Chapter 5: Rivalry

The next day, I was down all day. After class, I left the classroom with Jason. He grabbed my hand and asked, “Why are your hands so cold?” I didn’t answer, so he tucked my hand into his pocket to warm it up for me.

Normally, I’d be secretly thrilled by this. But today, I pulled my hand away. “Jason, we’re both guys. This isn’t really appropriate.”

Jason looked at me, confused. “What’s inappropriate? We’re best friends.” He pinched my cheek. “Honestly, when you were little, your dad was always running around and never home. If you really think about it, I basically raised you.”

I batted his hand away. “That’s a bit of a stretch.”

Jason just smiled softly. He’s so good-looking—better than most celebrities. His smile is especially heart-melting. I cleared my throat and didn’t dare look at him again.

When we got downstairs, a voice stopped us outside the building. “Jason, heading to the dining hall? Let’s go together.”

I recognized the guy—Ryan. He used to be Jason’s classmate, and they seemed close. Back in high school, I wasn’t in the same class as Jason. Sometimes, passing by his classroom, I’d see Ryan asking him questions.

He reached out to grab Jason’s hand, but Jason subtly dodged. Ryan just smiled and naturally wedged himself between me and Jason.

As we walked, he probed, “Are you really close with Jason?” He made me a little uncomfortable.

I replied simply, “We’re okay.”

Jason reached out and pulled me to his side, his smile never quite reaching his eyes. “We’re more than okay. He’s my best friend.”

Ryan’s expression soured. He looked at Jason holding my hand, jealousy flashing in his eyes. He looked me up and down, then said impatiently, “Hey, can you give us a minute? I have something to say to Jason in private. It’s not convenient with you here.”

The autumn wind bit at my cheeks as I watched Ryan step closer to Jason, his voice dropping. My heart hammered, every muscle tensed. I pressed my lips together and turned to Jason. “I’ll head back to the dorm and wait for you.”

But just as I was about to leave, Jason gripped my hand tightly. I tried to pull away, but he only held on tighter. I couldn’t break free at all.

He looked up coldly and said to Ryan, “Whatever you want to say, say it here. Alex is my best friend. There’s nothing he can’t hear.”

Ryan’s face fell, and his glare at me grew even sharper. He gritted his teeth and finally blurted out:

“Jason… I’ve liked you for a long time. Will you give me a chance?”

The words seemed to hang in the air, louder than the rush of students passing by or the distant sound of a marching band practicing for homecoming. For a second, everything else faded—just Jason, Ryan, and me, suspended in the awkward space between old secrets and new possibilities. I stopped breathing. Jason’s answer would change everything—for him, for Ryan, for me.