Colliding Rulers

A Fight (2)

Third Person's P.O.V

While Gevia waited by Alex's side until they were conscious, Joshua and the captain excused themselves. The commotion left the school wondering, but no one dared to visit Alex at the informary.

"What were you thinking?" Joshua hissed angrily at the captain. Classes were still ongoing, but the four of them were excused from their classes. Joshua and the captain decided to take a breather and talk things out.

The captain was really happy to have an opportunity to talk to Joshua again. He missed Joshua's voice. He missed talking to Joshua and how you can easily read Joshua's expressions. He missed how their hands would intertwine as they walked under trees. The captain wanted to relive those moments, but it wasn't possible now that Joshua left the relationship. Although the captain couldn't blame Joshua, he was still hurt by the fact that Joshua didn't fight for him.

They loved each other dearly, but Joshua was too low on self-esteem and fighting spirit.

"I was thinking about my friend's situation." Joshua swung his head, looking at the captain's beat-up face, but quickly looked away.

He couldn't stay mad at the captain for long if he continued looking at the captain's face. The effect was still there. Joshua was mad, but he was concerned as hell as well. He wanted to get all chummy and kiss the pain away, but they weren't on good terms. They weren't in a relationship anymore.

"Friend?" Josuha wasn't sure of the right term. He asked again for clarification.

"Former, if I might say so myself." that caught Joshua's attention.

Alex had a former friend? And to think that it was him? Joshua wanted to laugh at the coincidence, but the captain's face looked too serious for him to laugh. It was inappropriate. Joshua stopped walking and faced the captain entirely. He wanted to judge for himself if the captain was bluffing or not, risking his heart.

"You knew Alex?" the captain chuckled and started walking at a slow pace. Joshua followed behind like a lost puppy, waiting for continuation.

It was peaceful. It was a time when thoughts could be expressed clearly. It was one of those times that you could feel that you're free when it comes to expressing oneself.

"I did."

"Did?" Joshua asked again. The cliffhangers were getting to him and it made him feel irritated.

"Uh-huh."

Joshua groaned, complaining.

"Bruh, come on." the captain found a nice, shaded bench and sat there. The birds were flying above them, seeking shelter from the upcoming cold climate.

The captain laughed before patting the spot next to him so that Joshua could sit there. Joshua hesitantly took a seat beside the captain, but at an obvious distance. The captain saw this but ignored it with underlying chest pain.

At least he's civil with me and is talking to me right now. Plus, the fact that he rushed over meant that he was worried about me. The captain was somewhat relieved to know this, and was quite thankful to Alex for beating him up. It turned into a happy result for the captain.

"Sorry, sorry. Man, you're still the same," the captain commented. Joshua sighed and looked at the far distance.

"I never changed." the captain smiled bitterly, tasting the heartbreak coming up again.

"I guess you didn't. Glad to see that you are ready to rush to my aid whenever I need one."

Joshua looked away, hiding the blush on his face. The captain smiled, thinking that Joshua was still adorable too.

"We're not talking about that." the captain sighed, not really wanting to dive into the details.

He wasn't feeling like talking about his past with Alex. It was a wound that hasn't healed yet. It had always been a mystery to the captain up until that point. There were so many mysteries surrounding Alex. It all happened so quickly to the captain that he couldn't seem to forget anything.

He lost his one and only true friend. That friend shared his burden of not being normal. That only friend that saw him as him and not for his money. Shared thoughts about riches and death and business. They were the best of friends before everything else happened.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Of course I do," the captain smiled in a sinister way and turned to Joshua. The turn was so abrupt that it made Joshua flinch.

"Then treat me to lunch this Saturday." Joshua facepalmed. He knew something like this would happen, a threat or blackmail or bribe from the captain.

The captain, from Joshua's perspective, was a sly man when it came to him. The captain would stop at nothing just to have Joshua have a conversation with him or spend a day with him. That was how in love the captain was with Joshua.

"Can I say no?"

"You can," Joshua was surprised by the captain's answer.

Joshua noticed the discomfort of the captain. Joshua understood that it was a topic that the captain was ready to exchange for freedom. He hated the topic that much that Joshua wasn't enough for the captain to reconsider. That drove Joshua's curiosity higher.

"Saturday it is." Joshua didn't back off.

Alex slowly fluttered their eyes open. Blurry at first, but then slowly adjusted. Their eyes looked around the curtained space and saw Gevia. Gevia was beside Alex and held their hand while they rested. Alex sat up gently, not wanting to wake Gevia up, but Gevia still woke up.

Gevia sprung up and assisted Alex to sit up. The urgent help that Gevia gave made Alex's eyebrows raise. Gevia was so attentive, her eyes looking around for any pain that Alex was feeling. When Gevia confirmed that nothing was hurting, she sat down.

"Do you want water?" Alex was taken aback by her kindness.

"Yes, please. Thank you." Alex said.

Gevia poured Alex a glass of water before handing it to Alex. Alex's hand was still trembling and Gevia noticed that. Gevia grabbed Alex's hand and pushed it down into Alex's lap before placing the rim on the glass on Alex's lips.

"Just drink," Gevia instructed firmly.

Alex drank without using their own hands. Alex felt butterflies swarm their stomach. Their mind was fuzzy from all the gentleness and kindness from Gevia.

When Alex was done drinking, Gevia turned all shy and couldn't keep eye contact. Alex smiled while staring at Gevia.

"Alex, uhm."

"Hmm?" Alex wanted to tease Gevia, but then Alex remembered their last conversation and that person that Gevia was dancing with and what the captain said to Alex.

Crap. I was blinded with so much hatred of myself that I beat up the captain. Alex thought, cussing.

"I'm sorry."

"Well, that came out of nowhere."

Gevia fidgeted with her fingertips, pushing each tip together and would occasionally look at her fingernails.

"That last time we spoke, I sort of lashed out at you."

Alex made sure to enjoy the moment. Gevia wasn't the usual assertive and aggressive Gevia. It looked like Gevia was acting more like a shy teenage girl. A normal one. Alex smiled, involuntarily. Gevia didn't see the smile as she was too busy looking around.

"Sort of? What do you mean 'sort of'? You did lashed out at me." Gevia pouted.

I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. Alex now hates me and my apology is way long overdue. I can't. Gevia scolded herself.

"I'm really sorry. I was so stuck up on myself that I-"

"Are you feeling a bit better now?" Alex cut off Gevia, surprising Gevia.

"Uh, I guess?" Alex sighed in relief.

"Then that's enough for me."

Alex stood up steadily, not wanting to fall. They remember that they lost a lot of blood from last night and the fight earlier. Alex didn't want to cause any more problems for those around them. It was enough for Alex. The problem was only getting bigger and bigger. There was no way out unless Alex took out the root of the problem.

"Hey! I just did you wrong and I-" Alex kissed Gevia's forehead without warning. Alex's lips left a lingering feeling on Gevia's forehead. Gevia's heart raced with time.

"As long as you're okay, then that's good enough for me. Your comfort is my priority." Alex smiled, but it was a kind of smile that Gevia didn't like.

As if Alex gave up on something. It had that feeling of loss. It pained Gevia to the point of tears. She didn't understand why though, but her chest felt really painful. It was too painful for her to cry on the spot. Alex pursed their lips, and hugged Gevia.

"I'm sorry." Alex said, and Gevia hugged back. Gevia's silent tears dampened Alex's shirt.

"Why are you saying that? Are you giving up?" Gevia was spouting words that she didn't understand, but those words were the ones that she wanted to ask. Her heart was aching for it. For Alex to answer.

"I just need more time."

Was Alex's answer.