"WAIT—MICHAEL? IS that you?"

Upon his name being called, he turned to look around for the voice. His eyes spotted one of his high school friends.

"Dark! Not a surprise to see you here."

The older one chuckled. He looked down at the slip of paper in Michael's hands.

"Well—seems like we're roommates, too," he said, pointing at the paper. Michael's face lit up.

"Oh, thank god! I was afraid I'd be paired with some creepy kid or something."

Dark chuckled. "Same here. Hey—need help with your bags?"

..

Wilford sat at the table with Ana, feeling very gloomy.

"It's so weird without him," he grumbled, taking a bite of a freshly-baked cookie.

Ana smiled, lightly patting the teen's shoulder. "Indeed it is, Willy. But he'll come back and visit. Just you wait."

That was a lie....

But she didn't know that...

..

"Dark, glad to see you here."

Dark looked over his shoulder, spotting the man who had invited him to this high-level college.

"Mr. Dike," he greeted, bowing his head. Michael rose a brow but said nothing as he watched his friend and the man.

"Please—it's Hudson," the man said, glancing over at Michael. "May I speak with you in my office?"

If only Dark and his friend had gotten into the safety of their dormroom earlier...

..

WILFORD WAS ONE of the best students in Pleasant University. With his silly and upbeat attitude, peers and professors loved him.

"Hey, Wilford, do you think we can meet at the café later?" asked a girl.

But even through all his happiness, there sat this weight in his chest.

"Sorry, I have homework to do, Prim."

Any little requests to go to the café would be denied. Or any little date for that matter.

"Oh, okay. Um—are you available during the weekend?"

Wilford sighed, gently closing his locker. "Projects," he muttered.

The girl, Prim, only pouted. But she showed no anger. "Sorry for bothering you. Have a great day then, Wilford!"

And she set off down the hallway, a light bound in her step. At least she got to talk to the school's beloved student.

Wilford sighed, looking down at his feet. He truly missed his friend.

He lightly touched his cheek.

And he still remembered that kiss at the airport. He softly blushed and shook his head, exiting campus.

"God, I think I like him," he muttered.

..

SOURCE UNIVERSITY WAS very strict. It shaped their students into practically emotionless and stern bodies.

If only Dark had chosen another school...

There'd be less tears poured—less heartbreak...

There would be loads of work everyday for the students. If one measly assignment was a few minutes late or missing, then the punishment would be even more work.

"Dark, can we go out to eat or something?"

Dark said nothing, furiously working on his papers. Michael sighed, plopping down onto the beige-blanketed bed.

"This school will be the death of us," Michael groaned, putting a hand over his stomach. "Fourty-plus pages of work a day? Frickin' insane."

The male on the bed sighed. "Dark, leave your homework alone for a minute, pleeease?"

Dark's furious scribbling had slowly come to a halt. He blankly stared at the papers under his hands, swallowing.

"Dark?"

Dark lowered his eyes, slowly putting his pencil down. The phrase that Michael had just said reminded him of a certain, upbeat boy.

"I miss him..." Dark whispered, staying oddly still.

Michael blinked, kneeling by his friend and placing a gentle hand on the other's shoulder. "Dark... you'll see him soon," he reassured, not wanting to question who the older one was speaking of.

"I hope..." he breathed, shaking his head. He sent Michael a soft smile. But it was nothing like the ones he would give Wilford.

"What do you wanna eat?"

..

"Ana, it's killing me inside."

Wilford was reclined in a comfy beige sofa, while their care-taker was sitting criss-crossed at the long couch.

Unable to hold it in, the once-hyper male had told Ana of his little, growing crush on his friend. And now he was pouring his feelings out.

"It's been a year..." The male sighed. "I just really miss him."

Ana slowly walked over and ran a gentle had through Wilford's hair.

"If you love him... you'll find a way to see him again," she whispered. "Call him, anything you can do." She softly smiled. "Heck, go ahead and send letters to him."

He smiled. "Thanks, Ana..."

"Anytime..."

..

"I don't wanna be steppin' on any tails here but—" Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "When... When you said: 'I miss him.' Who were you talking about?"

Dark looked up at the other, shrugging to the side. He lightly pushed his half-finished plate away.

"I don't wanna talk about it."

Michael's brows only furrowed and he nodded, working on his small meal again. "Okay," he muttered. If his friend didn't want to speak, that was fine. He understood.

Dark noticed this understanding gesture, and he sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"Wilford," he said.

Michael looked up from his plate, quickly swallowing. "What?"

"Wilford," Dark repeated. "I miss him."

Michael softly cracked a smile. "The one you punched me over?"

Dark sadly chuckled, crossing his arms. "Yeah."

Michael poked at his food. "By the way—sorry about what I said about him that one time."

"It's in the past."

Dark had fallen silent. He stared down at his food, putting two twenty-dollar bills onto the table. Thinking of Wilford made his heart ache.

"I'll meet you back at the dormroom," he whispered, turning away, despite his friend's protests.

"Ya know, Darki," his friend mused, feet swinging off the edge of the ledge that sat upon. The two kids looked off at the playground, watching their peers play.

"Lookin' around, we're the closest friends."

They were 12-years-old at the time.

"I think we're what's called 'best friends,' Will," the older boy explained, looking down at his friend, whose head was on his shoulder. Dark draped an arm over his friend's shoulders, sighing. "But... maybe we're something more."

Any questions? Place em here!

Thanks for reading and have a fantastic day/night!
-aya