Chapter 2

Nathan POV

" For your assignment, I want you to write a poem about how you view the world... Next week you are going to present it Infront of the whole class individually.... Do you understand class?" Our professor announced, it was the end of our first subject which is Contemporary World.

"Yes sir!..." The other half of the class halfheartedly answered in unison,and the other half just wanting to finish this class as soon as possible. I can't blame them, I too never showed interest in Contemporary world. I mean my country culture and traditions is already so much, to bother familiarizing global informations.

Poem.... I'm not really good at this. I'm always loss for words to describe my thoughts. I tried to write poems yet all I can focus my thoughts were to those that resonate darkness. I'm a bad writer. I write base on my interest, and my attention was never on the optimistic side.

I wonder if I'll scare my professor if he saw how dark my thoughts are. Maybe he'll refer me to our therapist in our school for help, I'm not insane though. Well, I'm starting to descend to insanity.

"Nathan!" A voice from behind called me. It's Liam. "Are you okay bro?.... You've been unresponsive to my call for almost a min" he asked, his voice lace with a hint of concern for my well being.

I never noticed that I've been in a daze for a while now, looking at the empty seats scattered orderly in the room. It's only the two of us now, Olius and him were on a different class. We are not on the same section this year. Well, I prefer this than being in a classroom with him.

I will not drown in his presence for a moment. Althought we still occasionally go out along with our two friends, I usually avoid him most of the time. His name I can't even say. Everything about him I want to forget. But in the name of our friendship I never comply to my needs.

Sigh, why did I fell inlove with a close friend.

"Nathan! Here you go again... Sigh, are you really okay? You're always in daze everytime, is this because of—"

"No, it's not the reason...It has nothing to do with him...." I interrupted his words, assuring him that it was never because of that. Lies.

"Okay, if that's what you say... But if you're not feeling well just tell us.... We're worried of you" Liam said, his eyes filled with concern. His tone contain assurance that they will listen to my rants and help me if I needed someone.

"Yes, thank you....We should head toward our next class now, I'm pretty sure it'll start In a min or two" I said to him, my voice with a hint of gratitude in it. He just nodded smiling to my words. We both got out of the room and headed toward our next class. Sigh, its math.

After what seems to be an eternal suffering in my seat. The math class finally ended. Well, there's really nothing interesting in this subject. Always giving quizzes and activities that sometimes was not discussed at all.

Well, the entirety of my college consist of uninteresting subjects. I suddenly regret choosing this major. Literature major, how ironic choosing this major despite being bad at writing and literature in general.

Well, I thought I can overcome what I hate the most by sticking with it and forcing myself to love it. Such a hypocrite move, now I'm suffering with endless literatures.

"It's lunch time now... My fav subject in this entire semester" Liam said with delectation in his tone. " Math is such a pain in the ass, why even have minor subject like this...why not focus on just the majors" He said as he run his fingers on his soft hair. After a moment he suddenly looked at me, his eyes with a hint of concern and uncertainty.

Ah, I see. He seems to want to ask me that question again. I smiled toward him as I nod my head. Telling him that it's okay, no need to be concern about such matter. I'll be fine, I'm just gonna subtly avoid him.

"Are you sure?...." His voice laced with uncertainty.

"Yes I am, no need to worry.... I've been doing this the entire month" I assured him, he didn't say anything anymore as we made our way toward the cafeteria. There on the four seated table near the cafeteria door, we saw Olius and him sitting already. He saw us and waved in our direction. Olius turn around and he cheerfully yelled, " Here!" as he pointed toward our table.

We goes toward them, I immediately sat next to Olius, while Liam next to him. I can feel his gaze on me, his emotion...I don't know. I want to avoid him as much as possible.

" So what do you want to eat? Let me order it, btw it's my treat today, so tell me—" Olius word was cut off when Liam suddenly sprayed him water on his face.....while chanting a prayer.

"In the name of Jesus! Get out of this idiot's body!" Liam said, acting as if he is exorcising a demon.

"WTH are you doing?!....." Olius said as he move side ways while sitting trying to evade the water being sprayed on him. " Stop doing that!..." He added as he struggled to avoid Liam who is now standing by his side, spraying water on his face.

I laughed at the scene in front of me, while the students nearby our table have a confuse look on their faces. These two, social anxiety is scared of them. But the grin on my face slowly vanished when I sense someone looking at me.

He was staring at me with a smile on his face, as if what he is looking at is something that should be adored. I averted my gaze, focusing my attention towardour two friend, that already stopped their childish act.

I could care less toward his reaction. I don't care if he felt sad toward my aversion.Or maybe a little bit.

"What the hell dude! Why did you do that?!" Olius states as he wipe the water off his face with the sleeve of his uniform. He looked at Liam a hint of annoyance in his eyes. A frown was plastered on his lips.

"You're not a demon..?! Are you really Olius? Because he will never spend money on us.....are you not possessed " Liam said suspiciously. Then within a sec his eyes suddenly widened, he look at Olius worriedly.

"Are you perhaps sick?" He said as he immediately stood up and went to Olius side. Placing his hand on Olius forehead, checking if he is having a fever.

Well, I couldn't balme him, Olius was never the type to treat us. Instead, Liam is always the one treating us with foods. And also Olius personal bank. Sigh, they act like a couple most of the time. But when we asked about their relationship, they said they are nothing but friends.

"No!.... I'm okay bro, stop that....you're annoying me..." Stoping Liam from furthering his speculation, he grab the hand that is now on his neck.

Aggrieved he said, " Are you guys really doubting me? Wahhhh that's not nice of you guys.... It's very rare for me to spend money on you but instead of thanking me you doubt my sincerity" His eyes started to water slightly, as he look directly at Liam. Shit, he really made him feel bad.

" Okay sorry...." Liam said looking guilty, his hand behind his neck, " But you can't blame me can you?, you never really treat us with anything which is of course just okay too..... So you spending money on us....I can't help but speculate you might be possessed by something...." He added, ah, this man he very rarely speak but when he open his mouth... Sometimes I want to smack his head because looking at Olius face....

"Yo..u are so b...ad bas....tard"

There it is.... Olius is crying.

This made Liam panic, he hastily opened his bag to look for something. Then, he pulled something out of his bag.

Eh? A chocolate?

"Here, stop crying..... Look take this chocolate okay.... I'm sorry...." Liam said as he frantically went toward Olius side, patting his back. He gently grab Olius face, making him look up to him. He then wipe the tears on his eyes.

"Apology...accepted...don't doubt me a-again okay?" Olius said, his lips slightly pouting. We forgot, he has had a trauma with this. His bastard of a father...

"Yes, I'm sorry okayy? I won't do this again" Liam said gently to Olius, who nodded his head in his statement.

"Uhm guys, I hate to interrupt such endearing scene but we now only have 45 mins for our lunch break...." He said, I looked at my phone and I saw that it's now 11:15 am. Our next class will start at 12:00.

"Olius, btw why do you want to treat us? Did something good happened?" I asked to him, I'm curious on why he wanted to pay for our meals.

He looked at my direction, the side of his eyes still a bit of pinkish due to crying. " About that...." He paused, then I saw his eyes shimmered with delight. " Guys... It's because I'm already dating someone now!" He said with a smile on his face, I looked at Liam direction, and oh.... He don't have a reaction? Maybe they're really nothing but friends.

"Congratulations Olius! Where did you meet that person?" He asked, curiousty laced in his tone.

"Oh, Online..my lover commented on my drawing and then we talked.....then this is what happened..."

" Okay, were happy for you...hope you'll find happiness with him...." Liam stated, it's obviously just a heartfelt words. But this made Olius shocked.

"How did you know it's a him?....." He asked, bewildered by the fact that Liam knew it was a him.

"Oh.... about that....Uhm it's because I just thought that you might be Interested with a....uhmmm man...yes that's the reason..." Liam answered, his words stuttering. He nerviously avert his eyes.

Olius being oblivious as he is, believed his words. After that, we ordered our food, payed by Olius. We occasionally talk about random things us we eat. I stayed quiet most of the time, only chiming in the conversation if they asked me a question. While I feel him steal glances in my direction. I can see that he wants to talk to me but I don't.

Later, we bid our goodbye and went to our next class. Ah, history.....