Page 88 of Psync
Okay, that last one was probably a little unfair. But the end result was that they currently weren’t speaking to each other.
“How did someone even take this video?” Haruka finally deigned to ask Eli.
And now they were back on speaking terms, which was progress, but Eli was still planning to be grumpy about it.
The video in question was only a few seconds long, but something about it seemed to resonate with people. Eli didn’t get the appeal, personally.
“I think it was when you called me. I went out into the hallway because that’s what polite people do. I didn’t realize anyone had noticed me.” He’d been preoccupied at the time.
“So, it’s Haruka who put that dreamy look on your face?”
“Stuff it, Alice.”
“I think it’s sweet!”
“Can you get them to take them down?” Haruka no longer looked like he was sucking on lemons for some reason.
“It’s too late for that. This is even bigger than the post Ash made about you. This is just where it originated. It’s trending on TikTok now.”
“What?! Why are people so interested in me talking on the phone?”
“Aside from my fabulous makeup skills on your lovely face? It’s the energy you give off. You’re so happy here.” She gestured at the video on her phone. It was paused on a frame of Eli. His head was tipped back against the wall, and he had a soft smile on his face. “It’s like you’re in your own little world, thinking only about the person on the other end of the phone. Everyone who sees it is going to want to be that person. You are the embodiment of boyfriend material here!”
“Yes, my boyfriend,” Haruka snapped.
“You don’t need to look at me like that, I’m not going to take him from you.” Alice ducked behind Eli.
“No, but half the school is about to try.” Haruka was back to scowling.
Eli had gotten a little hung up on the whole boyfriend comment, so he didn’t respond.
“This is the part where you tell him not to worry,” Alice said in a stage whisper.
“Huh? Oh, yeah, no. I don’t even want people noticing me, why would I want them hitting on me?”
“I think you should switch to online classes,” Haruka said firmly.
“And I think you need to switch to decaf.” Eli stood up. “Thanks for telling me about this, Alice. I’d better go if I’m going to make it to my next class.”
Eli left the empty classroom and heard Haruka say to Alice, “No more painting Eli,” before he followed him out.
They walked in frosty silence before Eli finally broke down and said, “I didn’t ask for this.”
“Hn.”
“You realize you can pack more meaning into one sound than most people can in a five-minute monologue, right?”
“Hn.” Haruka’s lips quirked.
“I’m not taking online classes.”
“Fine.” Haruka unzipped Eli’s hoodie and pulled his collar aside.
Eli zipped it back up and glared, hastily looking away when a pout began to form on Haruka’s face.
No, no, nope. He wasn’t falling for that trap. The bastard didn’t know the meaning of sadness or remorse, and he only acted cute when he wanted Eli to cave. And he totally would if he looked at Haruka right now.
“Eli.” Haruka had drawn close when Eli looked away. His voice was soft and butter smooth in Eli’s ear. “I don’t like that everyone thinks they have a chance with you.”
