Inside an empty classroom with a blackboard riddled with signatures of students.

It was around the time where the sun is throwing orange rays on every window. Sunset.

Gabriel, Darko, and Gareth, enters. All three young and handsome in their own rights.

Gabriel taking a seat at the teachers table and the two pulling their own chairs.

Gabriel was the only one who brought a bag which he brought three items: Two cups, and bottle a of water.

"Before we start,"

Gabriel spoke as slumped and looked at the two.

"Are you guys sure of this. There is no turning back once we do this."

Both of them made a roar of yes and burning eyes.

Leaning to his chair, Gabriel relented and opened the bottle and began pouring the two cups until both was half full.

"A drink of no return,"

Smiled Gabriel as he threw the bottle to the back of the classroom.

"Because that's what this day is."

Without hesitation Darko grabbed the cup and filled his poured everything in a single gulp.

"Whatever nerd."

Gabriel began massaging his brows as he couldn't believe how they are willing to take this far.

"Even at the cost of your lives you will do anything."

"That's right, everything for her and everything to stop him."

Darko then threw the cup at Gareth who's hands, if one would to examine with care, were shaking as if the clear pristine water was freezing him.

"Gareth, she is not the inky girl this world you know."

Suggested Gabriel at the sweating Gareth.

"D-dont you assume that I can't do this!"

As a lion came out of that shout Gareth lifted the cup and siphoned the drink.

Gabriel can only massage his entire face as Gareth threw the empty cup at Darko which ignited a heated boxing match that only lasted until Gabriel's patience.

"Sit down right now! Or I won't call Melissa!"

Just the mention of that name stilled the two love stricken idiots began to civilize themselves in a manner that Gabriel wanted.

"Both of you being dead before she gets here isn't going to solve any problem for both of you."

"Then why not just call Melissa and leave us alone! You're just a third wheel in this!"

Spoke out Darko.

"Oh yeah, how well did you that go?"

Gabriel's lips were twitching as he looked at the two who averted his prowling eyes that made them remember.

"She's would be in the hospital it weren't for me."

A silence came afterwards that relaxed Gabriel's face as he slumped back to his seat and began texting.

"A few minuets,"

Sighed Gabriel as he announced.

"Sofia gave just Melissa the antidote. Only one of you will come out alive with her, and me with goddamn murder written on my hands."

They didn't respond to that as Gabriel formed a small smile. They know it, their hearts thumped in intensity as each beating second could be their last. The classroom... The years they the trio together, not a square inch of this room was nothing short of memory to flood them.

Gabriel, Darko, Garth, they will cast a hundred one reasons why they hated being together again, but they have one reason why they didn't like being inside this dirty, stress induced, and 'catered for the gifted' classroom... It was damnable fun.

"When did it all crashed?"

Gareth spoke out.

"Too late lamenting about it don't you think?"

Replied Darko.

"The day Darko confessed to Melissa."

Answered Gabriel.

"Are blaming people now?"

Snapped Darko.

"Come on, guys before one of you two die, can we at least bury the hatchet? While we wait for Melissa, let's start with you why did you confess in secret that day and only deciding to publicly tell your relationship to us when Gareth found out."

In Gabriel's point of view this is the epicenter of the problem, the day everything shattered into a million pieces in front of him, Gareth, and the years of friendship.

"You never gave me us an explanation back then."

Said Gareth.

"You jabbed his nose back then, what did you expect?"

Chuckled Gabriel.

"And it felt good."

Replied Garth with his own set of low hanging smile.

"I was jealous of Gabriel."

Darko grumbled.

"You gay?"

Gabriel began to back off a bit from Darko.

"From your relationship with Sofia... You two have something special. That smile you gave out everyday whenever with her, I want to feel and I saw that smile with Melissa..."

Darko then breathed out and looked up on the ceiling.

"You know her... She's the heart of our group... To the whole classroom... I was there to witness every warm smile and care to everyone even to me. Mom, dad, even you two never gave me the smile gave me and I want to keep that smile... That's why I confessed and she said yes. She said yes to me... A guy who's best at beating people and being looked down for nothing but meat here,"

He tapped his head.

"A guy like me you know that."

Though some tears escaped his eyes that wanted to be a damn his face couldn't contain a wriggly smile.

"And since that day... Weeks, months... Almost a year... I no longer felt that jealousy... And everything would have been fine!"

Until his face twisted to a frown and gaze flaming and sharp towards Gareth.

"If you really loved her then why did she came to me?"

Gareth replied his own set of eyes.

"One year! You broke it!"

It was clear as the orange sun that something has to be done as the two stood up... Yet Gabriel merely looked at the time in his phone and watched the two...

Tic-toc

Tic-toc

Tic-toc

Suddenly sat back down and grabbed their chair like their life depended on it. They shook their head and looked at their hands as sweat began to slide down from their hair.

"Let's not waste more our time."

Stood up Gabriel and began checking the two. Telling both of them if they can hear him, and see him which both responded quick.

"Let's keep the ball rolling then, Gareth... Can you still hear me? Gareth."

Gabriel tapped Gareth's shoulder.

"G-get away from me! I'm not dead..."

"Prove it, aside from Melissa's all too angelic attitude, what else made you fell for her."

That question alone made it seem like the two got a shot of adrenaline.

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"Promise you won't laugh."

Spoke Gareth.

"Try me."

Gabriel crossed his arms.

"H-her button nose."

He stuttered and hung his face low.

None of the three spoke for a minuet or two when he proclaimed his fetish. At least that idea ran inside Gabriel's mind as his lips raised up to a mischievous grin.

"So it's because of a fetish that made you fall for her, alright understandable."

"Sick!"

Spoke Darko.

"W-what! No! No! I don't have a nose fetish!"

Gareth stood up, his skin manufactured sweat like his life depended on it.

"I don't have a nose fetish! I just like her nose. They're cute, you know! It complimented well on her shy yet friendly demeanor."

"I know what you mean."

Spoke Gabriel.

"She gives her best to be friendly and welcoming to anybody despite being a shy butterfly... If there is something I like about her it's how she's easily misunderstood... She's a cute girl poor girl because of that."

"Wait, you like her too?"

Darko stared at Gabriel.

"Really!?"

Same did Gareth.

"Don't worry I'm not in too cute girls. Cuteness and beauty has often its flaw inside -- A Rose will always have its thorns -- She's no different. There is a reason why she wears a warm smile, gives her hand in help, and has an almost never turn them down attitude."

Gabriel purses his lips as he ended that Melissa is an angel.

Tic toc            Tic toc           Tic toc

"I know, and I damn well know!"

Spoke out Darko in energy,

"But the way she said yes to me is different, ok! It was a yes of an angel!"

"No!"

Jumped Gareth! I heard say that she and Darko was in a relationship and she felt forced that's reason why I broke them up. I helped her!"

'You helped no one, retard!'

Gabriel screamed inside his cranium yet composed himself as Darko found his footing and began the process of putting down again where in which Gareth pushed Gabriel away.

"She wasn't!"

Growled Darko,

"We were happy I swear on my life she was smiling on every date we had! Every lunch we had! Every homework we had! And within that year she always never failed to give me her home made sandwich, just for me!"

Darko was sweating and heaving out his breath like he was suffocating in this wide open classroom. Yet, his eyes were a flame in front of Gareth.

"You forced her don't lie!"

Same with Dark Gareth was almost begging for air as the banter continued.

"If I haven't intervened she would be stuck to a guy like you!"

"I suppose, was she happy when she was with you?"

Asked Gabriel, he didn't want this flame to die.

"Yes! Of course she was! She was happier when we were alone, when we go the library, the theaters and the park! And what's more she brings me better sandwiches!"

"You sonvabitch!"

Like rabid heaving breathing dogs the two stood up hands molded into fist until...

Tic toc            Tic toc            Tic toc

Like towers demolished from their center entirety collapsed on the chair again, and both of them once face plump red of rage and might now turned pale and monotone.

It was like blood was sucked from their faces as leaned on the chair pacified and tamed as Gabriel saw it.

"Her sandwiches aren't even that great anyway. I would compare it to garbage if I have to."

Remarked Gabriel as he took out his phone.

"You what?"

And both looked at him.

"What? My loyalty resides by my grandmothers sandwich. Also you guys know that she almost gives out everyone in our class sandwiches... Ah, this must be drug in your brains, silly me."

Chuckled Gabriel while the two seemed to be anemic of any response.

"Either way..."

Gabriel then buried his phone in his pocket.

"She's not coming."

"W-what?"

Even if they could, even if they wanted to, just to say those lines was a demanding task to their body.

"It's time I tell you the truth then."

"She's coming... Don't lie to us... She never lied to me."

"Gabriel... Please... Don't lie to us."

They pleaded.

"Well,"

He smiled,  and just that smile was enough to break the two.

"Y-you killed us, so you can have her!"

Spat out Darko trying to gather whatever strength he can still harness and in surprise he did rise up, but only one step was all his body could give... Gabriel has to catch Darko's fall.

"Dealing with you two is too much already, dealing with a lawyer with both you is my hell. Don't worry, it's just Qutiapine that you drank. Both of you still have a chance to beat the shit out of me."

"She said she will come!"

And without a warning Gareth jabbed and missed Gabriel.

Gabriel now has his two friends crying as Gabriel carried both of their weight.

"Why..."

Cried Drako.

"You cheated on us! Me and Draco trusted you!"

Same with Gareth.

"That's why I am helping both of you. Five of us against the whole classroom... 7 a.m. we met, 10 a.m. we laugh and free the next subject at 12 we convinced Sofia and Melissa to cut class and wait return at 3 where all of us enjoyed math... No wonder we often get scolded at 6 p.m. All of us got cheated here, because of her we got cheated, because of her shy cuteness we got cheated. Because of love... The three of us cheated one another."

Tic toc            Tic toc           Tic toc

As the drug was now ran around the head of Gareth and Darko, Gabriel rested them both as he called her out.

"It's safe to enter."

He added.

And entered the talk of the town. The face of the classroom and the heart of the the group. Shy yet friendly, and the cutest nose... By Gareth's fetish, she entered.

Arms clutched between her chest as she entered and saw the two asleep. Reaching inside her pocket she brought out two envelope, one was red and one was blue. Each one expressing how she truly felt about the two, and this time, by Gabriel's encouragement, was written down why she cannot be with them.

"It still feels wrong... E-everything is my fault but is this the best way?"

Spoke Melissa when she laid her letters for the two.

"For almost a semester you've been with them, you his your true feelings and have been the best of best for them. This is the best way."

To change their goals, once they knew the truth.

Gabriel thought inside. He knows the two of them well. He knows how Darko and Gareth will deny her letter if we just gave it to them. They're love stricken, that's why. Why would they agree to this complicated and life threatening plan.

"That's why it's better that they believe I wrote that letter and direct their energy to me instead."

Explained Gabriel.

"Besides, don't you have a plane to catch with Sophie?"

"B-but I... I can't just leave..."

She was looking to the door and looking at Gabriel left and right,  left and right,

Just leave!

Until Gabriel grabbed her shoulder.

"Chin up, don't always let your emotions decide for you, don't let people's feelings guide your actions. You have a heart of gold to share to everyone, but remember that not wanting to give it doesn't make you a bad person."

Letting her go,

"I'm sorry that I asked this kind of favour from you."

Melissa grabbed his hand which Gabriel escaped immediately.

"Don't be, feel sorry that we fell in love with you. "

If that's my consolation.

"I'm sorry, but this is who I am. I sorry that I cheated so many boys, but I am not brave enough to show my true self, I don't want people to know, I don't want Sophie to know."

Just leave!

Gabriel placed his right arm on Melissa's shoulder while his clutched fist his behind his back.

"I know, I know. You can leave now."

"Thank you."

And again Melissa held Gabriel's hand which this time Gabriel didn't let go and allowed his hands to drown this soft sensation.

"If there's anything I can do to repay you, please tell me."

With that Gabriel's lips twitched and this time he went subtle in removing his hands from Melissa's warm and soft hands.

With a smile,

"Can I punch your face then?"

He requested in such a warm and casual tone.

"W-what?"

She didn't know how translate this request. The way Gabriel tilted his head and smile so warm it was hard for to know if Gabriel was serious.

"You know, I hate girls saying promises like that."

Gabriel purses his lips before returning to a smile.

"Because they never really do what they say."

"N-no, it's just that... Why would you ask for something like that?"

"Simple, for closure. I like you Melissa."

His mouth trembled when he uttered those words.

"I like your timid behavior that everybody takes advantage, I like how you can't be honest with your feelings that you cannot say No to Darko's confession and when you do you explained so badly that Gareth misunderstood it. Heh."

There was a roll of emotion that escaped his eyes when he made small giggle.

"I like your plain sandwiches that you give to almost everyone during recess so that you can give that well made, well dressed, chicken sandwich just for Sofia, I like how you did your best to study, even in advanced subjects to be helpful to Sofia or teach Sofia, I like how raise your hand to impress her, attempt to always be in the same team with her, everything you did here is all about her. I like you Melissa... So please, let me punch you."

Gabriel's fist were already shaking as it gripped harder.

"W-will it hurt?"

Her voice squeaked and mouth shaking like she just caught a cold.

"Definitely, It will hurt very much. I recommend that you close your eyes."

"Ok..."

It was this bravery that Gabriel failed to mention that he liked the most. Despite everyone knowing how Melissa is friendly, shy, and timid... Only Gabriel knew how brave she is once she set a goal in her mind. Even now as Gabriel raised his fist, he couldn't stop his lips in to a smile as even Melissa doesn't know how brave she is.

With a light tap on her soft pink lips...

"Leave."

Said Gabriel as turned his back.

"Y-you said it would hurt."

"It did."

"I don't understand."

"You have a plane to catch remember!"

Gabriel shouted.

"And tell Sofia that she needs to return that review book I gave her."

"I will! Thank you Gabriel."

She left. Only the echo of her racing footsteps that dwindled to a halt was the last thing that kept the classroom silent.

The sun has already set and Gabriel still has to haul two knocked out best friends to the diner where their family is waiting. Another problem in the bucket list of future problems.

For now, graduation is over, for now Darko and Gareth might hate Gabriel so much that the two forgets why they hated each other in the first place. For now... Gabriel kissed his fist that brushed Melissa's pink soft lips earlier.