Water and Fire (BL)

Chapter 3: Friends and Bullies

Chapter 3: Friends and Bullies

"Let's lunch together!" Charlie said this while pulling the sleeve of Eric's uniform.

How can I say no to this kid, Eric thought. He got the feeling that this Charlie might really be a special case because of his odd, childish behavior. Actually, since the start of school this morning, Eric realized that this Charlie had no friend—no one bothered to talk to the kid, and Eric even noticed that this Charlie was a magnet bully, because of the violent stares he'd been getting from that Jarwin with the red bandanna.

They were walking out of the classroom since the recess bell rang, and all their classmates were looking at them as if Charlie stole their favorite toy. Some tenacious girls walked to Eric and deliberately flirted with him.

Eric already expected this, but he didn't expect girls in the city to be this tenacious. Maybe it's the pollution here, or the water, or the crime, that make these girls fearless, he thought.

Nonetheless, Eric kept his cold face and deliberately rejected the girls.

"So what do you think of our teachers?" Charlie asked, biting on his thumbnail while looking at the concrete ceiling like an idiot.

Eric thought the teachers they had this morning were good-for-nothing, well except for that beautiful young lady who taught Politics, every one of them lectured about nothing but their own experiences when they were young. Eric particularly didn't like their fat teacher with the big, squarish glasses which always reflected off light.

"They're okay," he lied.

"So why did you take up HUMSS track?"

Hmm... Why did I take Humanities and Social Sciences track for senior high school? Eric didn't actually know the reason.

After a long silence, Charlie said, "Well, to be honest, I didn't know the reason why I took this track too. Well, aside from the fact that it was the few tracks offered in this school which are not focused in numbers." He shivered. "I really hate Math."

While they were walking, a guy with a muscular build slapped Charlie on the head. Charlie whimpered and rubbed his head helplessly.

"Why did he do that?!" Eric was annoyed, his eyes trailing the guy who just passed by.

"I don't know. They just liked doing that. That's one of the things you have to learn in this school. Sometimes, people would hit you for no reason at all."

"And you're just fine with that?!"

"Hey, don't worry about it, I'm used to it already. My skull's already thick."

Eric didn't know why but he suddenly pitied this Charlie. A violent wave of emotions surged inside him like a storm, and he wanted nothing more than to chase that guy who hit Charlie and punch him in the face. But he managed to keep his cool and continued walking to the cafeteria.

---

"Why are you not eating rice? You might be hungry later in the afternoon," Charlie said, looking at Eric's lunch of cheap biscuits and a bottle of water from home.

"I'm on a diet," Eric lied. In truth, he had no money to buy a full meal.

"Diet? You're so lean already, why would you be on a diet?" Charlie clicked his tongue. "You wait here." He then stood up, went to the counter, borrowed another plate and a set of fork and spoon, returned to their table, and divided his rice and sausage for Eric.

"Let's share. Don't reject this, okay?" Charlie interjected when he saw Eric's uneasy movement, as if about to turn his offer down.

Eric looked at this Charlie and felt thankful, though he didn't show it and just kept his cold demeanor. He immediately chowed on the food. He realized he was famished because he didn't have breakfast.

"You're actually my first friend in high school," Charlie said, half sad and half thankful. "All those scums kept on turning me down for my friendship. Might be I'm not so cool like them," he said sarcastically while making a childish face.

"Really?" Eric felt sad for this kid. He proceeded chowing down on his meal. Suddenly, he remembered a memory which he had buried deep in his subconscious. It was so sudden that he was immediately immersed in that memory.

He was with that girl in the cafeteria, as always. But that day was special because it was the day that girl gave her a kiss on the lips. That girl was named Eireen. The girl he loved, and the girl who loved him back. They went on for being young lovers for almost two years, before they had to sever their ties when one night Eireen just told him that they're over, without any explanation.

Eric was destroyed then. He wanted to blame himself. Have he wronged her? Was he too cold for her? Was he too passionate, too overbearing, too clingy? But he knew the answer. He was too poor. This girl who always smelled like strawberry, she's heaven, and Eric is earth. Never shall the two meet. She was the daughter of a high-ranking government official. What was he? He was merely the son of a nobody, and even fatherless.

Thinking about this now made Eric's heart ache. Never again did Eireen talked to her since then, and even when they graduated from junior high, she didn't congratulate him, nor glanced at him for even a second. He hated her. Yet he didn't want to hate her. How could he hate something so pure, so fragile, so precious, something so ethereal that she smelled like strawberries?

Yet Eric treasured that memory in the cafeteria when Eireen kissed her on the lips. A bittersweet feeling filled his heart.

"Hey what are you smiling at?"

"Nothing," Eric was pulled out from dreamland and continued chowing on his food. "Just nothing."

---

Returning to the classroom, they passed by the Chinese transferee in the hallway. Eric was a tall guy himself, but this Chinese guy towered over him still. He looked like a shiny bamboo god with good looks.

He had beautiful eyes, a silky black hair styled in a spiky hairdo, a pair of pretty lips that curve at the sides, a strong, beak-like nose, a long neck, and a muscular build. This David Zhou guy is like an idol, yet when Eric met his eyes, he didn't like the vibe he's getting from him.

There's this air of arrogance in him, and a fire which seemed like it's burning from within him, ready to be unleashed whenever. And Eric didn't like fiery people. He is a cool guy himself. He dwell in coldness, and he's afraid that this David guy's fire might evaporate his coolness.

But the most annoying thing about this David is that he's already hanging out with that Jarwin guy with the red bandanna, the guy who gestured at Eric this morning threateningly, and the one who kept on giving Charlie the mocking gazes in the classroom.

They're friends so soon?