[30th December]
Ever since the incident, Dylan and Nick's relationship deteriorated significantly and they never got along or came into agreement. Like yesterday after lunch, for example. As Nick had promised, he had a chat with Dylan who had retreated to the classroom after his displeasure of seeing me.
Nick tried to stay as patient as possible while Dylan was just opposing the idea of me accompanying them for lunch from now on. I was about to butt in and declare that I was fine with eating alone until Dylan abruptly yanked Nick by his tie.
Nick went wide-eyed as he steadied himself by reflexively planting his palms on the desk.
"Listen, you prick. I don't care if you're older than me," Dylan snarled, eyes piercing through Nick. "We've always eaten as seven. I don't see why you need a replacement for the three." Nick was too astounded to respond. "I don't see why you require another person to join our group!" Dylan suddenly pointed at me by the door. "Dylan, please let go-"
Nick winced when Dylan tugged harder. "I'm not eating with that bastard, and that's final." it was intensely quiet as they both stared at each other, one with perseverance and hatred, and one with hysteria and dismay. Finally, Nick's face morphed into one of disappointment, and hauled himself off the table.
Nick scoffed rudely, which I've never seen him do, and straightened his tie and uniform that went out of place. "Listen here, Dylan," Nick faced the male.
"The world doesn't revolve around you. Your opinions don't always matter, you know? I am having Ethel at our table, and that is last. If you're going to be so immature and not get along with your cousin, then fine. Go ahead and sit somewhere else." Nick snapped at Dylan; his sharp gaze bore into him.
Dylan was hurt as his eyes grew. He took a minute to fully process Nick's words before his face scrunched up in annoyance. He drove his seat back with his legs, causing a screeching sound, before raising his feet and plunging them towards his desk. Nick stumbled back in reflex before the table could fall on him. He stared at Dylan in incredulity.
"Really?" Dylan scoffed. "You're going to oust me for a loner you hardly know? I have been your friend for three fucking years, Nicklaus Hwang!"
"Same went with Rikki, but see what he did to Jay."
Nick blurted out without much thought. I was taken aback by his comment since he was a firm believer in Rikki being innocent. Was he finally giving in?
Dylan's shoulders dropped and he let out a sigh. He was so mortified that he seized his backpack and left through the door, jostling my shoulder shamelessly on his way out. We were all there to watch the scene unfold. Dylan's desk remained upturned and his chair backed up to the wall.
He didn't return for the after-lunch classes.
-
Our walk back to class was uncomfortable. Dylan was walking ahead of us by himself, shoulders slumped and his back looked depressing, overall.
"Nick..." Silas tugged on Nick's sweater softly, causing the male to turn around. "What is it?" Silas hesitated, nodding to himself after a couple of seconds. "Can I come to visit today? With you guys?" Nick was delightfully startled and immediately agreed. "Of course," he patted his younger twin's shoulders. "You didn't even need to ask. We can all order takeout and eat it alongside Jay." Nick was happy, having already overlooked his dispute with Dylan.
Johnny had his head down ever since the mention of Jay at the cafeteria. "Don't worry," I laid a hand on his shoulder. "He'll wake up." he looked away but didn't shrug my hand off, which I was very surprised at. "Let's hope for that." he finally lifted his head to stare at the ceiling with a soft sigh. I retreated my hand and walked beside him in silence.
The five of us stepped out of class together after class, set foot for the hospital. Dylan left without a word...again. He sped out of class before the bell could even ring. Mentioning him would make things awkward so we decided to ignore him. Maybe I can talk to him after.
"Nick, Nick! Can we have pizza?" Silas hung his arms over his twin's back with big doe eyes. "Of course, Silas." Nick was abiding by all of Silas' requests with no hesitation. I figured he was just really pleased Silas finally agreed to follow us after two days.
On our way through the opened gate, a loud honk behind alarmed us. We turned around to see a familiar face on the driver's seat, waving at all of us with his signature heart-shaped grin. We waited for him to pull up right beside us, faces full of curiosity. He rolled down the window and leaned over his seat.
"Hey, Mr. Kim!" Silas was the first to greet our beloved teacher. "Hello! Where are you guys going?"
"We're on our way to visit Jay." "O-oh." the mood went heavy in an instant. "Do...do you guys need a ride?" Mr. Kim offered. Well, we were planning to take the train to the hospital. Come to think of it, it would be a busy hour, and holding pizza boxes in a crowded train was definitely not ideal.
"I want to visit too," we were amazed. He was probably the first teacher that bothered to pay a visit. "Okay then!" we accepted his offer and jumped into his SUV. Luckily, it was a huge car. We wouldn't want to squeeze in the backseat throughout the whole forty-five minutes ride.
Since he was the oldest, Ethan took the front passenger seat and set up the GPS for Mr. Kim. To make up more space, Johnny agreed to take the third row, having all of the space for himself.
"We were planning to buy pizza on our way," Nick told Mr. Kim. "I know a good pizza place!" our teacher beamed. "It's my treat." we all cheered. Mr. Kim was the absolute best!
-
While the twins and Mr. Kim went into the small restaurant, the rest of us rested in the car parked by the pizza chain, listening to the faint overplayed song from the radio.
"Did you guys hear?" Ethan asked, making us face him. "What?"
"We're going to have a camping trip next month." Johnny leaned over from the back seat. "A trip at the beginning of a new year?" "Hm, yeah." he groaned, falling back with a thud. "It's fully funded," "Really?" I was astonished. We didn't have to pay a single cent?
"Well, our parents are paying a whole lot for our school fees every month. The school is not even that notable, to be honest." Ethan popped a mint chewing gum into his mouth. "Wait...how much do they pay?"
"About five thousand a month," Johnny muttered; his eyes shut. My eyes grew at the large number. "That's...a lot." I shifted, starting to feel discomfort from the itchy material the chairs were made from.
A small pillow flew directly onto my lap from behind. I glanced over my shoulder to see Johnny in the position he was previously in. But it was so obvious he tossed it. "Thank you," I mumbled, adjusting the soft cushion to the back of my head.
"First of all," Nick started as he unlocked the second row's car door. I was startled, especially with the sudden freezing breeze filling the vehicle. "Silas picked the flavors. I am innocent."
Silas gasped from behind, threatening to knock his twin with the pizza boxes he was carrying. "The hell do you mean by that!? My taste is marvelous!" Nick shrugged, settling on to the seat beside me. "I'm not so sure about that."
I didn't listen to their bickering. I was shivering so much! Can't they shut the door already!?
Suddenly, I felt an extra sheet of warmth envelop me. I faced Nick, wide-eyed. He had wrapped his winter coat on me. "Better?" he whispered, a charming smile on his face. He was so close to me I could feel his breath! A tint of red crept up my cheeks as I nodded, turning to stare at my lap. His cologne was so intoxicating, I can't help but pull it closer to me.
"What did you get that was so bad?" Johnny asked Silas, pushing Nick's head away so he could get a better look. "Hey." Nick turned to give him a look. Silas became excited as he unboxed the pizzas in Mr. Kim's car. "I'm not looking to have cockroach friends in my car, guys!" we all groaned, but Mr. Kim was generous enough to let us carpool so we obeyed. "Anyway, I got Hawaiian-"
"With pineapples?" "Yeah?"
"Yuck."
"Yum!"
Johnny and Nick turned to give me a displeased face. "Now I remember why I bully you." Johnny blurted out, earning a disapproved gasp from our homeroom teacher. "Johnny!" he braked just in time for a red light. He craned his neck to peer at Johnny.
"Bullying is not acceptable!" we snickered, knowing where this was going to go. Johnny sunk back down, not looking forward to one of Mr. Kim's lectures.
-
"So, I heard Johnny and Ethan will attend Rikki's trial tomorrow," Mr. Kim started hesitantly.
We were gathered around Jay's bed with Johnny, Mr. Kim, and Silas on the side farther from the door. Nick and Ethan sat on the other side while I was in between them.
Suddenly, the pizza didn't look so great anymore. We set our slices down on the disposable plates, clearing throats. Mr. Kim immediately sat up straight. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spoil the mood."
"It's fine, you have the right to be curious. Actually, all of us will be attending the trial tomorrow." Nick looked over us. "He was our friend, after all."
Mr. Kim shifted in his seat, slightly uncomfortable as he nodded. "I understand. I hope it goes as expected," we hummed in agreement.
"Ah," Nick sounded, going around his chair to his bag. He returned to his seat seconds later with a packet of minimalistic square papers. "What are those for?" I ask, peaking in interest.
"Origami papers."
Nick took a deep breath before he opened the plastic wrap. "I made a promise to Jay." We observed, fascinated. "Now, Jay," Nick started as he began distributing the papers.
"I even brought Mr. Kim to fold flowers for you, be grateful," he chuckled as he began folding his own. It was embarrassing to get no response but Nick's gentle smile never faltered.
"What flower are we making?" Johnny inquired, big doe eyes staring at Nick.
"Lotuses."
Johnny's face dropped when he realized. Nick faced him, his fingers pausing. "It's your favorite, isn't it?" Johnny nodded, biting on his lips as he glanced at the frail paper on his lap. "I believe it will be a lucky charm to awaken Jay."
Wait...Johnny's favorite flowers.
I recalled our first date when Jay mentioned something about growing Johnny's favorite flowers in his backyard.
"Yang garden," I blurted out as I finally remembered the name of it. They looked up at me. Nick, however, had a look of surprise on his face because only he was supposed to know of the name, presumably. "Y-you know what Yang garden is?"
"What the hell is Yang garden?" Johnny inquired, getting quite upset that this information was foreign to him.
"It's a long story, Jay told me about it when I went to his house," I answered Nick.
He nodded before turning to Johnny. "It's not for us to tell, but when the time comes and Jay awakens,
he'll show you." Nick smiled.
It was silent for a while, safe for the crispy sounds of paper and the faint music I had put on. Moonlight by Dhruv. Johnny and Jay's song. Our song.
I started hearing soft sobs across me. I took a peek, halfway through my origami. I watched in silence as Johnny shuddered lightly in his oversized winter coat that he refused to take off. It was Jay's, he said. A visible tear dropped onto his paper, creating a dent.
"It's not nice to stare," Ethan whispered, and it caught me off-guard. "I'm just worried." I resumed with my lotus.
"Johnny doesn't cry very often, even around us." Ethan suddenly told. "Really?" he nodded, brushing the corners of his completed flower with his fingertips.
"Can I have another one?" Silas asked, motioning to the plastic packet. Glancing up at him, I was dismayed to see his swollen eyes and reddened cheeks. He sniffed loudly as he picked his favorite design.
When he set it back down on the bed across from him, I noticed how Johnny glanced at the packet. There was a perfectly finished lotus seated on his palms. "Silas, can you pass me the papers?"
"Catch," he lightly tossed me the papers. Pulling one out for myself, I discreetly passed the papers to Johnny. He glanced up at me with hesitance and wonder. He forced a small smile on his face before taking the pack, his fingers lightly brushing against mine. A light blush tinted my cheeks as I returned his grin.
"Are you having troubles?" Nick suddenly asked from beside me. "I think I'm doing pretty well," I muttered, showcasing my flower to him. He grinned lightly in amusement. "Nice choice of paper," he stated, to which I was about to thank him until I remembered.
This dumbass issued the papers to us.
"You gave it to me, stupid," I grumbled. "Sorry?" he scoffed, tilting his head at me. "Say that again."
"Stupid. Do you have hearing issues?" I retorted, giving him a smug grin. Suddenly, he brought a hand down onto my partially finished lotus, slamming it into flat ham. I gasped in disbelief. That is so foul!
In return, I did the same thing. The only difference was that his flower was completed. His smirk vanished as he brought the damaged flower to his eye level. "That was my best one!!" he gasped aloud.
"This could've potentially been my best too!" I held up my bashed origami. "I hate to break it to you, but your origami skills are terrible!" Nick pursed his lips, not even one bit sorry. I scoffed, completely disregarding the fact that we had a literal teacher in the room.
I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him hard. He would've fallen had it not been for the nightstand behind him. He poked his tongue at me, lips curved upwards into a smirk.
"Are you two dating?" Mr. Kim suddenly asked.
I watched with wide eyes as Nick's smile disappeared as crimson painted his face. "No!" I immediately denied it. I was certain my own face was in flames right now. "Okay but good luck!" my eye twitched as I observed Mr. Kim's innocent yet devious grin. "Mr. Kim!!"
"Be quiet. Jay doesn't like loud noises." Johnny said sternly, eyes glaring at me. Well, not particularly at me. He was staring at the boy to my left. "Sorry,"
"Wait, shouldn't we all be loud so Jay would wake up and tell us to shut up himself?" Silas jumped up from his seat, gawking at Ethan in awe. "Fucking genius!"
"L-language!??" Mr. Kim cried.
"Do you want us to get kicked out!!???" Nick screamed.