Water and Fire (BL)

Chapter 21: Jealousy's Ugly Head

Chapter 21: Jealousy's Ugly Head

"Hey, this is for you."

Eric handed Charlie the tin can of chocolates. Its metallic body reflected a golden shimmer under the cafeteria lights. A sticky note pasted on it said, "FOR CHARLIE."

Charlie looked at it warily, like it was a booby trap. After a few seconds, his eyes rose up to meet Eric's. "Is this from you?" His eyes were hopeful.

Eric shook his head. "I actually found it in my locker yesterday. Could be someone sneaked it inside during PE class while I was looking away. But then I saw the note bearing your name. I figured that person might have mistaken my locker as your locker, so..."

"Oh." Charlie looked disappointed. "If it's not from you, I'm not taking it."

He handed it back to Eric. "Heck, it could be from Jarwin or that Celeste. Who knows, it could have been laced with poison as revenge."

Eric pitied Charlie and his cynic mind. He handed it to Charlie again.

"I doubt that. Do you see the handwriting? Do you think Jarwin can do this very intricate handwriting, ha? It looked like it's a girl's handwriting."

Eric smiled then poked Charlie's chest. "From the looks of it, it could be the handwriting of a pretty girl."

"Fine then, it could be from Celeste."

"I said pretty girl, Charlie. Celeste's face is fake as fuck."

Charlie pouted. "Nope, still not touching that."

Look at this stubborn kid...

Eric had to think fast.

"You know, someone close might have given this, you know?"

"Someone close? You mean you?"

"No, silly. Aside from me, who's the other person close to you these days, ha?"

Charlie thought for a moment. "You're saying it's from Olivia? Why the hell would she give me something like this?"

"I'm not saying it's from her. I'm saying it could be from her." The cogs of Eric's brain spun. "Have you thought about it, why has she been shy towards you these days, ha? It could be she really wanted to be friends with you all along, and this is one of the things that she thought might make you like her... as a friend. Maybe she was just shy to give it to you in person."

Charlie scoffed. "Olivia, shy? Heck, it's like you're saying a whale can walk on land."

Eric sighed, losing patience. "You know what? Just fucking take it, okay? I'm 100 percent sure it's not laced with poison. If you want, I'll eat it with you just to make your mind at peace."

Charlie grinned. "Really?"

Eric nodded. Good, I didn't have breakfast myself this morning.

---

From afar, David was observing those two idiots being touchy with each other.

What's this? Now he's giving him a can of chocolates? Where did he get the money to buy that expensive ass choco?

David gulped his orange juice angrily and winced, as if it was bile. He wiped the juice on his lips with the back of his hand. He wanted to pounce at those two idiots and take Eric away. A fire of jealousy was burning inside him once more, but David tried to restrain it.

He looked away and stared at his blank notebook which he had been pretending to read since recess started.

---

From another seat at one corner, Olivia was reading the novel with the two boys on the cover. She had been covering her face while reading it, but occasionally she peered at Eric and Charlie from afar.

She smiled to herself when she saw Eric hand Charlie the chocolates. Her smile disappeared quickly, however, when she saw Charlie hand it back to Eric.

Fucking retard... Accept it, will you?

Finally, after seeing Eric talk to Charlie, probably to persuade him to accept the chocolates, Charlie finally accepted it, though reluctantly.

Olivia smiled to herself once more.

Eric, you better harp on about me so Charlie-baby's stone heart would turn to normal again.

But then Olivia's eyes became round when she saw Eric and Charlie laughing together while eating the chocolates.

Heck, Eric, I didn't ask you to give those to Charlie just so he can eat it with you! Heck I should be the one in your place right now!

---

David couldn't take it. Seeing Charlie and Eric eating the chocolates caused his heart to twist and throb. It felt like he's about to pass out.

Eric certainly looked even cuter now that his eyes disappeared into thin lines while laughing, but David thought it should be him who was making Eric laugh, not Charlie.

And now they're laughing together? Fuck, when Eric's with me, I haven't seen him that happy! Give me a fucking chance, Eric, and I would make you happier than that! Damn, I would make you taste eternal bliss!

Heck, Charlie, what's it about you that made Eric like you, ah? I should be the one in your place feeding Eric those chocolates!