23 : Advice

"Steve," Chester called fondly.

Steve look up. Gladly, he already wipe his tears away before these two came. Though, the tears was gone the trace of it still there. His eyelashes that was soak with tears, his puffy and red eyes was still there. Steve look away when the pity cross Chester's face.

"I'm okay. Don't look at me as if I'm the unluckiest man in the world," Steve voice out. He tried to laugh but it didn't work for it is shallow, empty.

"I don't know what's gotten to him," Chester complained about Dave. "How can he leave you alone for that brat."

"Maybe he realize that it's better if we're just friends and he likes girl," Steve reasoned, mumbling the last 3 words.

Chester's annoyed face go back to softened expression. "If that's the case. I'll help you find more handsome bi or gay guy," he joked trying to cheer up his friend.

"And how will you do that?" Steve went along with his friend. But he knew himself, he'll never find a guy attractive but Dave. Only Dave.

"Well, you see, I know a gay bar in the plaza and there's a lot of young handsome gay there," his friend whispered so Leo won't hear him.

"Stop it, Chez. That's not the advice he need to hear," Leo pull Chester away from Steve.

Chester glared at Leo who have an angry face, "You know I'm joking, right? And who'll tell him a good advice other than me,huh?"

"Your joke is not funny. How did you even know such a place? You're a minor, for the record. What place is that? Tell me so I can report them to the police," Leo rebut feeling irritated because of what Chester.

"Why are you so angry? I told you it's just a joke. I'm sorry, okay? Stop making a fuss. And get off of my collar." Chester tried to remove Leo's hand. It's holding the collar of his uniform in the back upward making the top button of his uniform went to his chin. "And why would you report it? Is having a bar for gay a crime? You prejudice get off!"

Leo pull back the collar so Chester will be in the same line as he is. Their face are few inches away from each other. "It's because they let you, a minor, went in," Leo explained his intense look never leave Chester's eyes so he will see how serious Leo is.

"I only went one time and it never happen again," Chester mumble looking down so he won't meet Leo's intense stare.

"Will never happen, yeah?" Leo asked.

Chester look up. Somehow, in his ears, Leo's voice is husky. The lad's face is serious as if he make a wrong answer, he'll be dead. "O-okay fine! Never! Now, get off!" He shouted with his eyes close. He feel his face getting red from shame. Steve's looking at them for Pete sake!

Before Leo could even answer Steve butt in. "You two dating? I'm not single but please respect," Steve teased. He feel alot better than before. It's obvious these two have feelings for each other they're just denying it. He wonder if Dave and him are the same too? No wonder people misunderstood their relationship even before they became a lover.

Chester push Leo away from him. As soon as Leo loosen the grip to his collar, he take a few step back. "H-hell no! As if!"

Steve is amused by the sight. His friend's red face became redder. It's rare to see his friend to get flustered. He wanted to tease him more. "I'm just asking don't make a fuss, and why are you stuttering?"

"I-I'm not!" Chester cursed himself for stuttering.

"O-okay," Steve tried to mimick his friend and give off a smirk.

Leo chuckled earning a glare and a bad finger from Chester. He fake a coughed to stop himself from laughing and look at Steve who gave him a meaningful look.

"Set aside Chester's feeling for me, you shouldn't make a conclusion on your own without knowing Dave's side." Steve flinched as he heard his friend's words.

"I hit the bell, huh," Leo said sitting infront of Steve, beside Chester who already sat.

Steve looked away because it's true. He make a conclusion without hearing Dave's explanation. He make himself have those negative thought without knowing anything.

Chester look at Leo with awe as he give advice to Steve. He didn't know his friend had this side of him. The youngster is so mature unlike the naïve Leo he knew. Maybe some old spirit possess him. No, maybe Leo tripped and hit his head on a hard thing. Whatever it is, it's making him fall for Leo more.

"It's unfair for him if you hate him without knowing his side and it's stupid of him for not telling you before hand," Leo sighed because honestly, it's hard to have a couple friend. "Anyways, talk with him before you make a conclusion. Ignorance and pride can separate the inseparable you know," he shrugged before he reach for a drink but before he could get the can a hand slap his. It's Chester who glared at him as he take the can and drink.

After that they spend the lunch with Leo and Chester bickering while Steve watch them and sometimes join in teasing Chester.

---

A loud thud from the door eco in the for corner of a room. The house is empty, so even Steve close his door hard to the point it'll break, there's no one who'll complain. Though, if he really break the door his mom will be mad.

Steve touch the wall and roam through it with his hand to find the switch. He tap the switch when he find it, close his eyes when the light suddenly engulf the room, and open it when he already adjust to the light. He just finish cooking dinner for his mom. He didn't eat, his stomach don't feel empty and he don't have any appetite. He look at the clock laying in the bedside table.

"7 o' clock," he mumbled before he went to the bed and lay there.

Staring at the ceiling became his hobby everytime there's something bugging him. It is as if he's waiting for the ceiling to talk and give him advice or a text to show up telling him what to do. He just stare it and get drown to his deep thought. The memory of today flashback to his mind. From Leo and Chester teasing him this morning, and when Lea show up to ruin his day this lunch then from when Chester and Leo show up to save him from drowning to his negative thought, up to this afternoon, after the class ended. He remember Dave hold his wrist to stop him from leaving the room.

"Let's talk, Steve," Dave said with pleading voice.

"𝘐𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸."

He nodded, " Yeah, we really need to talk."

But before they could even walk out from the room together Lea show up clinging to Dave. " Let's go, Dave."

"Sorry, Lea. I need to talk to Steve. You can go home in your own," Dave remove her hand.

"What? But I already told my friend you'll walk me home, I cant go alone now. Steve will understand, right? It's dangerous for a girl to walk alone. What if I meet some bad guy?"

Steve sighed and closed his eyes for a second to keep his temper. This is the last time he'll let Lea pass, for her safety. After this, he'll get his man back.

"It's okay, Dave. Walk Lea home, we will talk tomorrow," Steve gave him a reassuring smile.

He don't want to but he let it pass. This is the last time he'll let Lea have her way on them, for her safety. He nodded as a sign of defeat, " I'll go first Steve. I'm sorry, we'll talk tomorrow. Stay safe on your way home"

"I will. You too, keep safe," Steve wave his hand and let the two walk away.

Steve suddenly pulled out from the flashback when his phone ring. He sat, get his phone from the side table and look at it. It's a call from Dave. Before he could tap the asnwer the phone stop from ringing. Steve's eyes widen when he saw how many times Dave called.

"5 missed calls. I wonder what happen," he whispered before he call Dave.

"Steve," the other line answered. Dave's voice is full of sadness.

"Are you okay?" Steve asked.

"Open your window," Steve frowned.

"Huh? Why?"

"Ahm well... actually," the other line went silent. "I'm outside," Dave finally talked.

"What?" Steve almost yelled from shocked. He rush to the window, he almost trip because of his quick pace. "What are you doing there?" he asked looking at the small figure of his man through the window.