22 : Doubt

"Wow look at those bags," Leo noted pointing his index finger under Steve's eyes.

It's so unusual for Steve to have bags since he hate staying up late. "There's no reason for me to stay up all night. What would I gain from it beside illness?" Steve always say those words when people ask him why he don't have bags and didn't stay awake late at night? So seeing his state now is a big shock for Leo and Chester. At last, Steve is experiencing the life of a normal teenager.

"Yeah that's what you got for being in love," Chester teased with his remarkable smirk.

Steve don't want to but his face turn red. Indeed it's because of Dave he stay up late. Yesterday after they flirt— talk he mean, in the comfort room they went back to the girls to play. The suppose game with girls turn into just the two of them playing. They stay there for 2 hours playing the virtual game while the girls just watch them.

On their way home, Steve feel dagger on his back and when he turn around Lea's glaring at him. Sure she's mad at him for stealing Dave, but well, Dave is his man. He just get back what is his.

Steve unknowingly make a wick smile from his reasoning. He kinda feel proud and happy because finally, he can call Dave his and now have a right to get jealous.

"See, Love can make a person gone mad," Chester said raising his hand on the air right before Steve's chin and palm open.

He suddenly realize he's smiling and fake a coughed, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh yeah," Chester said with sarcasm as he rolled his eyes and cross his arms in his chest.

There's only 3 of them since Dave was called by their SSG adviser. She said he need Dave to discuss something about Franz's case.

"How's your plan?" Leo asked out of nowhere.

Steve is silent for a moment finding an answer because he, himself, didn't know. Leo get what it means and look at Chester who look at him too with a worried expression.

"Well, your plan to divert everyone's attention to Lea and Dave work," Chester reach his phone from his bag. He tap something on it and then show a picture of Lea and Dave. Lea's face is leaning on Dave's shoulder while the guy is focus on the book. The caption said, "So lucky to have him as a partner."

Steve didn't see the picture yet because if he did it will worsen his day. "Let's look at the comment section." He don't want to but he needed.

Chester look at him with a worried face, contemplating if he should do what Steve or not. It'll hurt his friend for sure and he don't want that.

"I'm okay Chez," Chester flinched hearing those word. He don't believe him because the hell it won't hurt? Steve is not a robot. He sighed and tap the comment section where a lot of comment from Lea's friend and their classmate show.

"Wow you two look together ><"

"Your boyfriend? So luckyyy."

"He's so handsome. I'm jellyyy."

"I knew it! You two will make a powerful couple kyaaah~"

"Class A's powerful couple indeed!"

"What the hell?!" Chester yelled, standing from his chair due to rage earning the curious look of their classmate. He glare at them. They feel Chester's anger as he look away afraid if they make an eye contact with him he will make them his punching bag.

"Stop it Chez. Look at them, they will pee in their pant if you keep glaring at them," Steve tried to smile but it didn't reach his eyes.

Chester look at his friend and suddenly he feel pity for him, "I told you not to look at them."

Maybe Chester is right it's really a bad idea to look at the comment section. It'll just gave him uneasiness. He don't want to feel insecure but he can't help it. In the eyes of society, their love is forbidden and weird. A guy must be with a girl not with another guy.

"What's the matter?" He pull out of his thought when he heard Dave's voice.

He turn around and saw his man's worried face. He feel the urge to run to his arm and hug him to his heart content. He want to feel his warm that always make him feel safe. He want to stay at his side until his insecurity was gone.

"Nothing," Steve lied setting aside his negativity. He can't let Dave look for him. He knew Dave is also having a hard time. He can't be a burden.

He look at Leo and Chester hoping they'll understand what he meant. Luckily they did. Chester shake his head as he went back to his seat, he pulled Leo with him. Chester sure is disappointed to him.

"Are you sure?" Dave reassured.

Steve nodded, "Seat down the teacher will come anytime soon."

Just like Steve said, the teacher to their room and discussed. The morning class went pretty well. Everyone is quiet, some are listening with the teacher, some are spacing out and most are taking a nap.

The ring bell rang, loud enough for every student and teacher to hear. Steve's classmate start to leave their room talking to each other. Steve look at Dave.

"Let's go, Dave," Steve invited.

"Ahm, " Dave murmured scratching the back of his neck. He don't know how to say it to Steve without him getting hurt or have any wrong idea. But before he could say anything Lea pop out of nowhere and clung his arm around his wrist.

"Let's go, Dave," Lea said as he caress Dave's shoulder. He look at Steve with hate but it was gone with a split second when Dave take a glance at her.

Steve ignore Lea's glare and instead, he look at Dave with questioning look. He waited for him to answer.

"Ahm, you see Steve, I invited Lea to eat lunch with me," Dave wanted to take his word back when he saw Steve hurt.

"It's okay with you Steve, right? I understand it's hard to be separated with your best friend. I experience that too, but, you know, there's a time when Dave need to live his life without you," Lea interfered with the two.

Steve flinched. Right, in their eyes Dave and him is just an inseparable buddy, no more. Just friends.

"R-right! I understand. Have fun," Steve tried his best to hold his tears.

Dave tried to reach for him but it's too late, Steve already dash out of the room. He stare at the empty chair where Steve used to sit. But his attention diverted to Lea who call for him. The two walk out of the room. Everyone look at them with awe and then go back to their friends to whisper.

Steve at his food, he lost his appetite. He's alone in the office, Leo and Chester had to do something. Their adviser teacher ask fthe two. So it's just him in the empty room. He tried no to think too much. But he always end up realizing his doing it.

What if Dave realize their relationship don't have future? What if Dave is just really curious and now he realize he don't see me as lover and just friend? Maybe, it's his fault. He knew deep down Dave is straight and just curious but he still get his hope up. Dave never kiss him or anything, he's the usual the clingy, friendly, and mischievous Dave. Maybe because he suddenly get clingy to him and Dave hate it. He shouldn't get clingy, maybe if he didn't get clingy he won't get tired of him.

Steve flinched when he feel a liquid run from his eyes to his chin. He raised his hand and there he watch his teardrops land on his palm.

"I'm so pathetic," Steve mumbled as he buried his face in his palm.

Dave on the other hand, can't keep his posture. He's worried to Steve. He wanted to go to the office and hug him. He's sure Steve is confuse and hurt right now. He want to tell him this morning about the lunch and asked him to join them but he didn't get the chance because the teacher appear.

This afternoon when he was about to talk to Steve and Lea appear and blurted nonsense. She wants to push her away but he control himself because Lea is a girl after all. He's against violence whether it's a girl or a boy.

The only thing that keep him stick with the plan is the idea that Steve is not eating alone and Chester or Leo keep him company and cheering him up.

"Dave," Lea called.

Dave flinched, he didn't know he is spacing out. He look up but his attention is not with Lea but the person bickering in the background. It's Leo and Chester holding a pile of paper.

Dave stand up and called Leo and Chester. The two youngster look at him with confuse look.

"What are you doing here, Dave?" Chester asked.

"I should be asking you the same thing. What are you two doing here?"

"Well, as you can see, Ms. Hyun ask us to run some errand." Leo answered waving the paper in the air.

Chester lend the paper he hold to Leo to cross his arm in his chest. He look annoyed as he look at the girl sitting infront of Dave. Her back facing Leo and Chester but they knew very well who she is.

"What the hell are you doing here Dave?" Chester asked again.

"He invite me to eat and I agree," Lea answered. She's know facing Chester crossing her arms too. "Got a problem?"

"Please move aside, pester," Chester push aside Lea who's blocking Dave. "You let Steve eat?"

"What's wrong about it? Is Steve a kid? Can't he handle himself? Why are you asking Dave that as if he's Steve's boyfriend and it's his responsibility to look after him? That's why people misunderstand their relationship," Lea said.

Chester scoffed he wanted to shout at her face that, "Bitch! He's indeed Steve's boyfriend." But before he could say anything Leo grab his hand.

"We need to go, Chez. Ms. Hyun is waiting for us. Let's finish it and eat with Steve." Chester nodded and give Lea a one last glare.