Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 119: Testing the waters...

Chapter 119: Testing the waters...

*Previous Chapter was updated too. I hope you read it first*

***

Rachel was in no hurry to make him talk. She waited patiently, but when he still found it difficult to speak, she spoke up first.

"Look, Chris, I know a lot has been going on with you lately. I’m not pressuring you to rely on me and tell me everything, but I want you to understand that it’s tough being alone in a strange place. And I’d be happy to help you in any way I can. We’ve got each other. Right?"

Chris nodded. "I know that."

He looked at her face, not liking the sympathetic look she gave him.

"I know it’s not my place to ask this, but why did you have to let yourself fall in love with Sato?"

"Damn it! I am not in love with him." He didn’t sound convincing even to himself, so he knew she didn’t buy that.

"But you want him," she mentioned.

He couldn’t deny that. He wanted him so much that it drove him crazy.

"That’s going to be very troublesome. For you. For Rain. Sato, and everyone else. It’s... a big deal." She breathed out.

He wasn’t an idiot. He was aware. "I know that."

"So... what’s the plan?"

"Are you not mad at me, though?"

"Mad at you? Why?" She asked, confused.

"Because he’s your... prince?" He said in a light tone that made her laugh.

"Don’t be silly. Girls can fangirl over guys without wanting to date them. Besides, have you seen the two of us when we’re together? I can’t imagine dating him. He’s low-key weird. And terrifying."

Chris smiled because he knew that. Yes. Sky Sato was weird. And terrifying to people. Adorably terrifying.

"Wipe that silly smile off your face. Arrgh! You must have really fallen in love," she said in a tone that sounded both frustrated and amused.

He scoffed. "I said I’m not in love," he reiterated.

"Hmm,"

"I wanted to... test the waters."

Again, Rachel went, "Hmm,"

"So I asked him to go on a date with me tomorrow."

"Hm... WHAT!" Her eyes widened when she processed what he had said. "For... real?"

He nodded.

"And? What did he say?" She asked eagerly.

"I think... he isn’t rejecting it." He replied in a casual tone as he picked up his spoon to resume eating.

"Wait a minute. Is something already happening between the two of you?" She whispered, even though they were the only two people in the room.

"No." He shook his head.

That was a lie. If they had only cuddled unconsciously and he had kissed Sky thinking it was a dream, maybe that would have been true. But sober, they had cuddled a lot, flirted a lot. Kissed each other’s necks. Teased each other. And now, he had asked him to spend tomorrow with him and hadn’t said it wasn’t a date.

"Oh my! Something definitely has happened!" Rachel exclaimed, observing him.

"I really need details, but I won’t push for them. I mean... we are talking about Sky Sato here!" She whispered his name again as though it were some kind of taboo to talk about it.

"And I’m also not sure what to say about this. But... wow! This is crazy. Is he gay? Or at least bi? Is there a chance you might date him?"

This fucking question of ’chance’ again. However, he had to be honest.

"I don’t think there is."

She looked at him, confused. He could read her thoughts. She wanted to know why he was still sticking his head into it when there were no chances.

"I intend to make him mine," he said with a creepy smile that made Rachel shudder and pull back from him.

"Are you crazy? We’re talking about Sato here. If it were easy for anyone to break that guy, he would be in a polygamous relationship by now. Also, if word gets out that you like him... I’m not sure what might happen."

"Just pretend you don’t know any of this. I wanted to tell someone, at least, so that’s why I’m sharing it with you."

"So I’d at least know why you’re crying when you get your heart broken?"

"Ouch! You don’t have to be so pessimistic, and I’m not crying for any guy. If it works out, good. If it doesn’t... well..."

"I don’t know whether I should cheer you on or not. But just be careful. I’ll just keep pretending like I know nothing. This is too big for me."

He chuckled.

"Thank you."

"However, make sure Rain doesn’t at least get a whiff of this if you’re not yet sure it would work out. I’m not sure a girl would be happy to hear you didn’t find them attractive because their brother was more attractive."

"I never said she wasn’t attractive. She’s fucking so."

"Doesn’t change anything. Her brother does it for you." She said, winking.

"Enough about me. Are you secretly dating Noel?" He asked something that had been bugging him. He had felt he was reading too much meaning into her sudden disappearances and mysteriousness. Also, others might not notice it, but there had been a slight shift in the way Noel communicated with him lately. However, when he saw her wide eyes and the blush coloring her cheeks, he confirmed it and also looked surprised. "For real? You’re dating Noel secretly?!"

"It’s... well... we’re just testing the waters."

"Is he good for you? Don’t get me wrong. I think if he’s Sky’s friend, then he should generally be a good guy. But is he good for you and to you?"

"That’s why I’m testing the waters." She tried to sound casual but he could tell something was bugging her.

"Does he know?" he asked quietly.

He was referring to her lie about her family, and Rachel understood that.

She shook her head sadly. "No. I can’t even bring myself to tell him."

"If you’re scared he might leave you, doesn’t that mean he isn’t right for you?" he asked reasonably.

"I know. And I’ll tell him about it when the time is right. Fuck! It’s so exhausing living a lie! It’s not easy to escape." She pulled her hair in frustration.

"Damn! You even swear now. This must be difficult. Have some soup to help you calm down." He said, trying to feed her his soup.

She looked at the spoon halfway to her mouth and chuckled. He did too.

"If you need any help or feel things are too hard for you, you can always talk to me. I’ll be your friend even if everyone ends up hating you. But I doubt everyone will."

"That is such a sweet thing to say." She said, sounding touched. "Thank you. For being good to me."

"Don’t make me throw up." He said, feigning disgust.

This made her loosen up and chuckle, and he joined her. He looked at her laugh as if she were the most fascinating thing in the world.

Why hadn’t they been friends a long time ago?

When it was time for Rachel to leave, she refused to let him see her off to the dorm entrance and told him to rest in bed even when he assured her that he was okay.

He packed up the dirty dishes and took them with her in the bag she had brought them in, but just before she exited the room, she stopped by the door and turned to look at him.

"I want you to be happy, Chris. And I hope you genuinely have fun tomorrow, even though I worry about you."

He smiled warmly at her words.

"I’ll be fine."

"I trust you will." She smiled at him before she left the room, but the smile held some worry in it.

He would be fine.

He believed so.