4 Hibiscus: His fragile hands

He followed her back and sniffed "nice perfume." she cracked up "that's the smell of chalk. you're an idiot. " "now why so rude? I just wanted to praise my baby." he squeezed her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder "Hey what's it with you? don't keep flirting. don't you get any prestige" she blushed . "why? is showing adoration a crime?"

the students gave them a look and passed by meanwhile the twins her gawking at them

"prez what is this??" Lia wheezed.

"you're making out with this dude, don't know who, in the middle of the whole school" she poked him on his chest.

"I'm her boyfriend. you two? " he scowled and pulled her his side. "wow. going all protective. " Lia rolled her eyes while the other twin was engaged in looking at him from top to toe, examining him. after all, it was the club president who never vowed to love's lover.

Cyan got closer and planted a small peck on her cheek and waved, giving a sweet eye smile at her "see you"

"uh," Rin nodded, caring nonetheless.

"uh? girl! uh? he was being so princely and you just go 'uh'?" Aria practically attacked her. "quiet down. it isn't that deep. I in no way would act like that even if I'm for real in love" Rin convinced. "for real in love? what does that mean?" Aria stared at her curiously, her eyes like saucers "ugh.no! I just was saying. it's my first relationship ever so yeah haha I have no clue what to say" she laughed nervously.

Aria and Lia glanced looks "you make no sense, hon," Lia said, furrowed brows.

"don't waste time trying to make sense to whatever shit I say. we ain't got no time. assemble at sharp 3 PM. our club hours are from 3-5. and I have readied the one empty spot of our club. ciao " she winked and marched to her classroom, walking with class, there are enemies around her, especially the volleyball club, of which she was a member in the past. She excelled in it but exit because of the request from her favourite senior. her first high school friend. She's been taking in charge of the club since then.

"Sho! madam sho!" a petite guy in chic glasses, thick ginger hair and pretty freckles on his face with bubbly round deep olive eyes with a peaceful aura surrounding him.

"Jae Perez! " Rin liked him. he was like an errand boy of the club. he wasn't involved or even a member but was willing to help his seniors and had an obvious crush on Rin but more than that he had immense respect for her. He was impressed to see her solving all the problems in school and he digs mystery and fiction. She was like a puzzle in his perception. out of place but getting better and more in shape every day. "Senior! I have put up all highlights of the magazine on all the three boards. " he smiled fixing his glasses.

Rin pat him and brushed his hair, softly gleaming. "thanks for all the hard work"

He was flustered, fuzzy with the affection his beloved senior was giving him. his cat ears we're sneaking out.

Cyan was just moving across and accidentally glanced at them and took a second glance, fuming like a volcano, ears steaming. he wanted to walk up to them, halt and question or punch a set of really cheesy lines on him.

"hey! that's my girl? "

"no.."

"you just entered my garden and blocking sunlight over my plant. she's the flower. I'm the sun. now get lost"

he practised behind the walls and shook his head, coming to his senses. the scenarios seemed so real he lost in it, another reality where he actually pulls up the heroism to say that. like a reverse harem character.

He looked back to the place he saw them last but no one was at sight. "where'd they go. I just thought of the best punch line.. damn man. it's sad" Cyan shrugged and proceeded to his class, dragging his feet, with zero motivation and hundred per cent disappointment, going back to his emo corner. "hello darkness my old friend" he kept mumbling monotonously, in the back during the science class. "do you hear that? it's creeping me out " a girl sitting in front of him whispered to her bench neighbour "wanna exchange seats?"

Cyan just sighed. he didn't care if he was growing into an outcast. his plan wasn't working well. "that girl, azure. why doesn't she take this seriously" he pouted, playing with his pencil. He gazed at the room and found Aria whistling at him, who was sitting in the middle row. He cleared his throat fixing his tie and scribbled on his notebook which read as

-IM PACKED TODAY. LET'S HOOK UP LATER-

She squinted her eyes in hatred faking as nauseated. Held up a paper saying

-I FEEL BAD FOR RIN DATING SUCH AN ASS. ANYWAYS CLUB MEETING AT THREE. YOUR TOO PERFECT REPORTER XOXO-

"'xoxo? that's such an old fashion thing I've ever read in a while. " he muttered, "ass, huh?"

he chuckled out loud on his paper.

"Yang Cyan. I don't understand what you find you so funny about human excretion. how childish. Anyway, class, page two hundred twenty-one. homework." cyan ignored his professor's remarks and just rushed his way out to the club with Aria. they had small talk. weather, news and school rumours. Cyan wasn't very interested in the third part unless.

"you wouldn't believe me. our prez is the most innocent but the whole school has nasty rumours spread on her love life, saying she sleeps for money. I agree that she can be quite a voracious person but she wouldn't cross such line."

"..and so what if she does?" Cyan paused in the midst of the stroll. "even if she's money-driven, a 'slut' who sleeps with men for benefits. it has nothing to do with them nor me. we all have boundaries set. we can't go further. as much as sin is greed, so is being nosy. "

Aria didn't see that coming from him, clapped her hands "you sure are a guy with morals but I'm afraid you have to change a little "

"have to?" he tilted his head.

"you're absolutely right about being nosy but we, the news club are loathed for butting in other's business. you have to get used to it "

"oh.." cyan looked away. it wasn't a good idea to make the choice but Rin didn't seem like a person who'll go out of her way and do such petty stuff

"y'all do that? well...you're sort of media after all. .. gossips...must be fun..for you guys" he pressed his lips with a slight frown.

"but that's where you get it all wrong. we don't do it for fun. we're not entertainment media. we give the raw, super-realistic content. but you know what? people don't buy it if there's no drama so we use words and twist them just for headline purposes but behind all this lie powerful information which who knows might save someone's life?" she flipped towards him to see his reaction, he looked amused, same old fake smile. it was hard to read his face.

"sounds good. I'm in" he puffed his chest out and stretched his arms wide.

she whacked him on the head "you are in no matter what you say now" she joked.

"there's no turning back"

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