[Recommended Song]: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls (Jada Facer Cover)
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"80." Said Tris in a shocked tone.

Everyone gave applause to the two winners. Diana shook hands with both Jace and Elijah, a sign of not taking anything to heart.

"Congrats to both of you... mh... boyfriends?" Diana assumed a little too fast.

Elijah and Jace soon looked at each other, their legs almost knelt. Oh goodness.

"No, brothers, friends, yeah." Elijah objected politely earning a shocked expression from Diana. "My bad. To admit actually, you both are hot, and defeated a big baby moving like somewhere of a... couple space- ngl, my apologies."

Jace grinned. "It's alright, he's my... Uhm, lion or something like that- more on a pet. Ow!"

Elijah had stomped on Jace's right foot. "Don't mind him. Thanks for being sports, Diana.

"Oh, no problem." She looked back at Angelo who wore a sour expression. "I also apologize for Angelo's actions. He's a kid soul in a teen's body."

The two grinned and bid thanks and goodbye. They turned to their team who gave them juices.

Angelo's team left. Diana had to force the whole group out with a little harmless threat: either leave, or she'll speak up about the things the group did. Of course, she'll be exempted, Diana wasn't active in the group anyway.

"Diana what was that?!" Barked Angelo with a growl. He had the urge to slap Diana for being friends with his enemy.

Diana stopped to look at the angry male. "I was being sports, Gelo. What's wrong with that?"

"That was my enemy you little shit!" Cursed Angelo pushing Diana to the wall.

Elias and the others tried to push their leader away. Diana didn't give a single fuck even if she was choked to death, though.

Diana kicked Angelo's lower part. She wasn't dumb, just letting Angelo have his tough moment satisfied her gut to the core.

"I gave you your moment, so stop being a bitch behind my ass." The female fixed her hair and exercised her neck. "Remember, Angelo: You came here because you needed friends to defend you from the media. I don't motherfucking care about your rich father, the way you treated Elijah was shit."

The male scoffed: "He's gay! What do you want me to do?!"

Again and again, with the homophobic excuses.

"I expect you to be less childish." Diana looked up at the male with a cold stare. "Had you forgotten who gave you the spotlight to be... the powerful leader of this gang? Wasn't it me? Maybe you'd forgotten, Angelo Hayashi Cho: the person who saved your family from being murdered because of debt is the Harisson-Wangs and Jimenez-Xiaos. They even lied to get into the empire. Don't act superior when you know you aren't even that high. The money you spent first... was from your bullying victim and current idol."

Ranting her final words, the now, current female leader led the group to leave. Angelo had always been a brat. That's the reason why no one ever bothered to be his friend.

The male parted ways with his group. He didn't care, his father was there, even his mother.
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-Back to the Zàijiàn squad-

"You both did a blast!" Dominic cheered with a joyous laugh, complementing his two friends.

The two thanked all of them for the compliments. Meanwhile, Jace kept staring at Elijah, does he even notice the world?

"Jace, stop. If I was an ice cream, I would've melted." Elijah chuckled causing Jace to shake his head, deep in thought.

'Damn, no, Jace. This is wrong, wrong. Wait, should I ask them for advice? Kiara? Callista? My brother? I'm confused.' Jace rubbed the bridge of his nose before apologizing and deciding.

"Yes, I... I think I should talk to my sister. She knows this." Jace murmured to himself, he thought of it already. He'd been acting so strange and overprotective around Elijah for weeks? Maybe even months.

There are also other weird things he'd experienced around the latter.

Zack drank his juice before saying: "Let's have a game tonight. For fun, ya' know. You all can suggest some."

"Sounds great to me!" Kai nodded excitedly, and Tris as well said:

"Of course, it's a fun day today, I guess."

Dominic raised his hand: "I've got a suggestion. Our squad has never done this before... what about open noting?"

Elijah was screaming inside. When he looked at everyone, they seemed interested.

"What's that?" Kai and Callista ask intrigued by the statement. Dominic was glad about it.

He began to explain what they had to do: "It's similar to heart-to-heart talk? Well, you grab a paper and start noting all your thoughts, confessions, or anything, put it in a box and whoever gets that letter will read it silently. Since we've memorized each other's handwriting, call the person who wrote the letter you read somewhere private. Then, he or she can say/ask anything to the individual, they'll talk it out. And after, has to promise that they'll keep everything sealed."

Everyone smiles and nodded. It was a way to make them understand each other, so... why not? It'll be notes from someone deep in their hearts.

"Nice, it's almost night as we speak! I'm so excited!!" Kiara jumped with a cute smile.

"Callista-jie... do you want some whipped cream?" Kai snapped his fingers at his older sister. Callista smacked her brother for ruining such beautiful sight.

She frowned. "No, thank you. I'm on a diet." Chuckled her while back hugging her girlfriend.

"The disrespect to my single status!" Kai whimpered, putting his headphones on.

Tris rested his head on Kai's shoulder: "Cheer up lil' bro."

Kai just silently played his games. He was tired of being the single ass who bothered couples.

"Oh, stop." Kiara laughed pulling out of her girlfriend's hug. "If you want, either go to Dominic or Elijah, maybe even those two in the back."

The female lip-pointed at Zack and Tris.

Kai tilted his head: "Nah, I wanna try Elijah though. But... Uhm, yeah, no, pass. The same goes with Dom."

Zack and Tris playfully sounded offended: "You don't like us?"

Kai looked taken aback: "Yes, I don't like both of you. Messy boys." He rolled his eyes offending the two.

"Let's just get on with the open noting," Callista suggested, tired of the argument. Nodding, everyone proceeded to grab a sheet of paper. They wrote their letters privately.

-Jace-

"It's not that bad to be honest... right?" Jace asked himself while locking the door to his room. He spun the pencil using his head, trying to think whether to write what was in his head or make up a story.

Why was he even restless? Damn.

After a little thought, he decided to write his letter.

I know that you'll easily recognize who's this from. I don't know, maybe. But, lately, I've been in deep thought to the point I can even dream about this: I'm confused. Throughout the years, Zàijiàn had become closer and closer, it's been my home of comfort. I'm scared to ask or even tell what's going on about me these days.

Jace had stopped his letter there. A sudden memory came inside his head.

"I think I'm... starting to fall for you."-Elijah

That confession, once again. It came across his head for who knows the count. Jace sighed and continued jotting:

I can't understand myself, the close bond we've developed, he learned to tame me from my anger. And... all I want to do, is to keep him out of harm, wound myself for him... and yet, I can't seem to differ if this is brotherly or not.

He stopped his note there. He folded it and dropped his pen onto his desk. Standing up, he faced the door with his hand nervously gripping the knob.

'You're just asking for help.' Jace thought before completely twisting the knob and exiting the room.

He met everyone in the living room. They were holding a folded white sheet of paper.

"It's night, we should put it in." Kai looked at his letter and then at everyone.

The squad proceeded to put their letters inside a bowl Zack was holding. The latter shuffled the papers and told everyone to pick.

And so they did, everyone took one person in private to talk.

"Jace, I've got yours."

A female voice stated, Jace looked up to see his jiejie Callista looking at him with a soft smile.

The younger nervously bit his lower lip and followed his jiejie to her room.

Callista's room looked both messy and neat. There were lights hung everywhere, and her room light was in purple mode.

Callista sat on her bed, her right hand supporting her chin while she looked at her silent brother.

"What's bothering you, lil' bro?" She asked in a confused voice and slightly tilted head.

She began to recite the letter as if she was being called out by the teacher.

"I know that you'll easily recognize who's this from. I don't know, maybe. But, lately, I've been in deep thought to the point I can even dream about this: I'm confused. Throughout the years, Zàijiàn had become closer and closer, it's been my home of comfort. I'm scared to ask or even tell what's going on about me these days. I can't understand myself, the close bond we've developed, he learned to tame me from my anger. And... all I want to do, is to keep him out of harm, wound myself for him... and yet, I can't seem to differ if this is brotherly or not."

Jace could only nod. It was him, for the confirmation.

"Now, open up, I won't judge. Though... I know who's the person you're talking about." Callista set the letter aside, ready to listen to whatever her brother was going to say.

"Yes, You've got right. It's Elijah." Jace frustratedly groaned: "The one I described in that letter... it's him."

Callista smiled: "So, what's your problem with him?"

"Can I be honest?"

"As you should."

"He's... driving me insane."

The older one was quite interested. "Insane as in?"

Jace looked as though he went into an error. Like, he was a laptop and his jiejie spilling a hot coffee on the mentioned object. "Don't tease, you know what insane I mean to convey."

"Oh, what else do you feel?"

"Overprotection, and... I can't explain. As I mentioned, he can calm me down, I could even feel my own heart when he does it. I feel like I want to see him every day and keep him safe in my arms if only I could. Jiejie... am I going mental?"

Callista had the urge to let go a laugh: "Jace, no, You just love him romantically. I don't know when, but, it does sound like it. You aren't going mental."

Jace was taken aback, love? Or he's just confused. "I am... attracted to Elijah is that your-"

"Yes, you are. The way you summarized everything was the answer to your question. And, not just that- the way you act toward Elijah was already obvious. Love has no reason, it's just pure affection and attraction that you can't explain why or how." Callista gently explained. At this point, she understood her brother, the latter was still in the stage of denial and bewilderment.

"Bro, if you keep denying it and not comforting yourself... You aren't going to solve your problem."

"I know, jie... but, how do I tell this to mom and dad now? I knew it, I just kept denying that I like him. But, argghhh! I'm goddamn terrified-" Jace cried out, ruffling his hair.

He was always known and trained to be a man, it was even said by his father. How about now? He was attracted to the same gender. He was at risk of being kicked or shamed, even at the risk of him not seeing Elijah anymore.

"Whoah, calm down, Jace... breathe." Callista rested a hand on Jace's shoulder: "Everyone has their time to come out, do not rush yourself too. They accepted me, what's the difference for you?" She asked in a gentle and sweet tone.

"Jie, You're a girl. It's natural."

"And, as a man, they'll do the opposite to you? Girls aren't always the favorites. Every family has a different bond. Don't be fooled, social media became a ranter place: One click and it can make something to ruin someone's life."

"I'm afraid... You know what they think about queer people, don't you?"

Callista nodded: "Yes, I do. They think we, are disgusting. But, there's no development inside them until now. It's nothing new, Jace. Remember that You're just loving someone, and, it isn't considered harmful."

"Thank you, jiejie."
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Nsjdbbdbd it took so long to update this. Classes face to face will start for me now. But, thanks for supporting! Ilyasm! ♡♡

-Ms. Khi 🦊🖤