Daily first kiss

It’s snowing outside the window again, which makes the already dull school building look even grayer. Mid-December, end of the first half of the year. Two weeks before the final grades are given, and it’s easier to off yourself than to try to fix things that were neglected a long time ago. Foxwoods School for Boys is a low building, only four stories high. However, if you accidentally fall out of the window, for instance, of the third floor, you could get hurt pretty badly. Break a neck, for example. Aric leans his head back against the cold surface of the window and stares pointlessly at the ceiling. “They won’t make me improve my grades if I fall out of this window now, don’t you think?” It seemed as if the phrase was addressed to no one, but Aric knows that the one, for whom it was intended for, will realize that the question’s meant for him. And he’s not mistaken — Japheth turns his head in his direction and looks at him with one of those strange looks which mixes fatigue, indifference, and incomprehensible sadness. “Oh, please. Helen would never give anyone less than a B in a semester.” In fact, the history teacher’s name was Helen Clersol and she should have been called no other way than “Mrs. Clersol,” but no one really cared, and most of the students just called her Helen behind her back. “Anyone who isn’t me. She doesn’t like us very much, you know.” “We’re still a week and a half away from grading. During this time, it is possible to pull the score to something normal.” “Not if your grades are somewhere between "bad" and "extremely bad.” Aric jokingly grabs the handle and opens the window as if he was seriously about to jump. He knows that Japheth will realize that it’s nothing more than fooling around, and RJ throws it back with a slight chuckle, as if continuing the joke: “Oh, no, darling! If you don’t want to think about yourself, think about the people who need you!” he laughs. “Oh, come on,” Aric chuckles and closes the window. “If only these people existed.” Silence ensues, but it doesn’t last long — only a couple minutes. Japheth takes Aric’s wrist and says: “How about a little wander around the school? The classes start just in five minutes.” Okay then. They walk down the hallways of the dim school building, Japheth still holds his wrist. Aric can literally feel with his skin that both teachers, upper and lower grades, are looking at them. At any other time, he might have pulled his arm out and said some boring excuse like, "I’m not interested in schlepping around school" or "It’s pointless and stupid" and Japheth would have shrugged and they would have gone back to class. But not today. Today it’s too indifferent to care about those things. They enter a flight of stairs. Usually there are crowds of students here, but three minutes before class this area empties — whether it’s the punctuality of Foxwoods residents or the strict discipline of this institution. Japheth lets him go and leans against the wall, contemplating the steps thoughtfully. “Speaking of people who care about you… I know one person…” he says after a while. Aric raises his eyebrows, Japeth turns to him and looking into his eyes, abruptly grabs his hand. “His name is Japheth. And he thinks you’re the most precious thing in his life.” He leans over and kisses Aric on the cheek. It’s light, almost insensible, but it’s enough to make Aric blush and fall into a stupor. Japheth acts as if nothing has happened and walks back up to the third floor. Halfway up, he turns around and looks at Aric with that familiar tired-sad look that makes it seem amazing that this man can feel any other emotion. “Are you coming? Helen won’t be happy if you’re late.” The next second, Aric runs after Japheth. And a few days later, this day and this kiss disappears from his memory, lost in the daily routine. Forever.