Chapter 3. Make it romantic

The moment Professor Hale dismissed the class, the lecture hall erupted with noise. Chairs scraped against the floor. Students hurried to pack their bags and rushed out to the cafeteria.

Leon had barely zipped up his bag when Sebastian hooked an arm around his immediately.

“You must be starving,” Sebastian said brightly. “Come to lunch with me.”

Leon stiffened slightly at the sudden closeness.

“Sebastian, you…”

“Oh no.” Sebastian gasped dramatically. “Sweetheart, please, make the name sound a little romantic. Call me Sab, hmm.” He told Leon, making a funny face.

Leon nearly winced. Damn it, this guy is trouble. He seriously had no shame. Noa thought, yet he sighed in defeat.

“Okay…" Sab.” He forced a smile as he gently unhooked Sebastian’s arm from his. “Please stop making me uncomfortable. I’m not your boyfriend.”

Sebastian clutched his chest like he’d been stabbed. “Ouch. You keep hurting my feelings.”

Leon rolled his eyes.

“Leon, I know I’m not your boy yet,” Sebastian continued shamelessly, “but I’m still your friend, right?”

Leon stared at him for a second before finally giving up.

“Yeah… right.”

Sebastian instantly brightened up again and walked beside him happily as they headed out of the lecture hall.

The moment they stepped outside, Jenny was waiting nearby with her phone in hand.

Sebastian noticed her first. His eyes narrowed slightly.

What’s the deal with this Jenny girl? He thought. She’s always around Leon lately. Then his lips curled in a mocking smirk. If she likes him, she’s wasting her time.

Meanwhile, Jenny finally looked up and froze.

Leon and Sebastian were walking side by side, talking closely while Sebastian leaned toward him with an annoyingly fond smile.

Jenny’s expression changed instantly. Wait… why is this guy always hanging around Leon?

Then, her eyes widened slowly as horrifying thoughts started forming.

Don’t tell me that…”Oh my god.”

Her hand flew to her mouth.

“Is Leon gay?” She stood there completely frozen in shock.

Leon and Sebastian nearly walked past before Leon noticed her standing stiffly near the hallway.

“Jenny?” he called, frowning.

No response.

Leon stepped closer and lightly touched her shoulder.

“Jenny, are you okay?”

She jerked violently back to reality.

“What the heck?” Leon blinked. “Did you see a ghost or something?”

“Wh-what?” Jenny stammered quickly before forcing an awkward smile. “No. I’m fine. I just… remembered something.” He lied.

Leon gave her a suspicious look but let it go.

“It’s lunchtime,” Jenny said quickly before her thoughts spiraled again. She immediately grabbed Leon’s wrist.

“Let’s go.”

Then, her eyes shifted unwillingly to Sebastian. “Sab, you coming too?”

Inwardly, she prayed he’d refuse.

“Of course,” Sebastian answered immediately with a dazzling smile. “I’m famished, girl.”

Inwardly, too, his thoughts were far less pleasant. Keep wasting your time, bitch. Leon isn’t straight.

His gaze slid briefly toward Leon.

And very soon, he’ll realize that I'm the one for him. That's if he hadn't already.

A smug smile curved quietly at his lips.

On getting close to the school cafeteria, it buzzed with noise. Students crowded around tables. Some were laughing, some chatting, and others were busy with trays of food.

Leon walked with Jenny and Sebastian beside him.

That instant his eyes landed on Noa. He sat several tables away with Nath and some hockey teammates. They were laughing casually while picking fries from Nath’s tray.

The sight irritated Leon immediately. His thoughts drifted back to the shower.

To Noa’s teasing voice.

To his hands around his waist.

Leon’s lips slowly curled into a mischievous little smirk. “He thinks he’s so damn attractive that I want him? Such a delusional asshole.” He whispered to himself.

“Let’s see how he reacts to Sabastian sticking around me like a clingy boyfriend, or Jenny like a girlfriend.”

His gaze swept across the cafeteria before deciding on an empty table directly opposite Noa’s.

“That table is perfect,” he said with a smirk.

“Yeah, not crowded,” Jenny supported as they headed straight toward it. Leon sat down casually, leaning back in his chair.

Across the cafeteria, Noa looked up absentmindedly and then paused as their eyes met briefly.

Leon held the stare intentionally before glancing toward Sebastian beside him.

The message was deliberate.

Noa’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Handsome,” Sebastian said cheerfully, oblivious to the silent war happening across the cafeteria. “What would you like to eat? I’ll get it for you.” He pointed a finger dramatically. “And no objections, please.”

Leon rested his elbow lazily against the table, eyes still flickering toward Noa.

“Alright,” he answered casually. “My usual.”

Sebastian grinned brightly. “Anything for you.”

As Sebastian walked toward the serving line with Jenny reluctantly following behind him, Leon leaned back in his seat.

Still staring straight at Noa with a smirk.

Across, Noa slowly set down the fork in his hand.

Nath noticed instantly.

“Uuh dude,” he muttered. “Why do you suddenly look like you want to kill somebody?”

Noa’s eyes remained fixed on Leon. Then it moved to the empty chair beside him. He knew it was reserved for Sebastian.

His jaw tightened slightly. “That isn't interesting Leon” he whispered to himself.

The food arrived shortly after, filling the table with trays, drinks, and the loud chatter of the cafeteria around them.

Sebastian immediately dragged his chair closer to Leon’s. It was too close to the extent that it annoyed Noa.

Every few minutes, he leaned toward Leon’s ear like he was about to reveal some life-changing secret. In reality, most of it was nonsense.

“And then,” Sebastian whispered dramatically, “the poor guy slipped in front of everyone while trying to flirt with the cheer captain.”

Leon snorted despite himself.

“You’re lying.”

“I swear on my beauty.”

Leon chuckled, “You don’t have beauty.”

Sebastian gasped loudly. “Handsome, how cruel.”

Leon chuckled softly just to keep the conversation going.

At Noa’s table, his grip tightened around his plastic fork.

Leon noticed his anger and deliberately smiled wider.

Even though Sebastian’s closeness made him uncomfortable, Leon endured it. Every laugh, every smirk, every fake moment of ease, was aimed to pissed off Noa.

And judging from the darkening look on Noa’s face, it was working perfectly.

Leon leaned slightly toward Sebastian, pretending interest in another dumb story. Secretly, he flickered his gaze toward Noa again. Their eyes met briefly.

Leon smirked.

Noa looked away sharply.

“Damn,” Nath muttered beside him. “You seriously can’t stop fighting with Leon, huh?”

Noa frowned. “What?”

“If you two don’t end this stupid rivalry soon, Coach Finn’s gonna punish both of you.”

Noa scoffed lightly. “End this rivalry? Nath, look over there.”

He tilted his head slightly toward Leon’s table.

“That asshole keeps staring directly at me with that annoying smirk. He wants me pissed off.”

“And you’re giving him exactly what he wants.” Nath stabbed another fry into his mouth. “Come on, Cap. Stop acting like an angry boyfriend.”

Noa nearly choked.

“Angry boyfriend?” he repeated incredulously. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

But irritation already burned inside him. Because the worst part was that he wished so damn badly that Leon was his boyfriend.

“That guy is too arrogant to date anybody,” Noa muttered. Besides, even if he is good, I will never date him. Have you forgotten the team rules?”

Nath grinned mischievously. “Someone is sure to break those rules soon.”

“Who will break it?” Noa asked and his heart pounded at the question.

“I don’t know, Cap. You never can tell, but don't worry because you can't break the rules.”

“Yeah,” Vic put in. “Look, someone seemed to be into the rookie already. Look at the way he smiles at Sebastian.” He wiggled his brows. “And look at how Sebastian keeps leaning all over him. They actually look kinda cute.”

“Shut it, Vic.”

Noa’s tone turned too sharp to make Vic and Nath glance at him.

“You’re getting on my nerves and they're not cute!”