Sonder

Chapter 21

There is an unspoken tension between Xavian and Lance, every time their eyes meet, they look away like shy high school boys who just fell in love for the first time.

While sketching the two cats fighting on the roof, Lola Gregoria rolled her eyes at the two. She isn't the type of person who meddle with people's love lives, but his poor little warrior need some help. 

She could see her grandson steal some obvious glances at Xavian. Lola Gregoria sighed and took a photo album from her drawer. "Xavian, did you know Lance was such a cute kid when he was young?"

Xavain's eyes show interest, while Lance's eyes widen in absolute terror when he sees his grandma opening a dusty photo album.

Lola Gregoria only winked at Lance before sitting beside Xavian with the photo album in her hands.

A laugh escaped Xavian's lips when he saw a baby picture of Lance gobbling a tab of chocolate ice cream. His chubby cheeks and mouth are smeared with ice cream, and his small arm protectively grips the tab of ice cream as if he would fight with all of his might if someone tried to take it away from him.

"Lola Gregoria!" Lance screamed in absolute horror and embarrassment as he pulled his hair in distress. He looked so ugly when he was a kid!

What if Xavian found him disgusting?

I just looked at his two missing front teeth and those hideous choppy bangs. Lance felt a weird feeling of disgust every time he looked at his childhood photos.

Lance gulped and nervously looked at Xavian's reaction. He used to laugh at his friends who tried so hard to look good in front of their crushes, but look at him now. He probably looks so awkward and weird with this nervous expression on his face.

"Cute." Xavian smiled fondly as he flipped the pages of the photo album. Lance covered his face with his hands when he saw the soft and warm smile on Xavian's lips. Lance could feel his heart beat faster, but he didn't know if it was because of his embarrassing baby pictures or seeing the smile on Xavian's lips.

Lance couldn't understand why Xavain thought he was cute, he was a bit ugly when he was a kid.

"Look at this picture, kiddo. This is the first time he learned how to draw."

In the picture, a two-year-old Lance is holding crayons in both hands as he draws at the white walls with a huge triumph grin, like a little maniac spreading terror.

"Vandalizing at such a young age," Lola Gregoria proudly smiled. "As expected for my grandson."

"Lola Gregoria! Don't make it sound like I was a troublemaker when I was a kid." Lance crossed his arms, and his lips unconsciously pouted in an aggrieved manner.

Maybe acting cute will convince Xavian that he is not a troublemaker.

Look at him, cute and lovable. How could he possibly be a troublemaker when he was kid?

"Of course you're not a troublemaker," Lola Gregoria reassured, and she flipped through the pages of the photo album. "You're worse than that." She cackled as she pointed at a picture of Lance, who was hanged upside down in a monkey bar with mud all over his clothes and hair.

Seeing the defeated and betrayed expression on Lance's face, Xavian couldn't help but laugh out loud. Tears escape the corners of his eyes from laughing so hard.

"It's not funny." Lance huffed and crossed his arm, but it only made Xavain laugh louder. Lance suddenly felt his fingers pinch his cheeks. 

"Don't be mad, sorry." Xavain gave him a teasing grin as he pinched his cheeks. "I just think you're so adorable in those pictures." Lance's cheeks are smooth and soft, it is quite addicting to pinch them.