Chapter 6: Kiss Cam No Take-Backs

17

Gotta admit, Derek's strategy worked.

The booth was packed, lines snaking out the door. Everyone wanted a selfie with "the hot drag queen" or the "British gentleman."

Not to mention, Caleb is handsome, and the British suit made him look even more refined.

He wore the suit like he was born in it, tie straight, posture perfect.

When we stood at the booth, we instantly drew all eyes.

Girls giggled, guys stared, phones flashed. Even faculty wandered over to check us out.

The small space was packed with ticket buyers.

The cash box overflowed, snacks ran low, and the sign-up sheet filled with hearts.

I thought most would swoon over Caleb, but the girls all stared at me.

Their eyes lingered on my legs, my waist, the wig that kept slipping.

"Didn't expect Marcus in drag to be so stunning, I thought she was a senior lady!"

"Yeah, his waist is so thin—did not have ‘serve’ on my bingo card today."

"Hass hass, pretty sister I want!"

With each comment, Caleb's face darkened.

His jaw clenched, eyes flickering with jealousy.

When another group came over, Caleb suddenly took off his suit jacket and tied it around my waist.

The gesture was protective, almost possessive. I felt my cheeks burn.

"What are you doing?"

Busy checking receipts, I looked at him, confused.

He didn't answer right away, just fussed with the knot.

"You think it's weird I'm dressed like this?"

"Looks good."

He shook his head, softly repeated: "Very good."

His voice was warm, almost tender.

"Then you..."

I stuttered, unsure how to finish.

"You're wearing little, don't get sick and affect club work."

He glanced at the desk fan, sounding serious.

He eyed the breeze, clearly worried about my health.

"Caleb, you looking down on me!"

I scoffed, lowered my head, heart beating faster.

My chest fluttered, hope sneaking in around the edges.

Is Caleb...jealous?

My brain spun with possibilities I didn't dare name.

18

The club expo was more popular than expected.

We celebrated with cupcakes and a victory selfie. Our group chat was flooded with memes and heart emojis.

As the hottest booth, we easily got the credit reward.

In org-speak: student engagement hours, budget bonus next semester—the whole win.

Our club points soared, Derek did a happy dance, Lin high-fived everyone.

To celebrate, Derek got four basketball tickets for us to relax.

He bragged about scoring seats close to the court, tossing the tickets like poker chips.

Lin and I were satisfied, even thinking Derek's skinny frame looked heroic.

His face glowed with pride, like he'd just been drafted to the NBA.

The game was on a weekend night.

We donned our college sweatshirts, painted stripes on our cheeks, ready to cheer.

I'm always keen on such events, so arrived early at the rest area.

I watched the warm-ups, snapping pics for my Insta story.

Soon, my stomach growled.

I tried to ignore it, but the smell of nacho cheese, cinnamon pretzels, and hot dogs was impossible to resist.

Only then did I realize I hadn't had dinner.

Just as I was about to buy a hot dog, a box of shrimp dumplings was handed to me.

The box was warm, paper thin, steam curling up. I blinked, surprised.

Looking up, I saw the underclassman who came to the expo.

She smiled:

Her eyes twinkled, cheeks flushed. I recognized her from the club booth.

"Marcus, eat something first."

Her voice was gentle, almost motherly. I smiled, thanking her.

Opening the box, the familiar smell told me it was from the shop Caleb used to bring me breakfast from.

I inhaled, heart pounding. The memory hit hard.

Since he stopped, I'd just grabbed anything in the mornings.

My breakfasts were bland, rushed, nothing like before.

I thanked her, asked: "Which shop did you buy from?"

"It's Savannah Street Deli's specialty," she said proudly, "It's super popular outside campus, peak hours in morning and noon, even now I queued half an hour." It’s that little campus-town spot past the bridge.

Her words stunned me. I nearly dropped my chopsticks.

I froze, knocking over my chopsticks and box: "What did you say?"

She gasped, rescuing the box before it fell.

"Such waste!" she said, "Do you know how far Savannah Street Deli is? Three blocks and a bridge, and you just wasted it!"

She glared, lips pursed in mock outrage.

I stared, my mind roaring.

The memories flooded back: the early mornings, Caleb's quiet smile, the warmth of breakfast together.

I remembered clearly, the first time I ate these dumplings was when I moved into the dorm.

Caleb asked if it was good, I nodded like crazy, praising him as best roommate ever.

He'd smirked, handing me a bottle of orange juice.

After that, he often brought them.

Every morning, without fail, he showed up with a box. I never thanked him enough.

My heart thumped.

Regret crept in, sharp as a knife.

In a flash, I recalled many overlooked details with Caleb.

He'd always been there, quietly supporting me, even when I didn't notice.

"I don't want to date now, let them keep misunderstanding."

"Marcus, don't regret it later."

"Pretty white."

"What if I say yes?"

"Very good."

"You're wearing little, don't get sick and affect club work."

"He's different."

All these fragments piled up, memories I'd dismissed or ignored. The truth hit me hard.

......

Like pages blown by the wind, these fragments finally stopped at our first kiss.

I closed my eyes, reliving that moment, the heat, the shock, the possibility.

I think, I need to find a chance, to bet on my pure and restless teenage heart.

I clenched my fists, promising myself I wouldn't run away next time.

17

I didn't expect that chance to come so suddenly.

The camera lights shone on me and Caleb's faces.

I was still thrilled from our favorite team's win.

Adrenaline rushed through me, my voice hoarse from cheering.

People who watch games know an unwritten rule in the stands.

Everyone waits for that moment, the jumbotron "Kiss Cam" graphic scanning the crowd.

When a team wins, two people shown on the big screen must kiss in celebration.

The crowd chanted, stomping their feet, phones ready.

When Caleb turned to me, all the noise faded away.

His eyes locked on mine, the rest of the world blurring.

My world seemed to only have his breathing.

His breath mingled with mine, the air charged and heady.

His eyes glimmered, his voice slightly husky:

"Marcus, I—"

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

The camera suddenly panned, landing on Caleb and a girl in a white tee on his other side; the audience groaned like a wave.

I stiffened, the spotlight shifting away, but the energy still thrumming.

Coincidentally, both wore white shirts.

The single girl looked surprised, a bit expectant, glancing at Caleb.

Her eyes sparkled, lips parted, waiting for a sign.

The crowd cheered for them to kiss:

"Kiss!"

"Kiss, don't be shy!"

The stadium shook, voices rising, the pressure mounting.

.......

At that moment, my brain stopped.

My heart slammed against my chest, reason drowning in adrenaline.

I heard a voice asking: Marcus, dare you bet? No take-backs.

Another voice, mocking: Wake up, you're a guy!

The cheering grew louder.

The crowd's energy pulsed, daring me to do something crazy.

Seeing the girl lean in, my rational mind snapped.

I closed my eyes, grabbed Caleb's collar, and kissed him hard.

My lips crashed into his, the world spinning. I tasted salt and heat, everything fading but us.

Who says two guys can't?

I didn't care about the stares, the whispers, the phones. I only cared about him.

As long as it's Caleb, I have the courage to defy the world.

My heart roared, beating out all fear.

18

I don't have much kissing experience.

My lips trembled, hands unsure. It was awkward, messy, but real.

So when our lips touched, it was just a brief peck, and I quickly pulled back.

My cheeks burned, hands shaking. I didn't dare look up.

Warm fingers brushed my cheek, my heartbeat pounding.

Caleb pressed his forehead to mine, breathing fast:

His hand cupped my jaw, his breath hot against my skin.

"Are you serious?"

His once cold voice now filled with desire.

The way he looked at me made my knees weak.

I looked up, seeing the same tangled emotions and longing in his eyes.

He was just as scared, just as hopeful.

That's what it means to be shy near home.

My lashes trembled, I swallowed my choked words:

"I only lied to you once, not planning to lie again."

Caleb looked at me, his eyes reddening, voice fierce.

Emotion flashed across his face, his jaw tense, his hands trembling.

"I gave you a chance to run, this time you came to me."

He lowered his eyes, voice trembling with anxiety, like he was urgently confirming something.

I reached for his hand, squeezing tight.

"Run my ass!"

I took a deep breath, grinned mischievously and provocatively:

My courage came rushing back, cheeky as ever.

"Babe, this time you choose her or comfort—"

The rest didn't come out.

Because Caleb suddenly grabbed my neck and kissed me deeply again.

His lips crashed into mine, fierce and wild. I melted into him, the crowd fading away.

In that instant, the stadium erupted in applause at the unexpected twist.

Someone whistled, a guy nearby sloshed his beer, another dropped popcorn with a gasp, and someone yelled "Let's go!"

I don't know who started, but deafening claps spread around us.

The stands shook, our friends screamed from the nosebleeds.

And in our synchronized heartbeats, we lost ourselves, leaving the world behind.

I felt his arms tighten around me, the warmth of his body sinking into mine. I didn't want to ever let go.

19

I ended up with Caleb.

It was weirdly easy, like slipping into a favorite hoodie. The transition from friends to something more felt natural.

Surprisingly, Derek and Lin weren't shocked.

"With you and Caleb always glued together, getting in bed was just a matter of time."

Lin smirked, Derek gave me a thumbs up, both acting like proud parents.

He took off his BL manga, looking at me meaningfully.

He waved the book, eyebrows raised, already teasing.

I glanced at Caleb packing his suitcase, wanting to sew Derek's mouth shut:

"Can't you stop talking nonsense?"

I threw a pillow at Derek, but he dodged, grinning.

"It's the truth, human feelings are a mix of love and desire, you can't say you don't want to sleep with him?"

His words made me blush, but I tried to laugh it off.

"Go away."

I snapped, but my mind recalled a recent scene...

My brain replayed last night, heat creeping up my neck.

Since going public, with internships coming, we rented a two-bedroom near campus.

Split rent, ten-minute walk to studio, right on the campus shuttle route—grown-up enough to scare me, close enough to feel safe.

The place was small, sunlit, filled with mismatched furniture and old movie posters. It felt like home.

Yesterday was our first night there.

Caleb carried boxes, I arranged mugs, both pretending we didn't care about the new beginning.

After a tiring day, I opened the curtain to shower, thinking the bathroom was free.

The next second, an explosive scene made my blood boil—

Caleb was taking off his shirt facing me.

His abs flexed, muscles rippling. I couldn't look away.

His sexy collarbones and chest caught my eye.

He ran a hand down his chest, smirking as he caught me staring.

As he undid the buttons, his toned abs were revealed.

Further down, his hand was at his waistband...

He paused, eyes locking onto mine.

"Want to shower together?"

His voice was low, teasing, a challenge I wasn't sure I could answer.

"Haha, you first."

I gulped, quickly closed the curtain.

I pressed my back to the door, heart hammering.

......

"Eyes don't lie."

Derek grinned, sending me files, whispering:

He texted me a string of emojis, then dropped a folder titled "Study Material."

"For you, study material, don't thank me."

His grin was evil, his intentions obvious.

My gut said his "study material" wasn't good.

But that night, I secretly opened it behind Caleb's back.

My laptop glowed, volume turned low, fingers trembling.

Even with the speaker low, the blush-inducing sounds echoed loudly.

My face burned, ears hot. I tried to close the window, but my curiosity won out.

The next second, a pair of strong hands covered the screen.

Caleb's grip was gentle, but his eyes were sharp.

Looking up, Caleb, in just sleep shorts, stared at me thoughtfully.

His jaw clenched, muscles tense, eyes dark.

"This is why you're up so late?"

His dangerous gaze made my ears burn, I stepped back:

I stammered, trying to explain.

"It's all Derek's... I just glanced, for learning."

My voice was small, cheeks redder than ever.

"Since you're so eager to learn," he turned off the lamp, pressed down on me, "your man will teach you now."

He waited for my nod. The lamp clicked off, heartbeat loud in my ears, and the world narrowed to warmth and breath.

.......

The next day, rubbing my sore waist, I mercilessly blacklisted Derek.

My body ached, but my heart was light. Caleb slid a box of shrimp dumplings onto our new counter and tossed me his hoodie; I told him I was keeping both. (The End)