Chapter 2 Enjoying A Moment Of Beauty

"How mean are you to say that?" Novan's lips pouted, and his cheeks puffed up. He looked at Marcell with a sharp glint in his eye.

Marcell, as usual, felt not at all guilty. Just look at that boy, now even laughing so widely, that Novan himself was afraid if his best friend's lips were torn into two parts.

Erza also laughed, but not as loudly as Marcell.

Marcell shook his head, still giggling. "Yes, obviously, I'm saying that, Uti doesn't know what her feelings for you are like, she might know that you're nice to her, but that's not enough to make Uti really like you back. If I were Uti, I would reject you."

"Hey, you can't say that!" Novan snapped, already feeling annoyed.

"I'm not wrong, why would we accept someone else's love if we don't love them back?" Marcell was still heating up Novan. "You're really stupid, aren't you?"

"You said Uti, stupid?"

"I didn't say that."

"But your words imply that, Marcell."

Marcell let out a long sigh. "Just think for yourself, listen to my words." The boy cleared his throat to get rid of the rasp that clogged his throat. "Listen to this, Novan. Do you really want to get love in return, or is it because you have to?"

"Uti didn't accept me because she had to, you should know that."

Marcell didn't listen, instead, he continued to probe. "It's not only you who will be hurt, she will also feel the same way."

"It's not like that, I still love Uti, and Uti herself is the same. So, what's there to worry about? Our love story is successful and going smoothly. It's not like what you said earlier, you're wrong, Marcell. The proof is that we are living our relationship as it should be. And only Uti and I know that, period."

"You and Uti are lucky because you succeeded, most would have failed."

"How do you know?"

"Just trust me."

Novan didn't give any reply, he merely rolled his eyes in annoyance. He chose not to pay attention to Marcell's words, which were full of nonsense.

"I don't want to hear your words anymore."

Marcell laughed softly, happy to be teasing Novan. Then his gaze shifted to Erza, who was mostly silent. "Uh, is there anyone here who doesn't have a girlfriend?"

Erza wasn't going to fall for Marcell's teasing. He was already immune to receiving abuse from him. Indeed, among the three handsome boys, Erza was the only one who didn't have a girlfriend. He was often teased by them, but between Novan and Marcell, Marcell was the worst. If it's already mocking, it will immediately become ingrained!

However, fortunately, Novan was immune to all the taunts thrown at him.

"So what if I don't have a girlfriend?" Erza asked back. This was her go-to move if Marcell was already taunting her. "Marcell, I need to tell you for the millionth time, I don't care."

Look at that annoying boy? In fact, his laughter became even louder. Erza sneered and rolled his eyes.

"Don't you want to have a girlfriend? Let's be like me and Novan."

"None of your business, Marcell."

"Are you not interested? There's a lot of good that we get, and you know it without me mentioning it."

"There are also bad things, so it's balanced," Erza replied casually. "And you should know, I'll have a girl later, it's just a matter of time."

"That's good, it means the problem that you're gay is solved. It's wrong."

"Hey!" Erza jerked Marcell. His eyes were already wide. "What did you just say? I'm gay?" Erza's lips were fully parted. He really couldn't believe that Novan had said that to him. How annoying!

"I want to punch you in the face, I like girls, why are you saying that? Why do you conclude something that is not yet clear? I'm sick of hearing that."

"You're alone anyway, isn't it wrong that I think that?"

"Just because Erza doesn't have a girlfriend yet, doesn't mean Erza likes boys, right? You can't be careless when you say that." Novan defended Erza this time because he was in the same camp as his best friend.

Erza nodded vigorously, happy that someone was supporting him. "That's right, you're really annoying, Cell? I'll have a girlfriend later, just watch."

"Well, prove it. Don't talk too much. Prove it through actions, not words." Marcell gave Erza the most annoying lopsided smile Erza had ever seen. He wanted to kick Marcell's ass into the swamp!

Erza still tried to be calm, saying, "What business is it of yours anyway? Whether I have a girlfriend or not, it has nothing to do with you, right?"

"Yes, it has nothing at all."

"Well, now that you know yourself, it's better if you just shut up, Cell. That's better."

"Get ready, I'm going to mock you all the time," Marcell said, deliberately so that Erza's anger would continue to be ignited.

Erza looked at Novan, who was shaking his head.

"Za, what if we conspire to throw Marcell into the middle of the sea, while we are here? The time and situation are right. Do you agree?"

"If I really have no pity, my blood is really bad, and I am a crazy psychopath, of course your captivity will be a special attraction for me, Van," Erza replied, glancing at Marcell, who was grinning incoherently like an insane person.

"The problem is that this is our best friend's child, and we also still have a heart, that's what's difficult, huh?"

"That's right!"

"Hey, you two are getting too carried away, I was just joking earlier. Besides, you already know what my character is like." Marcell tried to defend himself while drinking bottled water.

"But still, you're annoying too." Erza sneered.

"That's why, get a girlfriend!"

"Hey, there's no relationship!"

"Erza, I'm serious." Marcell started again, this time more calmly and seriously. "You have a target, right? You mean, you have a crush who will most likely become your girlfriend?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"I want to know."

"And I don't want to tell you. Let's not talk about it anymore."

Marcell hit Erza's head quickly. "I have good intentions, all for your sake. Seriously, are you there or not?"

"There is," Erza finally said. All are pure lies, in fact, Erza has not found a suitable girl for him to date.

Not without reason, Erza lied, he just didn't want Marcell to get stronger to mock him. Erza didn't want that to happen, he could explode, his head would smoke, and even worse, Erza would beat Marcell to a pulp for trying to ruin his peace.

"Is there really?"

"What exactly do you want? I've been annoyed myself." Erza replied angrily, he watched Marcell with eyes that were sharper than ever, as sharp as a kitchen knife that often slices meat!

"That's how he is, just be patient, Za." Novan tried to calm Erza down, which actually didn't work at all, and Novan also realized that. Marcell's annoying behavior has no cure, it's very cruel and disturbing.

"Erza, I just want you to have a girlfriend soon. Just imagine, the three of us can have a triple date! How's that? It's rare, isn't it? It would be fun. Me with Weeby, Novan with Uti, and you with your girlfriend, who's nowhere to be found." Marcell laughed. "That's really great, isn't it? Just imagining it is so much fun. When can something like that happen?"

"It can happen, in your wildest dreams!" Erza scolded him before he actually stood up from his seat.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"I'd rather play in the water than listen to your incoherent ramblings. Come on, Van, do you want to come with me or not?" asked Erza while waving his hand at Novan, telling him to come closer.

Erza was already right on the shoreline, his feet had just been splashed by the water.

"I'm coming, wait for me!" Novan hurriedly ran after Erza, leaving Marcell alone without asking first.

"Well, I'm left behind, they're no good at all." While continuing to grumble in annoyance, Marcell then stood up from his seat, rubbing his pants that were stuck with a lot of sand.

"Hey, you two! Why are you waiting for me? I want to play in the water too!" Marcell hurriedly set his feet on the sand, stepping quickly. He ran, was too hurried to pay attention to his steps, and he almost tripped over his own feet.

If Marcell had really fallen in the sand, let alone fallen face first, it would have been an opportunity for Novan and Erza. Both of them could have made fun of the boy, think of it as revenge. But, unfortunately, that didn't happen. It would have been interesting if it had happened the other way around.

Marcell would have been the butt of the joke!

The three handsome guys stood in a row, feet submerged in the warm beach water. The sun was descending on the western horizon, and the sky was slowly turning from bright blue to purplish red.

As the wind blew his long hair, Erza closed his eyes, his lips parted, and he smiled so brightly. "When I'm at the beach, somehow I always feel a sense of freedom, don't you two feel the same way?"

"Yep, also tranquility." Novan agreed, his finger just flicking.

"It's the sound of the wind rustling and the debut of the waves that makes us feel that way." Marcell added, to which Novan and Erza nodded their heads in agreement. The three of them agreed and got along again, as if their previous problem had happened months ago instead of minutes ago.

That's how they were-easy to quarrel and fuss over something, but would get along as quickly as the wind came.

"Later, when I'm already working and successful, I'd like to build a house by the beach, it would be nice." Erza smiled slightly at the thought. "Every time I wake up, I'll smell the salty air, hear the sound of the waves for the first time, and enjoy the beautiful scenery." The fantasy growing stronger in his head, Erza then continued his words while Novan and Marcell were staring at him, listening to all the words that came out of his lips.

Erza spread his arms, ready to welcome the wind. "I'm going to build a room with a glass wall that leads directly to the ocean, enjoying the sunset like this. I can't imagine how good that situation would be."

"You say that, and it makes me want to, Za." Novan laughed, "Does it sound like fun, too?"

"It sounds fun, but I personally have a different opinion," said Marcell.

"What do you think?" asked Novan as he glanced at Marcell, who was standing just to his left, his eyes narrowing, while Erza was already crossing his arms with a furrowed brow, his curiosity stirring at the moment.

"The beach is nice, but if I have a lot of money, I want to build a house in the mountains, with a lush tree atmosphere." Marcell chuckled amusedly. "As far as the eye can see, I will find trees, the sound of birdsong is pleasing to the ear. In addition, I can watch the oak and birch trees change every season. In winter, I can light a fireplace while drinking hot chocolate, accompanied by a book or movie. It's crazy how good it feels."

"Yes, that sounds good. I hope we succeed in the future." Erza shrugged his shoulders. "But, you two, don't forget me when you're successful."

"No way, Za." Marcell shook his head and embraced his friend.

Erza smiled as he returned Marcell's embrace. Novan, who saw the scene, chose to join in out of envy. In just a short time, they had all embraced each other, true friends who were enjoying the afternoon at the beach while enjoying the sun that was slowly sinking in the far west.

"That's right, we shouldn't forget each other, we should laugh and not lose touch," Novan said, adding. "We'll be friends until old age, right?"

"Your words aren't quite right, Van." Erza corrected, "Not until old age, but until death do us part. Even though we'll have our own busy lives later on, we have to make time to see each other once in a while."

"Agreed!" said Marcell earnestly, answering too enthusiastically.

"Me too, of course," Novan added.

The three of them laughed together.

"Already, don't think about the distant future, let's just enjoy the present. We also see each other almost every day, we're not lonely for now," Marcell said.

"That's right, and, oh, look over there, the sun is really about to disappear." Novan pointed ahead, causing Erza and Marcell to quickly avert their eyes.

A sense of amazement quickly spread among the three boys, and they stared at the seconds as the sun of life began to disappear into time.

Until finally it was late afternoon, the three of them looked at each other, and their laughter filled the air-a very pleasant moment with friends.

At six o'clock in the evening, they decided to go home.

Novan and Marcell walked towards their vehicles, unlike Erza, who was suddenly glued to the spot because his cell phone in his pants pocket vibrated, indicating that someone was contacting him.

Erza looked at his two friends, who were getting away, but the boy ignored him and chose to take his cellphone to check who was trying to contact him.

And Erza's breath caught in his throat when he read who was calling him.