15 Fifteen

Another routine and another day had passed. Xysto didn't do anything during his break but work himself hard. It's already Saturday and after 2 days, he is back as a student again.

"Thank you. Please come again." Xysto smiled at the customer as he handed him her latte.

"So what will you do now? Are you sure you don't want to stay with me?" his companion at work, Sam, asked him. "I don't know, Sammie. I don't want to be a burden." Xysto sighed as Sam patted his shoulder. The younger had to face another problem since he can't pay for another month in his apartment because his saving is not enough anymore.

"Hey, don't say that. You're not a burden. You're always welcome at my place." she smiled.

"Thanks, Sam but I will fix this. I want to be independent."

"If you need money, just ask, okay?" Xysto nods and smiled at her. "Anyway, why don't you take a break first? You still have 30 minutes left though. I'll serve you some cheesecake." she said and the latter smiled and removed his apron. Xysto sat on the window side drowning himself in his deep thoughts as he watches the people passing by the street outside. He went back to his senses when Sam placed his cheesecake and coffee. "Eat first before you drown yourself," she said and left.

His working hours is done and it's time for him to go home. Nothing had changed in his nightly routine. After hours of his shift, he stops at the nearest park and then goes home.

Fast forward, the school break is over which means it's time for him to go back to his respective institution. Xysto ran down the street since his apartment is only 20 minutes walked from his school. When he reached the front gate, he rushed into the hallway heading to his class because he is already 5 minutes late.

When he entered the class, Blaire waved her hand at him telling the latter to sit down next to her. He smiled and didn't refuse the offer.

"Hey. Where have you been? You didn't respond to any of my text," she said as soon as the younger sat down.

"Uh, I'm just busy."

"You know that you can talk to me any time, right?"

Xysto smiled at nods, "I know." he then grabs his notebook and started taking down notes.

It's been two hours and none of them had the courage to talk to each other. Blaire kept on glancing at her friend who is really busy writing down. When the class has ended, they start to pack their things when Blaire suddenly blurts out since she is really worried at the latter, "Hey, are you really okay? Why do I feel like something's bothering you? Is there anything you would like to talk about?" she asked,

Xysto paused for a minute before he turned at her, "No. I'm fine, really. I'm just tired and it's just that, um, I didn't sleep well last night. I was busy watching movies." he lied hoping that Blaire would buy it.

She sighed and held his shoulder, "Fine. I'm sorry. I'm just really worried about you when you didn't talk to any of us anymore since that incident happened."

"Thank you but really, I'm fine. Maybe after my second class, I'll be headed straight home for a rest."

"Hmm, that's good to hear. Anyway, I'll get going. I have to run some errands that my mom asked me to. See you?" Blaire smiled, waving her hand while walking away leaving the latter alone in the classroom. Xysto heaved a sigh and continue to pack his things and leave the room.

He was washing his hands inside the male's restroom before leaving the school for his part-time job when suddenly three guys entered and locked the door forcefully. The other was blocking the door, and two were walking towards him.

"So you're the one who kissed Jake, right?" the other one blurts,

"W-what?"

"Don't pretend that you don't know anything because your photo with our dear friend got leaked online and it is the reason why he got suspended." the guy with monolid eyes spelled out as he walked towards him.

"Jake? J-Jake got suspended?" he stammered and walked backward when his back hits the wall. The guy suddenly slams his hand on the wall beside Xysto's head which caused the younger to flinch.

"Yes, dear. And this is all your fault!" he raised his voice, "Because of you being the youngest son of the Chen and have power over this school, you can easily suspend someone who's innocent,"

"It's not my fault! Jake was drunk that night and I don't know who took our photo." the younger explained, "Look, I didn't know any of this. Jake being suspended--"

"And you expect us to believe that?!" he yelled in anger that his hands were turned into a fist, "I really think you deserve a bloody mouth since your lies aren't buying us."

"What the fuck is that noise?!" someone inside from a cubicle, yelled. All of them turned their heads at the cubicle who just opened. A certain someone came out and starts looking at the guy who is blocking the door, next to the one who is leaning on the sink; smirking, then on the monolid-shaped eye guy who is caging Xysto. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked him.

"What do you think? I'm teaching this guy's a lesson. Who does he think he is, huh? Someone got suspended because of him." the monolid shaped eye guy growled.

"Jake is a fucking loser. He deserves to be suspended. Besides, he did a lot of stupid things since his photo with Mr. Chen's son got leaked. I suggest you all leave the kid alone or else you will be hanging out with Jake tomorrow." he coldly said as he washed his hands on the sink without looking at them.

"And why would we do that? What are you? Xysto's knight in shining armor?" the guy let go of Xysto and faced him, "No. But I can make you all out of this school with just one call. Remember, I'm friends with Nicaise, the owner of this school; the brother of that kid." Caleb faced him by giving him a death glare.

The latter shook his head in defeats and they all went outside the restroom. Xysto fixed his crumpled uniform and grabs his bag that is on the sink.

"T-thank you," he muttered at the older,

Caleb looked at him and raised his brows, "You're lucky that this restroom is my hiding spot. If not, maybe you're in the ICU right now." he said and left the room.