003

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 that meant. His weekend of careful planning had already failed spectacularly.

Shaun waited at the hallway near Nathan’s lecture hall students streamed past them in noisy clusters, but Shaun didn’t care.

The anger that had been simmering since lunch finally snapped. He grabbed Nathan by the arm and yanked him toward the corner of the hallway, where the noise dulled into a distant hum.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Shaun demanded, voice low but shaking. “Why would you say something like that to Cassie?”

Nathan blinked once, then smiled slowly. “Relax. I only told her I’d found a good kisser.” He tilted his head. “And that it was thanks to you.”

Shaun exhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay calm. “Who breaks up with a girl like that? Do you enjoy messing with people’s feelings? And why the hell is it ‘thanks to me’?”

Nathan’s smirk deepened. “First off, she deserved it. Second ” His gaze dropped briefly to Shaun’s mouth. “Your lips are better than all the girls I’ve kissed before.”

Shaun’s cheeks burned as the memory of that night flashed through his mind. “Stop it. I already apologized.”

Nathan stepped closer, closing the gap between them effortlessly. “You look cute when you’re flustered,” he murmured.

“Especially when I tease you.”

Shaun shoved him back. “Let’s just not cross paths again. Got it?”

He turned to leave, but Nathan grabbed the strap of his bag and tugged him back lightly. “Come on,” Nathan said easily, already walking away with his bag. “I’ll drop you off.”

Shaun stood there, stunned, watching Nathan disappear down the hallway. Is he mad or what? Shaun cursed under his breath and hurried after him, determined not to be dragged into whatever game Nathan was playing.

He rounded the corner and froze.

Someone had Nathan by the collar.

The playful look in Nathan’s eyes was gone, replaced by something cold and dangerous. Shaun recognized the guy instantly. Greg. Final year student. One of Nathan’s seniors. Everyone knew better than to mess with him.

“Let me go,” Nathan said calmly.

Greg didn’t. Instead, he yanked the bag from Nathan’s shoulder, assuming it was his, and threw it to the floor. “Fight me, you fucker.”

Shaun stayed back. This wasn’t his fight and he knew better than to get involved.

“How dare you mess with my girl?” Greg roared.

Nathan’s gaze flicked to the bag on the floor. His voice dropped, low and threatening. “And how dare you throw my cupcake’s bag on the ground?”

Shaun’s eyes widened. My what?

Before Greg could react, Nathan drove a fist into his stomach. Greg retaliated, landing a punch on Nathan’s face. That was all it took.

Nathan snapped.

He kicked Greg to the ground and landed several brutal blows, his movements precise and merciless. When he finally stood, there was a smile on his face, as if he hadn’t just dismantled someone twice his size.

“Don’t ever show me your damn face again,” Nathan warned.

He picked up the bag and turned only to spot Shaun watching.

“Cupcake!” Nathan called out loudly.

Shaun immediately turned away, heat rushing to his face. He bolted toward the parking lot, praying no one had connected the nickname to him.

After what felt like forever, Nathan finally

showed up at the car.

“Why did you run?” Nathan teased.

“Damn you,” Shaun muttered. “My bag.”

Nathan held it just out of reach. “Get in. I’ll drop you off.”

Shaun hissed through his teeth. “Please.”

“Or should I call you cupcake again?” Nathan asked lightly, glancing around. “There are a lot of people here.”

Shaun exhaled. “I blame my luck,” he said, climbing into the car.

Nathan smiled victoriously, tossed him the bag, and started the engine.

When they arrived at Shaun’s place, Nathan noticed how quiet it was. “Your parents?”

“Away for work,” Shaun replied. “They’ll be back this weekend.”

Nathan nodded, stepping inside when Shaun gestured him in.

“Sit,” Shaun ordered.

Nathan raised a brow but obeyed. Shaun disappeared briefly and returned with a first aid box. The fight had left a bruise near Nathan’s lower lip. Shaun dabbed disinfectant gently and placed a small plaster over it.

“Are you Bruce Lee ?" Shaun scolded. “You could’ve just pushed him away and left.

Why mess with someone else’s girlfriend anyway?”

Nathan chuckled. “Awn. My cupcake cares.”

“Stop calling me your cupcake,” Shaun snapped, glaring at him.

Nathan leaned back, amusement flickering in his eyes but this time, he didn’t say it again.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Nathan said quietly.

Shaun paused. “You were bleeding.”

Nathan tilted his head. “So? I thought you didn’t want us crossing paths again.”

“That was before you decided to nearly get yourself killed over my bag,” Shaun shot back.

“I told him not to touch it.”

“That doesn’t make it normal.”

“I don’t like people thinking they can take what’s mine.”

Shaun stiffened. “I’m not yours.”

Nathan smiled faintly. “I didn’t say you were. Yet.”

The silence stretched between them, thick and unsettling.

Nathan eventually stood, grabbing his jacket. “I’ll go before you kick me out.”

At the door, he paused. "Don’t hide tomorrow.”

“I wasn't hiding,” Shaun said.

Nathan smiled. “Good.”

The door closed behind him.

Shaun stood there long after, heart racing, knowing one thing for certain. Avoiding Nathan was no longer an option.