VIII

Duan swung his hands and avoided Kimi's murderous gaze. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I had no clue about everything. Please forgive me. Please. I'm so sorry and I promise to make it up to you." His words came out rushed and breathy.

Kimi exhaled slowly through his nostrils in order to control his harsh breathing and gnashed his gritted teeth. He sighed as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

"You have no right to apologize since everyone kept the truth from you." He sighed again, this time a little slower. "But you really upset me last night and I had every right to get mad."

Duan looked at Kimi and nodded slowly. "I underst-"

"No, you don't. Nobody does and they never will." He shifted from one foot to another and shook his head slowly. "The boy you knew twelve years ago isn't me. Duan I... I... I can't just feel like nothing ever happened and expect myself to forget. I..." He inhaled deeply and shook his head as he walked towards the exit, dodging Duan.

"But do you accept my apology?" Duan sounded hopeful yet lost as he looked up at the ceiling.

Kimi shrugged. "Time will tell."

*

"S-sleeping in the library is forbidden."

"I'm resting, not sleeping," Kimi grumbled as he opened an eye to peer up at his disturber. It was a pale-skinned girl with short, onyx bobbed hair and glasses.

"O-oh. I-I'm so sorry but we don't accept resting also," the girl stuttered as she adjusted her circular glasses which matched her chocolate eyes.

Kimi sat up and glared at the girl. "And how does that concern you?"

"I'm the l-library prefect."

Kimi raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Then go bother people who are actually disturbing others and not people like me who have nothing to do other than to rest." Kimi scoffed and placed his forehead on the table.

A light blush stained the girl's cheeks. "I f-forbid such nonsense." She gripped Kimi's shoulders and shook it. "G-get up. Get u-"

Kimi sat up and slapped her hands away. "Stop pestering me and don't freaking touch me."

The girl sighed, a few of her onyx hair falling into her face. "Please j-just-"

"Jianbing darling, do you-whoa." A plump, tall girl walked out from between two shelves, an open, large book in her hands. "Hot," she whispered as she accessed Jianbing's pink cheeks.

Jianbing groaned and turned to face the girl. "W-whatever you want can be provided to you b-by the librarian. A-and please stop calling me dar-"

"But you're the library prefect, my classmate and pretty much the hottest girl I've-"

"Will you... c-cut the crap?!"

Kimi rolled his eyes mockingly.

"Shh," hissed a voice.

Jianbing's blush deepened and she shot one last glare at the girl before stomping away, her shoulder angrily nudging the girl's shoulder harshly as she passed her. The girl stumbled and the book she was holding slipped from her hands and landed with a heavy thud.

Kimi rolled his eyes again with a loud exhale as he folded his arms over the table and placed his head on them. He stared as the girl crouched slowly to pick up the book and then he turned his head away from her.

"I didn't mean to upset her," the girl voiced unsurely. She tiptoed closer to Kimi and cleared her throat. "Hello?"

"Away. Freaking go away," Kimi drawled as he pulled up his hood over his head. He groaned as the girl sat in front of him with an obvious thud.

She looked unsure as she stared at Kimi. "Sorry to be rude... but are you that guy they keep calling-"

"If you're about to call me that word, I will shove this book down your tiny, little windpipe," Kimi threatened with a tired voice.

The girl sighed and opened the book with a loud flump, it forcing Kimi to sit up and glare at her like she was alien.

"Can you freaking find another corner to read? I found this corner first." Kimi placed a finger on his pursed lips as the girl opened her mouth to speak. He narrowed his eyes and lowered his head slowly.

"Hello, I'm Mikaelmas Dae-yang," the girl chirped, receiving a groan as a reply. She leaned forward. "What's your name?"

"If you had the effort of knowing the common word 'zombie' then why didn't you put in more effort to study my name. I heard it holds the secret to uncovering world stupidity," Kimi drawled in a singsong voice.

Dae-yang cleared her throat. She twirled the book repeatedly on the table-like it was a wheel-as she watched Kimi's head. "Is it-"

"Fuck!" Kimi shouted and stood up. "For all I care you can fuck this table while I go claim another corner."

Loud, booming footsteps shook the library as Jianbing approached them with a raised finger. "O-out!"

"I'm fucking leaving!"

"Shut up!"

"Fuck you!"

Jianbing looked murderous as she glared at Dae-yang. "You too!"

"Shh!" hissed numerous voices.

Dae-yang nodded frivolously. "And away I go." She stood up, hugged the book to her chest and followed after Kimi, only for the book to be dragged out of her hold by Jianbing.

"S-stay away from me." She gave Dae-yang a serious stare. "P-please."

Dae-yang smirked and leaned into Jianbing. "No."

*

The leaves of the trees danced to the tunes of the wind as Kimi stomped onto the courtyard. He looked around, searching for the perfect spot to rest; an oak tree caught his attention and he walked briskly to it.

Every tired muscle in his body relaxed as he laid against the trunk of the tree. An exhausted exhale escaped his lips as he shut his eyes, listening to the wind rattle tree leaves.

"It is serene."

"Go die in a rabbit hole," Kimi grumbled.

"It's called a bunny burrow," Dae-yang offered as she sat beside Kimi.

"Screw you," Kimi drawled and hugged his legs to his chest.

Dae-yang huffed. "You're not very friendly."

"And you're too bright for my dark days. Away."

"Are you exorcising me?" Dae-yang asked with a confused expression. "That's the second time today that you've said 'away' to me."

"Screw you."

"Screw you too."

"Could you guys stop screwing each other," came Silver's happy voice as he approached them.

If anyone says I'm not cursed then that person is a liar.

Silver walked up to the pair and stood before Dae-yang. "Mr. Marshall is looking for you. And please, don't disturb my cousin, he needs his rest."

Kimi sighed in gratitude and slacked against the trunk. He listened as Dae-yang shuffled to her feet and walked away, but did not hear Silver walk away.

"So, how has Rhodes Academy been for you?" Silver asked as he sat beside his cousin.

Kimi groaned. "Practice what you preach Argyr."

A breathy laugh escaped Silver as he brushed pale curls out of his eyes. "My cute little cousin has grown."

"Can I die now?" Kimi sat up and looked at Silver. "Like literally."

Silver stared at his cousin and pouted. "Kimmy," he griped.

"Argyr," Kimi mocked with a scoff. "That face of yours works against others and not me."

Silver bared his teeth playfully. "Still the same stone cold human being." He sighed and sat cross-legged as he watched the clouds run by in the blue sky. "But really though, how have you been?"

"Honestly or bluntly?"

"Both?" Silver lifted an eyebrow.

Kimi sighed and pulled off his hood. "Honestly: life has been uncomfortable." He sat up straighter, his posture tensed. "Bluntly: life has been freaking stressful." Kimi exhaled slowly through his nostrils and stretched out his legs.

Silver nodded as he fiddled with the sleeves of his cardigan. Silence swept between the cousins as they sat awkwardly beside each other.

Kimi broke the silence and muttered, "I didn't know you were gay." Kimi looked at his cousin expectantly. "And a boyfriend too? It seems like I'm not the only one who grew up."

Silver blushed lightly and fiddled with his fingers. "Well-"

"Sil!"

Silver looked up as Illiad approached them with a book in his hand. Silver smiled a little and stood up.

"Hey," Illiad greeted and hugged Silver. He placed a soft kiss on Silver's forehead and leaned his forehead against his. "Finally, I got out of that class."

Silver laughed softly. "At least you still attend the class. That's enough."

Illiad nodded and looked down at Kimi who sat awkwardly. "Hey. Kimi right?"

Kimi nodded and stood up as the bell rang. He moved to leave but Silver halted him.

"Join us for lunch. Please?" Silver looked hopeful as he gazed at his cousin.

Kimi shook his head. "I-"

"It's just the three of us. Ill and I always eat alone." He moved forward. "Please?"

Illiad and Silver watched as Kimi sighed and clenched his jaw. "Fine. But you're buying me lunch."

Illiad smirked. "That's not a problem."

But I have a problem with your appetite.

Author's Note: Yo. How was this chapter? Vote, comment and share and notify me if any character seems stereotypical or insulting. I only leave in a speckled part of the tinyverse. （//o_o//) ┐(￣n￣)┌