22. A distraction

Tristan sat behind an old desk, pen neatly placed beside a closed textbook, head lowered. Outside the windows, nature had yet to determine the weather - a sunny sky soon dimmed, releasing a lashing rain. The clock on the other side of the classroom hung high on a wall, its hands frozen, time stopped.

He forgot to wash his hair, his short locks stuck together coated by the oil from his scalp. As he opened the textbook, his eyes were drawn to the overly shiny paper, pen in hand. His gaze lost focus, pupils retracting. 

He felt sick, horridly sick.

He could vividly picture the two hundred dollar bills pinned to the fridge door. The apology of his father, the fund for their sustain until he chooses to return. 

Tristan grinned stiffly, his overgrown nails digging into the skin. The nails were no longer neatly trimmed.

The only thing Tristan was sure of was that the money left by their father wouldn't be enough, that he'd be gone way longer than he ever was.

Then, someone entered the class. 

Few could turn heads solely by their appearance, by the vibrant pull of the air surrounding them. Yet, this person was one of those few.

The water darkened his raven hair, creating a bluish highlight. Drenched shirt sticking close to his defined body, he was an athlete, without a doubt. He stepped inside the class, droplets dripping down on the linoleum. - This is what one gets for underestimating the weather. 

A few started whispering.

Tristan was caught off guard by a familiar voice, "Dear, is this seat taken?"

"Luka?" Tristan raised his gaze, his fingernails releasing their grip on his skin.

Luka beamed, "Why so surprised?" 

Kristina never paid much attention to her surroundings at school after her transmigration. It lacked reason. She had no intentions of befriending anyone as she was afraid of blowing her charade. 

Tristan closed his textbook, "Me? Surprised? No way, the only surprising thing is this," he hinted at Luka's drenched figure.

"It looks like you went swimming on your way here," Tristan chuckled.

"Tell me about it," Luka sighed, sitting beside Tristan.

The bell rang, and the classroom had yet to quiet down. The professor entered with a surrendered exhale. No wonder. Silencing a class filled with defiant adults was an unreachable feat for most.

Luka leaned closer to Tristan, their shoulders bumping, "Where is he?" he whispered. 

Tristan raised a brow, "Who?"

Luka leaned back on the hard wooden chair, "Your-" He scratched his head. "I mean your-" Luka sighed, stopping abruptly. 

Before he could try wording his thoughts again, the professor hit the front desk harshly, "Silence!" 

The front rows went death silent. However, a few in the back exchanged mocking glances.

The professor started a presentation. "Take notes, this is going to be on the next pop-up quiz." 

Luka searched for his pen in the soaked bag. He pulled out a notebook, its pages unusable, ink blurred. He put the notebook back, folding his arms on his chest. 

His sight traveled across his classmates. Most of them took the professor's advice to heart. Luka's curiosity landed on Tristan. 

He smirked, an idea forming in his bored mind.

Luka leaned closer to Tristan, his hand grasping Tristan's. Tristan's right hand halted, pen loose in his hold. 

Luka was rather joky and touchy with everyone. His habit of addressing everybody like one would their lover didn't help much.

Tristan glanced at Luka from the corner of his eye. Luka tightened his grip, forcing the pen in Tristan's hand straight. Their hands united as Luka led the pen gently across the paper, a single sloppy word took shape under his guidance.

Luka let go of Tristan's hand slowly, tickling his ear with a low whisper, "Where is your-" Luka pointed at the word on the paper - boyfriend.

Tristan coughed, face heating. 

Kristina was sure that the body she inhabited was single. Ehm, sorry, I meant to say Tristan preferred to focus on himself.

The rain stopped, allowing the sun to break apart the dark clouds. A droplet fell from the freshly grown leaf, light reflecting off the wet surface.

Tristan stayed silent for the rest of the lesson, handwriting messy, his attention divided between Luka and the professor.

The bell rang, marking an end to Tristan's tension. Tritan swiftly turned his whole body to face Luka, "I don't have," he frowned, "- a partner."

Luka covered his mouth, shoulders shaking as he tried to avoid bursting into laughter, "Right, I believe you." Luka wiped an imaginary tear. 

Tristan crossed his legs, "What even made you think I have a boyfriend," he threw back.

Luka's head tilted, "Who was the guy who waited for you at the cafe then?"

Ah, he meant Alec.

Tristan clutched at his stomach, laughing heartily, "There's no way you thought I dated Alec!"

Kristina would never date Alec, not even in Tristan's body. Tristan's smile faded. She could use him. However, she could never bring herself to love him.