Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 235: Poll

Chapter 235: Poll

The sun felt amazing on the pool, and the reflections were all over the marble walls, with everyone laughing and clinking glasses. Most of the crew was outside, just chilling.

Wilson and Chris sat at the pool’s edge, legs dangling in the water, wine in hand. Chris’s laugh, light and easy, carried on the breeze, sunlight catching the soft red of his hair. Whatever heaviness had been on him earlier seemed to have lifted.

Jack sprawled on a lounge chair, sunglasses on, arms folded behind his head, tanning like a man on vacation. Rain and Mei chatted at the edge of the pool, sipping rosé, while Henry drifted serenely on a neon pink inflatable, eyes closed, seemingly without a care in the world.

Rachel, however, lingered at the far end of the deck, legs curled up on a lounge chair, head resting on her fist. Her wine remained untouched, condensation beading on the glass. She watched everything but seemed to see none of it.

Sky wasn’t with them. He stood inside, in the cool shade of the hallway behind the sliding glass doors, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on Chris. Chris was still laughing. Sky didn’t blink.

Beside him on the couch, Noel glanced up from his phone, took one look at Sky’s face, and frowned. "You’re breathing weird."

Sky didn’t turn. "What?"

"Your breathing," Noel said, standing and watching him with narrowed eyes. "You’re doing that thing. That... low-tide inhale thing. Like when you’re mad or panicking but trying to hide it."

Sky finally turned, scowling. "I’m fine."

Noel raised a brow. "Stabilize it, then. You’re gonna make the glass fog if you stare harder."

Sky scoffed. "I’m not—jealous. If that’s what you’re thinking."

"I didn’t say jealous," Noel said lightly. "You said it."

Sky shifted uncomfortably, pulling away from the glass. Noel watched him quietly, then smirked a little. "You love him."

Sky froze. "What?"

"You love him," Noel repeated, shrugging. "Chris."

Sky stared like he’d just been accused of a crime. "What the hell, Noel—why are you just—saying things like that?"

Noel gave a little laugh, shaking his head. "God, I must be an idiot."

Sky blinked. "What?"

"To have missed it," Noel said simply. "It’s not like you’ve been subtle. You’ve been weird since the very beginning he showed up. Then there was that time when the news was all over the place about him kissing Ash. Yes," Noel nodded like it just answered the question. "I must have really been too dumb to not take the hint. All the staring. And the possessiveness? Come on."

Sky looked like he wanted to melt into the floor, his arms folding tighter across his chest. "You’re... s-seeing things that aren’t there."

"Am I?" Noel gave him a lazy once-over.

"You’re flushed right now. Embarrassed. Like someone just read your diary out loud."

Sky turned away, muttering, "Piss off."

Noel just chuckled, sitting back down and picking up his drink again. "You’ve got it bad, Sato. Real bad."

They sat in silence after that. The sounds of the others outside drifted in—more splashing, Rain yelling something about sunscreen, and Chris laughing again.

Sky’s expression softened. His arms dropped to his sides. "...What’s happening back at school?"

Noel’s eyes flickered up. He didn’t answer immediately. Sky turned to look at him, but Noel was staring into his drink like it held the answer.

"It’s fine," Sky said eventually. "I’ll find out anyway when we get back. Might as well be prepared."

Noel’s fingers tapped absently against the rim of his glass. Noel sighed. "Not much’s happening on school premises," he said finally. "We’re still on break, remember? Campus is half-dead. But..."

Sky’s stomach dropped at the pause. A cold knot formed, his insecurity flaring.

"...Group chats have exploded," Noel finished, voice a little lower. "Like kaboom level of chaos."

Noel gave him a long look. "You. And Chris."

Sky’s breath caught, a fresh wave of panic washing over him. This was it. The rumors. The scrutiny. His reputation. Chris’s reputation.

"Tell me." Sky said, prepared for whatever was happening.

Noel leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "A lot of people are trying to figure out what the hell’s going on between the two of you. Some pictures resurfaced. Just you two. There was one from a hotel lobby. He was carrying you in. You were... passed out. He was shirtless. It’s been fueling conspiracies."

Sky’s jaw tightened. It had to be from that time. The time he had been drugged and called Chris.

"What are they saying?" he asked, the words strained.

"Well..." Noel looked hesitant. "Some of your ’fans’—and I’m using that term loosely—are calling Chris a manipulative bastard who seduced you. Said he used his wealth and sob-story charm to tarnish your name."

Sky blinked, hard, an almost dramatic gasp escaping him. "That’s—insane."

"Yeah," Noel muttered. "Others think you always knew about his background, and you were the one who seduced him for clout. Apparently, your cold bad-boy reputation was just a front. That you’ve been playing the long game."

Sky actually scoffed. "What the hell."

"But then there’s another group," Noel added, a subtle change in his tone. "The ones who just can’t believe it. They think nothing’s going on. To them, Sky Sato is a sweetheart who’s just sweet to everyone. So, any perceived closeness with Chris is just you being your usual, charming self. They’re defending you, saying others must be confused or reading too much into things."

Sky’s shoulders slumped, a mix of relief and something akin to irritation.

But yeah. That was his image.

Something he had carefully curated for years.

A saint. Perfect. No room for messy emotions, no room for... Chris. The thought only fed his swirling insecurity.

"But then there’s yet another group." Noel raised a brow. "They’re actively shipping you two. Like hardcore. Fanart, edits, fancams. And a ton of wailing because ’two beautiful boys decided to get together and leave the rest of us ugly and single.’ Their words, not mine."

Sky looked horrified. "You’re joking."

"Wish I was," Noel replied, smirking. "The part that killed me though? There’s a whole poll now."

"A poll?"