Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 137: SKY SATO

Chapter 137: SKY SATO

Sky Sato had spent his entire life cultivating an image of perfection. He was the golden boy—popular, talented, and loved by everyone. Even with the secret he harboured, the insecurity he buried deep inside, he had learned to navigate life seamlessly. His world was structured and predictable. Controlled.

It had taken him time to get here. Whenever he thought of his life before...

He didn’t want to think about it.

Because even though there were still some mishaps.

His life was now going smoothly.

Until that devil decided to show up in his school.

Christopher Owen.

And like an idiot that he was, he had kissed him that night. For the first time.

His delusional kiss the first time when he assumed he was Rain didn’t count. He had decided to put that in the back of his mind.

For peace.

For both he, Chris and also... Rain.

But...

He had kissed Chris.

It wasn’t like him to act impulsively, to lose control like that. And yet, when Chris leaned in, something inside him snapped. Maybe it was the quiet tension that had been building between them. Maybe it was the reckless curiosity that came from being near someone who made him feel so utterly unbalanced. Whatever it was, it ended with him pressed against Chris, their mouths clashing in a kiss that left his mind spinning.

Sky didn’t sleep that night.

Chris, however, seemed to be having a good dream.

He lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, the memory of the kiss playing on a loop in his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Chris’s face—smiling, teasing, and then serious in a way that made Sky’s heart pound. He couldn’t handle it.

By 3 a.m., he gave up on sleep entirely. The walls of his dorm felt suffocating, and all he wanted was to escape. Without thinking, he grabbed his phone and sent a quick text to the only person he could turn to in moments like this.

Mei.

He was already taking the stairs down the dorm.

The text was brief: ’I’m coming over.’

But before he could hit send, he realized how ridiculous it was to send a message at this hour. He called instead.

Her voice was groggy when she answered, but the concern was immediate. "Sato? What is happening?"

Of course, anyone would be surprised to suddenly receive a call by 3 a.m. without prior notice.

"I’m coming," he said, his voice taut.

"What? What’s wrong? Where are you?" The panic in her voice was evident, but Sky didn’t have the energy to explain.

"At the dorm. I’m going out."

"Your dorm is locked! What—what is wrong?"

"I’ll be out soon."

It wasn’t a lie. He was leaving. And he was certain the security guards and porter would let him go. He had a way of convincing people. Plus... he was Sky Sato.

He threw on a hoodie and took the last flight of stairs downstairs, his mind racing faster than his feet. When he reached the dorm entrance, he told the security guard it was a family emergency. One look at his face, and the man didn’t even question him.

The door clicked open, and Sky bolted into the rain before the man could stop him to remind him to at least take an umbrella with him.

The downpour was cold, soaking through his clothes in seconds, but he didn’t care. Running was easier than thinking. It drowned out the memory of Chris’s lips on his, the heat of his hands, the overwhelming rush of emotions Sky didn’t know how to process.

Headlights appeared on the dark, empty road, and a car pulled up beside him.

The horn blared. "Get your ass in here!"

Sky squinted through the rain and saw Mei leaning out of the driver’s side window, her face lit with equal parts concern and irritation.

"I’ll keep running," he called, his voice hoarse. "I’m wet all over."

"Get in here!" she snapped, unlocking the door.

Sky hesitated but relented, jogging over and slipping into the passenger seat.

Mei gave him a once-over, her frown deepening. "You look like a drowned rat. What the hell is going on?"

Sky didn’t answer immediately. He leaned his head back against the seat, water dripping from his hair, and closed his eyes.

"I just needed to get out," he finally said, his voice barely audible over the rain pounding against the car. "I... had no one else to call."

"Jesus, Sato! What the hell happened? Are you okay?" Mei’s voice was filled with worry as she looked him over, her brow furrowed with concern. She didn’t bother to drive. She couldn’t at this rate. However, she turned up the heat.

She was wearing a bonnet and a pair of mismatched pyjamas. Despite how tired she looked, she had still driven out into the night, in the rain, just for him. That thought hit him like a punch to the chest. Mei was the only person he could count on.

Without a word, he pulled her into a hug. A tight one.

The action stunned her. It wasn’t the dampness of his clothes or how cold he felt against her—it was the fact that he hugged her. Sky Sato wasn’t exactly the touchy-feely type. Physical affection was rare with him, as far as she knew.

"Hey, hey," she said softly, still shocked but wrapping her arms around him anyway. Her cold fingers pressed against his soaked hoodie. "It’s okay. I’ve got you."

"I’m sorry," he murmured against her shoulder. His voice cracked. "I’m sorry." He repeated it over and over, clutching her as if she were the only thing keeping him grounded.

"Sky, what are you sorry for? What happened?" Mei’s worry only deepened.

She tried to pull away to look at his face, but he wouldn’t let go. He held her tighter, burying his face further into the crook of her neck.

"Sky!" she said firmly, trying to pry him off. This time, she forced him to let go. When she finally managed to push him back, she grabbed his face, her fingers gripping his jaw tightly. His eyes wouldn’t meet hers.

"I’m fine," he muttered, but his trembling hands and the crack in his voice betrayed him.

"Focus, Sato!" she snapped, desperate to break through his spiralling. He flinched at the sharpness of her tone, his wide, glassy eyes locking onto hers.

"I don’t care what you did, but I need to know what’s wrong. Talk to me."

His lips parted, hesitating. Finally, he said it, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I kissed him."