The Enemy's kiss

Shaun sat at the far end of the crowded living room, his body angled away from the noise even though his attention was fixed firmly on one place. Across the room, Nathan stood with Cassie tucked comfortably against his chest, his arms wrapped around her in a way that was far too intimate to be accidental. Cassie laughed at something he said, her fingers resting lightly on his arm, and the sight made Shaun’s chest tighten painfully. Cassie was his girlfriend. The party itself was loud and chaotic, exactly what one would expect from an after party thrown for the university basketball team after winning a major competition. Music blasted from speakers, vibrating through the walls and drowning out most conversations. Alcohol flowed freely, laughter echoed from every corner, and bodies pressed together as students danced and celebrated without restraint. Yet none of it mattered to Shaun, because his focus never strayed far from Nathan and the way he was holding Cassie as though she bel

Monday arrived, and Shaun strutted into lectures with his head held high. He resolved that if he went straight home after class, he could avoid running into Nathan entirely. During the break, Shaun hid in a corner, quietly eating his lunch, hoping no one would disturb him. His hope was quickly dashed when Cassie appeared, her expression sharp and annoyed. “What did you tell Nathan?” she demanded. “He broke up with me.” Shaun rolled his eyes, leaning back against the wall, his patience thinning. “Go ask your boyfriend. I didn’t tell him anything,” he said flatly. Cassie’s eyes narrowed. “You told him you know someone who’s better than me… and that the person is a good kisser,” she accused. Shaun froze, dumbfounded. “The hell? I didn’t say that!” Cassie sneered, muttering something under her breath Shaun wasn’t ready to hear, and walked off. Shaun’s jaw clenched in frustration. He could feel the anger bubbling up. Nathan had to be behind this somehow. And Shaun knew exactly what

Nathan woke up tired. Not the kind of tired sleep could fix. The kind that settled deep in his chest and refused to loosen its grip. He showered, dressed, grabbed his keys, and drove to school on autopilot, his mind moving slower than his body. He had a test that morning. No matter how rebellious he appeared, grades were never something he treated lightly. He showed up. He passed. He stayed at the top. That much had always been simple. The test went well. Matthew groaned the moment they stepped out of the lecture hall, dragging a hand down his face like he’d just survived a war. “I failed.” Nathan glanced at him. “I gave you notes.” Matthew sighed dramatically. “I studied all night. I’m just not built like you.” “Excuses,” Nathan muttered. He tried not to think about Shaun. Tried. “Eli! Pass the ball!” The voice cut cleanly through his thoughts. Nathan stopped walking. The basketball court lay just ahead. Shaun was there laughing, loose, alive in a way th

As he stepped outside, Nathan exhaled deeply. He hurried toward his car, but when he saw Shaun waiting for him, he slowed his pace. “Hey,” Nathan said. “Hi.” Shaun raised his head. “So, are you going to explain how he managed to lock you in?” Shaun bit his lip. “Erm… I was at the basketball court watching movie when he showed up.” shaun cleared his throat. “He told me you got into a fight and hurt yourself.” Nathan frowned slightly. “I’d been texting you and got no reply, so naturally I got worried. I rushed to the practice room, and when I realized you weren’t there, I tried to leave. But he pushed me inside and bombarded me with questions about our relationship whether we were seeing each other, who was the top, and how it feels to be with a guy.” Shaun grimaced. “The questions got annoying, so I tried to leave. Then he grabbed me. I struggled to break free, but he was clearly stronger than me so I bit him. Unfortunately, he slapped me and shoved me aside. Before I coul