Summer vacation, a great time for students to relax or find new enrichment, and Zeal is no exception. After finishing his college enrollment submission, he proceeded to lock himself in the house for a great chunk of his vacation. It has been awhile since Zeal has touched grass, he is starting to miss it, and walk sounds great at the moment. At some point of his walk, he passes an alleyway, loud sounds were coming from it. Zeal takes a peak out of curiosity, and there he catches a glimpse of a familiar figure.
Kaelix, the prep student from the same high school, from the grade one year after him. They don’t really know each other, nor have they’ve had much contact. The boy’s a prep student with straight As, and he’s a delinquent that pick fights with every giving chance. The two groups don’t go along with each other either, the preps dislike how the delinquents for causing disturbances and breaking rules, the feeling is mutual for the other party, as the prep students seem to always be on their high horses according to the delinquents. The only thing both of them have in common is that they’re both famous in school: Kaelix for his 4.0 GPA and his kind personality, and Zeal for his unpredictable temper and rule-breaking tendencies.
The white-haired boy is being grabbed by the collar of his shirt by someone stronger, larger. Behind the clear violet lenses and mask of resistance, Zeal can see fear in Kaelix’s eyes and his lips growing pale. Usually Zeal stays away from other people’s business, more so if it involves a prep student, but today he finds himself approaching the site of commotion.
“Fair of you to prey on the weak, huh?”
“Wha-“ before letting him say anything, Zeal has landed a punch onto the man’s face.
Upon being taken by surprise, he man lets go of Kaelix, and Zeal slithers his way between the two, shielding Kaelix behind his back. He takes a quick glance at the boy behind him, Kaelix’s eyes are watery and clouded with distress, chest heaving as he greedily gasps for air. Anger boils in Zeal’s chest.
“Z-Zeal?” Kaelix exclaims despite being still a bit breathless.
“Listen, in a minute I’ll shove this guy away, in the meantime, you’ll find somewhere to hide. Close your eyes or cover your ears if you’re scared of what’s going to happen. I don’t wanna be taking care of a fainted kid after a fight.” Zeal says coldly as he ties his long hair back.
Though cold, and perhaps tainted with a bit of despise, Zeal’s words are the most warm and comforting thing to hear in the world for Kaelix.
As Zeal pushes the bulk man away one more time, Kaelix grabs the opportunity and dashes to hide behind some boxes. He hates being another person’s burden, but for now, hiding is the only way he could not pull Zeal’s leg. He covers his ears and closes his eyes as told, yet the sound of the fight and the insults thrown, though muffled, still made their way through. Kaelix prays in his heart for Zeal’s victory, hoping that by some divine force, it would come in Zeal’s aid.
Zeal’s build is slightly smaller compared to the man, but he fights with brains instead of brains. Zeal effortlessly doges the man’s charges while moving further from Kaelix’s hiding spot, luring the man away. He lands punches to the man’s face with every opening he gets. In minutes, the man grows weary, and Zeal knocks him over with a finishing blow.
There was a thump, then peace and quiet.
Kaelix waited for a few minutes before taking a peek, and with that he saw:
A man slumped on the ground. Zeal was leaning on the wall, one side of his black hair combed back with a hand, a smear of crimson on the corner of his mouth, sunset eyes glinting with danger and violence, which reminds Kaelix of a snake. Flight responses were kicking in, screaming for him to flee. But instead, he was rooted, like a deer in headlights. It was then Zeal looked up, noticing the frightened and frozen Kaelix. He thought that the prep was worried about the unconscious man’s life.
“Don’t worry. He’s unconscious, not dead, yet.” Zeal walked over, giving the slump a kick as he walked past it.
Kaelix's mind cleared, he could see that Zeal has regained his usual composure: Cold and distant.
“Well, thank you for saving me today. I was about to give up and let him.”
“Spare your thanks, I just can't stand people that don't fight with people their own size. I’ll be off.”
“Wait!” Kaelix yelled as he grabs Zeal’s shirt, stopping him from leaving.
“You’ve helped me, and I should return the favor. That’s how favors work.”
Zeal raised an eyebrow at the unexpected statement, he did not expect something like this to come out of a prep student’s mouth. He’s used to the glances of despise and sarcasm they project. Kaelix, on the other hand, is something different.
“Repay me how? With a vow of life and death?” Zeal says sharply.
Although he acknowledges Kaelix’s difference from the other preps, it didn’t register for Zeal to change his tone for him. He expected Kaelix to shoot a retort, or even be provoked by his attitude. But instead, he reaches into his pocket to pull out a handkerchief.
“There’s a smear of blood on the side of your lips, let me wipe that off.”
“No, I can-“
Before Zeal could finish, Kaelix has already pressed the handkerchief on the smear. The action triggered Zeal, as he hated people touching his face, and possibly smearing his makeup. Out of reflexes, he grips Kaelix’s wrist, tight. Kaelix inhales sharply, indicating pain. Zeal was about to yell in rage, but upon seeing the blue eyes clouded with worry, the fury subsides, he lets go. A bright red mark shows on Kaelix’s fair skin, and guilt bubbles in Zeal’s chest.
“I’m sorry. That hurt you, didn’t it?” Kaelix asks out of worry.
Instead of a question, it sounded more like a statement. Kaelix believed that his actions has put Zeal in pain, which was what lead to the reaction. The guilt bubbles stronger.
“No, no, I’m just not used to having people touch my face. I’m the one who should be sorry, for grabbing your hand all of a sudden.”
“Ah, it’s fine. My house is a short walk from here, I can help treat your wounds in favor of you saving me. I-If you’re okay with that, that is.“
“…… Yeah, that’ll be great.”
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