Colliding Rulers

The Confrontation (5)

Third Person's P.O.V

It had been exactly two days since Cale and Joshua last talked. Cale ignored Joshua's existence like it was a disease, ceasing to even see Joshua as a fellow student of the school. Everything Cale knew changed when he heard Joshua's answer. His entire life became dysfunctional. He wasn't operating the same way he did. He became heartless, and he didn't care anymore. His popularity skyrocketed when he started making out with random people.

He stopped going to practice, and as if he changed into an entirely different person. His persona and his style changed. His vibe as well. Alex and Gevia grew worried about their friend. Cale still greets and talks with both of them, but rarely hangs out for more than ten seconds. Cale didn't want to see Joshua, nor be with him. Even the sight of Joshua makes him want to barf.

Joshua, on the other hand, was trying to find the right opportunity to talk to Cale. He needed to tell him something important. But it was as plain as the blue sky that Cale didn't want to talk to him, so he stopped forcing his way into Cale's schedule. He didn't want to appear pitiful.

Those that were in between were the ones that were on the verge of mentally breaking. Alex couldn't understand why Cale took that path to destruction. Alex wasn't fully still in Cale's life. Gevia too didn't know how to approach Joshua without seeming awkward or without touching that topic.

Joshua tried ignoring Gevia's worries as well, but it didn't work. Joshua couldn't help but feel bad. It had grown into such a big mess that he couldn't handle it, even though it was his fault to begin with.

"Where are you going?" there was also Zack, who waltzed into Joshua's life stealthily. Now that he was done with all his papers and his mission in exchange for his transfer was already progressing and all he needed to do was wait. He couldn't afford to fail now. He had come a long way and he didn't want to separate from Joshua.

"Oh, just the office. I need to give this to the President."

Joshua was told to bring stacks of papers to the student council office by his teacher. Gevia wasn't around and the teacher took that opportunity to give an order to Joshua. Ever since Gevia and Joshua started hanging out, the teachers were afraid to talk to Joshua and to approach him. They were afraid that Joshua might tell Gevia that they were giving him a hard time and that she would fire them on the spot. Gevia had that power.

"Can I come along?" Joshua rolled his eyes, but nodded nonetheless. He couldn't resist Zack's charms. He also thought about why he would avoid Zack when he knew full well that Cale wouldn't look at him the same.

"Sure, why not?" it was a rhetorical question, but Zack still answered.

"Well, for starters, your ex-boyfriend might get angry at me for coming at you." Joshua winced, but Zack didn't bother stopping.

"Hmm," Joshua hummed.

"Are you sure it's okay? I mean, I did broadcast around the world that I'm here for you." Joshua pinched Zack's side, making him squeal painfully, but with a smile on his face.

"Shut up for a moment, will you?" Zack nodded his head with a big grin on his face. He was happy that Joshua was comfortable enough to do things like pinching.

Zack was one step closer to becoming boyfriends. Their physical interactions were deemed progressive in Zack's mind. He was sure to celebrate that milestone when he got home later. They walked side by side towards the office, and as if fate was teasing Joshua, they passed by Cale.

Cale, trying his hardest, tried to look unbothered by what he saw. Zack had a thought and whispered something in Joshua's ear, making Joshua giggle and push Zack slightly. Cale was enraged at what he saw. He was boiling with jealousy, but he looked away with a blank expression. He wasn't going to be provoked, not when he said with finality that he was done with Joshua. Cale kept his breath in, not letting himself inhale Joshua's scent.

Once they finally passed each other, Cale stopped and turned back around- only to see that Joshua was still giggling with Zack. Cale was heartbroken to see Joshua, but was again reminded of why he ended things in the first place. His jealousy turned into pity, and it was directed towards Zack this time. He was pitying Zack because he thought that Joshua seduced Zack and was only after Zack's money.

He made a mental note to himself that he was going to tell Zack about what happened between him and Joshua. But that was for another time.

Joshua knocked on the door before Zack opened it, being a gentleman. Joshua got inside the room first and placed the stacks of paper on top of the table. The President's head popped up.

"Thank you!" then he went back to working. Joshua was about to turn around when he saw a face that he hadn't seen in such a long time. He stopped in his tracks and called out her name.

"Aeron?" Joshua called out, and Aeron's head swiftly turned to where Joshua was. Aeron smiled and waved gently.

Zack was confused and looked more closely at who this Aeron person was. When Zack finally saw Aeron, he was even more confused because Aeron looked like Alex. He wanted to ask if Joshua got the wrong name, but he saw that Aeron responded to her name quickly.

The f**k? Alex had a twin? He asked himself, amused at what he had just came across with. He went beside Joshua, softly tugging on Joshua's shirt from behind, saying that he wanted to be introduced to Aeron. Joshua subtly looked at Zack before looking back at Aeron.

"Uh, this is-"

"I know who he is. I bet he doesn't know me though." Zack nodded his head innocently, like a newborn puppy.

"Aeron- Alex's twin."

"Is that not a secret anymore?" Joshua asked, whispering to accentuate his point. Aeron pursed her lips, unsure of what to make Joshua out of. A clown or a naive human being.

"It should have been a secret from Alex alone, but since Alex already knows, there's no point in keeping that secret." Aeron explained clearly, to which Joshua understood.

"But won't Alex tell your dad that you're out of the closet?"

Aeron laughed, getting the other meaning of what Joshua said. He cracked up a joke, but Zack was too preoccupied with his new finding that he didn't quite get the joke. He stood there, awkwardly frozen while they laughed.

"I don't think Alex could even tolerate being with dad for a second if they were given a choice." Joshua nodded, understanding her point.

"True."

"What are you guys talking about?" Zack asked, completely lost.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just an inside joke."

Joshua pushed aside what Aeron did. He already forgave Aeron, but he wasn't in the position to do so. He knew that he was just a bystander when everything happened. A bit reckless, but it was for love and Joshua understood that love could and will make you crazy. He was there. He had been there and he didn't want to take part in any of it ever again.

"Oh, okay." Zack pouted. Aeron was disgusted with the pout since she was a man-hater, but didn't say anything about it.

Joshua can't say the same about Gevia though. He felt that Gevia was still angry at Aeron for being so irresponsibly reckless. Gevia valued people's lives more than one could ever know. Despite her cold, harsh demeanor towards people, she cared about them equally. Even more so her own.

"Haven't seen you in a while. b***h, where have you been?" Aeron shrugged, her complacency about the whole situation showed how chill she was at the moment.

"Oh, you know, just stirring out of trouble. Unlike some people I know." Aeron eyed Joshua and Zack simultaneously, insinuating something that Joshua totally understood. Joshua rolled his eyes.

"Oh, shut up. This is harmless, unlike with what you did. Oh, by the way, did the Principal ever find out that you were behind everything?" Aeron laughed hysterically.

"You bet she does. She couldn't exactly tell me off so she kept it in and let it slide." Aeron leaned back on her chair, sighing in relief. She raised both of her legs onto her desk, setting aside the computer mouse for more room.

"You were the reason behind the scare attack?" Zack asked, finally catching up with the topic at hand. Although a bit late, but he still caught up.

Joshua nodded his head, feeling bad that Zack was so late in catching up. He gave Zack a pat on the back to let Zack know that he was sorry.

"Geez, where have you been?" Aeron asked.

"Oh, geez. Sorry, maybe because everything was covered up and only a handful of people only knew exactly what everything was." Zack answered sarcastically, but he got raised eyebrows from Aeron. He got worked up.

He wanted to be perfect in front of Joshua. A mistake was not part of his plan. He wanted to be flawless, as he thought that it would also make Joshua flawlessly fall for him and his perfection. People liked perfection, and he thought that it would capture Joshua's heart in a way. Zack became self-conscious, deducing his thoughts to the worst-case scenario.

"Dude, chill. No one's going to hate you for being slow." Aeron shook her head before sitting up straight.

"Anyway, you two go away. I still have work to do." Aeron shooed them away, waving her hand to dismiss the two.

"You work here?"

"Of course I do. I have so much free f*****g time. I don't want to chase p***y all the time."

"You mean you don't want to chase Gevia- wait a minute," Aeron glared at Joshua. Joshua had a realization just now.

"Stop it. I know that look and I don't like it. Just leave without saying it." Aeron threatened Joshua with her glare, but Joshua wanted to tease Aeron a bit.

"You're here because you felt guilty."

"Stop. Get out." Aeorn sternly warned.

Joshua took a step back, provoking Aeron's glare.

"You're here in hopes that Gevia might forgive you for what you did. Atonign for your sin by doing service to the people."

"Bro, shut the f**k up." Aeron covered her ears, refusing to listen to him anymore. Zack watched their interaction, entertained enough to not stop Joshua from teasing Aeron. He sat back, crossed his arms and watched the two as if he was watching TV.

"Oh, my gosh. You still haven't moved on from my friend." Joshua kept going, not knowing that his tease was going to backfire.

"Aren't you the same?" Aeron gave Joshua the 'really?' look, making Joshua shut his mouth.

Zack waited patiently for Joshua's answer, silently hoping that it would be a 'no'. But even if Zack was going to hear the opposite answer, he would still go for Joshua. His mind was already made up.

"I'm done, unlike you, who's still hanging on." Aeron stood up and pushed Joshua outside the office. Joshua laughed.

His laugh lingered in Zack's ears like a never-ending lullaby. Once Joshua was finally outside the office, Aero turned to look at Zack with a deadpan.

"Are you going to follow him out or not, Mr. Payne?" Zack giggled and exited the office. The door was shut in front of their faces, making them laugh.

"She was pissseeedd," Joshua laughed heartily.

It had been a long time since he shared a genuine laugh with someone. Everything was suffocating him, even his little brother, who kept asking for Cale. He was so inbetween of things that he felt on edge these past few days. He felt bad that he had to tease Aeron to actually divert his attention, but it was what he needed and he was thankful to Aeron.

"You finally laughed." Zack said, happy for Joshua. He finally got to see Joshua's smile without all the falseness that it showed.

Joshua nodded, softly peering at what was inside of him.

"Yeah, thank you."