What A Fool

"Park it at that corner."

"What? But that's still a bit far from your school gate."

"Just do it!"

Calix's motorcycle slowed and parked in front of a high-rise building with restaurants and a convenience store on its ground floor. Klein hopped into the side-street immediately and removed the helmet, handing it over to Calix.

"You know, I could have just dropped you in front of your school," Calix said.

"No, it's fine. You've done enough. Thanks."

"Scared your friends might see you hanging around a low-life like me?"

Klein halted at the edge of the street. With a sigh, he turned around and scanned Calix from his helmet-covered head to his boot-cladded feet. Nothing about Calix's attire screamed low-life. But if people saw Klein hanging around someone like him, it's bound to start a discussion, and he wanted to avoid that.

Taking a glance at his wristwatch, Klein trudged back towards Calix and stopped in front of him. He still had half an hour before his class started. "Follow me."

"Okay?"

Klein went to the convenience store while Calix trailed behind him. Once inside, he grabbed two hotdog sandwiches and drinks. Then he gave one to Calix. "It's for the breakfast earlier."

Calix's thick eyebrows rose, but he accepted it and smiled as they settled on a vacant seat. "I'm not asking for a payment, but thanks."

"I just don't want to feel indebted over trivial matters." Klein took a seat in front of Calix. "Which brings me to this important question: why are you helping me? And what are you hoping to get from this?"

Calix paused from biting into the hotdog sandwich, his expression turning serious. "Klein, I'm not doing this because I needed something from you. I'm here because this is what I have sworn to do. It's not just you. I will save anyone from a werewolf attack."

"Why? Did you lose someone important because of them?"

Calix took his time to answer. "Not really. But the fact that they're preying on unsuspecting people like you is enough of a reason for me to fight them."

The sincerity in Calix's voice had Klein figure out what kind of a person Calix was. He's an altruistic fool trying to play the hero even if nobody was asking him to. How typical. But it didn't surprise him.

Klein took a sip of his drink and placed a paper bag in front of Calix, which contained the gun he took from him yesterday. He stood. "I need to go. I'll be late for class."

"Klein, wait." Calix grabbed his hand, his prismatic gaze boring onto the side of his neck. "I'll be outside your school. If you needed my help, call me."

"There are hundreds of students at De La Lune University. Security cameras are installed in almost every corner too. I doubt Khalil would try to do anything if he wanted his identity to stay hidden. I'll be fine."

"I'd still be here." Calix stood up from his chair, reaching for his jeans pocket. He pulled out a black pen, wrote his number on Klein's palm, and gave the pen to him. "Call me if something happens. I'd come for you no matter what."

His heart made an involuntary jump at that, so Klein pulled his hand away from Calix's grasp and went for the door.

"Klein," Calix called again. "Take care."

Klein gripped the pen tighter to his chest before pushing the glass door open, leaving Calix inside the convenience store with the untouched food he bought.

'What a fool,' Klein thought as he ran to the school gate.

Whether it was Calix he was referring to or himself, he was yet to determine. All he knew was if he dwelled on impertinent matters such as feelings, it would affect all logic and reason. That will be his downfall.

Klein reached their classroom right after their teacher for the first subject came in. He burst through the door, gasping for breath. All heads turned towards him, including the man in his early 30s, who was holding a book about 21st Century Literature.

Average height, with his hair brushed to the right side, Mr. Oscar Villanueva gestured for him to enter. "First time I see you come in late for class, Klein. What happened? And where's your twin?"

"You mean his boyfriend, Sir?" chimed a boy at the back that resulted in fits of giggles from their classmates.

"Is that the best you can do, Wilfred? Last I remembered, you almost failed last semester. How about you get into Klein's level first before you open your mouth?" Mr. Villanueva defended, patting Klein's shoulder. "Go take your seat."

Klein ignored the stare and settled on his desk, which was in the middle at the front of the class. It gave him full coverage of the whiteboard and made him easy to spot for recitation. He wouldn't deny he was almost every teacher's favorite, including Mr. Villanueva.

"At least I change clothes every day," Wilfred mumbled, eliciting another round of laughter as they all noticed Klein still had the same clothes as yesterday.

Silly banters were normal in every class, but it was the first time Klein was roasted this way. It made him conscious of the degrading stares and whispers he was receiving. A quick glance to Khalil's empty desk and he wished he was here.

No, he should have been here. They needed to talk. Maybe his wound hadn't healed yet?

"Settle down!" Mr. Villanueva yelled, and the noise dwindled. He stared at Klein with worried eyes. "Klein, did something happen? You don't look like your normal self today. Even your hair was a mess. And your cologne?" He scrunched his nose at the scent coming from him. "It's… quite strong."

"He's finally entered a rebellious phase," Wilfred continued to lambast him. "Maybe they had a lover's quarrel."

"One more word from you and I'm kicking you out," Mr. Villanueva warned. He returned his gaze to him. "Klein? Should I call your mom?"

Klein flinched, but he tried to keep his cool. He shook his head. "I'm alright, sir. I just had an unplanned sleepover at a friend's house. It was sudden, so I didn't manage to bring a change of clothes."

"So you just wear yesterday's clothes and bathe in perfume instead?" Wilfred laughed.

"Wilfred!"

Klein twisted in his chair, punching the boy at the back with his silvery eyes devoid of emotion. "I'll be late if I had gone home to change, but my clothes were brought to a laundry shop, so they're clean. Cleaner than the clothes you're wearing every day."

The class erupted with hoots and jeers at the insult he had thrown at his classmate, drowning Wilfred's protests. As if to add salt to the wound, Mr. Villanueva only shushed the raging students, but he didn't reprimand Klein for it and just started the class.

Klein could feel the glare at the back of his head, but he ignored it. He was top of the class and a champion of several academic contests. Even if the teachers denied having favorites among their students, he knew they favored him more than the others.

Wilfred must have thought he could take a jab at him because Khalil wasn't around. He was mistaken to think Klein was untouchable only because of Khalil. If he wanted to shame him, he should try to dig the dirt deeper.

The thought about Wilfred's little stunt faded into the back of his mind. It was the least of his concern. What he needed to know was Khalil's whereabouts; if it's safe for him to come home later after class, and how long should he keep Calix around.

Klein stared at the numbers written on his palm. For now, Calix was the only person who can protect him from the world of uncertainty. But if werewolves were not a threat at all, then he had no reason to hang around him.

There was no reason to get deeply involved. No reason at all.