Water and Fire (BL)

Chapter 16: The Turncloak

Note: Hope y'all are having/had a good day. This chapter's a little intense. I've been listening to some Eric Zhou because I love me some sentimental Mandarin emo ballads. Eric Zhou's "你好不好" is such a tear-jerker.

Also thank you to those who are reading this novel, as well as to those who will read it. I appreciate your support. Also, if you want me to read your work, feel free to message me, I'll be sure to read them. Thank y'all.

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Chapter 16: The Turncloak

Eric woke up in a stupor. He wasn't able to sleep very well last night because he slept at three in the morning. He kept on tossing in his narrow couch, the heat and uncomfortable feeling eating him in the middle of the night. Sweat had stuck to his skin, drenching the couch beneath.

He had thought of Eireen all night long, and it annoyed him to the core. He didn't know why she suddenly popped in his mind. Again, thinking about Eireen and what had became of their relationship, Eric couldn't help punching the couch and feeling irritated.

No matter how many times he said to himself that he had already forgotten about that girl, the truth is, he still is unable to completely forget about her. Thoughts of her bring a bitter taste in Eric's mouth, and if he would have to give up something just to forget Eireen, he would be willing to give that something up.

Now, waking up from his couch and feeling light-headed because of his lack of proper sleep, Eric  got up from his makeshift bed and immediately took a bath to wash all his feelings away.

He stared at the empty space of the bathroom wall, while countless drops of water flow down his supple skin. His red lips were slightly ajar, and his eyes looked drowsy.

At school, all his previous negative thoughts became temporarily sealed once again in the deepest sectors of his mind, when he saw Olivia.

"What's up?" She said.

Eric kept his cold face, though deep inside, he was happy to see her. "Nothing much. How's the Book Club?"

Olivia drew a long breath, but she kept on doodling on her notebook. "Don't remind me about that club. Something actually came up. There's a problem when it comes to the scheduling of activities, probably because of the tons of homework that we're given these past few days." She crossed her arms and looked at the ceiling. "But don't worry about it. Once all our homework were done, we'd be able to resume our activities again."

Eric pretended to be interested about the Book Club, though deep inside he didn't care about any of it at all. He just kept on talking about it to have something to talk to with Olivia.

Eric's attention was suddenly dragged at the hallway, when a familiar scream echoed outside.

All the students peered outside the classroom door. Eric saw Charlie being carried by Jarwin, Jaguar, Loco, and David Zhou. Each of those four bullies were holding each of Charlie's extremity—Jarwin holding on to Charlie's right hand, David on the left hand, Jaguar on the right foot, and Loco on the left foot. And while they were lifting him off the ground, they were also swinging him back and forth. And the worst thing of it all was, they were doing it near the railing of the third floor, as if they would throw Charlie off the edge to the floor below.

Charlie was screaming in terror. Meanwhile, those four bullies snickered and howled like happy dogs.

Eric's heart was violently filled with a raging wave of emotions, like the violent wave of an ocean. He stormed out of the classroom and approached the ridiculous scene.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

The four bullies' eyes became glued to Eric. "This is what he gets for messing with my girl!" Jarwin exclaimed, half-happy and half-angry, his red bandanna wrapped round his head.