Leave Me Alone, Big Brothers! [BL]-Chapter 115: Unexpected Gift

Nathan walked into the classroom, already carrying chocolate for Zane. His heart was beating very fast, especially since Zane didn’t seem to be in a good mood, but he had to give it to him or he would never do it.

But as he approached the classroom, he was greeted by the shouts of several of his classmates. They seemed to be waiting for him to arrive.

What is it? he thought.

He looked at several girls standing nervously in front of the classroom, along with the shouts from the children around him.

Nathan didn’t recognize the girls, who seemed to be from another class. He walked past them into the classroom, and his steps really attracted attention.

He was confused by all the attention focused on him, and it prevented him from giving Zane his chocolate. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself.

Nathan sat down, staring at the children who were still giggling. He only realized what the problem was when a girl approached his desk, one of the girls who had been standing in front of the class earlier.

"Nathan, please accept my chocolate!" said the girl with a red face and a nervous voice. She placed a pink box on his desk.

Nathan was surprised. Really surprised. He stared at the girl for a long time, then at the box. He didn’t even know the girl!

"Sorry, do I know you?" asked Nathan politely. Simple question, but it seemed to hurt the girl’s feelings.

Mike chimed in from the side. "Oh, Nathan, how could you not know Diana, the most beautiful girl in our grade?"

The girl froze, looking very embarrassed.

Nathan looked at the girl again and smiled slightly. "I’m sorry, I really don’t know you."

Then he looked at the chocolate again. "Thank you for the chocolate. Are you expecting me to accept your feelings?"

It was very risky for Nathan to accept the chocolate without asking. If he didn’t give chocolate in return, they would start rumors that he was a playboy who was just playing with their feelings.

Diana was surprised to hear the question. Of course, she hoped her feelings would be reciprocated. She had seen Nathan several times in the cafeteria, and he always smiled at her. She thought Nathan had feelings for her.

But Nathan, who didn’t even know her name and had asked who she was... she seemed to have misjudged him.

"How is it? I thought you liked me, so I made a move," said Diana, already able to control herself.

Nathan was too confused at the moment. How could he not be, when he was suddenly given Valentine’s chocolate by a girl whose name he didn’t know, who said he might like her?

"Sorry, but I don’t have feelings like that toward you." He didn’t even know her!

Diana felt her face turn red as a shrimp. She, the queen of the school, who was chased by boys, had given a gift to a boy for the first time and... was rejected.

"Are you kidding me?" asked Diana.

Nathan felt a threat in Diana’s voice.

"My father is the same status as your father. Do you really not know me?" continued Diana.

Nathan looked around at the sudden silence and intensity. He then looked at the pink box. Should he just take it to avoid conflict?

But his heart said no.

Nathan looked at Diana. "Sorry. If you give me chocolate and hope for my feelings toward you, I can’t accept it. If you know my family, then you should know why we never meet."

Diana hadn’t cared when Nathan joined Salazar. She had high hopes when Nathan seemed interested in her. Who wouldn’t want to be part of Salazar?

And those hopes were shattered into pieces.

Diana couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. She turned around quickly, not even caring about the box of chocolates she had prepared long ago.

Her friends immediately ran after her.

"Damn..." thought Nathan. What had he done?

Mike just shook his head, along with his classmates. "No, bro, you just refused Diana Maxwell!"

"What do you expect me to do? I don’t even know her!" replied Nathan in his defense.

Zane, who had been watching with great curiosity, now stared out the window, grinning slightly. For some reason, he was glad Nathan had rejected Diana.

The class became noisy again as they began to discuss this year’s romantic couples. It seemed that Nathan would become a trending topic, the first guy to reject Diana.

Nathan didn’t care. He was busy looking for a time to give his chocolate to Zane.

In the middle of class, while they were doing their assignments, Nathan was about to take out his chocolate when Zane put something on his lap.

Nathan was surprised and glanced at the boy.

Zane had returned to his seat as if nothing had happened.

Nathan took the simple black box. He opened it and found a... watch.

Nathan’s eyes widened in surprise. He stared at Zane. He wanted to say something.

But Zane pretended not to see him.

Nathan picked up the watch. It looked expensive.

Damn!

And he had only prepared chocolate from the store.

Nathan put his chocolate back, feeling embarrassed at that moment.

***

Meanwhile, in the school garden during break time.

The sun was trying its best to peek through the winter clouds as Nael and Hale sat on their usual bench during the first break. A few yards away, Nick and Jonas were standing by the wall. Usually, they were the loudest in the class, but since the blowout with Nathan and Zane, they had gone silent and careful, like they were walking on eggshells.

Nael leaned his chin on his palm, watching them without saying a word.

"Don’t even bother looking at them," Hale said, not lifting his eyes from his drink. "You did the right thing. Getting away from people like that is the best decision you’ve made all year."

Nael let out a long, heavy sigh. "I never knew you hated them that much. I feel like an idiot... I should’ve asked what you thought about them a long time ago."

Hale finally looked up, offering a small, reassuring shrug. "Don’t worry about it. You always try to see the best in everyone, Nael. That’s just who you are. But anyway," Hale leaned in a bit closer, his voice dropping to a gossiping whisper, "I heard they’re having a massive disagreement lately. Things are super tense between them. You can see Jonas trying many times to play it off by being ’besties’ with Mario now." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Nael glanced at Jonas, then looked back at Hale. "I didn’t know about any of that."

"I’m just telling you," Hale said, his expression softening. "The truth is, even those two can’t stand each other half the time. What actually kept us together before was always you, Nael. You’re the glue. Without you, we’re just guys who don’t even like each other."

Nael looked down at his lap. He didn’t want to be the "glue" for people who brought drama. He had enough on his plate with Nathan’s looming departure and the coldness at home. He just wanted something simple. Something nice.

"I’ve had enough of them," Nael muttered, reaching into his bag to pull out a small, neatly wrapped box he’d prepared. "Anyway, I have something for—"

"Wait, hold on," Hale interrupted, reaching into his own pocket and pulling something out. "Me first."

He handed it to Nael. Nael blinked, confused, and pulled out a round, ridiculously fluffy plushie. It was a panda with big, sparkling eyes and a tiny red bow tie.

Nael’s face transformed instantly. The sadness vanished, replaced by a radiant, toothy grin. "A panda! Oh my god, Hale! It’s so soft!" He immediately hugged the plush to his chest, burying his face in its fuzzy head. "I love it!"

"I know you like pandas," Hale laughed, looking relieved that the cheerful Nael was back. "Happy Valentine’s Day."

Nael beamed, his eyes bright with genuine excitement. "Thank you! Seriously, this is the best."

He quickly held out the box he’d been holding. "This is for you. It’s the chocolate I told you about. I chose the red ribbon specifically because I knew you’d like it. With a tennis ball shape."

Hale took the box, a slight flush hitting his cheeks. Nael always gave him chocolate, and he always waited for it. He loved it!

"I’ve been waiting for this one," Hale said seriously. "Thanks."

Nael smiled, busy with the panda in his hands.

"You’re the best, Hale," Nael said, squishing the panda’s cheeks.

"Yeah, yeah," Hale teased, opening the box to steal a piece.

Nael returned to his class while Hale went to the vending machine.

The hallway was quieter now, the rush of the break beginning to taper off. Nael was walking toward his locker, still subconsciously squeezing the panda plushie Hale had given him. He had a small smile on his face, feeling lighter than he had in weeks.

Suddenly, a shadow stepped out from behind a row of lockers.

"Hey, Nael."

Nael jumped, his heart skipping a beat. He pulled the panda closer to his chest, staring at the person in front of him.

It was Nick. He looked different, his usual "trying to be nice" posture was gone, replaced by a restless, awkward energy. He was chewing on his lip, looking everywhere but into Nael’s eyes.

"Nick," Nael said, his voice cautious. "You scared me."