Location: East Hallway, DownGolden High School
Date: 5th June 2035
Time: 2:03 p.m.

This seems to be the place. From what I know about this school, if you have a breakdown, get dumped, heartbreak, whatever happens in your mind, the only place that is available is none other than the School's Storage Room...

Seriously, who thought that this place is perfect to have a breakdown?

I grab the knot of the door and turn it around to open it. Slowly opening the door, I was greeted with nothing, no one was inside the room. Huh, guess Colby is not like them-

"If you're trying to find Colby, he's up on the school roof."

"Oh, thank you-" I stop myself after I realise who's voice is that. I slowly turn to Alexis, with a bruise mark on his right cheeks. Looks like he got a slap by someone?

"Yeah, Colby smack the shit out of me." Alexis said, I was in a state of surprise and concern about this. Before I could said anything to him, he continue, "Anyway, I heard everything and what happened from the rumours-"

"There's already a rumour?"

"-But the point is, I found Colby. He saw me, he was in a mood that I suppose to not interrupt. I was being a dumbass and interrupted him. Causing him to slap me, and run off somewhere." He said and seemed to tilt his head more to the left, "Definitely not a Storage Room. C'mon Phoenix, you think people would choose a Storage Room?"

"Well, not exactly-"

"Right! It's supposed to be a closet!"

"..."

"..."

"Just find him before he does something he's gonna regret later." Alexis said and left me all alone as he held on his bruised cheek.

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Location: DownGolden High School's Rooftop
Date: 5th June 2035
Time: 2:59 p.m.

"Colby?" I said the name that belonged to a friend of mine, who definitely heard me.

Thank goodness he didn't try anything. I slowly walked towards him carefully, he still didn't move an inch forward nor seemed to move when I walked closer. I stand beside him as we look up at the sky. It was calm and nice...

It almost felt like an hour looking at the sky with Colby. It gave me a sense of relief that he hadn't done anything yet...

"Is it my fault?" Suddenly Colby spoke and said those familiar words I was asking to himself before, now it's Colby turn to say it, "All this time I thought Ray was stupid, naive, idiot, "people pleaser" person. I thought if I distanced myself from him and acted as if we're strangers, he might have a gut and can fight back but... Is it my fault he locked his own heart and didn't say anything while pretending to be so obedient because that's what he can only do and it's easier that way without fighting back?"

"Fighting back?"

"I fight back my father, I talk back to him, I disrespect my stepmom, I disrespect Ray and being nothing but cruel to him. I do all of that to protect myself and make him stand up for himself." Colby continued, he looked down and put his face on his palm, "I thought, I thought it would make him stronger, stronger than I ever was... So why? Is it my fault? Or is it his fault?"

"It's not your or Ray's fault." I said that so suddenly. Colby quickly looked up at me with widened eyes, "From all your life and childhood, what did you learn about him?"

"He was quiet, timid, and very careful the first time we met. He always stands by my side despite my efforts to not get along or know him..."

"You isolate yourself from him and lock your feelings and thoughts..." I said while trying to carefully say it without triggering anything in his mind.

"...Yeah... That's what I meant..."

"It was never my place to say it but... Have you ever thought that Ray may have got the wrong impression of you? You said, the very first time you met him, you treated him as an outsider and a stray kid. And yet, you just tolerate him. You may not be a great brother to him. Rather a good brother that you can't help but be concerned for him..." I explained to him as I gave him a warm smile.

Slowly I feel the smile I let on slowly slip away and become dull as I continue, "But the way you two fight, your tone, instead of worries or concern, it is anger that you let out. The more you let it out, the more distant you are and the more rivalry between you two, the more you can't help but let out your anger at each other..."

It was silent for a while until I fully turned to Colby, "I think the right solution to all this misunderstanding is to talk it out with one another. It may sound cliches or weird, but it's the only way. Communication is the key to erase the misunderstanding. If you keep distant and lack communication, I think both of your relationships will be more strained than I ever thought it would be..."

Colby looked at me for a while before looking away again, "But how... I would just end up following my anger rather than my heart..."

"How about, after the festival, both of you try to get on the good side of each other?" I said as I held up my hand to him, "You would still have time to come up with your speech!"

Colby looked at me with surprise and slowly laughed at my suggestion, "Fine, fine. I can never say no to you, Nix..."