Chapter 11.02

The guys perked up.

“I told you I was working on it,” I said to them cheerfully, then loudly explained our bet—without names.

“Everyone good with this?” I asked. Everyone nodded.

“Agreed, pretty boy?” she ran her fingers through my hair.

“Agreed, little girl,” I kissed her, while the others just waved us off.

“Alright,” Paul said. “Three rounds, three throws per round—total score counts. Couples go one after another, and I’ll keep track.”

Paul’s team went first, then Brian’s, then us, followed by Aaron and Daryl’s team. We stayed neck and neck the whole time.

“Well,” Paul said at the end, “Jay, Jane—you can modify the rules because it’s exactly a tie.”

“Then no one wears weird outfits,” my girlfriend smiled.

“Oh, no-no, Babe,” I interrupted. “Everyone wears them.”

“Are you sure about that, Messyhair?” she asked, looking around. “Vote?” I nodded.

“Alright,” I said. “Who wants to dress their partner?”

Everyone’s hand shot up—except Jenny’s and Susy’s.

“That’s how it is, little girl,” I said, giving her a quick kiss. “Everyone’s dressing up.”

“Then let’s make it three days each, and the couples can decide which days,” my girlfriend suggested. “That way, I won’t have to wear your choices on days when I have interpreting work.”

“That’s reasonable,” I agreed. “Everyone good with that?”

The group nodded.

“Alright, it’s settled,” Jenny said cheerfully, running her fingers through my hair. “I expect three pictures from everyone by the last day of classes, okay?”

I loved how decisive she was.

“Okay,” everyone agreed happily.

After the game, everyone except me went home. Paul disappeared into the bathroom, then into his room.

“Messyhair,” Jenny said when we entered her room, “I have to go home this weekend for a photoshoot.”

“I know,” I said, playing with her hair. “I have my weekend with Uncle Steve right after.”

“Sorry, I tried to reschedule so we’d be home at the same time, but Amber said that week doesn’t work for Alberto.”

“No problem, we’ll spend these two weekends separately. I’ll just study,” I laughed. That was exactly my plan.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll take on a few interpreting jobs while you’re away. But this weekend, I’ll be back early Sunday.”

“Agreed.”

The week flew by, and with Jenny, only lunch breaks and evenings remained. On the days of Uncle Steve’s lectures, we never ate together—I ate with my roommates instead. But on the day he left, we had lunch together.

“Babe,” I said, pushing the topic. We need to talk about this—it’s getting close. “Have you thought about moving in together?”

“You mean you moving in with me at Paul’s flat?” she asked during lunch before leaving.

“Yes, but I’m also interested in your thoughts on us moving in together. You said we should talk about it because you weren’t afraid,” I teased with a smile.

“Did you ask Paul?” she stalled, but I could see her mind working.

“No, we should figure things out first.”

“You—you want to?” she asked hesitantly, looking at me.

“Yes, I do,” I said, taking her hand. “You still don’t trust that I love you?”

“It’s not that,” she said, gently tracing her fingers over mine. “But if you move in, you can’t run away every time something bothers you. You can’t sleep somewhere else just because you’re jealous. There’s no escape route. Right now, you still have the dorm.”

She listed everything out.

“You can’t solve problems just by saying, ‘I’m the man.’ Do you understand what I mean?” she asked.

“I do, Babe,” I said, moving to sit beside her. “You’re afraid.”

“We—we’re happy now, but—but what if—if living together ruins everything?” She was really scared.

“I won’t run away, I promise,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “Even if we argue, we’ll calm down and talk things through. Let’s try.” I spoke gently.

“I don’t want things to get worse,” she said, looking at me with those eyes I adored.

“Trust me, they won’t,” I said, stroking her cheek. “And you still have some time to get used to the idea.”

“I do trust you,” she finally smiled. “You’re right—let’s try.”

“I’m right?” I teased. “I’m marking this in the calendar.”

“You can have a good day sometimes,” she laughed and kissed me.

That afternoon, she went home, and I took my things back to the dorm before heading to swim practice.

“Not spending the evening with your girlfriend?” Phil asked.

“She left town,” I said. “Don’t you guys have girlfriends?”

“Everyone does,” Dave said. “But none of them are serious.”

“Mine used to change often too,” I grinned.

“Will you introduce her sometime?” Tom asked.

“Definitely.”