Hurt for strawberry...

Simon's P. O. V

"I'm telling you stef, there's no way he's gay. He even thought we're dating for god's sake"

"Woah Woah, pause. He thought WE were dating? Was he drunk?"

"no, he told me he thought you were my sugar mommy. Just what goes on in his mind?"

"probably not some holy things as we can all say. He wrote a whole novel in his mind the moment he saw us" stef said laughing and I chuckled along with her.

"by the way, why did you disappear the moment he came. You should've stayed for moral support" I asked pouting and stef sighed.

"well, I wanted to leave you guys alone so that you can have your moments. You know those cliché moments that happen in movies and stuff"

" you're too much," I said before laying on her lap while she sat switching through channels.

Stef had come back after Simon left and told me to spill all the details.

We watched cartoons while having dinner that stef bought for us and went to sleep. Since me and stef were practically soulmates we cuddled until all the cold disappeared and fell asleep.

After a long time, I fell asleep without stressing about working the next day.

2 days went by and I taught eric most of his routine. Now all I have to do is make him practice it every day so until college starts and the event is over.

One thing I observed in eric was that when he is determined to do something, he does it no matter how hard he finds it. He doesn't give up easily and makes sure he's good at what he's learning.

I've gotten a bit comfortable with him, but my heart is still not used to being close to him.

Every time I get close to him, it's hard to breathe.

Whenever he needs help in learning a new step I hold my breath in before going up to him and teach him how to do it.

Like this one time I had to show him how to turn his hands and fold them, but the moment I held his hands up I could feel my heart go on a marathon.

And another time where I showed him to shuffle his legs while moving to the right and he shuffled all the way to where I was standing and fell on me almost hugging me.

I have goosebumps every time he does something like that.

Eric's P. O. V

It's Wednesday again and the weather is still cold with rain drizzling every now and then.

I've been going to practice at Simon's and I realized that maybe I have a crush on him.

He's too cute. He blushes every time he has to get closer to me. And laughs like a kid every time I say something funny.

I've never seen someone so innocent and kind-hearted before.

When I saw him at college every day, I never knew he would be the talented person who would be so much fun to spend time with.

I never get bored when I'm with him. Even though he doesn't talk much, he has a very friendly nature.

I want to be his friend and if possible more than his friend. Simon is really beautiful from the inside.

*and the outside, have you ever seen his face?*

Of course, I have. That adorable face. Who could forget?

It was 1 in the afternoon and my friends came over saying they were bored at home.

*Geez. Get a life. Learn some dance*

Okay, now eric let's not be a bitch.

"what's uppp eric!!!!!!!" yelled cai the loudest member of our group and zen and laro rolled their eyes coming in.

"you can say that without yelling Cai," I said and he sat down with a pout.

*it's not as cute as Simon's pout*

"looks like someone is taking this event thing too seriously," zen said and I threw a pillow at him.

"Yeah, if it weren't for you dumbasses who decided to enroll my name without informing me, I wouldn't be," I said and he laughed at me while poking his tongue out.

"so you're attending dance classes?" cai asked and I nodded a sitting down with laro beside me who was busy on his phone.

Laro, the only sensible and quiet one in the group.

There were more but they're gone on trips with their families to celebrate Christmas and stuff.

"Woah you're learning from a professional teacher? Like a real dancer?" cai asked eyes wide and chips falling from his mouth being open.

"yeah, from a real dancer," I said and cai wiggled his eyebrows.

"is she hot?" he asked and I grimaced at his question.

Does his mind only revolve around one thing?

"NO cai. It's a HE and he's very nice" I said and cai turned back to watch tv looking disinterested the moment I said he.

"Simon, right?" laro asked and I nodded.

Laro was the one who gave me Simon's number.

Wait? How did he have his number?

*jealous?*

Yes.

I wanted to ask how he got his number before cai interrupted us.

"Ewwww, Simon you mean that gay kid?" he asked and I frowned at his words.

Why was he saying that?

"Yeah. Is there anything wrong?"

"everything's wrong. That dude is so gross. He's gay and he's ugly"

I felt angered at Cai's words. Why is he acting like a homophobic dick?

"he's not gross cai. And definitely not ugly. Why are you being so rude? I thought you were better than this dude" I said my fists clenched and cai looked taken aback.

"calm down dude. It's just that he annoys the shit out of me. He's so weak and ugly. and he's gay that's so gross" he repeated and I wanted to pick him up and throw him out.

"just because he doesn't stoop down to your level and fights back with you doesn't mean he's weak cai" laro cut me off and I was surprised. The boy rarely speaks.

"and what's wrong with being gay? Do you think going around bullying innocent people is make you gonna look cooler?" he asked and I felt like a stone just hit my head.

"bullying?"

"Yeah. He used to bully Simon, calling him names and pushing him around. Until one day I found him cornering him and yelling profanities at him."

"I told him to stop but he still hasn't changed. I guess we can't change how some people think. No matter how shitty their thinking is" laro said looking at cai who looked angry.

"you know what, fuck you!" he said before storming out. we stood in silence for a few seconds before turning off the tv.

Laro put a hand on my shoulder gesturing me to sit down.

" I hope I didn't ruin your day bro," he said and I shook my head saying that it's all fine.

I was so sad to hear that simon used to be bullied by Cai. Why didn't he tell me? Or does he think I'm like Cai too?

Wait? Is that why he's so quiet with me?

He thinks I'm homophob-

"calm down dude, I know what you're thinking," laro said and I leaned back on the wall.

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you," laro said and I turned to him only to find him smiling teasingly at me.

"who?"

"Simon. He doesn't hate you." He spoke and now I felt jealous.

How does he know all of this?

"how do you know that?" I asked and he smiled while looking down scrolling through his phone.

"because he's not the kind of kid who could hate someone," he said before going through his gallery and showing me a selfie of him and Simon.

Simon was smiling with all his teeth on display and laro had a small smile. Their heads were attached to each other.

Are they a thing?

"are you guys-"

"no. we're friends."

"how- how do you know him?" I asked curiously and he put his phone down turning to me.

"one day I caught Cai cornering him, yelling loudly. He looked scared. Almost on the verge of crying, I scolded cai and made him apologize to Simon."

"ever since then I walked him to class every day, he looked so innocent so I wanted to protect him"

"cai eventually stopped and Simon told me that he's fine with going to class alone. We still meet and talk sometimes" he finished and I felt happy knowing one of my friends was kind to him.

it sounded like a superhero romance story.

But I also envied laro. I wish it was me who had helped him.

"When did you take this selfie?"

"We took it when we went to eat ice cream. He invited me."

Oh. Ouch.

"why? Jealous?" he asked and I scoffed.

"jealous? Why would I be jealous?"

"so you wouldn't mind if I ask him out?" he asked and I looked at him with my eyes wide as saucers.

He laughed before patting my shoulder.

"don't worry. I don't like him like that. He's a good friend and I enjoy his company"

I released the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Yeah, maybe I have a crush on him but, I don't know if I stand a chance."

" if you're a good person with good intentions, you definitely stand a chance" laro said and I nodded in understanding.

Laro was a smart person. he speaks when it's needed and speaks the truth.

He's not the type to blabber nonsense. My respect for him grew a bit more today after learning that he took care of Simon.

I took a deep breath before thinking about how to apologize to Simon on Cai's behalf.

Simon's P.O.V

I was doing my laundry with my favorite music playing in the background. Christmas is around the corner which means I'll have to go shopping. I love this time of the year when it's cold and the weather looks so beautiful.

Steffy had gone back home before promising that she'd go Christmas shopping with me.

My phone rang and I rushed to pick it up. I wonder who's calling me. Usually, it's just Steffy or nick.

I picked up the phone thinking it's stef. "it's not even been a few hours and you miss me already?"

There was silence on the line…

"y-yes? No. I mean, sorry?"

FUCK

MY

LIFE

HOW COULD I NOT CHECK BEFORE PICKING UP THE CALL????

Why do I constantly embarrass myself in front of him?

Eric's P. O. V

"it's not even been a few hours and you already miss me?"

*excuse me??? How do you know?*

"y-yes? No. I mean, sorry?"

Really eric?

He was silent before there was a commotion on the other side of the line.

"oh, i-I'm sorry, I thought you were Steffy"

I felt a little disappointed even though I knew he didn't mean it for me.

"that's alright. Um, how are you?"

" I'm good. W-we just met yesterday"

I facepalmed when I realized I was acting like a teen talking to their crush.

"right. Sorry. I just wanted to ask if we can talk?"

Simon's P. O. V

Talk? Suddenly? Why?

"Yeah, sure go ahead" I was nervous about why he wanted to talk to me.

"yes but not on the phone."

Okay then love, come over.

I need to calm down.

"Can we meet?" he asked and I felt my heart drop.

"meet? Right now? But, it's raining"

"Yeah, no problem. Can I come over?"

Why does he sound so eager? Is everything alright? I was genuinely nervous now.

"sure, I'll wait for you," I said trying to sound cool.

"okay. See you soon" he said before hanging up.

I threw my phone on the bed and jumped on it, face planting the pillows.

I wonder what he wants to talk about that he can't even wait till practice to say it. I decided to do the rest of the laundry and take a shower to look good in front of eric. After all, he is my crush.