004

Shaun rushed to class, heart racing. He didn’t notice the blonde guy until he bumped right into him.

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” Shaun blurted, pushing off quickly. “I—uh—” He nodded and hurried toward the lecture hall.

After the lecture, Shaun walked out, drained. “Who’s worse… Nathan or this lecturer?” he muttered to himself.

A hand swung casually over his shoulder and draped around his neck. “I don’t know who Nathan is,” the blonde said, voice teasing, “but the lecturer is worse.”

Shaun whipped around, ready to push him off.

“The guy from earlier?” he asked cautiously.

Eli smiled. “Yep. Same class. Cool, huh?”

“Yeah… sorry about earlier,” Shaun said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was in a rush.”

“It’s okay,” Eli replied with a quirky grin. “I wasn’t looking either so technically, we’re both at fault.”

Shaun’s eyes fell on Eli’s lip ring. A flicker of curiosity and admiration passed through him.

“You want one?” Eli asked.

“Naa,” Shaun shook his head, chuckling.

“My mom would probably think I’ve disfigured my face,” he said, remembering how dramatic she could be.

Eli said something funny, something about his mom overreacting to a paper cut, and Shaun laughed genuinely for the first time in hours.

Unknown to him, Nathan stood across the hall, arms crossed, eyes dark. His gaze followed every movement, every laugh. Who was this guy wrapping his arm around Shaun’s neck?

“Are you a transfer student?” Shaun asked.

“Why?” Eli tilted his head, smiling.

“I’d definitely notice a blondy in our class,” Shaun admitted with a small laugh.

Eli laughed too. “Yeah, today’s my first day. Can we be friends?”

Shaun paused, realizing he might need one. “I think we should at least know each other’s names first,” he laughed. “I’m Shaun Walker.”

“I’m Eli Smith,” Eli said.

They bumped fists, sealing their new friendship.

Shaun decided to show Eli the cafeteria and a few shortcuts around campus. They walked together, talking casually, laughing over small things, the kind of effortless connection Shaun hadn’t realized he’d needed.

Then Nathan appeared.

Shaun froze. Nathan’s dark eyes scanned the two of them, quiet but sharp. He didn’t say anything at first just stood there, observing. The faintest curl of a smirk touched his lips, but his gaze was anything but playful.

Before Shaun could even react, Nathan reached down, took Eli’s hand off Shaun, and replaced it with his own. “Your body? Off limits,” he said with a wink, then tugged Shaun gently but firmly away, leaving Eli blinking in stunned confusion.

“Hey! Hands off! I still have class!” Shaun protested, tugging at Nathan’s grip.

“Skip it,” Nathan said, voice casual but commanding. “Hang out with me instead.”

“Are you crazy?!” Shaun exclaimed, trying to jerk free.

Nathan ignored him, dragging Shaun toward the street where a sleek motorbike was parked.

“You don’t expect me to get on that!” Shaun said, eyes wide with panic.

“I do,” Nathan replied smoothly. “And you will.”

“What—no!” Shaun shouted.

“Want me to kiss you here?” Nathan teased, leaning close. “I don’t mind, though.”

Shaun shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass and then, muttering under his breath, he hopped onto the bike.

Nathan handed him a helmet. “Hold me tight,” he instructed.

Shaun, terrified of motorbikes, didn’t wait for the rest of the sentence. He latched onto Nathan’s neck as if his life depended on it, stiff as a board.

The engine roared to life, and they sped off through the city streets. Shaun’s knuckles were white against Nathan’s jacket, but Nathan drove with that calm, precise control that made Shaun’s heart pound for more reasons than just fear.

Eventually, they arrived at a quiet, upscale restaurant. Nathan killed the engine, and Shaun slowly unlatched himself, still a little shaken.

“It’s my birthday,” Nathan said casually, glancing at Shaun.

“Celebrate it with your friends or family,” Shaun said, brushing off the awkward tension. “Why drag me here to celebrate with you?”

Nathan shrugged. “Well… my mom’s probably busy with her fifth husband, my dad’s with his family. Plus, my friends are boring they’d probably make me drink and hang out with girls. In short… I want to spend my birthday with you.”

Shaun cleared his throat, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. “Erm… happy birthday,” he said, awkwardly.

Nathan’s smile softened just enough to make Shaun’s stomach flutter. “Thank you.”

“Order whatever you want. My treat,” Shaun said, even though he still found Nathan incredibly annoying.

They walked into the restaurant, and Shaun immediately slowed. It wasn’t an open space it was the kind of place with closed doors and private rooms, dim lighting, and soft music that whispered expensive without trying too hard.

Shaun shot Nathan a glare. “I change my mind. I’m not paying,” he said flatly. “You didn’t tell me this was an expensive restaurant.”

Nathan laughed, clearly amused. “I wasn’t planning on letting you pay anyway. I just need your company.”

Shaun exhaled, shoulders relaxing slightly. “That… I can do.”

Nathan smiled wider at that.

They settled into the private room, the door sliding shut behind them. Shaun glanced around once more before finally relaxing into his seat.

“So,” Shaun asked casually, “how rich are you?”

Nathan blinked, caught off guard. Then he shrugged. “Very rich.”

“Hmmm.” Shaun nodded like that explained everything.

The food arrived not long after. Shaun’s eyes widened despite himself. He pulled out his phone almost immediately, snapping pictures from different angles.

Nathan leaned into the frame without asking. “Make sure you get my good side.”

“You’re forcing yourself into my pictures,” Shaun muttered, but he didn’t move away.

Nathan laughed and even made them take a few photos together. “Here,” he said, sliding his phone across the table. “My ID. Add me and send the pictures.”

Shaun hesitated for half a second, then added him and sent the photos.

They ate in a comfortable silence, broken only by small comments and quiet laughter. By the time dessert arrived, Shaun was scrolling through the pictures, choosing one to post.

Nathan watched him over the rim of his glass. “So,” he said casually, “who was that blonde guy?”

Shaun didn’t look up. “Oh. Eli? He’s a transfer student. And my friend.”

“Friend,” Nathan repeated, humming softly.

Shaun was too focused on selecting a filter to notice the way Nathan’s gaze lingered on him sharp, unreadable, possessive in a way Nathan himself didn’t fully understand yet.

After dessert, Nathan drove Shaun back to campus. The ride was quieter this time, the city lights blurring past them.

Getting off the bike, Shaun handed Nathan his helmet. “I never imagined I’d skip class,” he said, shaking his head. “And that too for you.”

Nathan smirked. “Life’s full of surprises.”

Shaun scoffed and hurried back toward his building without looking back.

Nathan watched him disappear before turning the bike around.

Nathan’s mood soured the moment Shaun called Eli his friend.

He walked into his lecture twenty minutes late. The lecturer paused mid sentence. “You’re late.”

Nathan didn’t bother responding. He walked straight to his seat, unfazed.

After lectures, he headed to the basketball court to cool off, spinning the ball in his hands as sweat dampened his shirt.

“Yo, let’s go out tonight,” Matthew his closest pal said, jogging up beside him.

“Not in the mood,” Nathan replied, bouncing the ball once.

His eyes drifted to a pair of students walking past, one’s arm slung over the other’s shoulder.

Shaun and Eli flashed through his mind.

“Fuck,” he hissed, throwing the ball aside.

“Let’s go another time.” He clapped Matthew’s shoulder and walked off.

Without thinking, Nathan found himself near Shaun’s lecture hall. He slowed when he saw Shaun coming out laughing at something Eli had said.

Nathan followed at a distance, eyes dark, jaw tight.

Matthew suddenly jumped into his space. “What’s going on with you and that kid?”

Nathan didn’t stop walking. “Seems like someone else has his attention.”

Matthew raised a brow. “Why do you care?”

“And why are you in my business?” Nathan shot back.

Matthew hesitated, then asked, “Are you bi?”

Nathan rolled his eyes and said nothing, quickening his pace.

“I heard you call him cupcake when you fought Greg,” Matthew continued. “You even said my cupcake’s bag.”

“I’m not,” Nathan snapped. “I just like teasing him.”

Matthew nodded slowly. “You love girls. So maybe you’re confused. It happens. Want me to send you a link?”

Nathan stopped abruptly. “And why would you have that?” he turned, suspicious.

Matthew shrugged. “I was confused the first time I, you know… with a guy. Took a test. Turns out I’m bi. It’s not a bad thing.”

He slung an arm around Nathan’s neck supportively.

Nathan shoved his hand away and walked off.

“I’m just trying to help!” Matthew yelled after him.

Nathan raised his middle finger without looking back.

At home, Nathan dropped his keys on the table when his phone chimed.

Matthew had sent the link.

Nathan stared at it longer than he meant to. He told himself he wouldn’t open it.

Then he did.

He answered the questions quickly at first. Then slower. Then he stopped pretending he wasn’t thinking about Shaun.

The final question appeared on the screen

“When you imagine intimacy who comes to mind first?”

Nathan stared at the question.

Then he turned off his phone.

He showered, got into bed, closed his eyes

And still, the question lingered.