wretches and Kings

          He hesitated for a moment; trying to hold back a wide grin. “Are you trying to fish compliments?” he laughed out loud; patting her shoulder. “There, there. You look... okay.” With that, he took a step back, crossed his arms and rolled his eyes playfully.

          “…” he narrowed his eyes, his dominant hand raising to tug on his bottom lip, while his gaze was scanning her thoroughly. “Do you really want an answer to this?”

“long time no see.. something’s different, or am I just hallucinating?”

          His dropped down hand reached up to his face again, rubbing the bridge of his nose lightly; eyebrows raised and his lips parting to sigh: “Oh boy...”, he muttered. “My ego is a way too big to just ask someone for help.” He responded with a crooked smile on his face, “..and how do I know you can take good care of my bruises, anyway?”

          The small stutter passing the females lips seemed to trigger an emotion out of the male; causing the corner of his lips to raise a bit higher. “Don’t you trust me? I mean I just saved your phone.” he said in an almost humming voice, but with a sharp undertone — he didn’t like to take a compromise, especially when the other person was someone he didn’t know. “Your phone doesn’t seem to be save in your hands anyway.” he mocked with a grin; his hand knocking gently against the pocket, in which he had dropped the phone. “I’m getting real hungry.”

          “I’ve done that a thousand times.” Zelo said while stretching his neck, until a loud cracking sound echoed. His eyes scanning one another through the dark material of his glasses, which he’d mostly wear, when he was outside during the day. Junhong handed the smartphone to one another; hesitating for a brief moment. “You should treat me for some food, though.” he truly wasn’t modest, when it came to things like this, since he usually was the one to steal. “You’re a lucky one, choosing someone who’s done a lot of parkour.” he bragged, dropping the phone into his pocket. “I’ll give it back, when I get food, aight?”

            Zelo narrowed his eyes for a moment, as one another started to explain herself, only to find a joke — he quickly snapped to the thought that she just didn’t want to tell, yet; maybe she wouldn’t ever mention it. He respected that, no matter how loud his curious mind was whining about getting the new information; instead, he narrowed his eyes harder, to the point, where someone could question, if his eye were still open or not. “You seem to be quiet obsessed with me...” he muttered, but loud enough to be heard. Suddenly he widened his eyes dramatically; leaning back, as if he was pushed back. “....are you in love with me!?”

          With no hesitation, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and stuck out his tongue as he felt the slight pain coming from his arm. While his tongue disappeared behind his lips, his arms remained in this position; Zelo proceeds to think for a brief moment, seeing Yuras expression of desperate. “I do have a face of an 5 year old. But my mind has matured.” he stated, blowing up his cheeks.

          Zelo immediately stretched his back, as if he was paying attention just now; just as Yura mentioned having therapy experiences. His thoughts seemed to snap to that thought— ‘why would she need therapy? how long has that been?’ “Why, why why.” he repeated in a fast pattern, not even letting it sound like a question. “You have been in Therapy?” he asked then finally; his mind already trying to find an answer to that. Maybe it has been the phobia; he just remembered how he comforted her on the staircase, because she couldn’t go to the roof; but maybe it was something different. It was hard to just get these thoughts off, as she carried on the conversation. “Well you’re not wrong with that.” he started to laugh.

          “Wow, with you telling that, I feel molested” he joked again with a grin; a small giggle escaping between his teeth, before his expression would change drastically. “Ya, ya, I get it.” he playfully rolled his eyes, “You’re the adult-y adult of us and therefore always right.” he narrowed his eyes a brief moment after his comment; seeming to question what he had said before.

          Zelo let that comment just slip away, not knowing what to reply to that anyway. His focus was more on the reply she’d give after his massive lie; squinting his eyes lightly. “Well, I wouldn’t need a therapist anyway.” he said with a small laughter following, thinking of the time he actually had been in therapy and how much he hated it. “You shouldn’t worry about me too much.”