"You are going down!" Higen yelled as he was reputedly striking the Titan we were facing, similar to a giant oyster shell with coral limbs for movement, our attacks had proven ineffective, since its carapace was tough as steal, and the shell started to spin rapidly to brush Higen off he was knocked back against one of the walls of its labyrinth, the las petal of his crest was shattered, but I noticed that the shell was cracked, "Burst!" I yell as an explosion of fire roasts the inside of the titan to cinders, its body opened up as it slowly disappears, reviling its emerald-colored core, "Higen are you okay?" I asked as I made my way to where he landed after picking the core up.

  He nodded "Yeah it just knocked the air out of me that's all" The labyrinth collapsed and we were faced with the Tartarus after team, they are in charge of tending the people that the titan lured into his labyrinth and collecting the core form us and see we weren't harm, Lulu walked up to us "splendid work as always guys, seems like you are getting the hang of it by now" she congratulated us, it's been almost three months since the Carter incident, we have fought several titans so far all of them had creepy or unsightly shapes, "this one was tougher than the previous ones Miss Lulu" Higen informed her "well like anything they are starting to adapt and become stronger but you are not pushovers ether, remember to go to the doctor's office before returning home" she walked with the core to her car to deliver it to Tartarus, leaving HIgen and me on our way to school.

  "Hey Ozwald, I think I'm going to skip the revision, I have a game tomorrow morning, and" he yawned "I'm kind of tired, I think I'll go to sleep and go tomorrow would you be okay by yourself?" I didn't make eye contact with him, "yeah, me? Of course, I can go alone, you go and rest your pretty face... I mean go rest I'll see you tomorrow after the game, dude" "Are you okay?" he walked closer to me and put his hand on my forehead, "Too close, you are too close!" I thought "Your face is burning and you've acting all weird for a few days, go make sure you don't have a fiver, I wouldn't want you to miss the game" After that he left for our apartment, the truth is that after whole lose your heart and the bull, I've started to look at him differently I don't understand why but I'm figuring it out tonight.

  I took the bus to back to school and quickly made my way to Doctor Cambell's office, he was looking at some documents "Well good night Ozwald I heard you and Higen got a late mission today, let's take a look" he asked for any injuries, if the barriers worked properly, I had a few scratches and bruises here and there but nothing life-threatening, "well I'm glad you were careful, now where is Mr. I lose all of my barriers and still charged towards danger?" since Higen is a physical fighter he tends to get more damage which doctor Cambell is not a fan, he had to put his arm back into his socket after one fight.

  "well... he didn't seem injured and this time he had one barrier before leaping into danger, but he went to sleep, I mean is one in the morning, he is coming in tomorrow" he made an exhausted face at the declaration "... Doctor there is something I would like to ask, if that's okay with you," I told him "sure Ozwald I'm all ears, does it have to do with your migraine medicine?" I shook my head "No, it′s not about that... can this be between us?" he nodded and sipped on his coffee "I think I have heart attacks... when I look at Higen" he spilled the coffee out as he heard my declaration.

  "Pardon my rudeness what the hell did you just say to me?" "well it's been happening for a few... weeks, when I look at him my heart starts to beat faster than normal, my face gets all red and my hands tremble" I informed him "I did some research with one of the books on the library and it said I could be having a heart attack" he sighed relieved when I told him about the research, he placed his mug on his desk and a hand on my shoulder "those are not heart attacks, although, you almost gave me one young man, so the symptoms only happen when you look at him and only him?" I nodded vigorously "Yeah I looked at some of my classmates even Niko or Donna but nothing happened, so, am I sick?"

  "Yeah, you have a horrible sickness amongst the teenagers" I was horrified, "does it have a cure? Am I going to die? I can't die who will take care of my rampant collection of Monster capsule plushies?" I started to hyperventilate "Wow, wow, wow, slow down son, it is a sickness but not a bad one, you have a crush on Higen" I shook my head "No I think I rather have the heart attack, I mean, he is a guy I'm a guy it will never work... right?" he picked up his mug of coffee "I mean it could if he likes you back, but I'm afraid I can't give you better advice" "why not?" "Well for starters I'm triple your age so I don't think I can freely talk about the cuteness of a teenager, maybe you should ask your friends Niko or Donna about it, they could offer better insight" I sighed, I'm a smart guy I can figure this one out, I returned home and found Higen sleeping on the sofa in his tanuki pajamas.

  I slapped myself on the cheek, "get it together boy!" I reprimanded myself in my head "That's your best friend, you shouldn't be feeling like this for him... but maybe taking one picture won't hurt" I got closer to take a photo with my phone, I used to hate that pajama, but he looks so peaceful and cute on it... "get a grip!!!" I slapped my cheek again, and I shook my head this is too insane I have to get out of here "Oz... Ozwald hum" he started to sleep talk, is... is he dreaming about me? Oh no now I need to know, "Oz...wald I want to..." yes, yes, what do you want? that's it I have gone into the looney bin "to... ki... ki" I could feel my head burning, he is not... he can't be about to say... "Kill that waffle Titan and eat it!" "..." I walked to my room slowly, closed the door, sat on my bed, and buried my face into my pillow "Hughhhhhh I have a crush on an idiot what am I going to do!!!"

  "Okey where is the body, Ozie?" Niko arrived the next day a few hours before the game with a shovel and rope, "what body? Is that rope?" I asked him, and he left his things in the doorway, "Wha... you said code red! Dude that one is for we need to hide a body, chick boutique has a sale or other world-ending things" Donna informed me, I let them in and we sat on the sofa, "okay look it's not about that, I... well... you guys see..." they look at each other nodded and then back at me, "listen whatever it is you have our full support Ozie" Niko told me, "dude this sounds very important you only get this nervous when you have to be the first runner, now spill the tea sis" Donna said, I breathe deeply to calm myself "I think I have a crush on someone" there was an award silence in the room "you finally realize your crush on Higen? Because that checks out right Niko?" he nodded.

  "What do you mean it checks out?" I told her angrily "I mean you and him are always together" "Yeah, we are best friends and roommates" Niko didn't look too sure about that answer, "he is always holding your hand and looking at you" Donna added "puff that means noting he does that to everyone including you Niko!" "Hey! Hey, we are talking about you here not me" Niko defended himself "Plus he is very good at giving hugs" he confessed "he also was very ready to fight me at the arcade on your birthday, he was totally jealous, and I catch the vibe during the match too, but I didn't mean to pry afterward, so I said nothing."

  "So... what do I do now? I mean I had crushes before but never lived with one" "I think he is into you as well; I mean he fought tooth and nail at the arcade" "And when you were in the hospital, he looked very sad and upset, I think you should go for it!" Niko pulled his phone out of his pocket and showed me and donna a picture on the school board.

  "Midterm's fairytale dance?" I read out loud "The hell is that?" he sighed "Well dumb-dumb is a party we have to celebrate the ending of the midterms, is next Friday, you should invite Higen and see where it takes you" I scrolled through the picture, it seems like a pretty normal party, food, drinks, and dance I don't know if Higen would be interested in something like this nor if I could actually ask him out, "I don't know guys last time I asked someone out she laughed at me and I ended up in a garbage can..." Donna thought for a moment "Okay counter offer if you don't ask him out somebody else will, are you going to be okay if that happens?" damn it, I hadn't thought about that, he is popular, and she is right if anything he laughs at me or thinks is a joke and we move past it because I'm not listening to the "me" in the mirror after his rant with the bull "fine, you win I'll ask him somehow" they give me a tiny hit on my arm "that's my man, now come on we have to see your crush in action" "oh you should think about what to wear and make up, leave it to me."

  The game was close, and I hate to say it, but Carter is good, thanks to him and Higen the team managed to score the final point and win, he looked at where me and Niko were sitting, weaved, and winked at us and I felt my heart racing, what if I mess it up? What if he hates me after I ask him out? My head started to fill with doubt about this situation, but I don't think it would be better to keep this for myself, I think it would also be painful to see him with someone else but the one thing I can do is ask, so I gathered all the courage and valor I could and walked to meet him outside of the changing room.

  "Ozwald, did you see me? Did you?" he is always like that, I swear I can almost see dog ears and tail moving behind him, "yeah you were... awesome" damn it why do you have to be so dazzling? "Do I have something on my face?" "No... nothing, actually Higen I have to ask you something..." he looked at me and smiled "Is it my autograph? I don't have paper I guess I can sign on your face" he laughed, I started to laugh instinctively "No... you know there's this am... dance next week and I wanted" "Yo Banna, you were great on the field" Higen rolled his eyes as Carter placed his arm around him.

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  I really wanted to hiss and tell him to take his hands off him but I had to keep my cool or something bad would happen "Yeah... you too Marten" he took Carter's hand off him, and he looked at me "Oh but if it isn't Ozwald, what were you two talking about?" he asked in a sarcastic tone as the rest of the team was coming out of the showers, oh no I don't want to have a crowd for this "Ozwald was about to ask me something about a dance" bad moment to be too sincere Higen, "oh how cute was the little pipsqueak about to ask you for a date?" the rest of the team started to laugh as I lost all of my confidence to ask him, "... no, I was going to ask him... if he wanted me to fix him a suit for the dance... yeah I'm going to be busy with sewing for the occasion, but... am you can tell me later" and with that I walked off.

  I went back home after that and almost tripped over the shovel and the rope, I let myself fall on the sofa, "of course, it wouldn't be so easy, what was I thinking? That I could just waltz up to Higen and say, would you want to go to the dance with me?" "Oh, I would love to go with you to this dance Ozwald" I lifted my head from the cushioning and saw Higen holding his football bag in one hand while moving the shovel out of his way, "what are you doing here?!?" "Well Coach Martinez was going to buy food for us, but I didn't feel like going after what Carter said" "And what haven't you heard of knocking?" I asked, my face probably was as red as the sun right now, "I mean this is my home too you know?" he went to the freezer and grabbed a bottle of water then sat next to me on the sofa.

  "So, you really want to go with me?" "Yeah, why? Is it weird or something?" he was confused "No, of course not, I'm just happy I guess, and relived you didn't throw me into the trash" he put his hand on his chest and looked offended "Who put you into the trash I'll break their knees!" I waved my hands in front of me "It was a long time ago at the underground, don't worry, the trash can actually help when they throw it down the... I'm going to stop talking now, so the dance have you gone to any in Elysium?" I laughed nervously.

  Higen scratched his cheek, "Well, as a knight and a noble I have been invited to a lot of ballroom dances, but I hated them, it was a long night of "Mr. Banna I heard you beheaded a monster on the battlefield, and lead your troops to victory" or "Mr. Banna I would like to introduce you to my cousin she is twice your age, you would be an excellent husband" and "Higen darling you must dance with this twelve princesses, one of them will carry your kids one day I decide which one later don't disappoint me" and the list goes on and on" he sighed "that's terrible Higen your mom is awful, listen you don't have to go just because I ask"

  he shook his head and looked at me his eyes shining like blue stars in the night "No, no, no, I want to go this is the first time I get to choose who to go with and nobody is going to try to sell my body to the best house or date me instantly and who is better than my best friend in all the realms!!!" "oh... yeah I would never do that... not me Ozwald your best friend in the whole wide world" I forced myself to smile I couldn't ruin that for him, a dance where he is in control and not been under anyone else orders, I can't take that away from him, he stood up and grab me by my arm "come on Ozwald we must celebrate the victory of the game and the dance lets dine at that rustic place with the unfrozen pizza you like, invite Niko too" I let myself be dragged as I called Niko on the phone, well, if we look at this on the bright side, he is going with me to the dance and not with someone else that's... something I guess and maybe I can tell him how I really feel afterward.

  "so let me get this straight Ozie" Niko was walking me to my locker the next day, I told him and Donna over the phone what happened to Higen but he still had doubts "You didn't tell him at the game, and you were talking to yourself at your apartment and he overheard you asking him out but he assumed as a friend and you didn't correct him?" "yes for the seventh time that is what happened Niko, he wants a normal not date dance and I can manage that" We arrived at my locker and I started to put in the combination to open it "I mean if you say so but wow you somehow did it I'm kind of happy for you man" "I'm still nervous is Hiegn after all someone is going to ask him to the dance and he probably would say he is going with me I don't want people giving him a hard...eh?" when I opened my locker a flurry of rose petals fall to the ground and inside of my locker was a pink colored letter with the words "For Ozwald" on it, I reach inside to open the envelope.

  I read out loud what the letter said, "Ever since you came into this school I have been looking at you, and only you, the way you walk, the way you laugh, and the way you run I can't stop thinking about you, mo... mon... Niko what is this wording?" I asked him he made a disgusted face "Mon Petit Lapin is French for my little rabbit which is going to make me vomit from cringe" It was very good that Niko knew so many languages "Mon petit lapin I want to ask you to bless me by accepting my invitation to the dance, I will be waiting at the back of the school in three days after your running practice is over, au revoir madly in love with you X"

  "... eh?" I looked confused at Niko "Oh come on you get the hunky jock and a stalker?!? I can't even get a girl to tell me the time of day!" I started to shove the petals into a trash can, "what are you talking about?" Niko slapped his face "dude the letter basically has your schedule on it they have a pet name for you possibly a collar for you too" he grabbed me by the shoulders and started to shack me "Please tell me you won't go to the meeting it could be dangerous!" I got a little dizzy from the shaking "I... I don't know I should go and let them down gently" "Ozie that is the single dumbest thing anyone has ever said! And we sometimes hang with Carter!" "Niko calm down I'm not a gentleman in distress, speaking of which don't tell Higen please he is going to freak out if he thinks someone wants to put me in a collar."

  "Who is putting you in a collar Ozwald?" I jumped back and saw Higen behind me, quickly shoved the letter into my pocket "Am... nobody, Donna suggested I should use a choker for the costume I'll be wearing but I don't know" he thought for a moment "I don't know I like your neck as is, but if you want an accessory to choke you I won't stop you" "on that topic do you need me to fix any clothes for you?" he smiled pridefully, "do not worry Ozwald I have the clothes I will be wearing you are going to be so impressed your..." he looked at his phone, he mumbled something under his breath "your... underwear is going to fell off" I took his phone from his hands " "teenager's slang for dummies and oldies?" Why are you like this!" I gave him a little chop to his forehead and gave his phone back, "Well you laugh when I use "thee" and other formal words I'm trying to upgrade my lingo bro" I felt my breakfast trying to crawl through my stomach "please never call me bro again" we keep at it for a moment when I felt someone was staring at me from somewhere.

  "Ozwald?" I looked around but I stopped feeling the look, what if Niko is right and this "X" person is dangerous, I'm mean I'm not a pushover anymore and Higen has taught me self-defense skills so I shouldn't be in danger and if it goes too bad I can use the staff to incapacitate them, but for now I won't tell Higen "nothing, listen you don't have to use slang honestly I don't fully understand it myself since is too different from..." I looked at Niko "New Zeeland slang" "Yeah plus I can teach you how to upgrade without sounding like that Higen" he got all excited about the offering "Think you Niko I have a doubt with the phrase "you ate" Do I have to eat something first or after I say that?"

  "Okay hold still I'm almost done" I was taking measurements for Donna's dress when she told me she was going to use an old Cinderella costume for the dance my seamstress honor would not allow that, I bought fabric and asked her to come to my apartment to work on it, "so... let's talk about the stalker," she said once I was finished with the measurements "listen I'm worried too, I've been there and it can be scary, any luck finding out how it is?" I put my measuring tape in my sewing box and sat on my desk "No... I've been looking into it but nothing maybe it was a prank or something" she shook her head "Normally a prank doesn't involve so many petals and a letter like that, they want to see you tomorrow after practice, okay just say the word and me and the rest of the team will be right behind you"

  I threaded the needle and started to mark the patterns on the fabric, "I really appreciate it but I can handle it, I'll just say I'm flattered but not interested and if they can't deal with that well that is not my problem... right?" she twisted her mouth not really convinced "I guess, but still... by the way" she went to her bag and pulled out her makeup "I brought my makeup to see what to do for the day of the dance" I turned my chair around I have never wear makeup before "is it really necessary? Isn't makeup something only girls wear?" she grabbed my face with one hand and examine my skin "nah, makeup is for anyone, some hide imperfections others just like to feeling of heighten their features or make new ones, but nobody can deny" she opened her compact and pulled a brush form the bag "we all like to be stunning sometimes" she laughed and dabbed the brush on the compact powder.

  "So, is there anything you would like to change?" I rubbed one of my fingers with my thumb "Well... I'm not really sure of my freckles people used to make fun of them back at my old school" She pulled out more makeup "... not good my makeup is too dark for your skin, and also your freckles are adorable" she said confidently, and continued with the powder "I really don't think..." she put the brush against my lips "oh no, you don't get the shy card anymore, let's ask a third party, Higen!!!" she yell loudly and we heard running footsteps coming our way.

  "What happened is everything okay?" he said as he walked into my room and sat next to me "Higen be honest, do you think Ozwald should hide his freckles?" Donna asked him, Higen opened his eyes wide as the question took him aback "What? You can't do that; they are so cute!!!" I look to the side at the sudden allegation "h...hey what?" I asked "Yeah, my favorites are" he turned my head around and started to point to my face "This one next to your left eye that looks like a star, and this one that has a diamond shape next to your nose oh but my preferred one is" he placed his finger on my lips and look straight into my eyes, I could feel my heart racing inside of my chest, why is he so casual about this! "This one is the first I noticed when I met you above your lip it looks like a tiny heart, you can't cover them you can't deny the world of their cuteness Ozwald!"

  He grabbed my head with both hands in a protective manner and hissed against the brush "What did I ever do to you, Donna?" I complained, she laughed and put her brush away, "Well you hear the man I guess you will be keeping them untouched, how about you Higen, do you want some makeup?" she offered, I don't really think he would use any ether "oh do not worry Donna, I have foundation and powder at my dresser, back home I use to wear a dash of blush or powder for formal events, actually I have this care routine if you want to see" I guess Donna was right makeup and skincare is for everyone.

  At the end of the practice, I was looking at my face in the mirror of the showers, and all the freckles Higen pointed at were there how long has he been looking at my face to notice them amongst the others? It′s moments like this that make me think he could be interested in me but on the other hand, he could just be perceptive I don't really know, and right now I can't be thinking about that I have to meet this X person and let them down easy, I understand the worry of Donna and Niko but if I was on his shoes I would rather be let down then not even attending, I made my way to the back of the school and was greeted by a surprising sight.