Jian went back to class with an empty, growling stomach. A plain sandwich was placed in front of him, and Rui silently sat in the seat beside him. "Oh, it's okay. I don't want it... I'm not that hungry..."
Right at that moment, his stomach decided to be a traitor and growled loudly.
Sighing, he picked up the sandwich. "How much was it?"
"No need," Rui gazed his way, adjusting his glasses.
"I... I can't..." Jian felt awkward looking at the sandwich. He hurriedly took out the money and gave it to him. "This should cover it."
Rui gazed at the money on the table with a slight glare. "Why?"
"I... I'm not used to it." Jian apologetically gazed his way. "To be honest, I don't think my stomach will digest this if I don't pay you back. I'm weird like that." Mumbling, he happily ate the sandwich.
Rui carefully collected the cash and pocketed it. "Fine."
A strange silence ensued between them.
Jian gazed his way, but Rui did not bother to look at him throughout lunch. Even after class started, the class leader silently went back to his place without a word.
This made Jian very uncomfortable.
"Sh*t, I think he hates me now... Why did I have to pay him for that? I should have just taken the sandwich..." His mind reeled about that moment throughout the first class.
The English teacher went about teaching grammar. He dazedly took notes.
"Jian... JIAN!" someone called him out loud.
"Huh, yes..." Jian snapped out of his dazed state, gazing at his teacher. Strangely, Bian stood beside the teacher with a "good boy" look on his face. 'What happened? What did I miss?'
"Jian, why don't you join your brother in the staff room?"
Jian awkwardly walked out of the door. Bian followed behind him, softly humming.
"You seem to be in a good mood. What bad thing did you do?" he glared back at him.
Bian simply smiled. "Not saying~" the boy hummed even louder.
Jian tightly clenched his fist. His devious brother only hums when he has done something wicked or... is going to do something wicked. 'What has he done now...'
As they walked through some empty classrooms, Jian quickly grabbed him by his collar and pulled him into one.
Eyes wide open, Bian gazed up at him in shock. "W-what are you doing? Jian, I'll shout."
Jian quickly took a cleaning rag close to the blackboard and stuffed his mouth full. "Shout all you want, little brother of mine."
Horror swam in his brother's eyes.
For a second, Jian relished the feeling. Smiling, he patted his pale cheeks. "Don't be scared; I won't kill you."
Bian's eyes showed relief.
"But I will hurt you."
"Mnnnn, mnnnn..." Bian tried to run to the door.
Jian quickly caged him to the wall, peering down at him slightly. "Tell me, what gave you the confidence to hire some goons and attack me? You think you can defeat me? You know what I am, Bian. You know I'm not human," he whispered ever so softly, feeling Bian's body go stiff.
"Are you scared? You have to be... You've offended a very powerful alien." He gripped his neck ever so tightly.
Bian cried out softly, spilling crocodile tears.
"Tsk, I used to pity those tears. But I know all of them are fake." He pulled the rag out. "Now tell me, what have you done? Do you have goons waiting for me, trying to kill me? Or... are you planning to trip me to death..."
The second option was most likely. The school premises were hard for outsiders to get into.
Sobbing, Bian shook his head. "No, I don't have anything to do with this, Jian. I would never hurt you. You're my brother."
"No," Jian smirked. "I'm not. You know that, Bian."
Bian's eyes widened into saucers. "Wait! You... How do you know that... When did you... Who told you! Did you meet anyone?"
Jian watched him squirm with relish. 'My race must be here on Earth already... That's why Bian is so scared. He thinks I met one of them. Let's just keep up with the pretense.' He raised a brow and shrugged. "I did. A handsome guy."
"No... no, you're not supposed to meet him yet... Why did you meet him so soon... No, this is... not going according..." Bian fell apart, mumbling to himself.
"According to what?" Jian grabbed him by his neck again.