(A/N:) ...OTL

I'm so sorry this took a million years. School is hectic and...well, I had a stroke of procrastination, laziness, and need for relaxation. Basically. Plus I've been sucked into the k-pop fandom, and, well, that's an additional distraction, I suppose. Hahah.

Short chapter. But, better than nothing, right?

Sorry for any mistakes. I wanted to get this up quickly~

Clumsy, clumsy, awkward me. Art class that afternoon was awkward—more than usual for me, at least. I barely said a word to Marik, and when he would ask me something, I gave him short and mumbled answers. I feel bad for giving him a bit of a hard time, but...how can I look at him when I know he...likes me?

Malik didn't call, text, let alone 'kidnap' me that day after classes. Though it wasn't like I expected him to after everything...Plus, he mentioned something yesterday about going to a meeting, so there's a small chance that's the only reason he's not contacting me in any sort of way.

Sigh. Thank every god for weekends.

So...Marik likes me, according to Malik. How...how do I go about this? Do I...like him back? But if I do like him back...what then?

"Ryo."

I mean...if I like him back, does that mean I should tell him? Or maybe...maybe I ask him if he likes me first, just to make sure Malik isn't mistaken...

"Ryo!"

But...is there a risk? If there's a risk...should I really take it..?

"RYO!" I feel a slap on the back of my head. I turn around to see Bakura standing there, arms crossed.

I rub the spot he had hit. "Ow...What was that for?"

"You weren't moving for the longest time, now. It was creeping me out," he says. "And you're almost burning the barbeque."

"Huh?" I turn around, seeing that the Korean barbeque I was preparing was nearly overcooked. "Crap," I mumble before quickly turning off the stove. Bakura reaches over to grab a piece of meat and pops it in his mouth.

He chews and seems to contemplate the taste before speaking, "It's still good."

I simply nod, showing a bit of relief. I go to the cabinets to get the plates ready. "Is Akefia coming over?" I ask halfheartedly.

"No," Bakura mutters, and I hear a chair scrape across the floor.

I grab two plates and two sets of utensils (since Bakura lacks chopsticks in this apartment) and walk over to place them on the table. I go back to the stove to transfer the meat onto a bigger plate and bring it back to the table.

"You want rice?" I mumble, going back to retrieve rice from the rice cooker.

Bakura pauses for a while. "...No, I'm fine."

"'Kay," I say, and fill just one bowl for myself. I come back and sit across from Bakura, and start to eat without a word. Bakura remains still.

I glance up from my food. "Go ahead. Eat."
Bakura stares at me, his expression unreadable. "...Okay," Bakura says, leaning forward in his seat, "Spill it."

I raise an eyebrow and stop eating. "What?"

"Something's wrong. You're acting weird. Tell me what it is," Bakura says. He's serious.

I stare at him for a few seconds, then go back to eating. "There's nothing wrong."

Bakura stares at me, and sighs. He leans back in his chair. "You're a terrible liar."

"I'm not lying," I say, shrugging.

"There, you did it again. You're horrible at lying."

I tighten the grip I had on my fork. "Bakura, I don't want to talk about it."

"Ah, so there is something wrong," a small smirk graces his lips. Damn, he got me.

"It's none of your concern," I say as calmly as possible, and continue eating.

"C'mon, amuse me," Bakura gestures.

I sigh. "Will you stop that?"

"I'll stop once you tell me," Bakura shrugs.

I groan. "Fine. There's a rumor someone likes me, and it's just bugging me. There, happy?"

"Ah, high school never ends," he shakes his head, smiling. "Is it a guy?"

"Bakura!" I look at him in disbelief.

"Oh, it is! I can tell," he grins.

I blush furiously. "Why am I your amusement when Akefia's gone?"

"Because there's no one else here," he shrugs.

I sigh and try to contain myself. Calmly, I go back to eating.

"So, do you like him?" I start coughing and choking on the food in my mouth. Bakura smirks. "I'll take that as a yes."

I drink water and clear my throat. "Th-that's none of your concern either, and I never said I like him..."

A few moments of silence. "...Hey, your cheeks are healthily shaded."

I make a puzzled expression. "What?"

"Your cheeks are red. They're not pale like the rest of your skin," Bakura snickers. I feel heat grow in my cheeks even more.

"Hey, don't feel bad," Bakura grins. "Just because you like guys doesn't make you any different. But it does make me right."

I'm a little irritated at this point. "Bakura, I never said—"

"Yeah, you never said. But I'm sure there's a lot of things being said in your head," he says simply, and finally starts eating.

I have no response for that.

I hear a loud ringtone, jarring me from my sleep. I groan and glance at my alarm clock. It's a little past eleven. I must've slept in...

I blindly reach for my cell phone on my nightstand, answering it. "Hello...?" I grumble.

"Well, good morning sunshine," a cheery voice says on the other line.

I pause, my mind slowly functioning. "...Malik?"

"Who else? Anyway, are you still up for going to the bubble teahouse?"

I'm a little confused. "Uh...yeah, I guess...What time?"

"Is two-thirty okay? I'll pick you up."

"Um...yeah, that's fine," I talk slowly, lethargy taking over.

"Great. See you later, Ryo-lovely." The dial tone indicates he had hung up. I lie on my back, staring at the ceiling. I put my phone away.

Okay...I could've sworn Malik was pissed at me yesterday. What happened?

I brush it off for the moment to get myself ready. Seeing that there was no sign of Bakura, I assume he's left for work already.

I straighten my shirt out in front of the mirror. Keeping an eye on my cell phone resting on the sink, I stay alert for a message from Malik indicating he was here. I suddenly hear a knock at the door, and rush over to check who it is while bringing my phone with me. I open the door and, surprisingly, Malik's standing there. He usually never picked me up by coming directly to the room, before...

"Hi," Malik says in an overly cheerful fashion.

I blink. "Hi...," I trail off.

"Ready?" he bounces a little in his position, and I wonder if he's hyped up on...something.

"Uh, yeah, let me just get my keys...," I say, and go to get said keys. I grab my jacket off the chair in the dining area and stuff my phone in my pocket. After locking the door, we start making our way downstairs.

Malik slips his Ray Bans onto the top of his head. "Anything specific you want?" he asks me, looking at the menu on the wall.

"Um...," I scan the menu, not really familiar with anything displayed. "Whatever would be good, I guess. I'm not really sure of what I want," I shrug a little.

Malik nods and turns to the cashier. "One regular milk tea, with boba. And...a large, milk tea with mini boba, rainbow and aloe jelly."

The cashier punches in the order and Malik pays for our order. We stand off to the side to wait for our number to be called out.

Malik rocks back and forth on his heels, eyes wandering around the teahouse. He seems restless, though he doesn't say a word to me.

"...Malik?" I speak up.

"Yes?" he turns to me. It just occurs to me that he's taller.

"I...," I purse my lips. "...I...I'm just gonna say it—why are in such a good mood? I mean, not to be weird or anything, but I could have sworn you were pissed at me yesterday for ditching you for your brother—" I flinch, thinking Malik is about to say something or cover my mouth, but he just reaches up to take his Ray Bans off his head and put them away in his bag.

"...I'm over it," Malik shrugs.

"...What?" I blink, looking at him in disbelief.

"I'm over it," he repeats blatantly.

"...I...I don't understand—"

"Number 17!" the cashier calls out. Malik walks off to grab our drinks, and as he comes back, he gestures toward a table outside for us to sit at. We sit, and he takes one of the straws and puts it in my drink for me.

He proceeds to drink his drink. "So," he says. "What were you saying?"

I stare at him. "...Malik, how...how could you be...'over it'? I...I just don't understand."

He shrugs. "I dunno. I'm over it. I don't really care. Eye dee gaff," he sips his drink.

"...Huh?"

"Idgaf. I don't give a fuck," he shrugs for what seems like the millionth time. "Ryo, just chill, I'm not mad anymore."

"...You sure?"

"Of course," he says, and pokes my forehead. "You just worry too much."

"But—"

"Shush. Drink your tea."

I blink a few times, staring at him. I finally give in and just take a sip of the foreign drink. "...It's good," I nod.

"Of course, I suggested it, after all," Malik says proudly.

I simply roll my eyes.

(A/N:) ...Okay that was just super short and total BS wasn't it. ;_; But heeey, at least I got it done. Since I've been super busy and it'll basically continue this way for a while, I think this fic will turn out shorter than planned. So basically...I think there's going to be a slight time skip next chapter. Gotta keep the story moving. :P

I'll hopefully get started on the next chapter soon. Please bear with me ;_; Thanks, guys~