Tardy Today

Two boys stood at the entrance of the school gate. Their faces were flushed as they glanced at their phones. One of them was tall and burly, the other was more slender in figure.

"Ten years. To think that I would witness this before going to college." The more slender one, Chike sighed. He pushed his glasses further as he stared at the clock.

The tall one leaned lazily on the wall, "It is not a big deal. Stop fussing."

Chike rolled his eyes, "You think I am fussing. Just glance at the window, I am sure two or three teachers are secretly glancing off. Say, Jude, you are very worried, aren't you? "

Jude's cheeks flushed red causing Chike to burst out laughing. The walkway was almost empty so Chike's laughter was very loud bringing the attention of the snack sellers around the campus.

He rolled his eyes at him and glanced back at the windows in the school. Sure enough, he could see the few shadows of some people there.

Classes began at 8 o'clock in the morning. It was 7:56a.m and Xaloc Night, the class president and most punctual student to grace the walls of the school was not here.

It was not an exaggeration. From middle school to their last year of high school, Xaloc had always been seated in the classroom by 7:30 a.m unless there was a medical emergency.

He is the type to never bend his own rules and that was the main reason even after all these years, Jude had never summoned the courage to confess.

Maybe when they go to college. Maybe then, he would finally blurt the feelings in his heart and be free.

It was just a crush, after all.

He was sure that half the school population also had the same emotions as he did.

"Procrastinator. Haven't you heard the saying, 'if you love someone, go for it?"

"You made that up, right now."

"I did not. It is two more minutes. We would be late if we still continue to stand outside and it would be the third time this week."

Jude gave him a pointed stare, "Perhaps if you did not spend all night playing video games?"

Choke chuckled awkwardly, "I wish Xaloc could confide in us." Chike sighed. "It has been ten years and yet I still wonder if we are even friends."

"He is here." Jude said as his eyes caught sight of a tall figure walking quickly towards them.

Jude swallowed. From the first time Jude had seen Xaloc at the playground, he had wondered how someone so beautiful could exist.

He was just like those mysterious, mythical fairies that showed up on Television. Ten years and he was still awestruck whenever he saw him.

Xaloc had a rather slender face, with carefully even eyebrows set over deep-set almond-shaped eyes the colour of the darkest ink. His face was even more defined by a strong jaw which receded into a soft chin.

He was dressed in the same school uniform as the rest of them, however, it showed off his lean, slender body that had no ounce of fat.

Xaloc's appearance was in line with most people's aesthetics. It was no wonder he had been the school grass since freshman year.

"Good morning. You did not have to wait outside for me but thank you for that." Xaloc turned down the volume of the music in his headset as he made his way into the building. His class was on the fourth floor, there was no way he could make it on time.

He broke a school rule. He needed to serve the punishment.

"Hey! Thank you or you didn't have to wait, pick one."

"Thank you." Xaloc did not actually care if they wanted to wait. He had done enough favours for the both of them that missing a few minutes of class paled in comparison.

"Did anything happen? You are usually here thirty minutes earlier." Jude asked as he caught up to Xaloc's long strides.

Xaloc's face softened a notch when facing Jude, "Just a little accident. Did you wait long?"

"We.." Should he just lie, but Xaloc hated liars. "Just a little. We have History first period. Mrs Winson won't be happy."

Xaloc grimaced. He had a low throbbing headache, his eyelids were so heavy that he was using all his will not to fall asleep and now they had History as their first period.

To someone who had already studied the entire school material, History was a boring class to attend.

The icing on the cake was the low monotone Mrs Winsin delivered her lesson with. She was so talented that a lullaby company would probably employ her services with all pleasure.

"Xaloc, have you decided what school to put in yet?"

"Jaune College." Xaloc said. He decided on University about six years ago.

"Isn't that a little bit far from home?" Jaune was almost at the opposite end of the map of their country.

Chike was right. It would take about twenty hours to fly from Emerald city to Jaund College.

No to mention that the college was in a very remote area and one needed a four-hour drive to the airport. He had made a lot of considerations before choosing the college.

"Does it matter? College is about experiencing life and can you do that when you are close to home?" Jude quickly supported Xaloc.

Chike did not pay him any mind. This fool who took love is blind to a new level, the level of love is illogical.

"Jaund College has the best engineering program.." Just like a machine, Xaloc paused in the middle of his sentence.

They were in front of the class, making noise is against the rules.

Chike rolled his eyes. After watching Cyborg war 2013, sometimes he could see distinct similarities between them and Xaloc.

He opened the door, he could not wait to see the class's reaction to Xaloc. They had a tradition in their class where everyone who is late would have to give their excuse in front of the class.

He pulled Jude and entered the class.

"Chike, the third time this week." Was the teacher's greeting to him. It was one of the only times that Mrs Winson's voice rose above a monotone.

"Good morning, Mrs Winson. Good morning Class. Jude and I saw a pregnant woman going into labour. As model students of this great school, we had to pause and take her to the hospital."

The class erupted into laughter. Mrs Winsin held her head. The first time this week it was an old man having a heart attack, the second time was a blind old woman crossing the road and now a pregnant woman.

Did she look so gullible to these children and the most painful thing was that she could not caution him about it?

Jude glanced at Xaloc who was currently frowning and distanced himself a bit from Chike.

"Go to your seats." The woman said to them.

Xaloc stood in the doorway. The moment he entered the class, the noise increased twofold, there were some applause, whoops and cheers.

One would think he had won a competition instead of being late to school.

"Settle down." Mrs Winson warned.

The class slowly quieted down. Xaloc stepped up to the podium, facing the pairs of eyes that fell upon him and honestly reported his excuse.

"Good morning Mrs Winson and my fellow students. I was late because I was cleaning up blood. Lots of blood."

At this moment, the class became completely silent before loud whispers filled the air.

Mrs Winson signalled for Xaloc to go outside. Unlike Chike, Xaloc had never given her any trouble since she became their teacher.

"Is it a family member, are you alright? Do you want to take a little time off till you are feeling better?"

Xaloc shook his head. "That would not be necessary. I am alright."

Seeing that he did not want to divulge any information, she allowed him to return to his seat. She would call his parents during break and discuss with them.

Xaloc's deskmate was Jude and the tall burly boy had already cleaned his seat for him.

"Are you alright?" Jude asked Xaloc.

Xaloc nodded.

Without the music to keep him awake and the steady droning of the teacher, the drowsiness hit a thousand times more.

Xaloc blinked his eyes furiously to keep it at bay, however, his fight with the ox had left him tired and slightly lethargic.

Against all attempts and without his permission, Xaloc's eyes fluttered as he slowly drifted off to sleep.