Are we still friends?

The time for the English lesson finally came around.

Malakai walked through the door and noticed Hao Sheng was already sitting at a table.

Hao Sheng noticed him almost at the same time and smiles, waving him over to the empty seat beside him.

Malakai smiles back and starts to make his way over, but then the memory of that girl flashes through his mind. He slows down his steps but still makes his way over to Hao Sheng. For some reason, thinking about her dampened his mood.

He arrived at the table and sat down.

"Hey~", he said with a bright smile.

Malakia just looked at him and scoffed.

"We'll talk after class", he said coldly before turning away from him.

Hao Sheng's smile dropped and his brows furrowed.

Was something wrong? Although Malakai should be a bit pissed about him not contacting him, it shouldn't be to this extent. Was there some unknown variable that he didn't consider?

"What? Is something wrong?", he asked, placing his hand on Malakai's shoulder, the concern and worry evident in his voice.

Malaki just scoffed again and didn't give him a response. He also didn't shrug his hand off his shoulder, which was a good sign.

It looks like he wasn't completely mad at me, but something else was passing him off. Maybe he had a fight with one of his little 'friends', before he came here or something.

Before he could investigate further, Mr. Taylor came in.

He gave Malakai's shoulder a soft squeeze before letting go and turning to the front.

Mr. Taylor was a bit surprised when he saw Malaki seated with Hao Sheng, but he chose not to comment on it, happy that Malakai seemed to have made a good friend.

The lesson began and work was given out until, finally, the school bell rang and the students were released.

Hao Sheng packed up slowly as he waited for Malakai.

When he was done, they both left, with a quick goodbye to Mr. Taylor.

Malakai led him up the stairs to the roof. He was silent the whole way, which was out of character for him. This worried Hao Sheng a bit, but he pushed it down.

For now, it looks like things are going according to plan. The rest, he would figure out later.

Hao Sheng lightly joked, "You're not going to kill me or something, are you?"

Malakai rolled his eyes at him but cracked a small smile.

He had succeeded in breaking the ice and lessening the tension between them a bit, and now the bal was in Malakai's court.

Malakai took a deep breath and sat down on the floor. He patted the floor next to him, indicating for Hao Sheng to sit down as well.

Hao Sheng sat down next to him, and for a minute, there was nothing but silence.

"Why didn't you call me?", Malakai finally asks in a low voice. He had told himself that he would come on strong and make Hao Sheng beg for his mercy, but when the time came, all that resolve left him, and it was like he was a little kid again.

"It didn't even have to be a call, you know. Just text to let me know you are still there... ", he adds.

Hai Sheng took a deep breath, feeling a twinge of guilt hit him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realise I had hurt your feelings like that. I was just so busy getting settled again and catching up with school work that I didn't really have much time to do much else.", he says, head hanging low.

"I know it's no excuse, so I really do apologise", he adds when Malakai stays silent.

After a while, Malakai huffs before turning to him.

"No, I get it. It's not like your world revolves around me or something. You have other things you have to get done. I was just so happy to see you and wanted to get back to old times and I guess... I felt like maybe you didn't even care about me anymore or that you didn't like me... it's stupid, I know, but that's just how it felt", he says.

As he waited for those words to sink in, he moved closer to him, until their shoulders were touching, and they just sat there.

"I guess I just felt like I was the only one who wanted this friendship, who wanted us back", he adds, smiling sadly.

Hao Sheng chokes up.

"Of course I want to be friends with you", he says, pulling Malakai into a hug. He would want to be something more, actually.

"I also miss what we were before I left and would love to get it back. I'm sorry if I made you feel otherwise", he whispers into his ear, as he holds him tighter.

Malakai smiled and relaxed into the embrace, resting his head on Hao Sheng's shoulder. That's a relief.

"I do care about you, just so you know.", he adds.

Malakai felt his heartbeat quicken and his face flush a bit. He was thankful Hao Sheng couldn't see him right now. He was just feeling a bit hot from being stifled by the hug, that's all. Yeah, nothing more.

[DING!]

[Love Gauge +10%]

[Blackening -5]

Hao Sheng smiled when he heard the notifications and finally let go of Malakai.

He stood up and held out his hand to help Malakai up.

"Come on. We've been here for quite a while now. It's getting late".

Malakai sighed and stood up reluctantly. They left the roof and went their separate ways.

333 was speechless as he watched Hao Sheng's little performance.

This shameless host had somehow managed to get the love gauge up for the second time that day by a lot and even managed to make the blackening drop a little.

Although he was a bit playful, he got things done, and 333 found himself somewhat respecting the host a bit.

"What do you think, 333? Did I do well?", Hao Sheng suddenly asked.

Nevermind. All he felt now was a strong urge to smack him.

Malakai had made it home at last. He got out of the car and went straight to his room.

To be honest, he didn't really want to go home. It was just an empty house anyway, with his dad always working. Even when he was here, they barely exchanged many words.

He really would have much preferred to stay with Hao Sheng back on the roof. Just as he thought this, his phone suddenly purged and he picked it up.

Speak of the devil.

He had just received a new message from an unknown number that read: 'I send you a message as soon as I got home, so you won't be mad at me again ;p'

Malakai quickly saved the number before replying: Good

He lay back on his bed as he waited for Hao Sheng to finish typing.

Hai Sheng: Anyway, are you free this Saturday?

Malakai felt his heart race.

Malakai: Yeah, I have no plans. What's up?

Even if he did have plans, he probably would have cancelled them in favour of whatever Hao Sheng was getting at.

Hao Sheng: Then we should meet up and catch up. For old times' sake. That is, if you're interested.

Oh, he was very interested! But he told himself to calm down, if he didn't want to come off as desperate.

Malakai: Oh yeah, totally. Where should we meet?

The next reply came instantly.

Hao Sheng: Great! How about at that park we used to go to a lot as kids, and then we'll decide from there?

Malakai: That sounds great!

Malakai buried his head in his pillow in excitement. He couldn't wait for Saturday!