Every Single Thing I Touch || HeartLiming "Moonlight Chicken"

7. Remedy

The first thing Liming noticed when he came back to school the next day was the lack of rude comments and bullying he constantly endured, and his eyes immediately went in search of the one person who made his life hell—Heart, who had practically ceased to exist anywhere near him. Liming wasn't proud of himself for searching for someone who he supposedly should hate, and hence, every time he caught his eyes wandering, he would force them back on his book. His stomach still hurt, with the blows he had taken from Taro, and each time he moved even a single muscle, a searing pain ran straight from his stomach to his brain that made him curl up on his chair, gasping for air.

North seemed to be around him a lot more than normal, which Liming was secretly grateful for. North was the one he liked, the person he couldn't have but it was a wonderful fleeting thought of what could've been and Liming reveled in that. Besides, Liming didn't find himself worthy enough for people to actually love. Be it friendly love or romantic love, he didn't deserve it.

"What are you thinking about?" North asked, sliding to the chair in front of him.

Liming's eyes widened as a soft smile grazed his lips, "So we're buddies now?"

North rolled his eyes at that and stood up, before Liming grabbed his arm, repeating "joking, joking" as he sat down once again.

"I was wondering what will happen to me now?" Liming said, looking around him, "Hea—He hasn't said a word the whole day and it's starting to get to me"

"You're the first person I've seen who openly misses his bully" North snorted, leaning back to cross his arms over his well-built chest.

"Miss? Who's missing that asshole?" Liming stuttered, curling his arms over the table once again.

"The asshole who saved you from a nasty fall, might I add?" North remarked with the first genuine smile Liming had seen in a whole year.

"You love reminding me that, don't you?"

North shrugged, (making him impossibly attractive) as he remarked, "It's the truth"

The classroom was loud and extremely noisy and Liming breathed a sigh of relief at not hearing any 'that killer kid' or 'Night's brother' remarks the entire day, but it wasn't too long since Heart walked towards his seat, facing the other way. His minions crowded him and Liming stared at him—while North stared at him.

"I don't think he'd continue" North said, leaning forward on Liming's desk.

"I have a feeling that it would be worse, actually" Liming said, turning back to North who was so so close to him.

It felt surreal, watching North stare at him openly with an unreadable expression on his face. There was a time when Liming would end up staring at North but now, it was the other way around. He was so handsome. So beautiful. Ethereal.

"You look so much like him" North breathed, as his gaze ran along Liming face—setting him on fire, "It's insane"

But the moment North said 'him' it felt as if a cold bucket of water toppled over him, drowning him with it. North wasn't staring at Liming—he was staring at Night, his lover. Liming gulped, feeling thorns sprout all over his body. Could he just be a replacement for Night? Will that be enough for North to love him?

It was a late night when Liming finally came back home, secretly tiptoeing into their room. Night was studying as always, with his books open on their joined table, spectacles balancing on his nose. He was also face-timing Heart, as Liming made a face at them and sat down on his bed—throwing his backpack to the corner of the room, where it sagged helplessly on the floor.