One Miracle [✔️] | mlbb x bbb

Chapter 3

"Where you there at the fight yesterday?" Tanah fretted, sitting himself next to Petir's seat in class. They were of different classes, but Tanah still made time to go check on Petir.

"Passed by it," Petir confessed. "Were you?"

"Did you get hurt?"

"No."

"You should stay away from them. It's not child's play."

Petir set his breakfast down. "Why are you so worried about me?" he asked, turning to the student prefect in confusion. "I'm fine. I wasn't even close to it when it happened. What about you?"

For an instant, blood rushed to Tanah's face, dyeing his entire face and neck tomato red. He quickly snapped around and coughed.

"It's just my job as a student prefect," he stammered, as if coming up for excuses he never prepared for. "Besides, you're my best friend. It's only logical."

Petir pressed his lips to a thin line. He turned back to his unfinished sandwich, but he lost all appetite.

Best friend, huh? Him? A nobody in school, who everyone can barely remember his name?

He's just saying that to make him feel better.

"I guess," Petir said dully. "If that's what you think."

Tanah's expression fell subtly, but he kept it simple and easy-going, though strained. "Do you not see me as a friend?" he asked, almost worried. "Am I bothering you?"

Petir would have waved him off, but Tanah's expression caught him off guard, a genuine distress, as if Petir's answer was going to decide the rest of his semester.

For once, he couldn't help but feel an ache in his heart. He didn't know why, though.

"Of course you're my friend." From his own mouth, the words felt like foreign substances. "Why would I think otherwise?"

Even he, the owner of his body, couldn't believe the words he was spitting out. He's never had a friend before, let anyone saying he's their best.

Perhaps, he was just one of his best friends. Tanah has hundreds of fans, and there comes friends.

Petir is just one amongst many.

"Then I'm relieved," Tanah said, shoulders releasing any tension.

He didn't leave, though. He continued to sit there, eyes looking at the front of the class, but there was no one there.

Petir felt his whole body stiffen. He wasn't used to company.

"So, what are you eating?" Tanah turned back. At this point, he's just looking for conversation.

"Bread."

"Hm? Just bread?" Tanah peered over, to see a worn-down Tupperware with a half-eaten stack of bread inside. "Nothing else?"

"Yep."

"Is it just for today, or-"

"Why are you so interested in what I'm having to fill my stomach?" Petir lashed, only to realize what he said seconds later. He bit his tongue. "Sorry. Didn't mean to sound harsh."

Tanah blinked, haven't taken any offence at all. "It's fine. You're my friend, so I care about you." He turned his eyes upon the bland bread. "No fillings? Just bread? That's unhealthy long-term."

"It's not like I have any other choice..." Petir muttered, voice low but noticeable by the prefect. His shoulders tensed when Tanah suddenly held his hand, his warm palm gripping Petir's cold one.

"What about I bring you lunch every day? In exchange, you can help me in my studies!"

"My grades are borderline dying, Tanah." Petir stared at him. His expressionless face somehow giving away his surprise. "You're one of the smartest people in school. What am I supposed to help you with? Carrying your books for you in the hallway? Thanks, but I don't need it. You don't have to trouble yourself with this."

Stiffly, he took his hand back, feeling a chill run down his fingers as he left Tanah's warm grip.

It's been a while since someone held his hand like that.

It was strange.

"Of course not!" Tanah denied. "Just study with me. That's all. I'm getting kind of lonely while studying by myself."

Petir sighed, turning to the front. He picked up his bread and bit into it, tearing a piece off.

"Studying isn't my thing," he confessed. "I tried, okay?"

"Well, maybe you just need a push! Or a friend," Tanah argued. "I can help you. If there's anything that's troubling you, just say so."

Tanah was too earnest, perhaps too driven by his idea. Out of all the people he knows, it's a surprise that he would come to Petir to talk during recess. He was always seen surrounded by a crowd of girls, or guys from the sports club who he always hung out with.

He was adored by the teachers. Girls swarmed him wherever he went. Juniors idolized him. Even delinquents cower at the mention of his name.

So why come to Petir?

Petir was genuinely curious, but at the same time, irritated by conversation.

"Fine," he said.

Tanah beamed. "Really?" He opt to say more, but Petir held out two fingers.

"On two conditions," Petir said sternly, turning to him. "Since you're hellbent on doing this-I can't stop you, can I?"

Tanah shrugged. "Not really."

Petir put his hand down. "Worth a shot," he murmured. "First, don't talk to me in school. Secondly, after school, I can only stay one hour to study."

He glanced at the prefect, who was frowning at both conditions. It was odd; how Petir was the one proposing his bottom lines, when Tanah was the one providing.

"I guess you have your reasons," Tanah said finally, smiling. "I won't pry. I guess I'll give it to you tomorrow morning."

"You're still not backing down?"

"I promised, didn't I?" Tanah winked at him, standing from his seat. "Meet me at the town library after school, and make it quick. You only have one hour, after all. Don't want to waste any time."

Before Petir could retaliate, Tanah walked out of the door, as if respecting his conditions the moment he mentioned it.

Petir blinked at the air, and looked down to his lap.

What was that all about?

"Looks likes someone's got a date!" Hali chirped, small head poking from the opening of his bag. "So, how's your chance, loverboy?"

"Back off, mutt." Petir didn't turn to him.

Hali giggled, going back to the safety of the bag. But as he floated by worn-down textbooks and empty wrappers, he couldn't help but wonder:

Did that boy have a miraculous?