Rrrriiiing! The bell rang. Chemistry class is over, and our project is over. After reaching multiple results, we have reached a decent conclusion.
"That was cool, so.. All that's left is the presentation for tomorrow?" Finn asked.
— 11 am, Wednesday: December 18, 2024 —
"Yes," I said, cleaning out the space we had used.
"Leave that to me!" He enthusiastically answered.
I'm glad that he had a credible alibi to support his statement about being a great presenter. I believe in him. But I need to supervise it just in case.
"We can prepare for the presentation after school. Does your place work?" I asked, cleaning the tubes we had used.
"Yeah, sure. It's close anyway." He replied, helping me clean the space.
"Alright, I'll meet you at the main hall at the end of the day," I said, preparing to leave.
"Okay! I'll go now. Got some practice for the upcoming volleyball match." He left.
I picked up my books and shoved them in my bag. Before picking it up, I had realised that the rest of the class had left. I decided to take my time and sit back down. The lights were turned off. Was it always this dark before Finn left? The peaceful atmosphere in the room was too good to go unnoticed, so I started playing music on my phone through my earphones. I closed my eyes to try to doze off into my own imagination. I really do envy Roddy; it was harder than I thought. Some time might have passed, but I enjoyed it.
"Guess who~" A high-pitched voice spoke. They covered my eyes with their hands.
"Excuse me?" I asked, creeped out by this.
"Come on, guess~" Still keeping the high-pitched voice. It sounded strange, but I knew they were faking their own voice.
"Did you mistake me for someone else?" I asked, still wondering who it was.
"Noo~ Guess!~" Still faking it.. But it slipped.
"Arthur?" I took a guess, although his real voice slipped.
"Aww, how'd you guess?" He asked, removing his hands.
He placed his hands on my stool and spun it around for me to face him.
…
He's so close. Um… Why is he staring at me like that? Is there something on my face? Oh, his pupils dilated. Is it because of the room? It's pretty dark.
"Why are you here?" I questioned, turning back to grab my bag.
"I couldn't find you in the cafeteria, so I had to ask Glifford."
Glifford? Oh, Finn.
"Let's go eat?" He asked, offering to carry my bag.
"Sure." Refusing to give my bag to him, I walked first.
It has been 15 minutes since I dozed off; no wonder Arthur searched for me. He must be hungry by now.
"Sorry, are you hungry?" I asked.
"They still don't have cardboard on.." He said, with a sad face.
"Is that all you're going to eat in the cafeteria?"
"I like it, haha. Other than that—I really like your mom's cooking," He replied, smiling at me.
"Alright," I said, picking up my pace.
"Hehe. Ah! Wait up."
Clack. The sound of the spoon and fork hitting each other. The cafeteria seems spacious than before. Where's everyone?
"Ahhh," Arthur opened his mouth with his eyes closed.
"What?" I asked.
"Feed mee," he said, pointing at his mouth.
I was hesitant, but he had this puppy look on his face, pleading like a damn dog.
"Fine, open up."
I took the biggest spoonful of food I could and shoved it in his mouth.
"Here comes the aeroplane"
I had a mischievous smile on my face. Arthur saw it and replied sarcastically.
"Happy?" I said, keeping my mischievous look.
"Mhm! Delicious." He responded, almost choking on a mouthful.
I kept my mischievous smile, which almost looked evil for a second.
"Guh-k-khk!" Arthur almost choked.
"Omg, I'm sorry! Drink up," I panicked, offering him water and patting his back.
It took him a while to swallow the food in his mouth, but after some water, he was finally saved.
"Are you okay?!" I asked, patting his back and checking on him.
I was partially scared that I almost became a murderer… You're so stupid, Jeremy.
There was a moment of silence before Arthur broke it.
"Just kidding!" He shouted.
What? "Just kidding"?? What does he mean by that?
"What..?"
"It's a prank, haha!"
I slapped him on his head.
"Ow.. … why'd you hit me for?" He asked, feeling his head up.
I was pissed, not because of the thought of almost becoming a murderer. But the fact that he had to hurt himself just to trick me, is this how pranks are nowadays?
"I'm leaving," I said, standing up and preparing to leave.
"Aw, where're you going?" Arthur asked, turning his whole body to face me. "I'm still hungry though…" He added, looking all sad.
"You're not eating anymore," I said, snatching the lunchbox from him.
"Aww.." Displaying that puppy face again. Ugh.
"I'll be meeting with Finn for our presentation. No need to wait for me." I said, leaving with my bag.
"What do you mean? Hey!" I couldn't hear him after that; either he gave up, or I was far from him the moment he said that.
He's so annoying. That's so ridiculous. It reminded me of how boys in this school bully their fellow students nowadays—is that why I wasn't protected by the principal? 'Cause they think bullying and this level of pranks are the same? Don't bullshit me.
Rrrringggg! Classes are over. I decided to head to the main hall as promised.
Huh? I saw someone familiar beside Finn.
"Arthur?" I asked as I approached them.
Why is he here?
"Hey! …" He said. It seemed like he was putting on a facade.
What's with the sudden pause? He's never been this awkward around me.
"Hi Jeremy, are you ready?" Finn asked casually.
"What are you doing here, Arthur?" I asked, with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm coming along!" He replied, looking like a happy dog who's going for a walk.
"What do you mean, coming along?" I started showing an annoyed expression—or so Finn told me.
"Um, Jeremy—your expression.." Finn mumbled, and we barely heard him.
He gestured at his face, implying that message.
"I'll go with you guys!" Arthur screamed, holding tight to his bag straps.
He's just like a kid who's ready for his scout adventure.
"Why?" I asked. I mean, he doesn't have any business with any of us.
"I'm boredd. Plus, Finn said he was fine with it."
I looked at Finn with an annoyed gaze. Seriously, what did he do that Finn agreed to it?
"I'm sorry..?" Finn said, looking all innocent.
"It's fine, let's just go," I said, fixing my expression.
We went to the nearest bus stop and called for an Uber. I was still mad at Arthur for what he did, and now he's inserting himself into my life. It seemed like he was regretting it, though, seeing him sulk at the corner of the bus stop. I can't let him sulk forever, but I'm thinking of giving him more time before I forgive him. It's not exactly a silly prank that I can overlook.
Soon, the Uber arrived and we hopped on. Finn was forced to sit between me and Arthur. I feel sorry for Finn—having to bear the awkward atmosphere we had in that Uber.
"Please drop us at xxx street. Thank you." Finn spoke, trying to break the awkward silence.
"Got you, sir." The driver replied.
I wore my earphones throughout the ride and started playing some songs. The ride was longer than I anticipated. Arthur spent most of the time talking to Finn. I'm not sure if Finn felt uncomfortable or happy to break the ice with him. They look like they're enjoying themselves. Is he not reflecting anymore? If not, that's some incredible facade. If yes, that's too fast!
"We're here, sirs." The driver spoke. "That'll be $21." He added.
I hopped off on my side of the door, and Finn followed Arthur on his side. We arrived in front of a 3-story house… This Finn, he didn't say anything about being rich. I'd get it, though, he's popular enough as it is to be swarmed by different people—being rich will just attract more horrible people.
"We're here," Finn spoke back with an awkward tone.
I give up, let's get this over with.
"Ugh…" I mumbled, "Arthur," I spoke.
"Yess?" He asked.
"I forgive you.." I whispered,
"I'm sorry?"
"I said, I forgive you!" … "There."
"Haha! It's alright. But thank you for forgiving me." He said, patting my head—the type to reassure you.
I stopped for a moment while Finn led Arthur inside the house.
"Feel at home, please." He said, opening the door for us. "Let me know if you guys are hungry, we can eat first before the project." He added, walking us through his entrance hall.
"I'm fine, what about you, Arthur?" I asked. I still feel bad for taking his lunch today.
"Sure! Haha." He sounds like a puppy every time.
Finn had someone prepare some snacks. He even got maids, huh. We got ourselves a Richie Rich here. Fast forward, though. After finishing our snacks, we headed to Finn's room to prepare the presentation slides and rehearse them. Arthur kept fidgeting around Finn's room, as if he had taken the word "Feel at home" to the fullest. I can't blame him; Finn had manga and comics stacked on his bookshelf and even limited-edition video games. It's heaven for your typical teenage boy.
Anyway, I went to the bathroom one time, and when I came back, Finn looked surprised… or should I say scared? I don't know, Arthur was acting the same, though. Nonetheless, we finished the presentation around 7 pm.
"Thanks for letting us use your place, Finn," I said, preparing to leave.
"You're welcome, feel free to come by anytime." He replied, cleaning our space.
"See you around, Finn. ^^," Arthur spoke
Arthur whispered something to Finn. I'm not sure what it was, but I'm glad they're getting along. All's well that ends well.
Arthur and I bid farewell to Finn and made our way to the bus stop. It was still early, so there were buses around. I'm glad.
"Hey, let's go," I said.
Arthur was staring blankly when the bus arrived. The two of us got on the bus and made our way home.
Zzzip! The bus door opened.
"I'm sorry about today," I whispered.
"It's fineee. Take care." Arthur replied, waving at me as I got off the bus.
I waved back at him as soon as I stepped off the bus, making sure he was safe before I entered the house. I don't even know who's stupid: me for causing him to choke or him trying to prank me.
"Welcome home, sweetie." My mom spoke as she saw me in the hallway.
"Hi," I replied, coldly
"Want some dinner?" She asked.
"I'm good," I said, walking towards my room.
I was filled with guilt. What if someone saw us and thought that I was purposely choking him? What if it's spread on the news, school paper, and even to locals and parents??? Surely the school won't make a scandal about me, right..? My mind was filled with these kinds of thoughts. Before I knew it, I dropped everything by the door and curled up into my bean bag.
I mean, it's just a prank, a bit harmful… but no one's gonna say I did that on purpose, right… Oh God, you're so stupid, Jeremy. Smartest guy, my foot. This is why you don't have any friends. What if he stops being friends… Is that why he was with Finn? To find a replacement for me???
Ding! My phone pinged.
Huh? Who is it… Could it be someone who took a photo of it and is blackmailing me??
I was hesitant to grab my phone, but I slowly grabbed it and checked the notification.
"I hope I'm not bothering you…" The only message I saw.
"Read more." Was the follow-up. I was scared to read the message.
I checked who it was, and it was Arthur. He didn't set me up, right..? I was scared. But I had to read it.
"I hope I'm not bothering you. But I just wanted to tell you that what happened earlier is fine, I wasn't actually choking, and no one saw us, don't worry." Arthur messaged.
Oh… did he… read my mind?
"And I'm sorry for barging into your project with Finn. I guess I just didn't want to be left alone, haha." A follow-up message.
Oh… Now I feel bad. I didn't think that's how he felt.
"Oh, alright. I'm still sorry, though." I replied to his first message.
"And it's alright, just let me know in advance the next time," I answered to the second message.
"Just feed me your lunch next time, haha!" Arthur broke the awkwardness immediately.
He's a magician, I'll tell you.
When we cleared up our misunderstandings, I got up to change and did some work. Arthur and I were still talking through video calls as we did our work. I had to stay up a bit due to piled-up work.
Arthur fell asleep on his desk while we were on the call. I was still busy.
…
Flip. The sound of the papers stacking. I organized them one last time before I head to bed.
I looked at Arthur, trying to end the call.
So this is what he looks like when he's asleep. He has long lashes. Is he sleeping beauty or what?
…
Mhm… The sound Arthur made when he woke up.
Oh, shoot! I've been staring at him for a while now.
"Oh, hey, Remy…" Arthur spoke with a deeper voice than usual.
Oh… that's new.
"Hi…" I said, awkwardly.
"Are you going to bed?" He replied, wiping his eyes.
"Yeah."
"Goodnight then," He said, waving at me as he headed to bed.
"Goodnight." I waved back.
We both ended the call at the same time and placed our gadgets on the end table. Sleeping on our sides.