Train to Neocity

Day 𝟢𝟢: 𝒵𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝒞𝒽𝑒𝓃𝓁𝑒

A lone boy sat at the rooftop of the school, staring down at the world from above. He held a lit cigarette between his two digits as he contemplated over the various events that had occurred that day. He lifted the cigarette closer until it barely brushed up against his velvety lips and drew in a puff of smoke without a second thought before letting his arm drop delicately to his sides.

"You know, I really do like you."

With a sigh, Chenle released the smoke from his lungs. The words replayed in his head over and over leading him to question: how anyone could like him? The idea alone was just, in a word, improbable and he found himself laughing at the confession. Nobody liked him- not for who he was at least- not even he could do that. People only 'liked' him for the clout; for the attention. Even his parents couldn't like him the way a parent should love their own son and yet here was. Stumped over a girl.

As he took another hit of smoke, he heard the door creak open behind him. With a sigh, he turned his head to whoever had interrupted his peace.

"Smoking again?" the visitor questioned from a distance, eyeing Chenle warily.

"What else?" Chenle answered plainly, taking another hit of his blunt.

Whilst his back was facing the older male, Chenle could still, automatically tell by the disconcerting silence that Renjun was somehow already amused not in a good way.

"I thought I told you to stay away from Minrui," Chenle stated nonchalantly.

The cigarette fell from his hand and without a second to spare, the flame emanating from it died before his very eyes.

"I did what I had to. You know what kind of person I am," Renjun responded matter of factly,

"Don't make me laugh, Renjun." Chenle scoffed, still facing the opposite direction,

"I don't have to justify my actions to anyone. I know I was in the right," the words had barely left Renjun's mouth when Chenle's insides were overwhelmed by a surge of anger. Just hearing those leave the mouth of someone he once trusted caused his blood to boil- especially when it concerned the certain someone he had budding feelings for.

Clenching his fists, Chenle began to move to face his elder, the retort at the tip of his tongue. But of course, all odds had to be against him because he couldn't even tell whether a sound had left his lips as the two were drowned by the deafening ring of sirens.

After the initial shock had been overcome, the two moved faster than the speed of light, making a bolt for the door heading into the school, sprinting down the steps with both their minds centered on one thought and one thought only; get Minrui away from danger.

The chances of finding Minrui laid low- the school was ginormous. Despite all the years they'd attended the school, even they were vulnerable to getting lost and yet they expected to be able to find one particular person among thousands of others.

Ahead of them was a door leading to a spacious room consisting of nothing but a skylight, some janitor's supplies, an elevator and a second door leading to another corridor. Chenle raced towards the room but even with all of the force he was using to push his feet forward, Renjun had beat him, slamming the door in Chenle's face.

Chenle struggled twisting the doorknob back and forth- his attempts remained futile as he became aware of Renjun's footsteps slowly receding further away until they were no longer audible.

"Fuck!" he cursed under his breath before hastily opting to use elevator. He spammed the call button as if his life depended on it- once, twice and thrice in a swift motion. Fearing that the wait would be too long, he gave the door another try only this time he had resorted to continuously ramming into it with brute force.