Out a Heartbeat (In a Heartbeat)

07 - Offhand

Bria and I are sitting at the cafeteria bench having a snack. The school food is quite tasty, and many people have lunch here before heading home, but there's plenty of space with several tables, so it's not a problem.

"SHERWIN!! I CAN'T BELIE--"

"Bria, lower your voice!" I whisper. "The school doesn't need to know this. Deep down, I'm still just a shy, unknown, and cultured boy, okay?"

"Yeah, right! After everything you've told me, you're definitely going to become the popular kid around here. Wish I was kissing a man like that."

"A man? We're only fourteen!"

"Fourteen? He looks fifteen."

"He's fourteen, Bria. Fourteen like us. I stalked him a lot on social media."

"Oh! And best of all, we won't have to worry about those annoying people from our classes bothering us anymore!" Bria is happy and relieved.

"That's good... I guess."

Victor arrives with his tray and sits at our table, which had space for, at most, six people.

"Oh no..." Bria covers her face, probably embarrassed about what she did with him before chemistry class started. "Are you sure you want to sit with us?"

"Why not?" He laughs. "I know it wasn't on purpose, so let's just forget about it, okay?"

"Not quite okay, but it's fine," Bria says, and Victor sits next to me.

"Did you guys manage to complete the chemistry tasks in there?" He refers to the lab class.

"I did. Sherwin didn't lift a finger to help me."

"I was solving some problems, in my defense." I finish speaking, ironically, making them both laugh.

In silence, we eat our snacks peacefully. You can hear the lunchroom cooking staff preparing more food and people chatting around us. I wish Jonathan would leave the class soon; there are still a few minutes left.

Out of nowhere, I find myself looking sideways, watching Victor eat the last piece of his snack, and I start hallucinating, seeing Jonathan in his place. The image of our kiss from moments ago returns to my mind, and I go crazy, smiling.

The boy looks at me, confused.

"Sherwin, are you okay, man? Why are you--" I interrupt him, closing my eyes and kissing him.

His lips are soft, but his few facial hairs tickle me in a way that doesn't make me laugh; the feeling is great. I don't know how to kiss, so you could hear small and low snaps. He puts both hands on my face, tilting his head so our noses don't hit. After a few seconds, Victor takes his hands off my face, still with his eyes closed; he lost his air.

"S-Sherwin?" Opening his eyes, he stutters. I look at him, scared, and we are both breathing heavily.

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