Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 158: Not a date ’date’

Chapter 158: Not a date ’date’

Sky Sato hated himself right now.

Or... maybe that was a lie.

It was late, and they had to be back at the dorm before curfew. But no—Chris had suggested they grab dinner outside, and Sky, like the idiot he apparently was, had nodded without a second thought.

His brain had been muddled due to what had happened earlier.

The ride into town had been bumpy but strangely exhilarating. The tricycle they boarded zipped through the streets, weaving past cars and pedestrians. The evening breeze was crisp against their skin, carrying the mingling scents of roasted corn, fried dough, and the faint tang of exhaust fumes.

He glanced sideways at Chris, who was now walking beside him with an infuriatingly calm demeanor, as though the kiss they’d shared earlier had never happened. As though Sky wasn’t still battling the aftermath of it—the taste of Chris lingering on his lips and the heat that refused to leave his skin.

Today was going in a different way than he had imagined.

He had a lot to tackle. His friends. Rain. Sinclair. His emotions.

But he had simply forgotten all about it. Like all the troubles of his life didn’t matter right now, even though they did.

Now here they were, the city streets dimly lit and unusually quiet, a slight chill in the air. The neon lights from a few scattered eateries flickered like lazy fireflies. Sky shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to stop himself from holding Chris.

He was crazy.

What was he thinking?

They were in public!

He snuck another glance at Chris, who had his hands casually stuffed in his jacket pockets. His lips were slightly curved in a faint smile, the kind that seemed annoyingly permanent on his face. Sky hated that smile right now.

No, he didn’t hate it. He just hated how it made his pulse do that stupid skip thing.

And the stupid skip thing got worse whenever he remembered the words Chris had told him. That he would surrender.

Sky stared out at the busy town, feeling a strange sense of detachment. While the holiday period had left the campus quiet, with most students traveling back to their homes outside this town, the townsfolk were also returning home for the holidays. So the town itself seemed to swell with life as families returned, bustling around markets and streets decorated with flickering lights.

They got to a lively street filled with makeshift stalls and vendors hawking everything from street food to thrift clothes. "Let’s see what this place has to offer." Chris said as he walked into another bright alley after they just left one where they tried different kinds of snacks.

Sky hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. The crowd pressed around them, loud and chaotic. While he was used to this kind of crowd, it felt different tonight. Like he was exposed. And he knew why.

He felt that one look at him and people would be able to tell that he was crazy about the guy beside him. And they would judge him.

Chris seemed to notice his discomfort because, without a word, he pulled Sky toward a thrift store tucked between two larger shops. The place was well lit and filled with racks of clothes and shelves stacked with accessories.

"Trust me," Chris said, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

Before Sky could protest, Chris grabbed a dark beanie from a shelf and plopped it onto Sky’s head. He stepped back, assessing his handiwork.

"Hmm. Needs more," Chris muttered, rummaging through a rack. He found a large, oversized hoodie in a muted color and thrust it at Sky.

Sky raised an eyebrow.

Chris wasn’t done. He grabbed a face mask from a display and held it up triumphantly.

"Now this," Chris said, his eyes sparkling.

Sky sighed but took the mask.

Then came glasses with round frames, the type crazy scientists would wear and not leave their rooms until they came up with a plan on how to save the world.

"Hold on—can’t let you have all the fun." Chris quickly found a hoodie and beanie for himself before asking Sky to hand over all Chris had selected for him.

Sky grumbled but did so, and Chris beat him to it, taking them to the counter to pay before he returned to make Sky wear them while he also wore his.

Chris stepped back as he looked at Sky, his grin wide. "Perfect. Now you will look like a mysterious guy with a questionable past."

Sky snorted, suppressing the smile threatening to break free.

"Come on," Chris said, grabbing Sky’s wrist and pulling him back outside.

Sky rolled his eyes but followed. Strangely, the disguise made him feel less tense. The beanie and mask were like armor, shielding him from the prying eyes of the world even though no one was actually paying any attention to them.

Their next stop was an arcade nestled at the corner of the street. Bright lights flashed from inside, and the sounds of video games and laughter spilled out into the night.

Chris’s eyes lit up. "Let’s go in."

Sky didn’t even get a chance to protest. Chris was already dragging him through the entrance.

The place was chaotic in the best way—kids and teenagers crowded around machines, tokens clattering, and game music blaring from every corner.

Chris led them straight to a claw machine. "Think you can win something?" he challenged.

Sky crossed his arms. "Those things are rigged."

"Sounds like an excuse for people who can’t win," Chris teased.

Sky narrowed his eyes. "Fine. Watch and learn."

He fed a token into the machine, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The claw descended, grasped a stuffed animal—and promptly dropped it.

Chris burst out laughing.

Sky glared at him. "Shut up."

"Want me to show you how it’s done?" Chris asked, grinning.

"Go ahead," Sky muttered.

Chris stepped up, his confidence annoyingly intact. He maneuvered the claw with precision and actually managed to grab a small plush bear. The claw held it all the way up and dropped it neatly into the prize slot.

He turned to Sky, holding up the bear triumphantly. "Told you."

Sky couldn’t help but laugh. "Okay, that was pure luck."

Chris handed him the bear. "Nah, skill. But you can have it since you’re a sore loser."

Sky took the bear, his fingers brushing Chris’s. There was a flicker of something between them, and Chris winked at him before pulling his hand away.

They moved on to other games, laughter spilling between them as they played racing games and shot hoops. For a while, it was like all the madness of the past term had never happened.

Sky found himself forgetting about the awkwardness, the confusion, and the tension. Chris had a way of doing that—pulling him out of his own head and making him exist in the moment.

Among the crowd, a roadside singer performed under the dim glow of a streetlight. Her voice was hauntingly beautiful, cutting through the night like velvet. Chris paused, captivated by her performance. His expression softened, and he murmured, "Wow... she’s incredible."

Chris was about to take his phone out like the others to make a video when...

"Whoa!" Chris exclaimed as he was suddenly yanked away, stumbling slightly but regaining his balance when Sky’s hand clamped firmly around his arm.

"What the—"

Sky didn’t reply. His grip was tight, his pace quick as he steered them down a side street, pulling Chris away from the crowd and the captivating voice that had so captivated him.

Chris hurried to keep up. "Okay, so, are we just going to ignore the fact that you just, you know, kidnapped me?" he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

"I want to play more games," Sky said, his tone clipped. "Not stand around doing nothing."

Chris blinked, understanding dawning. A slow, mischievous grin spread across his face, but he remained silent.

They wandered past more stalls, eventually stopping at a dart game. The vendor handed them darts, and Chris grinned. "Ready for another defeat?"

Sky’s eyes narrowed. "Not a chance."

The game was fierce, both men laser-focused on the bullseye. Sky had a surprising early lead, but Chris, true to form, pulled off a perfect final shot, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

The vendor presented him with a small trophy keychain. Chris held it aloft, a triumphant glint in his eyes. "Another one for the champion."

Sky huffed. "You win at everything."

Chris’s eyes sparkled. "There’s just one more prize I have my sights set on. Once I claim that, then I’ll accept the crown."

Sky’s heart hammered against his ribs. A flush crept up his neck, and he quickly turned away, walking briskly.

"Hey, wait up!" Chris called, jogging after him.

Sky checked his watch and abruptly stopped as Chris caught up. His eyes widened, a flicker of panic in their depths.

"Oh crap."

"What is it?" Chris asked, his brow furrowed.

Sky glanced at him, visibly stressed. "Curfew."

Chris’s eyebrows shot up. "Seriously? Damn..." he looked at the time on his phone..

Sky bit his lip, his mind clearly racing. "There’s no way we’ll make it back to the dorm now."

Chris hesitated, the thought of suggesting a hotel flashing through his mind. Not for any ulterior motive, simply a matter of practicality. But the words wouldn’t come.

Sky spoke first. "My place is nearby. Would you be okay crashing there?"

Chris blinked. "Your place? Like, with your family?"

Sky nodded, a shadow of discomfort flickering across his face. "Yeah. It’s closer. We can leave early in the morning."

Chris rubbed the back of his neck. He’d been avoiding the subject, but now there was no escaping it. "What about Rain?"

Sky’s expression visibly tightened at her name, though he quickly recovered. "She’s probably at her dorm. She won’t be there."

Chris studied him for a moment, but decided not to press. "Alright then. Lead the way."