secret soulmates // phan

seven.

Dan
5 minutes and classes are over. Finally. But also, unfortunately. I have to avoid Joel. I always go to the library after school, hoping I don't bump into him.

I start packing my stuff to leave class, and when the bell rings, I swing my backpack over my shoulder and walk away as quickly as I can.
Before I can even walk out of the classroom, someone grabs my wrist. I flinch and turn around, terrified. There's a boy standing behind me. I recognize him, I'm in a few classes with him. I can't remember his name, though.
"Um.. Hi, can I help you?" I ask. He lets go of my wrist and I turn around fully. He shakes my hand. "Hi! I'm Pj. We're in a few classes together, I don't know if you've noticed."
"I have, actually! What's wrong?" I ask, still a bit scared.
"Nothing! Why would something be wrong? I just wanted to say, happy birthday! I don't think many people have said that to you today. And you seem really nice, so I thought I'd just.. say that." He says whilst doing some kind of jazz hands. I smile. "Thank you!"
"I was actually about to go to the library, want to go with me? We can get to know each other better." Pj asks.
"Yeah!" I say, still slightly unsure why he's so nice. I don't deserve this. I still walk with him, though.

When we're in the hallway, I look around, worryingly. I hope we don't bump into Joel.
"Why are you so skittish?" Pj laughs.
"Oh, it's nothing." I reassure him.

We arrive at the library. I've spent so many time here, I automatically walk over to my standard place and sit down. Pj sits down next to me.
"I always sit here." I say. "It's nice, in the corner, so no one really sees me. And the couch is nice, it has a crease in it because I always sit there. I call it the sofa crease."
Why am I suddenly talking so much? I never open up about myself. I'm socially awkward, anxious, and not good at conversations. I either say nothing or everything. This time, it's everything.
I take a deep, shakily breath. I really need to calm down.
"You okay?" Pj asks. "Yeah." I say.
"It doesn't seem like it."
"No, I'm okay, really. Don't worry."
He looks at me with furrowed eyebrows. I cough awkwardly.
"Really." I say.
Pj smiles. He knows I'm not okay, I can just feel it. Luckily, he doesn't ask any further.
"So, tell me something about yourself." He says.
"Well.. I'm Dan. I'm 15 years old. I like playing the piano and reading books."
Pj looks at me as if he wants me to continue.
"That's basically it."
"Exciting." He says sarcastically.
"My life isn't that exciting. Now it's your turn."
"Well, I'm Pj, 15, and I have a boyfriend. His name is Chris and he's a sweetheart and I want to be with him forever but there are some assholes out there who don't accept that for some reason."
I stare at him. He just confessed he had a boyfriend so.. easily.
"I.. um, I'm bi. People don't know that though. They do think I'm gay and.. they.. judge me for that."
"It's stupid. They're all fucking assholes who are dealing with their own problems. Please ignore them, okay? Your sexuality doesn't make you less of a person. You seem really nice."
"Thank you, Pj. Same goes to you."

We talk for half an hour more, and I learn quite a lot about Pj. I'm not really opening up too much to him yet, just in case.

"Can we exchange numbers?" Pj asks.
"Sure, I don't have my phone right now, though. And I don't know my number."
Pj gets out a pen and quickly scribbles his number onto a piece of paper. He hands me it and stands up.
"Bye Dan! Talk to you tomorrow."
"See you." I respond.

So.. I may have obtained a friend? I don't know.
First Sun, now Pj? Since when do I deserve this? How is it possible I'm suddenly so lucky?
For the first time in about 3 years, I finally feel truly happy. Maybe not extremely happy, but I do feel it.