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Zanka fisted the paper in his hand into a ball as he glared at Jabber across the classroom. The latter must've felt the intensity of his glare because he turned around and flashed him an impish smirk. Zanka crumpled the poor paper in his hand even harder as he desperately tried to suppress the urge to bash the other's head with a chair. He huffed and turned his gaze away.
Enjin turned to speak to him at that moment and caught the murderous look in his eyes. He reflexively turned to glance at Jabber across the room before fixing back on Zanka
"What did you score on the test?" Enjin asked tentatively, eyes darting across Zanka's expression.
"18." Zanka's expression was carefully blank with this one word answer. He tried not to recall the fact that Jabber scored full marks, but the clouding in his gaze betrayed his emotions.
"That high? I scored 15—"
"Not enough." Zanka interrupted, running a hand down his face and leaned back. "Not enough."
"It's literally the second best score..."
"Not top of the class."
"Whatever. I don't think you should be comparing yourself to him." Enjin rolled his eyes, straddling his chair to face Zanka completely.
"Who?" Zanka blinked innocently.
Enjin responded with a deadpan stare—'Who else?'
"I'm not comparing myself to anyone..."
"Oh, yeah, what's that in your hand?"
In his fist, which had loosened up at some point, was his test paper, crumpled beyond recognition. Zanka promptly tossed it into his desk.
"Nothing."
Enjin reached into the desk and fished it out, his daring gaze never leaving Zanka's the whole time.
"Oh, you got this question right, I didn't." He unballed the paper and looked through it. "Wait, you got all the questions right... the marks were deducted for legibility?"
"...apparently."
"Your fault for solving math with your terrible cursive. Is this 'log' or '69'?"
"Are you blind? It's obviously 'log'. The question is under trigonometry." Zanka rolled his eyes.
"Why were you glaring at Jabber, then? It's not like you failed any questions."
That was the thing. Why was Jabber "better" than him just because his writing was slightly more readable?
"I wasn't—"
"Yeah, yeah, you weren't glaring at him."
Zanka yanked the paper away from him and stuffed it back into his desk.
Riyo walked over with two chocolate bars and two bottles of diet coke.
"What's up?" She handed them one of each.
Enjin took a big gulp of his drink before answering, "We were discussing the test scores."
"Oh? What'd you get?"
"This guy lost two marks for legibility." Enjin jabbed a thumb in Zanka's direction. The latter swatted his hand away. "Shut up."
"You really need to work on your handwriting. Look at Jabber—" Riyo froze at Zanka's glacial stare. "I mean, don't look at him. In fact, forget he exists. Jabber? Who's that?"
"..." Zanka couldn't hold back and burst out laughing, "You're such an idiot."
Jabber had been silently watching the group and his eyes widened at Zanka's laugh. It might've been the most magical sound he's ever heard. It was so... beautiful. His breath caught and he felt his face heating up. He quickly turned away and hid his face, putting his head on his desk.
A knuckle rapped on his desk and raised his head to meet Tamsy's gaze.
"What're you doing? Let's go get lunch."
"Not hungry." Jabber subconsciously glanced at Zanka's group as he replied. Tamsy followed his line of sight and let out a sigh.
"Are you really not hungry, or do you wanna stay here and stare at your crush?"
Jabber stared at Tamsy in silence, while the other patiently awaited his answer. He decided to answer honestly.
"...I wanna stare at him."
Tamsy lightly smacked his forehead. "You're pathetic."
"I know~ Could you please get me something from the vending machine?"
"No. Come get it yourself." Jabber didn't move, actually intending to skip lunch. "Dude, he's not even paying any attention to you. Lunch break is almost over."
That was the whole point, "As great as his glares feel when they land on me, he looks the most beautiful when he's not glaring at me. When he smiles at something funny, or his laugh..." Jabber leaned forward on his desk as he spoke. His upper body was now fully resting on the desk as he looked at Zanka while talking to Tamsy. "Do you believe in heaven?"
"What?"
"I do... That laugh is heaven."
Tamsy couldn't stop the grimace that appeared on his face and he pretended to gag.
"That's sickening."
Jabber finally turned to look at him. "Just get me a diet coke and a chocolate bar. Pleeease."
Tamsy huffed lightly, "Fine." Jabber grinned at him, "Weirdo."
Jabber kept grinning. Tamsy rolled his eyes and left the classroom. Jabber continued his single-minded mission of staring at Zanka's every micro-expression.
Riyo happened to turn around and caught Jabber looking at them. He shifted his gaze smoothly to look out the window. She traced his previous line of sight.
...interesting. That wasn't the look of someone zoning out, and it was definitely not a look you'd give your rival. Unless...
"Hey, Zanka, Jabber's staring at you."
Zanka's glanced at the boy staring out the window, obviously zoned out. "Uh, no he's not."
"He was, until I caught him looking." The corner of her lips lifted in a smirk. "Think he's into you?"
"What?"
"Why else would he be looking at you?"
"He wasn't, though. And if everyone who looked at me was into me, that'd be a problem, don't you think?"
His argument was valid, but Riyo was sure about what she saw. Jabber's expression was only a second short of screaming "I WANT HIM!!!!" She couldn't convince Zanka, though, so she let it go for now.
The school day ended, the students filed out of the classrooms, filling up the hallways to the point of congestion. Jabber remembered he'd left one of his rings in class and went back to get it. He walked in the opposite direction of the now thinning crowd and finally made it to the classroom.
One glance inside and he froze. Zanka was standing next to his desk, and holding his ring between his slender fingers. He held it up to the sunlight, and twirled it back and forth, very intently studying the design...
Jabber took a deep breath, and plastered on his annoying grin before stepping into the classroom.
"Hey~"
Zanka jolted slightly and turned around. "This yours?"
Jabber thought it'd definitely look better on Zanka than himself. If only he'd take it.
"No, it's yours." He blurted. Shi—
"What?" Zanka raised a split eyebrow.
Jabber quickly regained his composure and threw a wink his way. "If you like it so much, then you can keep it."
Zanka pulled a face, "I didn't say I liked it."
"Yeah, but you were staring at it. Pretty intensely, might I add."
"I just picked it up." He tossed the ring to Jabber, who caught it and slipped it on.
"You didn't even hear me walk in."
"Shut up." Zanka brushed past him and walked out of the classroom. Jabber followed.
"Wanna study together later?" He asked. He was alone with Zanka and couldn't let the opportunity slip, not to mention, his Mr. Bad attitude was in a mild mood at the moment.
Zanka stopped in his tracks and stared at him like he'd seen a ghost. "You study?"
"Of course, how else would I beat you?"
The surprised expression turned into a glare. "To think you study only to beat me. Pathetic." He paused, recalling the reason he was two marks behind, and added, "Besides, the marks were deducted for legibility."
"Of course I study only to beat you. If I didn't, I'd be second, but I study, so I'm first."
"Ugh, are you obsessed with me?" Zanka made a disgusted face.
Jabber stared at him quietly, at the face that filled all his fantasies, the face that made him say the dumbest things, the face he could never tire of, and mumbled under his breath, "You have no idea."
"What?"
"I said, I am obsessed with you." He winked at the other again. "And I know you're obsessed with me too."
"You wish."
"Oh~ but you're always throwing lovely glares at me in class. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were in love with me." The two stepped out of the school premises, "But I do know better. You want to bash my head in half the time."
Zanka's eyebrows rose in mild surprise. That was pretty accurate. "The other half?"
"I dunno, you tell me~"
Zanka ignored the other and increased his pace, suddenly mad at himself for even entertaining Jabber. He was annoying, and smug, and weird, and... the rings kinda are cool...
Jabber matched his pace. "I could help you with your handwriting."
"I don't need your help, Jabber." Zanka continued to walk without looking at Jabber. He kept his head down and had walked a few more steps before realizing he'd left the other behind. He glanced back at Jabber, taken aback when he saw him frozen in place.
"What's wrong?"
Jabber had never loved his name more. The way Zanka called it—Jabber— in that breezy tone, made him decide that every other person who called his name before this moment had been sullying it. It felt downright holy coming from Zanka lips. He wasn't frozen for long; soon Zanka was standing right in front of him and he instantly unfroze, taking a couple steps back as he did.
"I didn't know you knew my name." He managed to say, donning his infuriating grin as he regained his composure.
Zanka gave him a look that clearly showed how much he regarded him as an idiot.
"Bye." He turned around and left. Jabber didn't follow him this time, instead watching him walk away. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to remain calm if he followed.
"Zanka and... Jabber." The chem teacher called out, "You two are partnering up for this project."
Zanka's expression turned into one of horror while Jabber couldn't hide his gleeful grin. He strode over to the former, "Hey, isn't this fate?"
Zanka didn't respond, mind conjuring up plans to have the teacher change his partner. He walked toward the teacher, putting on the most polite expression he could muster.
"Excuse me, can we change partners?"
The teacher shook his head, "No, that's why I drew lots. It's so no one would complain."
"But I'm complaining."
Jabber watched on from the spot Zanka had left him, hoping the teacher wouldn't listen to Zanka.
"Well, if there's someone else who isn't satisfied with their partner, you guys can switch. Just let me know if you do."
"...okay."
He walked over to Enjin who was talking to Tamsy, his assigned partner.
"Hey, Tamsy... You and Jabber are friends, right? And me and Enjin are also friends, so how about we switch partners?"
Tamsy glanced at Jabber standing not too far away and met the glare in the latter's eyes. He gave a light laugh and smiled gently at Zanka. "He wouldn't want to partner up with me."
"Why not?"
"Uh, I'm not great at chemistry, and he prefers geniuses like you. Okay, bye." Tamsy rushed his words and pulled Enjin away, the latter just grinned and waved at Zanka as he let himself get dragged around.
Zanka approached Riyo. "Hey... Who's your partner?"
"Eisha, why?"
"Would you switch partners with me?" He asked, blinking innocently.
"Nope."
"What? Why?" Zanka was surprised at her straight rejection.
"Because life would be a lot more entertaining if you two were forced to work together... although I think it's just you who feels 'forced'"
"Are you really doing this to me?"
"Friends help friends with their relationships. Thank me later." She winked and left to join Eisha.
Zanka dejectedly walked back to meet Jabber, who gave him an irritating smirk. "Failed to get rid of me?"
Deep breaths, Zanka, he reminded himself. "Unfortunately." It's only a week, you can handle it.
"Too bad for you," Jabber laughed.
"Shut it." Zanka jabbed a finger at his nose. Jabber raised his hands in surrender. "Yessir~"
The two were in a corner of the library, the table in front of them littered with chemistry textbooks and notebooks. Zanka was reading through the textbook, stopping once in a while to take notes, and Jabber was on his usual mission of staring at the former.
"Is there anything on my face?" Zanka couldn't hold back after five minutes of that silent stare.
"Yeah..."
"Huh? Really?" He patted his face. He hadn't really expected Jabber to answer. "What is it?"
"Your eyes, your nose, your lips..." Jabber's eyes lingered a second longer on the lips before snapping up to meet Zanka's. The latter was glaring at him.
"Are you kidding me?"
"Nope, they're really there. See?" He lightly brushed his fingertips down the side of Zanka's face, his thumb lightly rubbing his lips. Zanka stilled— then exploded
"What is wrong with you?!"
Jabber retracted his hand and leaned back in his chair. "Nothing." He picked up a textbook and flipped it open. "Let's continue," He added from behind the book.
Zanka frowned, and shook his head, dismissing his wandering thoughts. The two continued their work in silence, each one lost in their head.
Zanka: What the hell was that?
Jabber: AaaaAaAaaHhhhH his lips are so soft, he's so beautiful, he's perfect, I want him. Ah, I've got a nosebleed.
He calmly placed the book on the table and got up, holding one hand to his nose. Zanka shot a glance at him and gaped. How did he suddenly get a nosebleed? He got up as well.
"Are you okay? Why did your nose suddenly start bleeding?" Zanka handed him a kerchief.
"I don't know..." He took the handkerchief in his free hand.
"Use it to stop the blood. We should go to the infirmary."
"Nah, it's okay." He started to walk in the direction of the exit and Zanka scrambled to follow. The handkerchief remained in his hand, he used his bare hand to hold his nose instead. Zanka gave me his handkerchief...
The two got to the infirmary, and the nurse told them it wasn't serious, despite how abruptly it came. She helped him stop the bleeding before she left to check on another student.
"We should continue working on the project tomorrow. Stay here for a bit, just in case. I'll go get our stuff from the library and take them to class. Come after the break."
"Okay~" Jabber flashed his signature grin. Zanka felt he was definitely fine.
Jabber watched as Zanka left the infirmary and only looked away when the door shut between them. He looked down at the handkerchief in his hand and slowly brought it up to his nose. It smelled like rain, like the sun, like Zanka... Jabber hung his head, Zanka was really turning him into a poet. He carefully folded the handkerchief and put it in his pocket, then got up to leave. He slipped out while the nurse wasn't looking and went back to class. His notebooks were neatly arranged on his desk, and Zanka was nearby, saying something to Tamsy.
"Hey~" He interrupted.
Zanka whipped his head around in surprise, "You didn't wait until the break is over?"
"Yeah, the nurse's office is boring. Might as well rest here."
"Oh, okay."
"Mhmm~" He took a seat and watched Zanka go back to his seat.
Tamsy cleared his throat. Jabber side-eyed him. "What?"
"How did you get a nosebleed, you weirdo?"
"What do you think?" Jabber shot back.
"I don't wanna think about it."
Jabber shrugged. "Too bad, I would've told you to use your imagination."
Tamsy grimaced and turned away. Jabber's smile softened as he slipped his hand into his pocket, the one with his Mr. Bad Attitude's handkerchief.
"Why don't I do all the writing? I can barely read this." Jabber grinned, poking Zanka's ego where it hurt.
It was their fourth day of working together, and Zanka was more or less used to Jabber's antics. He merely ignored him.
"Ignoring me, are we? That won't do..." Jabber plucked the notebook out of Zanka's hands. His voice lowered an octave. "Look at me, Zanka."
Zanka raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Pay attention to me."
"And get a failing grade?"
Jabber grinned wider, leaning closer to Zanka, "Are you saying I'm a distraction?"
"Yeah. You could easily distract me."
"Because I'm so good looking?"
Zanka's eyes traced Jabber's face like he was actually considering it. "You're not bad, I guess."
"So... would you consider being mine?"
...
Zanka's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. Jabber's eyes widened even further, his lips pressed in a thin line.
He'd fucked up bad.
Zanka smiled, gentle, and said, "Sure, if we get an A." Jabber stared at him in surprise. He didn't fuck up?
"I'm serious." He emphasized, unable to believe Zanka actually understood what he meant. As expected, Zanka didn't think he was being serious. His expression changed from smiling to one of uncertainty.
"You're... serious?"
Jabber nodded, leaning back to give Zanka space. His usual smile was on his face, but there was a hint of vulnerability poorly hidden in his eyes.
"Yeah. Surprised? I like you. A little too much, maybe..."
"I don't..."
"I know, you hate me. You can barely tolerate me as is, yeah?"
"I gotta go." Zanka grabbed his backpack and rushed out of the library. It was after school hours so he went straight home. Finding himself in a familiar place, he felt calmer somehow. He mentally went through the day's events... Jabber... liked him?! He rummaged through his backpack and grabbed his phone, dialing Riyo's number. She picked up after a few rings and mumbled a 'hello' around a mouthful of something.
"Riyo, Riyo. You were right."
"I'm always right, you need to specify." Riyo chuckled and choked on her food. After a fit of coughing, she finally asked, "Well?"
"About Jabber."
"Oh. My. God. I knew it! Tell me what happened."
Zanka side-eyed his phone like it was the actual person was in front of him. He briefly recounted what happened earlier at the library.
"You ran?" Riyo burst into a fit of laughter. "Dude, you ran?"
"Shut up. I panicked..."
"Oh, I can tell, since you literally fled."
"What do I do?" Zanka asked, voice quiet and uncertain. Riyo heard the tone of his voice and stopped laughing.
"You're asking me?" She mumbled, sounding annoyed. "Do you like him?"
"He's my rival..."
Riyo stifled a laugh. "Rival? What are you, a hockey player?"
"What's that about? I'm serious here."
"I mean, the fact that you're thinking about it says everything. You and I both know that if it was someone you didn't like, you'd turn them down on the spot. But you didn't."
That was true... Zanka was decisive when it came to matters like this, which made it all the more weird. Did he really like Jabber?
No, he shook his head hard, trying to convince himself, There's no way I like him. He's annoying, and he makes fun of my handwriting, and he always has that stupid smirk on his face... though, it somehow never looks out of place, it doesn't look half bad—
Riyo's voice cut through his musings. "So, back to you, what are you gonna do?"
"I guess I'll think about it...?"
There was a smile in Riyo's voice as she replied, "Yeah, you do that."
"Alright."
"Take care, byeee"
Beep-beep—
Zanka stared at his phone screen, mind wandering. He contemplated texting Enjin but decided not to, and sprawled face down on his bed like a starfish.
Three days left to go...
"Hey, Mr. Bad Attitude." Jabber tapped the top of Zanka's desk.
"Can you stop calling me that?" Zanka heaved a sigh and looked up at him.
"Be mine, and I'll consider it."
Zanka frowned, obviously displeased. "Now? Of all times?"
"Now's the best time." Jabber nodded seriously. "Our presentation is in ten minutes. We won't hang out as much anymore after this."
"Can we just not? I gotta go recheck the material." He got up and sidestepped Jabber, going about his business.
Jabber stared at his retreating back, the smile on his face disappearing to reveal a sliver of hurt. Enjin, who'd heard about the whole thing from Riyo, glanced at Jabber. He hesitated slightly before speaking. "Jabber," Jabber's gaze turned to meet his. "I think you should give him time to think about it... I mean, you dropped it so suddenly. And it's only been three days."
Jabber let out a sigh, sinking into Zanka's seat, "I know... it's just, it's kinda hard to not want him, I can't stay away, y'know?"
"No, I don't know. I'm not into him." Enjin grinned at his unfunny joke. Jabber stared, unimpressed. "Anyways, take it easy on him."
"Thanks." Jabber nodded. Zanka retuned to inform him that their presentation was about to start.
Zanka stared out the window, chin on his hand as Enjin and Riyo bickered nearby. The scores for the presentation had been released earlier, and they—he and Jabber— had both gotten As.
What was that he said? He would be Jabber's if they got an A? A scoff escaped his lips, attracting the attention of the other two.
"What?" Enjin asked.
"So I got an A..."
"That's... you always get A's though." Enjin replied. Riyo smacked him on the head. "Shut up, you."
"I know, it's about what you said to Jabber, right?" She turned and asked Zanka.
He nodded noiselessly.
"It has been like a week. Have you thought about it?"
"More or less." Zanka shrugged, running a hand through his hair.
Riyo smiled, "Then we won't interfere with your decision. Right, Enjin?"
"Yeah." Enjin nodded repeatedly. "We've got you, bro."
Zanka smiled blandly and went up to Jabber's desk. "Hey. Can we talk outside?"
"Sure."
Jabber stared down at the blue eyed stunner in front of him, who was somehow pinning him to the wall, and waited for him to say something.
"Do you still like me?"
"What kinda question is that?"
"Answer me."
"Yeah, I still like you. It's not that easy to stop, y'know—"
"I like you too." Zanka interrupted him with these words and a kiss to his lips. It was quick and chaste, but Jabber had never tasted anything better—and he didn't even taste anything. Zanka stepped back and hurriedly went back to class, leaving Jabber in the stairwell.
Jabber slid down the wall and sat on the floor, tucking his knees close to his face. The cold tiles reminded him that he wasn't dreaming; Zanka really did kiss him. His face felt hot and a familiar warm liquid trickled down his nose. He got up to the infirmary.
Jabber had asked Zanka to wait for him after school so they could study together at the library. The two sat next to each other in silence, with Zanka actually studying, and Jabber also studying... Zanka's face. When he truly couldn't bear it anymore, he snapped his book shut and glared at Jabber.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"You're my favorite view."
Zanka's face grew hotter by a few degrees. "Shut up. You said you wanted to study together."
"Yeah, and I meant you study and I watch you study" Jabber grinned, cupping Zanka's chin with one hand.
"Hey, we're in the library."
"There's no one here." Jabber placed a featherlight kiss on his cheek, and then another, slowly kissing his way down to his lips. Jabber had never tasted light ever, but it had to taste like this. His Mr. Bad Attitude tasted even better than heaven. He really was holy.
Zanka's face was flushed by the time he pulled back, his eyes were slightly misty. Jabber couldn't hold back a smile. Zanka finally looked at him with an expression that wasn't a glare. He did that.
"You're perfect," he said as Zanka removed his hand from his face, instead lacing their fingers together.
"Liar." Zanka looked down at their intertwined hands and twirled a ring on Jabber's finger. His ears were red.
"Do you like it?" Jabber asked with a smile to which Zanka nodded without a word.
"I thought you didn't, though." He reminded Zanka.
"That's not what I said, I just didn't admit that I liked it."
"But now you do," Jabber murmured. Zanka nodded again.
Jabber carefully pulled his hand away then took one of the rings and slipped it on Zanka's ring finger. "Ah, as I thought. It does suit you better."
"You thought it'd suit me?"
"I thought a lot of things."
"Oh, really?"
Jabber lifted Zanka's hand to his lips, placing a kiss on his knuckles.
"Yes, really."