Two Birds On A Wire

ch 05

Ivan walked through the noisy hallway filled with students. It weirded him out that the place was a little too unorganized for a reputed school.

As he made his way through the crowd of students, something thumped against his shoulder and he stumbled forward. "Ivan!" He didn't even have to turn around to see who that was. A smile already formed on his lips as he held the other boy's hand. "Johann Bartholomew Lopez!" He beamed with a wide grin plastered on his face as he grabbed the other boy's hand, giving it a firm shake.

"Come on, I'm on my way to get lunch. Let's eat together" Johann said before dismissing a small group of boys and girls who had planned to dine with him. He gave Ivan a pat on his back, causing him to duck slightly.

"You sure about that?" Ivan scrunged his face, as he saw the faces of Johann's friends drop as they retreated.

"Yeah, I am. I miss you so much. Can't I even have a normal lunch with you?" Johann blinked innocently and Ivan rolled his eyes.

"Shut it, you" the both of them laughed heartily and Ivan felt a slight tugging at his heart as he realised how much he actually missed his best friend.

But no, he would never tell him that.

The both of them entered the cafeteria and the place looked busy as ever with everyone minding their own business. Ivan noticed how Johann grinned and waved at anyone he locked eyes with.

Johann was like one of those popular kids who would always have his own crowd of peers around him and he really did have that effect on the people around him.

The both of them bought lunch and scanned the place for a place to sit.

"Johann! What are you doing here?" Some kid called with his mouth stuffed and the boys' head jolted up towards the voice. Ivan noticed a boy waving vigorously at them, gesturing for them to join him. And moreover, he saw Julian there in his brightly colored jacket, sitting opposite to the boy with a poker face. Johann just grinned and walked towards the boy, leaving Ivan to tail behind.

As they approached the table, Ivan nodded at Julian who just watched them from his spot, earning back the gesture.

"What else would I be doing in a cafeteria at this hour, Ryan?" Johann snapped.

So, this is Ryan...

"Now make space for me, you scoundrel" He budged Ryan aside, securing himself a spot opposite to Ivan, who already sat beside Julian.

"You know each other?" Ivan asked, trying to fit in.

"Wait, You know each other?!" Ryan exclaimed, earning a chuckle from Johann.

"They're best friends, stupid" Julian muttered as he fetched a huge chunk of meat from Ryan's lunch and Ryan let out a gasp, out of surprise for the new information and of disapproval for what Julian did.

"And you are?" Johann encountered, as he tried hard to remember if he knew Julian in any way.

"I'm a friend of his and Ivan's deskmate"

"Well, a friend of a friend is a friend, right?" Johann chuckled and Julian nodded.

They all talked about stuff and were talking like they all have been in a gang for years. They were laughing and making fun of each other.

"Hey, you. Keep an eye on this boy, okay? Take care of him for me" Johann said as he finished his lunch and got up from his spot.

"I'm not some ten year old kid" Ivan mumbled out only to have gone ignored.

"Of course, I would!" Ryan puffed out his chest. "Like you said, a friend of a friend is a friend, right?"

"Exactly"