Three notebooks and a slim folder are thrown onto the lunch table with a loud thud, and an upset Maksim shortly after.

"Блин! (Damit it!)" He whines, head thudding against the surface. "Mrs. Kozlov totally failed me."

Eunwoo giggles lightly, which causes Maksim to look up at him, arching an eyebrow.

"Sorry, what's so funny?"

"It's just that... I told you countless times to study for this test and you always brushed me off...yet... here you are, whining about failing it."

Maksim's face erupts in an embarrassed flush, hissing. "Jerk! Why would I waste my time studying? HUH? This is high school, not some corporate entry exam. I've got better things to do."

Eunwoo just shrugs before turning back to his meal, lightly picking at it. Maksim eyes him for a long moment. Ever since last night, he's been pretty distant, probably due to the conversation they had about Rian.

"What did you get on it?" Maksim asks instead. He doesn't want to push Eunwoo into saying anything he's not ready to, it'd be unfair.

"96."

Those two numbers are enough to shake Maksim and make him choke on his food. His whole body turns to the side as he coughs violently, trying to clear his throat. "You're joking!"

"Nope. I studied." Eunwoo sticks out his tongue before laughing softly, beaming down at Maksim with a soft expression.

"Отвали (fuck off)." he grumbles.

"I don't know what that means." Eunwoo says blatantly, rolling his eyes, and that just causes Maksim to fire up even more. He's not angry, of course not, it's just normal teasing between two friends.

"It means, FUCK OFF!"

Eunwoo laughs again, going to grab the notebooks and folder, neatly putting them in a pile. "What're you going to tell your eomma?"

"Nothing. I'm simply going to pretend that it didn't happen, and pray she doesn't ask about it." Maksim says over a mouthful of food, destroying the plate underneath him. He sometimes eats like an animal, being a growing teenage boy and all.

"Aish you're such a pig." Eunwoo whines before going to abruptly stand. "I gotta go to 5th period-"

"Let's skip." Maksim says instead, sounding more like a demand rather than a suggestion. He sure is controlling.

"And why should I do that?" Eunwoo arches an eyebrow, waiting for any dumb reason that would come out of his friends mouth.

"Mmmh because we only got through one movie last night instead of three?" Maksim leans forward, grinning. He knows what he's doing, playing the guilt card game on Eunwoo.

Eunwoo rolls his eyes. "Aren't you mature." He sighs. "Trying to guilt me into skipping classes, possibly getting in trouble." He lists slowly, head tilting - trying to change Maksim's mind even though he knows he can't.

"Alright alright." Eunwoo gives in with a laugh. "I'd rather leave now then so that our teachers don't catch us."

Maksim grins widely. "You love me."

"Hardly. Get your fat ass up and let's go."

-

The house is rather silent at this hour, only the sound of the tv coming from the living room and Mrs. Volkov in the kitchen readying dinner. One would think that it's comforting, sitting in an environment such as this, basking in the warmth of the sun that shines through all the large windows.

But not for Rian.

He sits stiffly at the kitchen table, pencil in hand, and workbook below him. It's untouched, with hardly any work inside for todays course. He can't bother learning about math right now, when all his mind can think about is Eunwoo.

Will he be coming over again tonight? Probably...

Rian bites his lip, fingers clicking on the wooden surface of the table as he thinks. He'll prove to Eunwoo and Maksim that he isn't a bother. He'll make sure to be good this time.

He was too lost in his own thoughts to even notice that the front door had swung open.

"сынуля? What're you doing home so early?" Mrs. Volkov asks as she emerges from the kitchen eyeing down her son who gives her a shrug.

"Classes got let out early today." Maksim kicks off his shoes and beelines it straight to the living room. He had decided that watching the movies here would be better, since the tv is much larger than the one in his room.

"Pardon the intrusion, Mrs. Volkov." Eunwoo's soft voice is heard and that makes Rian sit up straight, watching as the older boy slowly walks in, closing the door behind him.

Mrs. Volkov sighs, wiping her hands off on a towel. "Alright then. Please keep the tv down, your brother is still studying."

"I-Im done!" Rian pipes up, closing the workbook hastily.

"Are you now? Should I check?"

"No! Believe me, ok?" His voice comes out a bit more defensive, eyes a bit sharp but then they soften quickly when he turns back to Eunwoo.

Mrs. Volkov steps back, her tired eyes drifting down to her red apron which is dusted with flour. Instead of speaking, she just gives a curt nod before turning back to the stove.

"Alright. So movie 2, I won't spoil anything, but, I've read that this one is super nasty." Maksim sprawls out onto the couch messily, the leather crunching underneath his weight. "Think you can handle it?" He throws a teasing grin at Eunwoo who just smiles.

"Of course I can. I'm not a baby." Eunwoo says from the front entrance, placing his jacket and backpack on the coat rack before turning, but letting out a startled shout. When did Rian get there?

"Oh.. Hello Rian." Eunwoo says slowly before giving a light smile.

"Eunwoo-Eunwoo- I made some drawings, do you want to see?" Rian grabs the older boys sleeve, giving it a tug. "I think you'd like them."

Eunwoo bites his lip, guilt tugging at his stomach. He knows he shouldn't indulge. He thinks Rian does need to become more independent and rely on him less. He feels horrible, especially with how Rian's looking at him - those large grey eyes.

"Ah maybe some other time, Rian." Eunwoo leans down and ruffles his hair. "Now-"

"W-What about my workbook? I need some help on a few questions-" Rian tries again, his heart rate beginning to accelerate just a bit.

Eunwoo rubs his neck, eyes flicking to Maksim who is watching them. "Next time I definitely can." He winks before sliding past Rian and walking towards the couch.

Rian turns and watches as Maksim utters something to Eunwoo, sporting a nasty expression.

His fists clench, nails digging into his palms. This isn't fair. Is he not trying hard enough? This can't be it! Rian swallows thickly, letting out a shaky breath as he bounds over and sits directly next to Eunwoo, who flinches.

"Rian-"

"Eunwoo, I want to sit with you."

"Rian, sweetheart, why don't you come over here and help me bake some cookies?" Mrs. Volkov says cautiously from the kitchen. She doesn't know how far to intervene.

"No, I don't want to."

"Хватит уже! Отвали, Риан! (Enough already! Get lost, Rian!)" Maksim shouts in Russian, now standing. "Will you cut it out? Leave Eunwoo alone."

"I'm not doing anything! I just want to sit with him-"

"No, you are doing something! You're always doing something! Leave Eunwoo alone! You're always bothering him- bothering us!"

"It's okay, Maksim." Eunwoo tells him, tone gentle. He's remaining calm, despite feeling rather nervous, a light sweat slicking his neck. It's as if his body is giving him an early warning, his flight instincts starting to kick in. He slowly turns back to Rian.

"I can hang out with you, right Eunwoo?" Rian stares up at him with an expecting gaze, lips pursed, chubby cheeks seeping out a little. He's waiting. Waiting for that sweet answer he always gets - and the warm feeling that often comes with it.

"Rian." Eunwoo starts slowly. "I really enjoy your company but... tonight I'd really like to just hang out with Maksim." He tries to put it as lightly as possible. "Maybe you can go bake cookies with your mom instead! I'm sure you two will have a good time-"

"So you don't like me."

Eunwoo stops, blinking. "W-What, no, I never said that-"

He doesn't like me.

He doesn't want me here.

He hates me. It's all been a lie. A LIE.

"Rian seriously. Why do you have to throw everything out of proportion? Just leave us alone for one goddamn night! It's not that freaking hard!"

The house falls quiet - so quiet that it almost hums.

Rian doesn't move. Doesn't blink. He just sits there, staring straight at Maksim.

"Rian?" Eunwoo whispers, barely audible. He wears a worried expression.

Slowly, Rian's gaze shifts toward him. there's something different in his eyes, something that Eunwoo has never seen before - something distant, unreadable.

Then, without a word, he stands.

The screech of chair legs drags across the tile as he pulls one from the kitchen table, the sound cutting through the silence like glass.

Mrs. Volkov turns from the stove, wooden spoon trembling in her hand.

She can't see his face.

Maksim blinks, heart giving one uneasy thud. He knows this feeling.

The calm before the storm.