Chapter 2

It’s 10:15 AM — school break time. Jake’s hunched over on a wooden bench near the campus gate, thumbs flying across his phone screen as he sprints through Evade’s library map. The Figure’s heavy footsteps echo from his speakers, and he bites his lip, trying to find the exit before it catches him.

Thump. Someone plops down right beside him, making the bench shake.

Lia: Hey little bro! You won’t believe what just happened — I saw a pigeon wearing a tiny hat, and then the barista at the café gave me a free croissant because I told her my brother’s the cutest 17-year-old in the whole world. Also, I think I accidentally joined a bird-watching group chat instead of the grocery list one, and now they’re sending me 50 photos of seagulls a minute. Oh, and did you know that bananas are actually berries but strawberries aren’t? Mind-blowing, right?

Jake doesn’t even glance up. He’s inches from the exit now — just a few more steps…

Lia: rambling on …and then I thought about how clouds look like cotton candy, but what if cotton candy looks like clouds? It’s a total mind loop, y’know? Also, I’m pretty sure I left my keys in my other other bag, but my other other bag is in my friend’s car, and my friend is currently arguing with her roommate about whether socks count as shoes—

“YOU DIED!” flashes across Jake’s screen. He lets out a frustrated huff, finally looking over at Lia and rolling his eyes so hard he almost sees the back of his head.

Jake: Lia, what the hell? I was about to escape! And what are you even talking about? Socks aren’t shoes — that’s not a debate.

Lia: grins Finally, you talk! I was starting to think you’d merged with your phone.

Just then, four people round the corner — three tall guys and one girl, all in casual hoodies and jeans that scream “college student.” Two of them are already going at it, gesturing wildly as they walk.

Tom: —AND I’M Telling YOU, THE CHICKEN CAME FIRST!!! GOD MADE THE CHICKEN TO LAY THE EGG, IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!!!

Leo: TOM, YOU DUMBASS, ROCKET SCIENCE IS EASIER THAN GETTING YOU TO UNDERSTAND EVOLUTION!!! THE EGG HAD THE CHICKEN DNA FIRST!!!

The girl — Chloe — facepalms, while the third guy — Sam — just shakes his head and laughs. They spot Lia and Jake on the bench and head straight over.

Chloe: calling out Lia! We knew we’d find you here — you said you were picking up your “baby brother” from school!

Jake’s eyes widen a little as he realizes who they are. The chicken-and-egg duo from last night’s VC

Tom and Leo are still going at it as they reach the bench — Tom waving his hands around like a windmill, Leo pointing a dramatic finger in his face.

Tom: —AND IF THE EGG CAME FIRST, WHERE DID THE EGG COME FROM??? A MAGIC HEN THAT POPPED OUT OF NOWHERE???

Leo: IT CAME FROM A PRE-CHICKEN SPECIES, YOU—

He freezes mid-sentence. His eyes land on Jake, and every single gesture, every word, dies in his throat.

Jake’s small — shorter than even Lia when she’s sitting down — with soft gray hair that falls over his forehead, pale skin that looks almost translucent in the morning sun, and a thin frame that makes his senior high uniform hang a little loose. For a second, Leo’s brain blanks — he looks so delicate, like he could break if you touched him too hard.

Tom stops arguing too, noticing Leo’s jaw has gone slack. He follows his friend’s gaze to Jake, then back to Leo, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Tom: teasing, low Whoa there, egg-boy. Cat got your tongue? Or did you finally realize the chicken’s right?

Jake feels their eyes on him and quickly averts his gaze, fidgeting with the hem of his uniform sleeve. Across the bench, Sam, Chloe, and Lia are already deep in chat — Chloe showing them a photo of her new plant, Sam complaining about his 8 AM class, Lia laughing at something they said.

Leo doesn’t hear Tom. He’s just staring at Jake, his mind racing. Then, without thinking, he murmurs out loud — so quiet he thinks no one can hear:

Leo: It’s my first time seeing someone soo pretty and handsome…

But Tom’s right next to him, and his ears are sharp. The grin on his face gets even wider.

Tom: yelling a little too loud DID YA HEAR THAT, EVERYONE??? LEO THINKS THE LIL’ HIGH SCHOOLER IS PRETTY AND HANDSOME!!! OOH, SOMEONE’S GOT IT BAD!!!

Leo’s face explodes in red. He jumps back like he’s been shocked, waving his hands around frantically.

Leo: NO!!! I — I DIDN’T SAY THAT!!! YOU MISHEARD ME!!! I SAID HE LOOKS… uh… LOOKS LIKE HE’S GOOD AT EVADE!!! YEAH!!! THAT’S WHAT I SAID!!!

Tom: snorting Sure you did, lover boy. Your face is redder than a tomato — you’re so flustered it’s hilarious!

Jake peeks up for just a second, then quickly looks away again, his own cheeks tinged pink. Leo’s eyes meet his for a split second, and he panics even more, stumbling over his words.

Leo: I — I’m sorry!!! I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable!!! I just… uh… scrambles for words YOUR HAIR LOOKS NICE!!! GRAY IS A GOOD COLOR!!! NOT THAT I WAS STARING AT YOUR HAIR!!! OR YOU!!! I WASN’T STARING!!!

Tom bursts out laughing, and even Sam and Chloe pause their chat to snicker. Lia just raises an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye — she already knows where this is going.

...

Leo’s panic only gets worse the more he tries to fix it. He’s waving his arms around so much he almost knocks over Tom’s water bottle, his face now bright red from his forehead to his neck.

Leo: I — I SWEAR I’M NOT A WEIRDO!!! I JUST… I NEVER MET ANYONE WITH GRAY HAIR BEFORE!!! IT’S NOT LIKE I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW IT WOULD FEEL TO RUN MY FINGERS THROUGH IT OR ANYTHING — OH SHIT, I DIDN’T MEAN TO SAY THAT!!!

Everyone freezes for half a second, then erupts in laughter.

Tom: holding his stomach “RUN MY FINGERS THROUGH IT” — LEO, YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS SHIT UP!!!

Chloe: tearing up from laughing I’m — I’m gonna pass out… this is better than the lamppost incident!!!

Sam: Dude, you’re digging yourself a deeper hole every time you open your mouth!

Lia leans over and nudges Jake gently — his cheeks are bright pink, and he’s staring at his shoes, fidgeting with his phone case so hard his knuckles are white.

Lia: whispering with a grin See? Told you he was smoother than he actually is.

Leo looks around at all the laughing faces, then at Jake’s flustered form, and feels his entire body burn with embarrassment. He can’t take it anymore — his brain just short-circuits.

Leo: yelling suddenly I — I NEED TO GO!!! FORGET I EXIST!!!

And with that, he spins around and takes off running — tripping over his own feet twice before stumbling down the path and disappearing around the corner, leaving behind a trail of his panicked shouts.

Tom: calling after him DON’T FORGET TO THINK ABOUT THE CHICKEN — AND JAKE’S HAIR!!!

Everyone laughs even harder, and Jake finally looks up, a tiny, shy smile tugging at his lips.

Jake: quietly He… he really ran away?

To be continued ~

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