Find your faith

Chapter 121: It all started when we studied together

Lucas' POV
In front of me was a sea of chemistry notes from the whole year, a bunch of files, my phone with a piece of paper for the password so we could google anything we didn't understand and scattered stationery. Of course the consumers of this chemistry buffet were the members of 8 point compass, so silent you could hear a pin drop, only using their voices to ask questions.
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Crystal: Is H^2SO^4 acid or base?

Lucas: Acid. I think you shouldn't have to think too much when it comes to this topic. If you see H, it's more likely to be an acid. If you see OH, it's more likely to be a base.

Crystal: But what happens if I see neither?

Lucas: Guess? I'm learning myself too, so I can't go that deep myself.

Crystal: But it's nice you're still helping all of us. Thanks! 
Ethan's POV
After answering Nicole's question about the mole, I happened to watch Crystal and Lucas working together, and it felt a little different than seeing Chloe and Lucas working together in chemistry. Since they were sisters, they had similar intense faces listening to someone coach them about their chemistry misconceptions. But I was able to sense something different in their faces.

Chloe's intense looks always felt forced, her eyebrows furrowed. It was like she was trying to shove all her anime and online hobbies to the back of her mind. Crystal looked serious, but she didn't furrow her eyebrows. I could tell Crystal actually wanted to study and get help from Lucas. And that's when I came to realise something, I never truly wanted to be friends with Chloe.

Nicole, John and Simon can relate to her better, and I respect that. Me? I didn't feel that way, like the only reason I friended her in primary school was because I just wanted new friends. And I was in a way forced to be her friend because Crystal and Chloe were literally attached to each other in primary school, so Crystal's friends naturally became Chloe's. This forced attachment continued into lower secondary, where I had to be in her group because of the mixed gender policy and how "I was the only boy that could accept her." But that didn't matter that much now because our promotion exams were coming up...I guess those thoughts would be for the bus journey home.
John's POV
Bus interchange
"Bye everyone!" Crystal and Chloe chorused before bouncing off to the MRT station. We all waved bye to the twins, before I turned to the rest of the group.

"Well, Anika and I will go and take our bus home," Lucas greeted. "See you!" The duo then skipped to the berth to wait for their bus, leaving me with Nicole, YZ and Ethan. The four of us walked to the berth, when I remembered how Ethan looked dazed for a moment and ran up to him.
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John: You were looking a little dazed during our study session just now. Is everything alright?

Ethan: I think I just realised something.

Nicole: What is it?

Ethan: It's about one of the 8 point compass members. You're not going to kill me, are you?

YZ: Just tell us! We're not going to tell anyone else!

Ethan: I'm thinking of staying in 8 point compass, but I'm not going to talk to Chloe anymore. Only the other six of you.

Nicole: Are you sick in the head? You two were so close in lower secondary.

John: It's obvious he's more comfortable with Crystal than Chloe. Like he matches profile pics with Crystal on Instagram. But maybe it's his values...

YZ: Like, who do you feel comfortable with? You know, you don't have to be with people that don't make you feel safe!

Ethan: People that don't make their friendship with me their whole identity, and have a separate one too.

John: That's people that ain't clingy, no?

Nicole: To be fair enough, I'm starting to suspect Chloe might be more on the clingy side. She takes almost every subject with Ethan except biology, so I'm wondering if Chloe chose the subjects she chose because she wants to spend time with Ethan.

John: Mm...yea! And Chloe did mention to me she's been asking her sister to switch back to their original seat many times. I can only have one answer. So what are you going to do about it?

Ethan: I don't have an answer.

Nicole: That's fine; I mean, you just identified the problem. This problem has no timeline to be solved, so we could pace ourselves with this problem. Just talk to Crystal about it, ok? Crystal cares about Chloe a lot for obvious reasons, so it's only fair if you tell her what you're thinking!

YZ: Yea, I don't want you to get distant again! Oh no~ it's my stop! Bye bye!

All: Bye!
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I always appreciated people that have their own identity, and Crystal was one of them. She had meaningful and authentic energy; it wasn't for naught as she used her energy to connect with the people around her. I never really acted on these feelings because I was forced to stick to Chloe thanks to our class allocations, but starting today...I may want to consider getting closer to Crystal.