'To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness' -Robert Muller-
-..............-
Approximately 5 days before the clearance.
The door to the locker room was pushed open a little too hard that the sound echoed to the almost empty room.
"Oh Prom? I thought you have a photo shoots at the beach?", Ohm asked, remembering clearly that Prom said he wouldn't go to the institute because he had a photo shoot in their group chat earlier this morning.
Prom didn't answer his questions instead, he went straight to Yin who was packing up after training and grabbed him by the collar.
"What the-"
"What the fuck Yin, you've been ignoring War since that day?!"
Ohm who was sitting now standing up, trying to deescalate the situation but it was kinda useless. Prom was a social butterfly, he's friendly and rarely gets angry but when he does, it'll be hard to calm him down.
Yin looked at his best friend with an expression that was hard to read.
"How-"
"How do I know that? I saw him coming to the beach where I had the photo shoot today, he was talking to my colleague Tay Tawan and I happened to wander around the area when I heard him telling P'Tay and his boyfriend everything, he fucking cried because of you!"
"War knows Tay Tawan?" Ohm given up trying to calm Prom.
"Him and his boyfriend are War's senior in his previous university", Prom decided to let Yin go after he saw how conflicted and silent Yin has gotten.
"I thought you regretted storming out of the house, that's why now you're busy joining the investigation team as an apology, I thought you've reached out to War", Ohm was on this case now, after he got a good grasp on why Prom was storming in angry.
Yin who had been silent suddenly hit his locker in frustration. When asked if he really regretted blaming War and not giving him a chance to explain that day, yes, he really regretted it. Yin knew that he must have made War cry but hearing his friends confirm about it was a huge blow to Yin. He didn't mean to ignore War, he wanted to reply to the text that War sent but he didn't know where to start or what to say.
"I'm such an idiot", Yin groaned, tugging at his hair in frustration.
"Good thing you know you're stupid"
"I never meant to but... ughhhh why am I not good at this stuff?"
Realizing that what Yin did to War was purely due to Yin's lack of control over his emotions from being insensitive for too long, the two friends finally softened up. Of course, what Yin did could not be justified because he had hurt War but Yin could still correct his mistakes, if he was willing to put in the effort.
"Then answer his text!", Prom said
"I couldn't.... I couldn't, not before I'm sure that everything's gonna be fine..... what should I do?"
Yin looked truly hopeless because all this time he thought if he could help the investigation run faster and smoother then he could get a chance to be forgiven. So he waited until it's done.
"Go find him, sincerely apologize to him and explain everything. Whether he forgives you or not, that's on him. But ignoring him all together isn't it, you motherfucker", Prom slapped the back of Yin's head.
"But now that it's gone this far, I think you should wait until the investigation done first. It'll be hard to convince War and his brother otherwise that you've taken part in it"
Yin thought over Ohm's suggestion. That's what he was originally planned to do but after he learned how War was now, he wanted to rush back to his mansion and kneel begging to be forgiven if necessary just to be given a chance to hug War again.
But Ohm was right, there was no way War would easily forgive him now if he didn't have any evidence that he was trying to fix his mistake and Win would be on his ass for sure. So, with a heavy sigh Yin nodded and waited until the investigation is over and hope for a second chance.
-.............-
"You"
Yin could see Win's face harden as he realized who it was who was knocking on his brother's door. Yin also saw how the 14-year-old boy was trying to restrain himself from punching Yin. Which Yin kinda deserved.
"Yin... where have you been?"
A soft voice from behind the door interrupted Yin's concentration instantly and he immediately looked for the direction the voice had come from.
"Not so fast, hia", Win blocked Yin's path as he tried to approach War.
"If you want to explain anything you need to explain, do it here. I also have the right to listen to hia's explanation."
Yin looked at Win who also looked back at him with a sharp gaze. Even though he was only 14 years old, Yin knew that Win was right. He had hurt War, Win's only brother, it was natural for Win to also ask for an explanation.
"Okay, I will"
Yin explained everything in detail and thoroughly, about what happened after he left the house, about his regrets and about his contribution to the investigation of War's case. He also didn't forget to apologize sincerely and admit that the mistake he made was because he could not control his own emotions.
"War, you are the first person to get this close to me. I...I'm still learning how to deal with your presence. You really are my first", Yin lowered his head while fiddling with his fingers.
"You should know I'm very scared. Scared that you will leave me after this and scared that I will end up hurting you and ...... I did hurt you... I'm sorry"
Apparently, Yin was too focused on thinking about the right words while looking at his fingers that he didn't realize War had already gotten up from his mountain of blanket and ran over to Yin to hug him. Yin was too shocked to hug War back at first but finally encircled his arm around the smaller boy when he saw how War's shoulder started to tremble.
"I forgive you"
It was so quiet but Yin still could hear it and oh how it made his heart feel much much lighter.
"Just, don't ever do that again...please"
Yin didn't trust his voice so he just nodded while tightening his hug. He was sure War felt that.
"I'm just like you, you are my first too and I feel scared too", War admitted.
"I'm sorry....I'm so sorry"
War nodded "I know you're sorry", he loosened his hug so he could look at Yin
"I understand if it's scary, starting something new and letting someone new into your life, I feel that too but we can learn together, let me help you overcome your fear and you'll help me with mine. Just, promise me you'll never walk away when things get rough"
"Yeah....Yeah I promise", Yin sincerely promised.
At first Yin just thought he would be relieved if War would listen to him, let alone forgive. He didn't expect things to go back to the way they were, about their hearts. But, unexpectedly War not only forgave him but also gave him a second chance.He really understands now why many people like War. He really is like a rare diamond. Yin promised to himself that he would not repeat his foolishness and promised to reasures War so that he would not risk losing the diamond for a second time.
-............-
"What happened to your face?" was the first question Ohm asked when Yin entered the locker room before club activities.
Yin came in with a bruise on his cheek, not that big but clearly something had happened to his face.
"Got punched for being late for apologizing huh?", Prom chuckled, Ohm looked at him sarcastically.
"What?", Prom just answered without guilt. It seems that he still hold a grudge against Yin.
"No, got slapped", Yin replied casually which made his two friends shocked.
"War really slapped you?" Prom asked again, the sarcasm gone.
Yin shook his head, "No, his brother, nong Win"
Ohm and Prom looked at each other after hearing their best friend's casual confession before bursting into laughter.
"Well, I'm glad at least my suffering makes you happy"
"Sorry you kinda deserve it", Prom still laughing "I can't believe you got slapped by a kid"
Yin just shrugged, looked relaxed even though his friends laugh at him because the important thing for him is that War has forgiven him.
"So, from your expression, War has forgiven you?", Ohm asked after he calmed down and stopped laughing.
Yin didn't answer, just looked at his friends with an overly happy expression that he rarely showed.
"Geez, you lovesick fools", Prom shook his head, but there was a smile on his face. He couldn't lie that he was also happy to see his friend happy.
"Don't let him go again okay?"
-.............-
War still had to miss another day at institute despite the issue targeting him had been cleared because he had to come down to the office to give statement regarding the truth of the thread that was uploaded and the cyber bullying that happened to him.
War didn't really take issue that much because he didn't see most of the comments but grandma Rosa insisted. She couldn't tolerate the behavior, not in her institute. War understood and agreed to help. War didn't expect to recognize any of students in the office but how surprised he was when he met Ploy along with her gang, Mild and MJ. Kao was also there in the office but instead of sitting down like the other, he was standing near the principal's desk.
"Khun Wanarat please take a seat", grandma Rosa was on a professional mood.
"Kao", Grandma Rosa addressed Kao and he nodded, taking out a piece of paper and stepped ahead to talk.
"Well, most of you probably already know my name, but I'm Kao, two weeks ago Mrs. Wong asked me to lead an investigation to a smear campaign case that targeted War and I will report our finding"
War was again surprised, but out of curiosity he kept quiet to listen to Kao's explanation. The more the upperclassman spoke, the more shocked War was. Kao said that his team had confirmed that the mastermind behind the anonymous account was none other than Ploy. Mild and MJ played a role in raising the fire by retweeting and commenting on the thread so that many students saw it. So, many students commented and some of them were too mean and intolerable.
When War was asked to speak about the truth of the accusations directed at him, War shook his head. He firmly denied all accusations and told the true background of the photos. Statement from War is used as evidence to punish all who have taken part in this matter. Students who commented are required to write a written apology and upload it to their personal account and are required to do social work for a week. Mild and MJ also had to post apologies and were suspended for two weeks. Ploy was dismissed from school and his status as a student of the Puikus Institute was revoked.
War actually could not bear to see Ploy have to be expelled from the institute but what she has done has consequences that must be accepted. At least, after War left Rosa's grandmother's office, he felt a big burden on his shoulders had been lifted.
"Hey War", Kao walked next to War.
"Oh P'Kao, swadeekhab"
"How are you?", Kao asked and War caught his meaning that what was being asked was not only his physical condition.
"I'm fine Phi", War smiled sincerely, "Thank you phi, thanks to P'Kao, this problem can be solved"
"No problem, I've been assigned by Mrs. Wong so it must be done", Kao said casually. "Phi is relieved you are fine"
War smiled at his senior's words, he had helped War a lot. Before they parted at the intersection between the two passages, Kao turned his head towards War.
"Welcome back War, this Institute already misses you"
-..............-
2 chapters and two extra chapters left