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Throughout his dreadful high school years, ending his life crossed Norton’s mind. Every weekday had at least one friend, if you could call it that. In his first year, with no friends and most of the school mocking him for even having the audacity to breathe around him, he found himself with no seat to sit in the cafeteria.
In one lucky moment, he spotted an empty table except for one guy with a hood on. This was Norton’s chance to not look like an idiot standing around doing nothing. So he walked over to it and sat there silently. The hooded boy glanced over to him briefly and back to his food, which he was devouring like it was his last meal on death row.
Norton, in his genius, thought that he must not eat anything for a while. So, in a rare act of sympathy, he offered one-half of his sandwich. “Hey, man, you want some of my sandwich? It’s nothing much, but it’s edible.” Norton said while gesturing to the half of the sandwich offered to the hooded boy. The hooded boy's eyes shone a little as if he saw god himself sitting at the table with him. He had no hesitation in grabbing that sandwich, “naib subedar,” he said between chews. Norton grimaced a little bit and sighed, “Norton Campbell.”
He didn’t realize it yet at the time, but feeding Naib was akin to asking him to be your best friend for 4 years straight, or in this case, 6 years straight.
Norton developed this habit of always giving Naib half, and Naib always gave him half of his own. They’ve been sharing food since the day they met. Norton didn’t think too much of it, considering there’s everyone who has a unique friendship. Since that day, Naib and Norton have been inseparable, even attending the same college to pursue their dream careers. Looking up at the ceiling of his dorm room, he sighed. Norton hasn't had that many new friendships at all.. Now that he thinks about it, he only hangs around with Eli, Naib, and Aesop these days. Back in high school, he thought he’d branch out, but he doesn’t care about things like that anymore. To prove he’s alive to his online followers, he posts something before asking Naib to a new restaurant.
Naib readily agreed to his idea, as usual, setting up a nearby meeting for a quick chat. Which was nice, totally platonic and chill. When he met up with Naib, they started chatting about anything that came to mind.. Then, Naib and Norton had grown so close that he didn’t even know what secrets he had that Naib didn’t know about. Sitting at their booth, Norton asks about Naib’s dating life, after all, Naib is the one who keeps the most to himself out of everyone in the group. Naib raises his eyebrow, “My dating life is you, though?” What.
Naib continues, “ I’ve never dated anyone outside of you, even when he fought.” He then sighs “did some random ass rumour tell you otherwise?” Norton has officially never been more confused in his life. “Huh? Since when were we dating?” Norton asked with his eyes wide open. “Since like.. 10th grade maybe? How do you not know this? You’re the one who asked me out.” Naib said, leaning in with his eyebrows furrowed.
Norton paused and took a deep breath and exhaled, “and… how did I ask you out?” Naib leans back and puts his hand to his face in a thinking motion, “You asked if we could eat at a fancy dinner place because you had a discount there and started talking about how much you appreciated me or something.” Ah. Norton remembers the craziest friendship fallout he had in 10th grade. It was just some childhood bullies who called themselves Norton’s friends just to slander him. Norton grimaced at the memory. Now that he thinks about it, it kinda makes sense how he went to that conclusion.
Norton has another question ready, though. “How’d you even like me? Wait, when did you even like me?” The waiter arrived and gave them their food as if they were in queue, Naib instantly digging in. “Probably when you first started giving me your lunch? I felt a connection then. And when that date happened, it kinda solidified that we were a thing even before that.” Norton facepalms. Of course, only naib subedar would consider food a love language. At least Norton has a love life now. Even if it’s a little weird how it happened.