12

"What is going on with you and Leo?" Ann asks as soon as Fiat arrives in the morning. Exams have just passed and just as Fiat wished, Leo has returned to his seat at the back of the class. Leo joining Ann in the morning also stopped and Ann is finding less and less opportunities to hang out with him. Ann met up with Leo at the party, but both missed the person who brought them together.

Fiat just takes the coffee and muffin from Ann's waiting hands and shrugs. "Nothing. What could possibly happen? Is it so weird that he's going his own thing?"

"Yes. Yes it is. Fiat, you guys looked like you were best friends or even in a relationship last week. For someone else I would have been jealous, but my inner fujoshi was being fed," Ann smiles dreamily before shaking her head and looking at Fiat squarely. "Anyway, now you guys act like you never hung out. It's as if these past couple of months did not even happen! Now tell me what happened!"

"Pip, I promise you there is nothing wrong. You can invite him over right now, during lunch or even when we go to the movies later. I honestly don't care. There's nothing going on between us. Now is your time to really approach him, Ann. Didn't you say you guys practically spent the entire party together?" Fiat sighs putting a hand onto the top of her head. He gives a reassuring smile and quickly averts his eyes back down to his muffin. Ann huffs and mentions that she will do just that. Fiat internally sighs and externally nods his head. Ann has begged Fiat to join her to watch some big time franchise movie that even Fern does not want to watch.

Ann does exactly as Fiat said. Leo appears at their table for lunch, separate from him even though they are coming from the same class. Ann raises a brow at this and Leo answers that he had to talk to the instructor before leaving. Ann scolds Fiat who just nods with her and accepts her reprimands. "Leo, come with us to a movie after my club meeting? It'll be like half an hour after the last class. You can wait with Fiat. Please?"

Leo smiles at Ann and gives her a confirming nod. She squeals while telling them how fun it will be to watch a movie with both of them. Fiat just smiles fondly at his best friend and humors her joy. Not once does he look Leo's way. When the moment comes, Fiat fills his bag quickly and is on his way to step out of the class when a he gets stopped by the elbow. He turns around to find a serious Leo. "Can we talk?"

"We have nothing to talk about, Leo," Fiat sighs looking down. He twists his arm out of his hold and exits the room knowing very well that Leo is hot on his trail. "Just be good to Ann-"

"If I accept her feelings it would cause her more pain than anything." Leo's words make Fiat halt and face him furiously at the thought of him hurting Ann. Leo looks around and grabs Fiat's hand and drags him towards an empty classroom. As soon as they enter, Leo releases his hand and paces across the front of the classroom, while Fiat stands by the closed door feeling the coldness of his hand. "I'm not going to force something I don't see working. I'll be her friend and be someone she can hang out with, but I will not be able to have her wait for me to return the same feelings because I have them for someone else. I know it is your wish, but screw it! I tried. For a week now. Maybe not the part of trying it with Ann, but I let you be. I stopped myself from approaching you, but I can't just pretend that we did not spend hours upon days together as we get to learn more about each other. Fiat, for crying out loud, I am not going to lose the opportunity of having to confess my feelings because you are afraid. I respect you and your feelings, but respect mine too. Ever since I told you my feelings you never outright rejected me. You never told me you do not have any feelings for me. If you tell me you have no feelings or a chance of feelings I will step back, but if you just push me away and try and create these barriers, I will work hard to show you how sincere I am and that you can put your trust in me that I will not turn my back on you or force anything you do not want to do. We can take it slow, just don't prevent something just because you are scared. Please, Fiat. Don't push me away."

Leo is now standing right in front of Fiat with his hands in his. Half of him is telling him to just give in, the other is telling him to step away and continue the path he has been on. The desperate look on Leo's face makes Fiat cower. His face scrunches up and he turns away. "Leo, I can't. Even if you can't be with Ann, I can't entertain your feelings. Don't make this harder for either of us."

"Tell me you don't feel anything, Fiat." Fiat's eyes raise with misplaced frustration. Leo leans forward to lay his forehead against Fiat's and it makes Fiat freeze. "You're saying all these things, but I don't hear you denying it. If there is a chance of you having feelings I will talk to Ann. I will explain that it just cannot happen and that for a long time, I have had feelings for you. If she is okay with it, will you try? Will you let us have a chance?"

"I don't want to get hurt or hurt anyone. I just want to live quietly. I just want to be as I have," Fiat croaks and he once again gets pulled into a warm embrace. With hesitant, shaky hands, Fiat clutches onto the sides of Leo's shirt before planting flatly against his sides. "I just want to be happy and accepted. Maybe not even accepted, just not denied. I can't handle being left anymore."

"And you won't, Fiat. I won't let that happen. I promise you. I will talk to Ann as soon as I can," Leo tried to reassure Fiat, but a small voice at the back of Fiat's mind remains to tell him that this is all wrong. "We should probably head over to Ann's club room. Sit next to me during the movie?"

"Let's go," Fiat does not confirm or deny that he will sit next to him and pulls away from the embrace he wishes to stay in. He leads the way out of the vacant classroom and walks towards the building of Ann's club room. Fiat avoids to meet Leo's stares and focuses on every other little thing around them. A familiar laughter emits from the room and both turn towards the door to find Ann stepping out with one of our seniors. The two laughing notice the waiting people and grin.

"Garfield, Leo, this is P'Chan. He's the new project manager for the club. Do you guys mind if he joins in on the movie? Apparently he's been obsessed with the franchise too!" Ann introduces the guy to them and they give respectful greetings to each other. Fiat and Leo welcome him and they all head to the parking. "We've got four cars. Should we carpool? It's a Friday, so there will probably be tons of people."

"I can drive," Leo offers and Ann smiles wide. The three leave their cars in the lot and slide into Leo's car. Fiat feels at ease as he sits in the back with Ann. The two of them are smaller in comparison, so it only makes sense for them to do so. "Are you in a different department, P'Chan?"

"Marketing, so my position would be directly involved with what I am learning and what I want to do in a couple years," the man in the passenger seat starts to share a bit more about himself and Leo responds back politely while giving a bit of information about himself here and there. Fiat looks over at the girl beside him and raises a brow questioningly.

"Thought you wanted this movie day to spend with Leo? What's with the sudden addition?" Fiat whispers. Ann bites her lips as she smiles. Her expression makes him narrow his eyes suspiciously. "I thought Leo was your dream man, Pip. What's going on?"

"Come with me to buy the snacks and let them get the tickets, okay?" Ann instructs and Fiat does as told when they arrive. Ann links her arms with Fiat's as she scans the candy selection. "So, I've come to the conclusion that as much as I fawn over Leo, I don't think we will ever happen. We get along so well as friends that I'm fine with it. As for P'Chan, he's such a funny guy. I actually didn't pay attention to him in the club until recently, when he became the project manager. He's quirky and I wouldn't actually pay attention to him, but I don't know. We got to talking and I just invited him. Is that weird?"

"Of course not, Pip. You go where your heart is," Fiat pats her head and clears her face from fallen hair.

"Where's your heart, Fiat?" Ann's question makes Fiat stiffen as he is looking at the display. He turns to look at Ann to find her looking back at him with suspicious eyes. "You never express an interest with any girl- or guy if you swing that way. I mean if you aren't attracted to anyone or anything that's cool too, but-"

"Relax, Ann." It was then that Fiat realizes that Ann has silently wondered about his orientation and has just kept quiet all this time.

"Sorry, I just didn't want to offend or say something wrong. You just never talk about it. I don't want to be the only one who talks about this stuff, you know?" Ann mentions after they order, with them splitting the bill. "If you don't want to talk about it's fine, but you know I will never judge you, Fiat. I just want you to be happy like you do for me. We're best friends, Fiat. I know you've been betrayed by your lowlife, poor excuses of friends, but I hope you realize that I'm not like them."

"I know, Pip. I know," Fiat pulls her close and pulls her head to him as he kisses the top of it. He carries the drink tray while she holds the two bags of popcorn. "I'm sorry if you feel like I don't open up a lot. It's just hard sometimes. I do know you are different. I just can't help the bit of insecurity."

"I'll wait for you, Garfield. You're my best friend. You're a heck of a lot better than the ones I had in high school," Ann smiles up at Fiat who mirrors her. When the two meet up with the others they smile fondly at the both of them.

"Have a nice talk?" Leo asks. Ann confirms and even leans her head on Fiat's shoulder to prove her point. "If I didn't know any better, I would think you guys are romantically involved."

"They're not?" Chan questions. The other three burst into laughter and the two quickly deny the chance of anything more than an amicable friendship that resembles two siblings. "Okay, I was wrong. So, how are we sitting?"

They sit with Ann and Fiat in between the two. Ann and Chan talk about the previous movies of the franchise while Fiat and Leo remain silent. Fiat keeps his eyes on the bag of popcorn on his lap. As soon as the lights dim, everyone silences and shift to a more comfortable position. Fiat leans against the arm rest and finds himself drawn to the film. His mind suddenly goes to his conversation with Leo during the department retreat. He turns his head and is shocked to find Leo already looking at him. Fiat quickly turns his attention back to the screen and ignores the stare boring into the side of his head.

Fiat flinches as his hand gets held and he feels his entire body heat up. He turns his head again to find Leo looking at the big screen in front of them while he smirks and sips his drink. Fiat attempts to pull his hand away while taking a careful glance towards Ann, only to feel Leo's hold tighten and even interlock their fingers. For the rest of the film, Fiat is stiffened to his seat while Leo sits calmly, drinking and eating popcorn with his other hand.

Once the lights start to turn on, Fiat wiggles his hand out of Leo's hold and clutches onto the popcorn bag that was still half full. On any other occasion, Fiat would have finished the bag. "Did you like it? Isn't it great?"

Ann asks him and he gives a stiff smile while nodding. He adds that he enjoyed the different personalities of the character as it kept the movie lively and funny. Ann starts to talk about her favorite character and all the different scenes she thought were hilarious. The four exit the theater after the credits and toss the remains of their snacking. Chan suggests for them to grab dinner and they step into the closest restaurant to the theater to avoid having to drive through traffic and find parking again.

"Everything looks so good," Chan hums as he looks between scanning the menu and the passing dishes for the neighboring tables. They are seated at a Japanese restaurant and decided to share their orders all together. "So, all of you are econ majors? What do you guys plan to do in the future?"

"I'm probably going to just follow my parents and help out with their small business," Ann answers. Fiat recalls Ann mentioning her family business and smiles fondly knowing that Ann had a plan. Leo goes next saying he wishes to get into a nice start up company. When it comes to First he pokes his chopsticks at a grain of rice on his plate.

"I just hope to get a stable job that'll pay my rent and loans," Fiat shrugs. His answer confuses them and he gives an unsure smile. His reality is too strong for his dreams, so Fiat decided to accept the fate. To avoid further questions, he changes the topic to Ann and Chan's club and the activities they plan on having by year end. Apparently their club is collaborating with the student association for the year end festival. Another event for Ann to force Fiat to come and him attempting to slip into the crowd and go off on his own to scout out the food stalls.

"You know, one of the proposals is a flower boy stall to sell some barbecue. Would you guys be up for it?" Chan questions. Simultaneously the two give contradicting responses. Three pairs turn towards Fiat who denied. Ann pouts and pleads for him to join saying that people actually wish for him to be more social as they enjoyed the way he acted more relaxed during and the couple months after the retreat. Fiat rubs the back of his neck and mentions that he would rather walk around quietly. "N'Ann did mention you would probably say no."

"Let's just do it, Fiat. It'll be fun! We'll have shifts won't we? We can go check out the food and activities when we're off," Leo turns to Fiat who is dreading the idea of being the selling point of whatever they are going to be in charge of. Leo suddenly takes Fiat's hand pleadingly, making the latter widen their eyes in shock.

"I'll get back to you guys. I don't know how I feel about the whole idea of it," Fiat confesses. Chan nods his head, understandingly. They soon finish dinner and make their way back to campus to go home in their own cars.

"Fiat, can I talk to you for a second?" Leo asks as everyone files out of the car. Ann raises a brow at Fiat who can only shrug before she slips out of the car with Chan who walks her to the car. "You can stay there. I just want to ask something."

Fiat tilts his head as Leo turns in his seat to look at him. Throughout the dinner, Leo has made small gestures to show his attentiveness to Fiat. Fiat would be lying if he were to say that he did not notice it. "What is it? If it's about earlier, my answer is still the same."

"Even if Ann wishes for it? It seems that Ann's moving on from her little crush. Isn't that what she was telling you while you guys got the snacks?" Leo asks and Fiat feels exposed. Leo must have noticed as he sighs and rubs his neck. "Look, I'm being serious about being interested in you and I hope to at least have a shot. Can you at least think about it with an open mind? Can I also be able to go back to hanging out freely with you? It really felt bad to not be able to sit next to you or meet up with you. I felt happy being able to get close to you and having to pretend that everything didn't happen was torture."

"Fine.." Fiat mumbles. He lowers his head feeling bad and guilty for forcing his own insecurities onto Leo. Feeling bad and looking down at his hands, Fiat misses the wide smile on Leo's face. "I'd be lying if I said that it didn't feel weird not sitting or walking with you since we have so many classes together."

"Great! I'll even bring us breakfast tomorrow!" Leo cheers making Fiat look up with an airy chuckle. Fiat feels his neck warm with the expression Leo is giving him. "So you'll think about it too, right?"

"No promises. I'll see you tomorrow," Fiat mumbles and quickly grabs his things before exiting the car. He rushes to his car and drops his head against the wheel. There are to many emotions going on through him and he sighs. A small smile rises on his lips and he sits up as he looks down at his hand. He clasps his other hand to it and recalls the feeling about Leo's larger hand. Fiat shakes his hair out and finally starts his car to drive home.

*******

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ

thoughts??

Ann's seems to have got her eyes on someone else! Leo has been actively showing his interest and Fiat has not exactly denied his advances. Let's see how their dynamic plays out. It's fun to see the bits of banter here and there, don't you think?

Do you think Fiat will join the 'Flower Boy' stall with Leo? We will probably find out next chapter~~