Water and Fire (BL)

Chapter 20: The Lovestruck Fool

Chapter 20: The Lovestruck Fool

"I change my mind," Eric told Olivia right after the last bell rung. "Let's hang out."

Students were already putting their things in their bags and were starting to leave the classroom.

Olivia's eyes became round. "Really? Okay then, let's go play at my house again." She clutched her novel with the two guys facing each other on the cover.

"You know, a little play time's necessary to stimulate our brains. We might get so stressed out if we studied straight until the exam week. We need games in our lives, you know?"

She massaged her right temple and closed her eyes. "Especially after that filthy wasp made a scene earlier today."

Eric suddenly noticed that Charlie was looking at them with a sad face.

"Um… maybe Charlie could come with us, too?" Eric didn't want to say this, but he also didn't want to look like a shitty friend.

"He can't come." Olivia said hurriedly. "Um… he looked like a person who doesn't like video games and stuff."

Charlie looked down at his shoes despondently. Judging me immediately, huh?

He pouted his lips and put on his backpack. "Okay then, I'll be going guys. Have fun. See you tomorrow."

"Why can't Charlie come?" Eric asked when Charlie left.

"Don't ask anymore. If I say he can't, he can't."

When the two exited the classroom, David Zhou looked up from his notebook, which he had been pretending to read since the bell rung. Dammit, that girl's stealing my Eric again.

Wildfire burned in his eyes.

---

When they entered Olivia's cozy house, they were immediately greeted by Olivia's older brother Yael. This time he wore a pink-yellow, polkadot crop top and a very short jean shorts.

"Hm, Olivia, this shit again, ha? Bringing another handsome boy again? How many handsome boys have you took home now—I've lost count." He started counting his nail-polished fingers with a smirk on his face.

Eric was taken aback. Olivia's been taking handsome guys home this whole time?!

"Hey, don't listen to him, he's just messing with you," Olivia said.

She turned to his brother. "Kuya Yael, stop this nonsense already! I'll throw your make up kit in the toilet if you don't stop this!"

Yael laughed heartily, his shrill voice piercing Eric's ears. "But seriously though, is this the boy you've been talking about these past few weeks, ha? Or is this the boy you've been sending love letters in junior high? Or is this the one whom you said got very high grades back then? Or are all of these the same boy?"

Olivia's eyes became round, and her pale cheeks blushed. She hurriedly pulled Eric away and they both entered the familiar room with the familiar drawings.

This time there were new surreal illustrations on the wall, with tinges of red and pink, and not just black and blue anymore.

"What was that about?"

"Nothing! Don't believe all that Kuya Yael's saying. He's a pathological liar." Olivia calmed herself. "So what do you wanna play today?"

"Anything you like."

"Twin Bee then! Let's play Twin Bee!" She was sweating hard.

Olivia got the NES unit out, plugged some wires, and put on the cartridge with Twin Bee in it, but not before blowing the cartridge's underside first.