.
[I'm glad this place is just near school. I don't need to ride a taxi.]
Elixir walks while looking at his phone.
[It's already 3, I should buy some food to take home.]
He bumped into someone. "I'm sorry- Senior! nice meeting you here!"
Helios looked at him "What are you doing here this early?"
"I came from a club. I just went to the convenient store to buy some food to take back. What are you doing out here this early senior?"
"I woke up early, so I came here to buy an early breakfast." Helios took a basket to put some snacks on, Elixir also took a basket. Elixir followed Helios while they both look for snacks.
"Almost everything you took isn't filling."
Helios looked at Elixir's basket. "Most of them are for my dorm mate, senior."
"I should buy Andrew some food too."
"I almost forgot. I think I'm not attracted to the same gender, senior."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I just thought I should tell you. Have you pick everything you need?"
"Yeah, let's go pay." They went and paid for their food.
They walk home together, Helios listened while Elixir talks about his experience in the club.
"I met this strange person at the club, I'm not sure about her sexuality. But she and her girlfriend had some strange accents. She also has so many stories about the place she came from."
They both continued to walk till they reach their dorm. "What's your dorm number senior?"
"I don't want to tell you."
"Why not?"
"Shut up, I'll go now."
"Goodbye, senior."
"Yeah, bye."
Elixir took his keys out to open the door, but Jaden opened it even before he could put the key on the keyhole. "I was about to look for you! You told me that you're coming home! What took you so long?!"
Elixir held the plastic bag on Jaden's face. "I got you your favorite food, and some snacks~"
"You are forgiven."
"You're back."
Andrew laid down on his bed, "I'm so tired!"
Helios moves his chair back a little so he can look at Andrew. "Rough night? You can eat the food I bought, it's on the table."
"You know Helios, you can be nice if you want to."
"I don't have time for your nonsense."
"Helios! You are here!" Helios just arrived at their school, and Olivia is already pestering him.
Helios went to his seat; Olivia followed him. "You know after you went home yesterday, I also went out. And guess what I saw!"
"Just tell me what already."
"I saw Aron with his girlfriend! OH MY GOD! She is so beautiful!"
"Why are you so interested in Aron's dating life?"
"It's the first time he got himself a girlfriend. He is also keeping it from us!"
"He doesn't have a reason to tell us."
"Yeah, he does! We are his friends; he should tell us if he ever has a girlfriend!"
"Stop yelling."
"Was I yelling? sorry I did not notice."
"Miss Olivia, please go back to your chair. I will start the class now." Olivia looked at the front, she bowed her head. "Sorry sir, I didn't hear the bell." The teacher singed her that it is fine. Olivia went back to her seat.
Jaden hid his phone behind a book to secretly Text Kali.
"Hey."
"Aren't you supposed to be in class right now?" Jaden smiled to himself when Kali answered him.
"The class is boring~"
"You should still listen." [She is very mature.]
"Ok then, I'll talk to you later."
"Okay~" Jaden closed his phone to listen to all the lectures. "So that is why bla bla bla"
Elixir looked at Jaden being in a good mood, and for the first time listen to class. [I can't tell if he is listening to class, or just daydreaming.]
Elixir looked back in front to listen to the lectures. [What I can't understand this.]
After their class, Elixir stayed back in the classroom. He keeps trying to solve the given problem, but somehow he keeps getting the wrong answer.
[I give up, I can't understand this! I just turned my head for a second and when I looked back, I can't understand anything at all]
"What are you doing?" Jaden went to Elixir and looked at his paper. "I'm trying to solve this."
"Oh, I get it! You're just missing one step, here let me show you." Jaden took Elixir's paper and thought to him the right way to solve it. "Thanks, bro." [I guess he actually was listening earlier.]
"How the tables have turned, huh." Jaden taped Elixir's shoulders and left.