Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 115: Manipulative Chris

Chapter 115: Manipulative Chris

It was like a repetitive cycle for Chris during this period, especially now that he was sick. One of the reasons he hated falling sick was that he had no control over his sleep. He didn’t even sleep in the afternoons. It was only at night. So the fact that he could randomly fall asleep and feel lightheaded was something he didn’t appreciate.

He woke up in the evening. He could tell from the glow outside the window. He blinked groggily, disoriented and unsure of what exactly the time was and how long he had slept. He reached for his phone on the bedside table and squinted at the screen. It was a few minutes past 8 p.m. Just great! Another wasted day.

But more than that, he took note of his surroundings.

His heart sank when he realized that Sky wasn’t in the room. He remembered feeling drowsy while studying earlier, and now even his laptop and notes were shut and placed on his reading table.

Sky was gone.

Again.

As Chris sat up in bed, he ran a hand through his dishevelled hair, his mind racing with different thoughts. He looked around the room in disappointment, searching for any note or clue Sky might have left, but there was nothing. Nothing at all.

With a sigh of frustration, Chris’s stomach rumbled loudly, and he remembered that it was almost time for his evening dose of medication. He needed to eat something.

He cursed silently. Where would he start? He didn’t even have any energy to leave the room. Why didn’t that idiot wake him up at least?

So much for promising to remind him to take his medication.

Just as he was about to scroll through his phone for Rachel’s number, the door to their room creaked open. Chris turned his head, his heart racing, and there stood Sky, holding bags of food. As usual.

Chris’s eyes widened in surprise, and a rush of relief and happiness washed over him. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched Sky enter the room, his expression one of amused triumph.

"You sneaky sneak," Chris said, his voice filled with both surprise and joy. "You didn’t leave a note, and here you are, saving the day."

Sky chuckled as he approached the bed, setting the bags of food down on the lamp table beside his bed. "Well, I couldn’t just leave you hungry and alone, could I?"

Chris couldn’t contain his gratitude as he reached for the bags. He was genuinely touched by Sky’s thoughtfulness. He couldn’t exactly describe how he felt at this moment. "You really are something, you know that?"

Sky flashed him a warm smile, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Are you so touched that you’ve fallen in love?" he teased, echoing his earlier joke.

Chris laughed, the sound filled with genuine affection. "Who knows? Maybe I have."

Sky scoffed as he got busy trying to serve out the meals. "You’re late. I’m taken."

Chris was a bit surprised Sky casually said that. It was the first time he was really talking about his private life out of the blue, even if they were having a light conversation.

"Even married people are snatched. I don’t see why I can’t snatch you." It sounded like a joke. But Chris and everyone else knew he was serious. Except for Sky, maybe.

Sky laughed. "Not bad. But you need to be healthy if you wish to do some searching." Sky said before serving him the plate of fried rice and minced chicken.

As the evening wore on, they finished their meal, and Chris took his medication with a grateful smile. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment despite the late hour.

"You can shower by yourself right?" Sky asked as he put the plates away.

"What? You mean you aren’t going to clean me up tonight?" Chris asked, widening his eyes in false disbelief.

Sky scoffed at him, muttering, "Perv." That made Chris chuckle.

Chris was immensely grateful for Sky’s presence, and he really hoped it wouldn’t end. He didn’t want it to end just yet. However, Sky checked the time on his phone and sighed. "I should... probably head back now. It’s getting late, and the dorm will be closing soon."

"No," Chris said suddenly.

"What?"

"You shouldn’t leave," Chris spoke in a serious tone.

Sky’s eyes searched his face before he sighed and said, "I need to go."

Chris looked at him with a playful pout, his eyes wide and innocent. "But Sky, you can’t leave me all alone in this big, scary room at this hour."

Sky raised an eyebrow, trying not to smile at Chris’s antics. "You are strong enough to fight off anything, aren’t you?"

Chris shook his head. "I cannot."

Chris figured that if Sky truly wanted to leave, he would have stood up from his bed already. He would have gathered his things by now.

This was enough of a sign to know that Sky was doing things rather against his will. And he was going to try to get to Sky’s will and make him do as he really wished.

Chris, undeterred, continued to push his agenda. "Didn’t you say no one could look after me better than you? Are you not worried I will fall sick and die in the middle of the night? Or I might overdose on my medicine? What if I slip and fall in the bathroom and hit my head, then have amnesia? What if I—"

"Okay... okay..." Sky stopped him, laughing. "Do you know that you are very manipulative?"

Chris could see the amusement in his eyes. He could also tell that his resolve to leave had faltered. Chris smiled and made his way to Sky’s bed, where he sat down beside him and turned to face Sky, so they were looking at each other.

"It would be difficult to stop manipulating you when I like your presence," Chris confessed quietly, his gaze locked on Sky.

The amusement in Sky’s eyes seemed to dwindle to a questioning look when Chris suddenly smiled, and out of nowhere, he embraced Sky, startling him.

"Thank you for agreeing to stay back."

"Hey! I didn’t say that..." Sky tried to break free from the hug, but Chris held him firmly.

"We both know you will."

He heard Sky sigh in what he could call resignation and smiled to himself. "I’ll stay just for tonight."

Chris grinned in victory and rubbed Sky’s back affectionately, while Sky surprisingly relaxed into the hug. "You realize, after myself, that you are the other best person I know, right?" Chris asked as he finally broke the hug to look at Sky’s face.

Sky rolled his eyes and playfully shoved him off.

As Chris settled back into his bed, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. It was moments like these when they could just be themselves and enjoy each other’s company, that made their ’friendship’ so special.

Chris broke the silence with a mischievous grin. "You know, when it’s time for you to shower, I’ll stand guard outside the bathroom... to make sure no ghosts or monsters get you." He added the last bit to make it lighthearted, and it worked because Sky laughed.

"You really don’t need to worry yourself. Just shower and rest."

Chris pretended to look hurt. "Are you saying my monster-fighting skills aren’t needed?"

Sky chuckled and shook his head. "I already showered when I stepped out earlier."

"At whose?" Chris asked with a raised brow.

Sky shrugged. "None of your business."

Chris never liked it when Sky sounded like this.

"You aren’t cheating on me, are you?" Chris asked with his suspicious gaze on Sky and noticed he was trying to stop a smile from forming.

"What if I was?" Sky asked in a challenging tone.

"Ah! Sky dear, you don’t want to see me get jealous."

"What crazy thing have you done because of jealousy?" Sky asked in a curious tone.

The topic had taken a turn Chris wished it hadn’t taken. And he didn’t realize how much that one question changed his mood until he heard Sky call his name softly, and he looked up at him.

"Did you... Did someone break your heart?"

This was something he didn’t want to talk about. With Sky around, he temporarily forgot about it, but whenever he remembered, it brought back all the feelings. Unpleasant feelings.

"I... need to freshen up," Chris spoke as he stood up.

He could feel Sky’s gaze lingering on him as he moved to get his things. It seemed Sky was curious, but thankfully, he didn’t press on for answers, nor did he try to comment on his mood.

And when Chris left for the bathroom, Sky followed him but walked slowly behind.

Chris turned to him. "You do not have to."

However, Sky remarked playfully, "I’ll be right outside the bathroom to protect you from those shower monsters."

Chris could not help the light chuckle that escaped his lips. He didn’t tell him off; he just let him do as he pleased.

But that was the end of any serious conversation that evening because when they returned to their room, Chris fell asleep first.