Two Birds On A Wire

ch 21

Ivan sat on the edge of the building top, feeling the wind current rush against his face and through his hair. His eyes set narrow as he gazed into the sky.

Julian grunted as he stretched his arms out from his spot beside Ivan. He was loving the weather. He looked at Ivan and smiled when he saw him lost in a world of his own.

"Here"

Ivan looked down at Julian's extended hand and saw two candies on his palm. He eyed the boy suspiciously.

"Take it. It's just candies" Julian pressed and Ivan reluctantly took them. He tutted at the grin Julian gave him and unwrapped one of the candies, tossing it into his mouth. His expression softened at the sweetness.

"Like it?" Julian asked and he only hummed in response.

"Why do you have them?" Ivan's question made Julian raise a brow.

"Why can I not have them?"

"You of all people?"

Julian shrugged at the weird question. "It... Just gives me peace of mind"

"Like something you could hold onto?" Ivan asked sarcastically.

Julian narrowed his eyes at how weird Ivan sounded at the moment. "Kinda?". He sounded uncertain himself.

"You're strange"

Julian scoffed. "Says who?"

Silence prevailed. But it was okay. Julian wondered if he should act all Sensei-like right now. Maybe Ivan needed a little piece of advice at the moment. Or maybe, he needed peace. However he decided to go with the former.

"Hey, Ivan"

"Hm?"

"Why don't you just talk to him?"

"About how I want him to spend more time with me than his girl friend? No, thanks".

Julian rolled his eyes."That's not what I mean. Just, you know, initiate a conversation. And talk like you used to. Maybe it would turn out alright".

Ivan heaved a sigh and shifted on his spot. "You really think I never tried?"

Julian opened his mouth to speak. But Ivan held up a hand. "Wait, let me show you something".

He dug his phone out of his pocket and after a moment, held the screen on Julian's face.

"See?"

Julian jerked his head back. "Dude, You're holding it too close"

Ivan tutted and took the phone back to his lap, mumbling something barely audible, probably a curse and Julian smirked.

He looked down at Ivan's screen and saw his text messages. "Barry Bulldog", the name tag read.

Julian bit his lip as he scrolled through and saw their conversations were just a repeated chants of "Hey" "How you doing" "Good" "K".
He noticed how all the texts were initially sent from Ivan's side. The only message that read different was when the both of them wished each other on their birthdays. And that was like the only message they send within those two months.

Julian felt awkward for some reason. He shot his eyebrows up and looked up to meet Ivan's eyes.

"Well?" Ivan asked and Julian let out a heavy breath. He sat straight on his spot and put an arm on Ivan's back. "Guess there's little you could do here". Ivan nodded with pursed lips.

"Everytime we talk, it either turns out to be awkward or something like yesterday happens"

"Hm-hm". Julian sighed and slapped his knees. "How about we go do some window shopping?"

Ivan looked puzzled. "That's something girls do".

"Does these things have gender too? Weird", Julian scoffed and started to get off the edge.

"Yo, we have classes right now"

Julian gave Ivan a pursed look. "Do you care to go?"

Ivan hesitated a moment before shaking his head. "No".

"I don't either. Window shopping it is, then"