Since then, Lucas has been sensitive to the eyes around him. He had already seen lots of different gazes. The greedy, power hungered, infatuated, malicious, envy but this takes the whole damn cake.
Curiosity. More probing.
Lucas has observed this as he passes by his schoolmates. Every single time, without fail. He could have ignored it but, the burning gazes on him still makes him uncomfortable because who the hell will feel comfortable having various people sight latch on you? Perhaps, the attention seeker ones. He is not one of them after all.
Hair standing up, he brazenly dashes off as much as possible to avoid the crowd forming. He ditches the place where he needed to meet Owen. That bastard, always giving him a migraine.
Lucas lets his feet go to the familiar place. To his surprise, someone is present.
Adrian has stood at the same spot the picture has been taken. An unreadable emotion in his stomach. He is not surprised with Lucas' presence. He had come to know that Lucas' go to place is here.
Moreover, Adrian came to school early. Not many students have been seen walking around the campus. He intentionally arrives while the sun is not up so that he could dodge the annoying probing.
Away from the packed students. Say should they stay here and ditch the punishment.
He places his hands inside his pockets as Lucas gets nearer. The tree becomes a shade large enough to protect and cover them from the sunlight.
''You're here.'' Lucas utters, five meters away facing Adrian.
Adrian shrugs, having no response to give to his rival. He had already promised himself to avoid Lucas at all cost yet here he is again. Facing him and having a conversation with. Albeit, one sided to his part.
One look from Adrian's deadpan face, void of any expression, Lucas shakes his head. The corner of his lips are quaking up, forming into a subtle smirk unconsciously. Such a look, he knows what is inside his mind.
''That can't be done. They would be hot on our heels.''
Eyelid twitching, Adrian confusedly tilts his head, waiting for him to continue. Lucas did not follow the norm.
He stayed quiet. The smirk plastered on his face.
Intentionally, he does not expound his thoughts frankly so he could watch how Adrian's mind works.
Like in this instance, the display of thought processing is in front of him.
Lips moving into a straight line, double blinking of his eyelids, and lastly, removing his hands from the pockets to cross his arms towards his chest. The posture of thinking something carefully.
His gaze trails on Adrian's body unbeknownst to him. A habit to observe the reaction he will be getting a response of. This has been formed from the many times his siblings had their time together.
Accidentally, his sight landed on the bulging biceps. His throat began to dry up. He licks his lips with his saliva. Strange, the parched throat desires water although the heat is not yet oppressive.
He averts his sight and comes to his senses when Adrian's voice lingers in his ears.
"Oh, you're talking about them? Aren't they who started this shit up?'' Adrian sarcastically inquires.
Lucas chuckles. Eyes bending into a smile at the same time. Adrian right in front of him is comfortably cursing.
Adrian scowls, a hand running through the strands of his hair, brushing off his bangs almost covering his sight. Seriously, he was not joking at all. Lucas had taken it as a gag. Adrian does not appreciate the response.
He huffs, waiting for Lucas to have his belly of laughter.
Irritated, he takes steps forward intending to leave Lucas behind. Seems like he and Lucas would not be having a truce. The conversation took a curve that he cannot follow up on.
As he was getting near the still laughing Lucas, he stayed rooted to his place. Lucas had grabbed his wrist, halting his walk.
He stares down.
Lucas' laughter dies down. He inhales and then looks at Adrian, amusement dancing in his orbs. The scorching gaze let Adrian averts his sight, landing upon on the ground. There is something in Lucas that made him question what was that at all. Weird. His heart began racing, galloping that he could understand. He should make a trip to the clinic, perhaps, the school doctor can diagnose him with something.
''Finish?'' Adrian questions, resignation evident in his tone.
Lucas hums as an answer.
Adrian scrunches his nose and scolded.
''Use your words young man.''
''You act like my father.'' Lucas speaks up.
Adrian rolls his eyes at him. He did not pursue the matter of him acting like Lucas' father or else, it might turn into bickering wasting another second of his time.
''Let go of me if you don't have anything to say.''
''Oh, pardon. It was reflex.'' Lucas explains sheepishly.
Letting go of Adrian's wrist, he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Adrian did not say anything. He marches forward while Lucas trails behind. A distance apart.
He ignores him. It's not like Lucas would follow whenever he went. Lucas isn't that idle. Adrian is quite sure Lucas has matters to attend to. While him, he ought to think the bullshit he has to spout in front of the campus. Kristoff, that jerk is one of the banes of his existence.
Kristoff sneezes, rubbing his nose.
''Someone is cursing me.'' He utters under his breath.
''Huh? What did you just say?'' Owen whips his head around.
Being seated on the chair, he controls the buttons in the room. A glass pane separating him from the audio room.
''I said, why did you drag me here in the broadcasting room? The bell has rang already.'' Kristoff informs, aiming to leave and attend the morning ceremony yet he was dragged down to sit on the chair beside Owen.
The force Owen inserted surprises Kristoff. This man, he did not know he was that strong. He was not expecting that.
''This is a crime. You're abducting me against my will.'' Kristoff sharply states, eyeing his companion.
One eyebrow raised, Owen laughs.
''Oh, so you are really aware of the law huh.''