i like you but i cant say it

CHAPTER 3: shattered pride (page 11)

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It's been 2 days since Caleb's done anything or even said something at all. He's been entirely and utterly silent for these past days.

It's finally Friday, and Kenji's grateful to know that he'll be away from Caleb.

But, even though he is relieved, he can't help but notice Caleb's change in behavior and feel worried.

"It doesn't feel right." He thought and glanced over his shoulder to see Caleb resting his head in his arms. Kenji's noticed that Caleb's been sleeping a lot in class lately. I mean, he's done it loads of times, some of the teachers don't even bother with disciplining him anymore, but now it's like he doesn't give a damn either!

Kenji looked at Caleb's messy hair with concern.

Even though the guy's only ever treated Kenji like trash, the question "I can't just leave him like this, can I?" was still stuck on the boy's mind. His empathetic heart seemingly attached itself onto Caleb like a magnet that's been stuck on a fridge for 10 years straight.

It was probably because Kenji knew if it was Atsuko, she would've felt the same too. He knew she wouldn't leave anyone to suffer alone, not even people who've treated her like gum stuck on the bottom of one's shoe.

[...]

Even after the bell had rung, Caleb's still hasn't woken up. Kenji had already stacked up all his books and held them in one hand, his shoes scrapped against the reflective white tiles in the empty classroom but he paused before taking another step.

He walked closer to the boy in the red jersey, something he seemed to wear everyday to school.

Kenji looked upon the boy. His freckled face layed flat on one side against the table, and his dirty blonde hair seemed even messier than before.

Kenji smiled at the scene.

"You're actually kinda cute like that." He muttered quietly with a chuckle. Caleb's arm was plastered on the desk so Kenji moved over and gave it a slight nudge.

"Must be having a good dream." He thought as he nudged again at the blonde boy's shoulder when he didn't respond to the first, and finally, Kenji watched as Caleb cracked an eye open and glanced around the room.

It took Caleb a moment to realize what was going on.

"School's over." Kenji said, making Caleb stand up immediately.

The black haired boy was taken aback. "What are you doing here?" The other boy asked in defence.

"W-Well you were alseep, so I woke you up." Kenji replied simply, with a slight stammer in his voice while still keeping the distance between them. He was expecting a violent reation or another bash-load of threats or insults, but instead, Caleb looked away.

The blonde started picking up his things one by one from his cluttered desk when a paper fell off the edge of it.

Kenji, seeing Caleb being docile for once, decided to rush over to help him pick it up.

"Here-"

"I don't need your help!!" The blonde snapped.

Kenji looked back into the familiar pair of hazel eyes, but this time they didn't seem to glow red, rather they seemed tired.

There were bags under Caleb's eyes as he continued to pick up his things and forming them into a stack. His face even looked like it started to whelm up as he anxiously rubbed at the base of his arms in an almost self-hug way.

Caleb glanced up at Kenji again, "What're you lookin' at?"

Kenji paused, unsure of what to say as he rubbed his hands together awkwardly.

"Noticed you aren't limping as much now, so you've been feeling better..?"

Caleb scoffed, "I haven't been limping." he soon realized how stupid the answer was and hoped Kenji didn't catch the fact that he was there to witness him literally collapse just a few days ago, his body still ached a bit from it too.

"Just leave."

And with that, Kenji decided it was best to just leave.

"Caleb's obviously going through some things, maybe it would be best if I just leave." He thought as he turned around with an understanding nod at the head. His head continued to hang low as he walked further and further away.

Caleb eyed the black haired boy as he was leaving. He had told him to leave but something in his heart felt like it's clung onto the boy, wishing he had stayed longer.