11 Chapter 11: Handkerchief

"-That will be all for today. Do not forget to review this lesson at home. I will be quizzing you all next week. Class dismissed."

Professor Laertes, the arithmetic professor, ended her lecture on Fundamental Properties and finally excused the class to lunch.

Neo put away his notes and stood up, heading toward the door. There is already a sea of students trying to get out of the classroom. Behind him, Finneas and Tybalt followed closely.

"Are we eating at the dining hall?"

Tybalt stopped him when the three of them made it into the hallway.

"Yes, if the two of you would like," Neo spoke. He didn't want to drag Tybalt and Finneas around if they didn't want to go to the dining hall.

Both Finneas and Tybalt shared a look. Tybalt crossed his arms. A perplexed emotion showed clearly in his eyes while Finneas had on a puzzled expression.

Confused, Neo tilted his head in bewilderment. "Is-" He started, unsure. "Is there a problem?" His brows knitted together slightly, and a slight frown formed on his face.

(Unknowest to Neo, the expression he made was quite pitiful, like an injured rabbit with doe red eyes.)

To be faced with that look head on--a look that was never-before-seen on the face of the oldest Odum child--Finneas and Tybalt both felt like they committed quite the crime against cute, fluffy creatures.

Finneas, unfortunately, was the first one to break.

"N-nothing!" He hastily assured. "Nothing at all. Just… just…" He struggled to say the words. For once, he wasn't sure how Nazareth would react. There were always words and names that would trigger the other's anger and fury, but it seems that this new and completely different Nazareth (what the hell happened last weekend?) might, quite likely, maybe, possibly, cry if Finneas says the wrong things.

But it's okay because Tybalt always has the handle on things.

"What Finneas is trying to say," pointed look, "is if you are alright with seeing Aurelion?"

"... Aurelion?"

Even more confused, Neo couldn't help but say his brother's name in a questionable manner. What does Aurelion got anything to do with this- oh. Oh!

Neo quickly shakes his head, trying to erase whatever assumption Finnease and Tybalt had in their heads. "No. It's fine." He tells them, a small smile on his face. "Aurelion and I made amends a few days ago. I don't mind seeing him."

And isn't that a surprise.

Neo remembers that in his second year of Senior High, he actively avoided the dining hall.

Noble Academy is organized into two lunch periods. Each period takes up a full hour, allowing students time to eat, rest, and roam. Junior High students typically ate at around eleven while Senior High students ate at noon. This way, there won't be too many students crowding the dining hall or out of class.

Since Aurelion moved up into Senior High, his lunch period is the same as Neo's. For this reason, because Nazareth didn't want to see this younger brother of his, he ate in other places instead. It is no wonder both Tybalt and Finneas were so confused. The two of them followed him like loyal companions, minus the loyal part, but at least they are good company.

"Are you sure?" Tybalt looked uncertain.

"En."

"Really, really sure?" Finneas asked, his nervousness seemingly disappearing all of a sudden.

"En."

Neo didn't notice the way Finneas eyed him with a calculative stare, but was able to pick up that he was pushing for something.

"So sure that you swear on denouncing tea?"

"En--wait, no--Finneas."

Neo made a face that was both offended and amused. "Finneas, I am not denouncing tea." He starts, and before his two companions can say another word, he continues, "But I am very sure with my decision. And," Neo looks down at his feet, momentarily avoiding their gazes. "I don't expect either of you to join me if you don't wish it. I understand if the two of you want to hang somewhere else from now on instead of following me around." He has to say it, or else he will chain them to his poor reputation once more. Never again does he wish to ruin their lives or hurt them.

The atmosphere was weird. Very, very weird.

If not for the fact that the rest of the students have already wandered off to lunch, the three of them would have made an interesting sight to behold. Tybalt admits that the school hallway is not the most fitting of places to have a conversation like this, with all these emotions and aspiration-like feelings. Hell, on a normal day, the three of them use the corridors as a place to plot and scheme and no one would bat an eye.

He fears that students and professors might even puke blood if they overhear. The content of this discussion is THAT appalling.

"I mean no disrespect, Odum, but what the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What?"

Blunt and crude. That was absolutely Finneas' way of solving things. Tybalt isn't even surprised, Finneas is related to Professor Rickman on his mother's side. Viscount Dagon is quite the masochist. The Rickman family have sharp tongues and can make grown men cry without lifting a finger. The women in that family are known to be the scariest of the bunch…

Neo blanked out. Quiet and docile Finneas, cursing? Oh Lord, has he corrupted this boy already?!

Finneas doesn't give a damn anymore. He's in a bad mood after this morning and now this scummy troublemaker is acting like a goddamn lunatic. What the fuck does he think he is? The Saint of the Church? Mother Gretchen? The Oddment Savior? For God's sake, it's like he thinks of himself as some sad martyr!

"I said," Finneas repeats, a scowl marring his innocent-looking face, contorting the features into something fierce and perhaps even demonic, "What. The fuck. Is wrong with you?"

There was tension, and Tybalt stared at Finneas. He is acting way out of character--no, he is breaking character!

Shit, Nazareth's going to be pissed-

Tybalt hastily turned to Nazareth, expecting an equally dark and morbid look to appear on his visage, but instead, he was met with the sight of tears.

Tears welling up behind vermillion eyes.

Tears behind a very pale and pitiful expression and-- and he has no idea Nazareth was capable of looking like that…

For a moment, Tybalt felt his brain explode.

Oh my fucking god, Finneas made the bastard cry!

Neo stared down at his own shoes. This is the first time he has ever experienced a confrontation with Finneas. His hand that was at his side ball up the material on his pants and he bit his bottom lip.

What should he do?

"I…"

What should he say?

"I… Um…" He hastily scrubs the tears away.

Finneas was getting impatient. "For fuck's sake, what are you-"

Plop.

Finneas paused.

Plop. Plop.

The dam broke.

Streaks of tears began to pour out from Neo's eyes. He rubbed them away, but more replaced the droplets. Soon, his entire face was red and sopping wet.

"Sorry…"

He's apologizing, but he doesn't know why. He told himself he wouldn't cry anymore. He mourned already for that life. He made peace with himself and everything else on day one. This is his reality now. He has to live it.

But it hurts. It hurts so much. This school. Finneas, Tybalt. These memories continue to surface. He knows, okay? He knows what he did wrong...

"Sorry… I'm so sorry…"

He's sobbing, and having trouble breathing. Why is he crying? He's being too sensitive about this. It's just Finneas. Shy, timid Finneas. Finneas who is currently staring at him with a look that seems to stab him thoroughly in the chest. He knows that look. He's seen them on everyone's faces before. It is a look of hatred and disgust, and when he was reborn in that modern world, he vowed to never receive those looks again.

"... Sorry… Sorry…" This was all he could say. Nothing else, nothing more. All he's doing is apologizing. It's strangling him. Guilt and remorse choke him like a rope. He can't breathe over the sobs and pants coming out.

There is a sharp intake of breath, but Neo's eyes are blinded by the tears. He can't see who it is that did it. Rather than trying to see, he covers his face with his hands so that they don't need to see him. He doesn't know why this is happening. It's embarrassing and painful, and disgusting, and he just wants to STOP!

"Naza…"

"... I'm sorry…"

He wants to crawl into a hole and die.

Tybalt felt the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.

What was he supposed to say? It's okay? Everything is fine? Let's go plot another scheme to ruin your brother's life? You love that, don't?

Nazareth Odum is the most complex human being Tybalt has ever had the displeasure of meeting. With said complex human being breaking down into tears does not make the experience any better.

The hazel anger resettled itself deep within him, and Finneas can finally take a good look at the damage.

He felt a bit of remorse, but it did not put a lid to the prideful feeling that was slowly blooming inside him. If he had known that speaking up like that was all it took to bring down the great and powerful scummy troublemaker, he would have done this long ago. He would have stood up for himself and got rid of Nazareth's company once and for all. All the shit that the other had put him through ate at him and festered his resentment.

However, as he stares intently at the stream of tears dropping down Nazareth's chin, Finneas did not feel as satisfied as he should be.

The other boy looked miserable, unlike the cold, manic expression he used to wear on his face. And he kept repeating "sorry" over and over again, which really twists Finneas in the heartstring. The scene doesn't look right. Nazareth isn't supposed to be crying. He, himself, shouldn't be regretting what he had said. Everything was wrong. It shouldn't be like this. But if this was wrong, and the scummy troublemaker's prior scum-like behavior was also wrong, then what exactly was right?

Aish, what a problem.

Finneas huffed. The momentum he had earlier was gone, and now he just looks tired, and grumpy. He rubs the back of his neck, a put upon expression donning his face. He can feel Tybalt's eyes boring into him like a burner. He sighs. In the end, they still indulge this scummy troublemaker.

Neo feels a hand on his shoulder.

A handkerchief is held in front of him. It was a wrinkled thing, noticeably unused and looks to have been stuffed haphazardly into a pocket. To Neo, it meant a lot more than anyone can hope to think.

Finneas can't look at the other, so he stares at the wall beside him, but his hand still has a handkerchief offered in front of the other boy. Tybalt stands beside Nazareth, his hand on his shoulder, acting like a source of comfort. Neo sniffs. He feels snotty and uncomfortable.

Pale, dainty hands reach for the handkerchief. "... Thank you." He says, his voice touch and cracking.

Thank god everyone is out to lunch.

No one says a word. None of them were truly ever good with words, so the three of them are silent.

Neo wipes away his tears and Tybalt helps him look presentable. Finneas has his arms crossed, the grumpy expression never coming off, checking to make sure no one is going to come down the corridor. It was his resting face beneath the frightened sheep persona, and having already exposed it, he has no need to strain himself to look pathetic.

"Let's go to the dining hall. Alright, Naza?"

"En."

The low energy response was just downright pathetic. Of all things, Tybalt and Finneas realized that they can't defeat a sad Neo. This realization will never occur to them until far, far into the future.

Overall, although tears and a sad Neo do not solve everything, in the end, Finneas was able to retain his sense again and the three boys silently agreed to never mention this incident again. Whatever the hell is happening with Nazareth will not be discussed for a very long time.