Frozen Heart

vii. a friend and a foe

As soon as Can steps inside the school, he knows something is wrong. Whether or not it's because the hallway is deserted by Tin and his gang or because he feels queasy and antsy- that, he doesn't know.

Can looks left and right and in every corner possible of where Tin may be hiding and is planning to surprise him with a bucket of goodness knows what this time, he sure he looks like a detective from 80's films. But alas, he finds him nowhere. He thinks, maybe Tin has a change of heart and he leaves him for good after knowing his past.

Can breathes a sigh of relief when that thought crosses his mind. Now, he can breathe with ease. He confidently walks inside the classroom he shares with Pete and finds a single red rose on his chair.

He picks it up and is about to ask Pete who puts it there when it explodes right on his face, powders begin to spread in front of him. Can coughs and continuously swats the powder away from his face with his hand.

"I'm sorry Can, I was just about to tell you that you should not pick it up because it's Tin who put it there."

Can sighs and smiles at Pete, sarcasm dripping his voice. "Thank you for that after warning."

"Sorry."

Can shrugs and throws the rose in the bin. He sits on his seat and opens his book, he hadn't read what the teacher asked them to read because he prioritized drinking last night. And it's recitation day today. Damn his life.

Can looks at Pete, expecting him to read another book, a novel, since Can's sure he's read the book prior to this day.

But what he doesn't expect is to see Pete smiling at him like he knows something Can doesn't.

"What?" Can asks.

"You know, I haven't seen Tin this invested to someone. Even with a hangover, he woke up extra early just to plan something for you."

Can snorts. Pete says it as if Tin is planning something romantic for him, which is definitely not the case.

Tin is just an immature bully who probably loves to torment someone and can't seem to let go of the fact that someone like Can managed to embarrass him not just once. Tin is someone who can't let go of his childish plans of revenge.

"Well, he did say he'd make my life a living hell. He's so childish."

"That, he is. Be careful though, I saw him with a big bag today, I think it has all the things he'd use against you. I wanted to look at it but he caught me so still, be careful, okay?"

Can nods and smiles. "Thank you."

He looks back at his open book but he has just read two words when he gives up, his mind can't comprehend anything. He's still too caught up with what happened last night. With Vin and Tin. And that rhymes.

With Vin, Can still can't believe he'd seen him again, worse, Vin looks at him with that 'look', his past punches him in the face, a reminder that he can't just run away from it and soon, it will all blow on his face again.

With Tin, Can doesn't want to admit it but Tin amused him last night. From the little information he had gathered from those people who 'knew' Tin, Tin is a walking iceberg but that doesn't seem the deal from last night. Can thinks Tin might be different from the inside, he might be a big softy.

Tin was all out with his reactions last night.

Can thinks, Tin could be a walking emoji last night, how his emotions shifted from being mad to being disgusted in one second. It astounds Can.

"Why are you smiling?" Can looks at Pete.

"Smiling? Am I?"

"Yeah. You are smiling. Why? What are you thinking about? Who?"