Love and Red Coloured Ties

Chapter song: BIRDS OF A FEATHER - Billie Eilish 

"So, you've become an unofficial member of the taekwondo team huh." Silas said as the two returned to their rooms after the match. 

"I guess I have." Julius responded back, still in disbelief. He didn't expected that he would produce such great results, even after being out of practice for so long. He had his muscle memory to thank for that.

"Honestly, when you told me you were good at martial arts, I thought you would be, adequate at best you know?" 

Julius shot him a glare to which Silas shrugged. "Sorry, I didn't mean any offense by that." He laughed. 

Weirdly enough, Julius could tell that Silas didn't mean any harm by his comment. He was just the kind of person who spoke honestly and it could sometimes come off as blunt or rude but it was only part of his personality. It was strange since Silas had a playful and whimsical nature to him, but he was also honest to a fault. He was very similar to Amélie in that way. 

"It's fine." He said, not paying the boy any mind. 

"But seriously dude, you're actually really good. We might actually have a chance against Saint-Ambracia Academy with you on the team." He said. 

"I highly doubt that." Julius laughed. 

"You really should believe in yourself more. Even Agares approved." He said, giving him a playful shove.

At the sound of Agares' name, Julius' ears perked up. He shot the red head a quick glance before clearing his throat. 

"Do you really think so?" He hesitantly asked, his eyes filled sigh hope and excitement.

"Yeah, I mean you're on the team are you not? It means you've successfully convinced the stubborn prince of ice to join. That's no easy feat my friend." SIlas said honestly. 

Julius could feel his heart swell when hearing those words. Even though they weren't coming directly from the person in question, it still felt nice to know that the person he admired thought well of him. 

"Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?" Silas asked. Julius hadn't spoken a word since then as he quietly changed back in his old clothes. As Silas observed him, he noticed the tinge of red on the tip of his ears. The boy narrowed his eyes wondering what he had said to elicit such a reaction from him. 

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became until his crimson eyes widened with realization, and his playful grin was replaced with an evil smile, adorning his face once again. 

"Honestly, you should've seen Agares during the match. The way he was looking at you so intently was really something~." He teased.

Julius flinched slightly when he heard those words which didn't go unnoticed by Silas.

I got you now. 

"I think this is the first time someone has gotten that guy's attention in a while." Silas observed, and this time he was being genuine. 

Julius slowly turned around as he faced Silas who was smiling innocently at him. Julius wasn't an idiot and he knew that Silas was saying these misleading statements for a reason. He couldn't help but sigh. Has he been found out? He decided to test the boy right back. 

"Why are you saying all of these things?" He asked Silas, getting straight to the point. 

Silas raised his brow at this question. " Isn't it obvious why I am asking?" 

"But why don't you do me a favor and tell me the reason." He said back. 

Silas sighed. "So that's how you wanna play huh, fine I'll ask. You like Agares." 

"Um, that wasn't a question but more so a statement—"

"Julius." 

"..." 

Julius stood there quietly for exactly thirty seconds before slumping into his bed, bringing the covers over his face. He knew his face had turned a bright shade of red, and he definitely didn't want Silas to see how embarrassed he was. 

"What is…what are you doing?" Silas asked, slightly startled by the sudden overreaction. 

"Ah, this? It's nothing." 

"Uh, it's obviously not nothing. Julius?" 

"It's really nothing. Just leave me here for a bit." He replied back, his voice muffled by the covers. 

Silas found this situation extremely comical and he was trying his best to hold back his laughter. He couldn't understand why Julius was going through such extremes just to deny something that was so obvious. But he could understand why the boy felt embarrassed. 

"Okay. You can come out of whatever this is when you're ready. Just know that you have nothing to be embarrassed about, especially in front of me." Silas assured him. 

This made Julius come out of his covers a little as he looked at the redhead, who had a rare serious expression on his face. 

"Really?" 

"Really." He nodded.

Julius finally got the covers off of him as he sat upright, finally facing Silas. His face was still red, but not as obvious as before. As Silas watched him compose himself, he couldn't help but find Julius a little cute. 

"So you like Saint Agares." He repeated. 

"Gh." 

"Alright, alright, I'm done teasing you." Silas said, resolutely. 

"Since when?" Julius asked. 

"Since when what?" 

Julius rolled his eyes. "Since when did you know, you know…about me liking Agares." 

Silas had a pensive look on his face before he answered. "Probably since the beginning?" 

Julius looked up at him in surprise. "The beginning? But I wasn't even—" You probably didn't even realize," Silas cut him off. 

"I mean I guess most people don't realize they have feelings for someone until they just do? I don't know, I don't really have a habit of liking people. But I guess you only know about your feelings once they get stronger." Silas explained. 

"Oh. Was I making it obvious then?" 

"No, not really. I'm just an observant person. Plus, most people do end up liking Agares at some point." He said. 

"Oh." Julius responded, sounding dejected. 

So he wasn't the only one then. There were others, his feelings were nothing special.

Seeing the dejected look on Julius' face sent Silas into panic. "L—Look, I'm not trying to discredit or downplay your feelings. It's just that I could tell since a lot of people tend to look at Agares that way. He's popular after all." 

Julius sighed. "Yeah I know. I guess I've been trying to hide my feelings for him by being in denial because I felt…ashamed. I mean it's weird that the first person I've ever liked is a guy. I don't know how to feel about that." He admitted. 

"I don't think that's the weird part about all of this." Silas scoffed. 

"Huh?"

"What's weird is that the first person you ended up liking is Agares. Period." 

Julius was even more confused. "What do you mean?" 

"I mean, what's there to like about a guy like that? He's bland, emotionless and stiff as hell. Where is the appeal? His face?" 

Julius was baffled by his question. "...Uh, he's…Nice?" 

Silas scoffed again. "He's nice? Nice how?" 

"He's caring in his own way, I guess." Julius said, as he thought back to the time he was feeling depressed and Agares tried to comfort him. It wasn't great, but he could tell it took a lot out of Agares to do that.

"I don't really see it but I guess it doesn't matter what I think since you're the one who likes him." He shrugged. 

Silas then turned to look at Julius, a playful grin on his face. "See, it wasn't so hard admitting your feelings." 

Julius looked down, a blush creeping up on his face. "I guess it wasn't." 

Just as Silas was about to say something else, the two boys heard a loud thud. They both turned towards the door that was left slightly ajar, and they saw Eirie who looked stunned. 

"Uh…sorry." He whispered before running off. 

"Shit. You don't think he heard us do you?" Silas swore. 

Julius' face paled. "I really hope he didn't." 

"Let's hope that's the case for your sake. Eirie is a Agares fanatic who also happens to be in love with him too." 

"What?!" 

"Yeah man, the boy you ended up having feelings for has a long line of potential suitors who would be ready to snatch him up if given the chance." 

"B-But Eirie doesn't strike me as the type to—"

"Don't go underestimating him just because he looks like the shy and submissive type. Eirie is vicious, especially when it comes to matters that have to do with Saint Agares."He said.

Julius blinked several times. He's vicious?! What does that even mean?