8 Ensnared - Part 1 (1/2)

What a way to start my Tuesday morning.

As usual, these two idiots are arguing over something completely mundane. Their voices are the loudest and most obnoxious in the room by a large margin, which is a huge pain for someone like me who appreciates the joy of napping during school hours.

Oh whatever, it's not like I have anything better to do. I may as well join them for a bit.

”What are you guys rambling on about so early in the morning?”

At my words, Sig turns toward me with an annoyed look on his face.

”I was just trying to explain to this idiot that-”

”Shh! Let me handle this.”

Nick interrupts him with a sly smirk.

I have absolutely no idea what's going on, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious after seeing that.

”… Okay. What're you two on about then, Nick?”

He smirks then shoves the screen of his phone into my face.

”What do you think of this image?”

On the screen is an anime-styled drawing of a girl with braided pink hair. She's wearing a rather revealing school uniform that shows off her stomach and thighs, while the rest of her legs are wrapped up in what appear to be knee-high socks.

I'm… not quite sure what I'm supposed to be seeing here. Is this how anime fans indoctrinate newcomers?

”Uh, yeah… She's cute I guess…”

As I brush the phone aside to give them the answer, I could see traces of an evil grin forming on both of their faces.

”Ahhh, did you hear that Sig? Did you hear that?”

”Loud and clear my good friend. He really said it.”

Huh? Was that the wrong answer? Seriously?

”Chase, you do know…”

”That's a guy, right?”

”… Huh?”

Huh? Huh?

What are these two saying?

A guy?

”Haaa, poor Chase. He found himself attracted to another male without even realizing it. Don't worry, the religion of otokonoko is always welcoming to new followers.”

Wait. What on earth are these two trying to imply right now?

”Uhm, no matter how you look at it, that's a girl. Are you two feeling okay?”

”Oh Chase, Chase, Chase. Just give it up. You're free to look it up if you wish, his name's Astolfo and he is one hundred percent male. Really, how embarrassed do you have to be to fall that much into denial?”

”No, that's not…”

Actually, you know what? This is kind of pointless.

”Sure, you got me. That was pretty gay of me guys, haha.”

”Don't worry Chase, it isn't gay if it's a trap.”

”Dude quit saying that. It's a guy so of course it's gay. Just admit it. There's nothing wrong with being gay.”

”Dude I'm not gay, okay? I just happen to like guys who look like girls.”

Oh merciful father please get me out of this room right now.

”Yeah yeah, that's how it always starts, Sig. It's not gay at first because it looks like a girl and you think it's one too. But it's already too late by the time you realize it. ”

Nick springs out of his seat and drops his foot onto the desk to strike a heroic pose.

””At first, I was disgusted that a guy would trick me like that! The thought of accidentally laying with a man because he was dressed in women's clothes made me uneasy. But eventually I realized it. I wasn't uneasy because I hated the idea, it's because deep down, I didn't want to admit to liking it! The truth is, girl's clothes are not made for girls. They're made for the feminine men brave enough to wear them! Traps aren't gay? Don't be ridiculous! They're gay! They're gay and that's okay, because it's way deeper than that! Traps are the future of human sexuality!””

Ehhhh?! Seriously?!

Were these two really having this debate at that volume for the past ten minutes?

Ahahaha, my high school career really has been over for a while, hasn't it? Geez, I'm just glad none of Scarlet's closer friends are in this class.

Speaking of which, she should be here by now. I've been taking a few peeks at her seat and it's been empty the entire time.

Is she late? That's rather unusual.

I turn back towards the door out of curiosity.

Or at least, the direction of the door.

Because the moment I turn around, I'm confronted by the face of one of the most popular girls in freshman year, mere inches away from mine.

”Geh!”

I flinched almost reactively.

Why was she squatting right next to my desk like that?

”Well, that was rude. You should be happy to see your girlfriend first thing in your morning. It's not like a geek like you will ever get one this cute again.”

Ahaha, starting off the morning on a good note, are we?

”What the hell do you want?”

”Help me with out with our algebra home-work.”

”Algebra? That's like our fifth period. Just do it during class.”

”During class?! Are you an idiot? Why would I miss out on taking notes over something like that?!”

”Should have done it at home then.”

She sighs.

”How much do I have to pay you?”

”I'm not taking any bribes.”

”$20?”

”Hell no.”

”$25.”

”No.”

”A hug?”

”What am I, a care bear?”

”How about a kiss then?”

”A kiss?”

”On the cheek.”

”Lips.”

”Gross! Loser! Pervert! Idiot!”

You're the gross one here! Who the hell offers a kiss for home-work anyway?

”Come on Chase. You're my boyfriend, you're supposed to help me out in times of need.”

”Yeah? Sounds like a rather convenient relationship, doesn't it?”

”… Quit using those fancy words in normal conversations.”

”Yeah yeah, I'm sorry.”

Anyway, those two have been quiet for a while now. Did the argument finally reach a conclusion?

I turn back to find the two of them sending me some kind of death glare for absolutely no reason.

Haha, right. I forgot about that.

”You must have a lot of nerve to flirt in front of us like that, Chase.”

”Tch.”

Sig spits in disgust onto a piece of paper in his hand then crumples it up.

”I think you two are being a tad overdramatic. She's just…”

Ah, actually this might work.

I turn back toward Scarlet.