Colours

Morning classes felt slower than usual.

Or maybe.

However, it just felt that way.

Toby dropped his bag onto the desk.

"I have decided something important."

No one responded.

"I'm not going to survive this week."

"You say that every week," Erica said.

"And I'm right every time."

Daisy opened her notebook quietly."We just started the day."

"That's exactly why I'm worried."

Alex sat down, pulling out his materials with

same routine.

Just the same movements.

"Oi, Kim!," Toby leaned over.

"Do you ever feel tired of being responsible?"

"… Not really."

"That's not human."

Erica clicked her pen.

"He probably schedules his emotions."

"I don't."

"That's suspicious."

The teacher walked in.

"Take your seats. Listen everyone, today you will be having art class. make sure do something meaningful."

A few students perked up.

"Finally, something easy and fun."

"I can relax for once after studying the whole Autumn."

Toby looked relieved.

"… This is my subject,""Because I used to draw Mimi-Chan for a long time."

"Trust me, I am expertised at this." while positioning his glasses.

"You can't even draw a straight line," Erica said.

"That's abstract art."

"That's a bluffing."

The class moved to the art room. Sunlight came through large windows. Paints, brushes, paper and everything laid out neatly. With everything need for the today class.

"Today's task, draw something is beautiful to you."

"Beautiful?" Toby grinned.

"What a luck!"

Students started working. Daisy began sketching immediately. Clean, confident strokes. Erica looked at the paper for a moment—

"Hamm... What should I draw?"

And she looked at Alex and smiled.

Then started drawing quickly.

Toby stared at his blank sheet.

"… I'm still thinking something like posture and beauty."

"You're wasting time," Erica said.

"I'm thinking."

"You're not."

Erica annoyingly stood up and went to the place that shows the very pretty view of Alex.

Alex picked up his pencil.

Paused.

What was beautiful? He didn't think too much. Just started drawing. Lines formed slowly.

Simple.

From the side—

"Hey."

Alex looked up.

Lily stood there, holding her paper.

"… Can I sit here?"she asked.

He nodded.

"Yeah."

She sat beside him.

"… What are you drawing?" she asked.

Alex glanced at his paper.

"… Dunno maybe something."

Lily leaned slightly closer.

"… That's a puppy, isn't it?" she said.

He paused.

"…I guess it is," he said.

Lily smiled softly.

"You really know how to draw something like that."

"… Maybe."

She looked at her own paper.

"… I don't know what to draw," she admitted.

"I have been thinking for awhile.

Alex glanced at it.

Blank.

"Draw something simple,"he said.

"Like what?"

He thought for a second.

"Hmm....something your favorite."

Lily blinked slightly.

"… That's not simple," she said quietly.

Alex didn't respond.

She looked at him—

Then at he continued drawing again.

"… You are still kind as ever" she muttered.

"What's it?" He asked.

She shook her head and smile.

From across the room—

Erica looked over briefly.

Lily, sitting near Alex is the thing she never got to. Her face turned red.

Daisy noticed too.

But said nothing.

Toby finally drew something.

"… I am a genius."

"What is that?" Erica asked.

"… A character, My Mimi-Chan, the very best girl in my life,""No! The best girl in the entire world." Toby shouted.

"That's a stick figure."

"It represents simplicity."

"It represents failure."

A few students laughed.

The class felt light.

Normal.

But small things were changing. Lily stayed beside Alex. Erica glanced over more than once as if something disturbed her.

Daisy remained calm—

but observant.

And Alex...

Didn't move away.

"… You should finish it," Lily said.

"Yeah."

He continued drawing.

For some reason, this time it felt a little different.

Not uncomfortable.

Not forced.

Just…

Quiet.....

The bell rang.

"Time's up," the teacher said.

"Hand in your work."

Students stood up.

Talking again.

Toby held up his paper proudly.

"I call this… a masterpiece work."

"That's not even one," Erica said.

"That's the point."

Daisy handed hers in. Clean and beautiful. Lily hesitated slightly....then submitted hers. Alex placed his on the desk. The teacher glanced at it briefly.

"… Simple," he said.

Alex nodded.

As they left the room, Lily walked beside him again.

"… See you later?" she asked.

"Yeah."

She smiled.

And walked ahead happily.

From behind—

Erica watched.

"…This is annoying," she muttered.

Toby heard it.

"…Ah! what's happening."

"I said nothing and forget it."

"You said something, perhaps a boyfriend?"

Erica blushed and hit him with a book.

"Baka"

"What did I do?" Toby was confused in the middle of nowhere.

Daisy looked forward quietly.

And Alex—

didn't notice any of it.

Yet.

After being in a class for hours....

The sun was already setting like it was about time the moon show up.

"Decision successfully made!"

Alex didn't look up.

"What decision?

"We're going out."

"No!" instant reply from Alex.

"Come on, you didn't even listen to my plan."

"cuz I don't need to."

Toby leaned closer.

"What I'm about to tell you is we are going to eat,"

he paused.

"B a r B e Q u e."

"... Still no."

"You are unbelievable."

From the side—

"BBQ?" Daisy looked up and continued "Sounds good."

"See! Even our school beauty agreed this plan."

Erica, sitting nearby, looked at them for a moment and quickly looked straight back in front of her seat.

"BBQ? With Alex?" muttered while blushing secretly.

Her classmate next to her ask "What's the matter, Erica?"

"Nothing." she replied.

Out of nowhere.

"Eric, Will you come with us?" Toby called her out.

She startled(while blushing).

"W-what?" she replied while adjusting her tone.

"I asked will you come with us to dine BBQ?" Toby asked again and confused about her behavior.

"Must I come?" while showing a denying face and crossing her arms looking away.

"Forget it then."

"W-W-What do you mean? I didn't say I am not going."

"Well, it's decided then."

Toby announced.

"Meet up 7:15 pm at KingOfBBQ shop."

Daisy stood up slowly.

"Sounds nice, I will be going now then."

"Where?" Alex asked.

"Extra lectures."

"Oh okay."

For a while, the classroom was quiet, everyone took a nap.

Some were snoring louder than others.

While some were annoyed by them.

The breeze of winds passed through the window while carrying leaves.

After hours...

The place was already busy by the time they arrived. The smell of grilled meats and beef filled with tasteful air.

People were talking, laughing and chattering.

Toby walked in like he owned the place.

"Table for five."

"..Five?" Alex said.

"Yea."

Suddenly—

someone rushed over.

"Sorry—am I late?"

They turned. Lily stood there with slightly out of breath.

Toby grinned.

"No, you aren't late, just perfect timing."

"Did you invite her? Daisy asked.

"Of course!" Toby replied.

Alex looked at her.

"You're joining?

"Yeah. If that's okay."

Daisy nodded.

Erica didn't say anything.

She just slightly moved her chair next to Alex pretending as if nothing happened.

Lily smiled quietly like a burden.

Erica looked away.

"....I didn't do anything."

They all sat down.

Toby grabbed the menu.

"Alright, important question. Who's paying?"

"You." Erica replied.

"That's discrimination."

"What about you Alex?"

"I will pay it if no one els—"

Erica interrupted.

"Fine. I will pay it!"

"We will be counting on you then." All said.

They ordered. Fresh and well-cut meats were arrived.

Toby was so hungry and immediately took control.

"I will handle the meats."

"That's a bad idea, what if you overcooked it?" Erica said.

"Nah, trust me because I learned it from Mimi-Chan."

Despite that, Daisy helped him out just in case.

"You're good at this." Toby said.

"I used to cook it frequently back then."

"You are amazing."

After for a while.

"Everyone, help yourself." Lily gave out cooked meats.

"Wow, so juicy and tendered." Toby replied with smiling face.

"How was it?" Lily asked Daisy and Alex.

"Good!" They both replied.

("This is..... Not bad") Alex lost in thought.

Everything felt normal, full of laughter.

"Here have some more." Daisy said, placing some cooked meat onto Alex's plate.

"Thanks"

"What were you thinking?

"Nothing, maybe just the vibe."

"Rare to hear these from you."

"Is it?"

Before he could take it—

Another piece dropped to his plate.

Erica.

"It will burn if you wait," she said, not looking at him.

"Thanks." he replied.

"Oh..."

"You can have mine too," she said, placing hers gently.

Now his plate has three meats.

"I can't eat that much..." Alex said.

"Then, eat slowly." Erica replied.

"Or share." Lily replied.

Daisy just watched quietly.

Toby leaned back and grinned.

"This is getting interesting."

"What?!" Erica replied.

"Nothing just interesting."

"You are so annoying."

They ate and talked. The vibe was youthful.

Some were taking out their children to BBQ for their birthday.

"You don't usually go out like this, right?" Lily asked Alex.

"...Not really."

"Why not?"

"I don't think about it."

"You should, I think it's good to release some stress."

Before he could responded—

"It's inefficient," Erica muttered.

Toby blinked.

"What?"

"Going out like this. Time, money...unnecessary."

"You are literally here."

"I didn't choose this."

"But you stayed." Daisy replied calmly.

Erica didn't reply. She just flipped the meat again and about to overcooked without knowing.

She was about to flip another one but almost slipped—

Alex reached out instinctively, steadying the tongs slightly.

Their hands paused for a second.

"Careful." He said.

Erica pulled back quickly.

"I-I know."

But her ears were red.

Toby while about to eat the meat that covered his mouth— (cough!)

"What was th—"

"Shut up."

Lily looked down briefly. Then smile again.

"This is nice," she said.

Daisy nodded.

"... Yeah..."

The noise of the shop continued around them.

For a moment—

No one spoke but just the sound of the bell.

"... You should go out more often," Lily said again with slightly smiling.

Alex thought for a second.

"Yeah, maybe."

It was a short answer but different.

Daisy noticed.

Toby slammed the table lightly.

"Mission successfully progressed."

"What?" Alex asked.

"You said 'Maybe'. That's character development."

"That's not a big deal."

"It is."

Erica looked away.

".... It's normal."

But her grip on the tongs loosened slightly.

Lily smiled.

And Daisy—

Just watched quietly.

Later, they stepped outside. The night air felt cooler.

"Finally, some freedom," Toby said.

"You ate the most," Erica said.

"I need more strength."

"For what?"

"For a living."

They started walking. Lily walked beside Alex, Daisy slightly ahead and Toby talking nonstop.

Erica just a little behind. Not too far but not beside him either.

Then looked away.

"Next time for sure" she muttered quietly.

No one heard it.

Except—

Maybe herself.

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