Speak Up!

FIVE- (im foive)

He Xinlong wasn't much of a romantic person, his idea of affection ending at a simple kiss. But, Thilla Martin was a different story, as she was to most people.

Xinlong's shortage of affection had no effect on how nice of a kid he was. A tall, strapping young man with amazing cheekbones. You could pick him out of a crowd easily just from his good looks alone.
So standing in the middle of a muddled high school bunch really did his face wonders as Tills' casket was lowered into the ground.

He Xinlong wouldn't lie, he was crying, losing such a person as Thilla was a grave loss. He had shared many things with her over their aquatinted years. Hours, minutes, secrets, kisses, virginities.
You name it he had shared it... and/or taken  it at 2am in a Wendy's parking lot. Wink wink . 
Okay sorry enough of the explicit details, Xinlong is sad.

He looked around the crowd of familiar faces. Knowing all of these people, but not by name.

Believe it or not he was a low profile person at school. He didn't want to stand out too much which seemed almost baffling. Most people felt blessed by his presence since he was so beautiful, but he took no pride in how pretty he was. So he stayed semi-ly hidden.

"And I think that with all the love we have for Thilla, we can honestly say that we'll never forget her." The officiant spoke, finally catching Xinlong's attention, along with Hanyu's.

Hanyu had been a mess today, almost not coming to the funeral because he was so mixed up. But nevertheless he came and watched the love of his life be buried 6 feet under.

Li Zihao wasn't doing to keen either, a million tissues filling his bedroom trash bin, and almost all of them were from crying.

Like I had mentioned before, Li Zihao wasn't one to cry, but for Tills he would shed as many tears as it took. It had been a very emotional week for all the boys.

ZeYu and MingRui included. ZeYu didn't know her much but MingRui had been friends with her for awhile. And as any good boyfriend would do, he came to support his boy and make sure he was okay.

"I just can't believe she's really not here." MingRui blew his nose into a tissue, squeezing Zeyu's arm in consolation. "I know baby, I'm sorry." He tried to comfort the tearful male.

Another attendee, more so oddly placed, was Ren Shuyang, a freshman who was only there because of weak blood relations. To say that is quite harsh. Shuyang cared for his step sister, Thilla, but was able to deal with his feelings at home before her funeral.

"Thank you all for coming." Mrs. Ren, formerly Mrs. Martin, said, gently twiddling with her dress as a way to cope.

Hanyu nodded slowly, waking up the steep hill along with everyone else, filing into the banquet hall where a few tables had been set up with Tills' favorite foods.

Hanyu didn't feel like eating. To be more than honest he felt like throwing up. All the tormented kid could think about was Tills' cold, bloody hands right in front of his face. And then her pained expression as he peered into her still open eyes.
He shivered at the thought. Absolutely grotesque.

"Hey." ZeYu greeted, a still sobbing MingRui on his shoulder. Hanyu had met the two briefly before.

"Hi." He greeted back. The couple sat down at the same table and ZeYu held his little boyfriend close to him.

"Ca-can I sit here?" Another boy trudged closer to the table, pulling out a chair and plopping down. Hanyu still nodded as if his permission even mattered.

"You're He Xinlong." Hanyu blurted out, more of a blatant statement than anything else.

Xinlong just nodded. Hanyu sighed and settled into his seat, the misery being shared between everyone at the table. The thick grief was suffocating and only thickened as Li Zihao sat down wordlessly at the table, arms crossed on the table top before resting his head on them.

They all had eyes as pink as a rabbit's, a depressing testimony to their feelings towards this girl.