Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 104: New friend

Chapter 104: New friend

When the morning sun crept through the window, Chris stirred from his sleep, feeling a little bit better. He didn’t feel as feverish as he felt yesterday, but he could still feel it lingering.

As he lay in bed, contemplating whether he should attempt to attend his classes, his phone buzzed with a message from Rachel. She hoped he was alright and reminded him to take care of himself and call her in case of anything.

Then another message came in, letting him know she was preparing for a presentation later that afternoon, so she may not get to respond to his texts, but he was permitted to give her a call in case of an emergency.

He smiled at the text.

Shouldn’t he just marry this girl?

He decided to brave the day. A quick shower helped freshen him up, and he gathered his belongings for class. He dialled Rachel’s number and put the phone on speaker as he brushed his teeth, explaining his plans for the day. She was relieved that he was feeling better but scolded him gently, reminding him she had asked him to call during an emergency only, and he scared her, making him laugh as he gave a half-assed apology before hanging up.

As he stepped out of his room and started heading to class, he almost bumped into Gary, who was walking down the corridor. Gary raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"Late for classes?" Gary quipped.

Chris shook his head. "Just fashionably late."

"Tell that to Dr. Steven," Gary said with a grin.

Chris paused, wondering how Gary knew about the class he was having. "Wait, how did you know that?"

Gary laughed. "Maybe if you weren’t too engrossed in racing out of the classroom as soon as classes were over, you’d have realized we actually have the same English class in the morning."

Chris raised an eyebrow. "You’re in my English class?"

"Surprising, huh?" Gary said, nodding. "But you know, it wouldn’t hurt to stick around sometimes and maybe socialize."

Chris blinked, a bit taken aback by Gary’s bluntness. Why did he suddenly sound like a tough guy? "I guess I haven’t been the most sociable person." Chris shrugged.

"I can tell," Gary replied, chuckling.

"Yesterday... thank you," Chris said in a sincere tone.

"It’s fine. I returned to your room last night, but I couldn’t go in in case you were sleeping already. It’s good to see you better. Although I can still sense it lingering. Did you have any medication this morning?" Gary asked him.

Chris shook his head.

"But you ate something at least? And drank lots of water?" Gary asked, his tone laced with hope.

"Actually... not."

"Jeez! You know what? After this class, do you have a break before the next class?"

"I think so? Why?" Chris asked hesitantly.

"Let’s have lunch together in the cafeteria."

"What?" Chris asked, stunned.

*******

Immediately after their English class ended, Gary appeared in front of him, almost startling him. Gary seemed genuinely interested in making sure he ate, and Chris was not exactly sure why. Since Rachel had a presentation, Chris agreed to join Gary because, yes, he was hungry and could feel the kickoff of his fever.

As they walked down to the cafeteria, just like this morning, Chris noticed a few curious glances from other students. He realized that he was still somewhat of a hot topic after the Ash incident. Gary caught him looking around and grinned.

"You’re still the talk of the town, you know," Gary said.

Chris rolled his eyes. "Great."

"But don’t worry, there’s always something new to gossip about. People have short memories," Gary assured him.

As they settled into the café, the conversation flowed smoothly between Chris and Gary. Between bites of their meals, Gary leaned in a bit and asked, "You don’t seem worried about people thinking you’re gay after... well, the incident with Ash."

Chris shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. "I’ve never really cared much about what people say. Their opinions are none of my business."

Gary raised an eyebrow. "That’s quite a bold stance."

Chris chuckled. "I’ve got enough on my plate without worrying about what people assume about my sexuality."

Gary nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Fair enough. Do you ever care about how people perceive you in general?"

Chris leaned back in his chair, considering the question. "Not really. People can think what they want. It doesn’t define who I am."

Gary smirked. "You’ve got a pretty thick skin."

Chris chuckled. "You kinda have to when you’re me."

Gary laughed.

"Do you worry about what people think of you?" Chris asked him. Because, well, he didn’t want to let Gary do all the talking.

"Generally, I do worry sometimes. But sexuality-wise, people do not know about that, so I guess I’m good."

Chris raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "You really think people don’t know your sexuality?"

Gary chuckled softly. "Well, if I don’t tell them, most people don’t. And I’m fine with that."

Chris chuckled. "Then how did I know? It’s kinda obvious when you’re around Sky that you’ve got feelings for him." Chris pointed out.

Gary’s face turned a shade of red, embarrassment evident. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, well... Sky’s actually the first guy I’ve ever liked."

Chris leaned in, intrigued. "Really?"

Gary sighed, looking down at his plate. "When I first came to this university, I was completely lost. I didn’t know anyone, and I felt out of place. But then there was Sky. He was really nice to me, helped me find my way around, and introduced me to some people. I don’t think I would have survived those initial days without him."

Well, that sounded familiar.

Chris listened attentively as Gary continued, his tone tinged with a mix of fondness and sadness.

"But then, things changed. Sky started to distance himself from me. And I guess I shouldn’t have expected more, right? I mean, he’s hot, everyone’s after him. Why would he want someone like me? I’m not exactly the best-looking guy, and I don’t come from a rich family."

Chris looked at Gary with a mixture of pity and understanding. He knew that even if there were a chance for something to happen between Gary and Sky, Chris wouldn’t let it. He felt an odd sense of empathy for Gary, who seemed to be grappling with his feelings.

"You’re selling yourself short," Chris said, his tone sincere. "You’re a good guy, and looks and money aren’t the only things that matter. However, for looks, you are good in that aspect. I don’t exactly know about the other part." Chris added lightly.

Gary chuckled softly, his eyes slightly teary. "Thanks."

Chris smirked and picked up a piece of sausage from his plate. He held it up to Gary. "Here, have some sausage. It’ll make you feel better."

Gary chuckled, leaning in to eat the sausage. The camaraderie between them was surprisingly natural, and Chris found himself feeling strangely protective of Gary’s vulnerability.

Just as Gary was biting the sausage, the atmosphere shifted. Chris noticed a change in the cafeteria’s ambience. He followed Gary’s gaze to look behind him, and then he realized Sky had entered the cafeteria, flanked by his clique. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, a silent exchange that spoke volumes.

Chris glanced at Gary, who looked a mix of surprised and embarrassed. The unexpected encounter had caught them both off guard. Gary moved first, leaving the rest of the sausage, while Chris awkwardly put his hand down.

Henry caught sight of Chris and flashed him a warm smile, waving at him as he approached their table. Noel followed, and soon they were joined by Collins and Sky, who appeared somewhat hesitant. As they settled around the table with Gary and Chris, the atmosphere felt a tad awkward and thick with unspoken tension.

Henry, as always, jumped in to break the ice. "You’re getting popular by the day, aren’t you?" His tone sounded amused, and he was grinning.

Chris wasn’t exactly sure what to say to that, and he didn’t get to think because Noel spoke up. "Hey, where’s Rachel?"

Chris leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "She’s got a presentation this afternoon, so she’s prepping for it."

Sky’s gaze flickered between Chris and Gary, his lips curving into a polite smile. "Didn’t know you guys were close."

Chris shrugged, a nonchalant expression on his face. "Well, we’re getting there." He looked at Gary.

Gary, sitting next to Chris, had his cheeks heating up, his embarrassment evident. He stole a glance at Sky before averting his gaze, not quite sure how to react. Chris could imagine having Sky sitting right beside him being both thrilling and nerve-wracking. His blushing face really gave away more than he intended.

Sky’s eyes flickered over to Gary and Chris again, his tone light. "Are you sure you aren’t already there yet? I mean... you seem close enough already. Close enough to feed each other. In public."

Chris’s pointed gaze was on Sky, who was looking right back at him. There was no hint of amusement in either of their faces.

Gary cleared his throat, his voice a bit shaky. "Yeah, well, it was just a sausage."

Sky’s gaze turned to Gary beside him, and his lips twitched into a faint smile. "It’s cool. I mean, you guys can do whatever you want."