Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 62: Cash...

Chapter 62: Cash...

For the next couple of days, the text exchange between Chris and Sky was very awkward. Sky usually texted first, and it usually went like this.

"Good morning. Slept well?" From Sky.

"Yes."

"Do not skip your meals."

"You too."

"Good night."

"Good night."

Then the next day...

"Good morning. Slept well?"

"Yes."

"Do not skip your meals."

"You too."

"Good night."

"Good night."

For three days, it went on like that. At this point, Chris would have even stopped responding to his text, but he knew Sky. Even though their texts were awkward and they weren’t exactly talking about anything important, if he ignored his messages, he might go into a full dramatic mode, and he didn’t want that.

If he was honest, Sky being away was awful. Not that Sky was usually always around, but the fact that he knew why Sky wasn’t here and that he wouldn’t just randomly show up like he always did made him feel an unpleasant way. He couldn’t even go to bed without spending hours looking at Sky’s bed and reminiscing about the night they had spent together, even though he knew that thinking about things like that was not good for him since nothing would ever happen between them. Sky was not interested in him like that. Sky cared too much about his reputation to want to indulge him for any reason, and his family also wasn’t inclined towards that lifestyle, so there were just too many obstacles against him having anything with him, and the fact that Sky wouldn’t leave him alone and stop texting him every day was beginning to piss him off!

But that was until he didn’t receive any good morning texts on the fourth day, making him realize that he had been unconsciously looking forward to it.

Usually, Sky’s texts were already on his phone before he woke up, but now he was leaving for classes already and was still checking his phone every minute on his way to class, but there was still nothing.

Should he just text instead?

No, Chris!

He shouldn’t. This was good. Maybe Sky was fed up too. They had nothing to talk about.

But then, what if something was wrong with Sky? What if he was sick?

The thought worried him so much that he couldn’t even focus properly in class. He had a class with Rachel since it was her elective, so after the class, they went to the cafeteria to eat, where he was still lost in his thoughts and frequently checking his phone.

"What’s wrong with you? You still do not look good." Rachel asked with concern as she observed him.

He hadn’t told Rachel about the envelope he received for two reasons. One was that he didn’t want her to panic and live in fear since she had also appeared in two of the photos. Two, she had his mother’s number and may let her know about it if she was very nervous and if his mother pressured her into telling her what was happening, once his mother knew about this, she wouldn’t take it lightly like he was doing. His parents would probably show up here in a grander style and deploy forces to rake through the city for the person and also get him out of the university. It was the same reason he kept this from Wilson. Wilson wouldn’t waste any time before calling his parents to inform them.

Fortunately, nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and he had also been very conscious of his surroundings lately, looking out for who the stalker might be, but no one yet seemed that suspicious. The only thing out of the ordinary was that he had become quite popular in school after that race. People shook hands with him, bumped fists and shoulders, and waved at him, and he also received quite a number of flirtatious glances from ladies, with some boldly trying to hit on him.

Rachel was also facing hers since her popularity had soared after his parents arrived. It meant that whenever the two of them were together, like right now, they received even more attention and stares.

"I’m fine." He answered her curtly as he sipped his Coke.

"You’ve been telling me that for days, and if I keep asking you what is wrong, it means that it is clear that something is wrong. You are also looking thinner. How have you been feeding?"

"Did you accept my mother’s offer to monitor me?" He asked her in a serious tone.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Because you are acting like my mother employed you." He replied in a frustrated tone.

Big mistake.

"So caring about my friend is a bad thing?" She asked in an annoyed tone.

"I’m saying—"

"Rubbish!" She snapped, annoyed. "You are saying rubbish."

Chris raised a brow at her.

"I get it. You are a rich boy. But do not look down on me and think that because my family is now poor, I will do anything for money—"

"Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?" Chris asked. His tone wasn’t annoyed, but concerned. It was unlike Rachel to react this way, and she looked very pissed. "Are you sure you’re okay?"

"I’m fine!" She spoke harshly and began to drop her things inside her bag.

"No, you’re not." He pointed out.

She stood up and eyed him. "I’m leaving."

She was about to turn when Chris sighed and said softly, "Sit down, Rachel."

She turned to glare at him.

"Relax and spill it out. What is wrong with you?" He sounded very concerned, and it seemed to get to Rachel because her gaze softened, and with an exhausted sigh, she fell back to her chair.

"What’s up with you?" He asked her again.

"It’s just been..." she paused and sighed deeply. "I have been very anxious lately." Even though they weren’t close to others who could eavesdrop on their conversation, she still kept her voice very low and looked around consciously.

"I know it’s all fun acting like the rich girl, but I’m beginning to think, What if I made a mistake? What if I shouldn’t have started these unnecessary lies?"

Chris could see how exhausted she looked and wondered why he hadn’t taken note of it these past few days.

"I’m not only lying to too many people, but I’m also beginning to lie to myself. I fear what may happen if the truth comes out. What if... what if it affects my scholarship? Everyone in this school and, in fact, in the city is going to talk about me."

"Why have you never told me about it?" He asked quietly.

"I... didn’t think you’d understand." Her voice was also quiet, and she looked down at her hands on her lap.

"No one can understand you better than I." He told her. "Not only because I know you, but also because I am living a lie here too. I am lying to too many people and also to myself because even when I can afford the most expensive steak, I stick to having fast food and snacks, and it’s making me live an unhealthy life."

She looked up at him with teary eyes.

He was a terrible friend. She always took note whenever his mood changed and always tried to make him better. But he was selfish and only cared about himself, losing himself in his thoughts all the time, and despite that, she still concerned herself with his well-being while he even accused her of working for his mother.

What an asshole he was!

"Tell you what... why don’t we take a break? I mean, the national holiday is starting tomorrow, so we have enough time to have fun." He smiled at her, trying to get rid of the guilt he felt.

"Really?" She whispered with sparkling eyes.

He nodded. "We can visit the hotel. Eat whatever you like. Go shopping. Buy whatever you need and do not need, and just live a luxurious life. I believe the cash my parents left you would be more than enough for us to have fun."

"Is it... okay to say I am tempted by this offer?" She asked hesitantly.

"It is also okay to accept the offer. You’ve always been here for me. Unfortunately, this is the only way I can be there for you. Cash." He winked at her.

Rachel grinned. "Unfortunately? This is a fortune!" She exclaimed excitedly. "So you are going to take photos of me as I do all of it, right?" She asked with hopeful eyes.

"If that is what you want." He shrugged.

"Chris! I love you!!!" She said with teary eyes and left her seat to go embrace him.

He laughed and hugged her too, while she sniffled quietly. When she pulled away, he used his hand to clean the tiny drop of tears under her eyes.

"People are watching. Behave."

"Yeah yeah. I will. I will." She said with a laugh and went to sit down, cleaning her tears while laughing happily.

Just then, his phone beeped with a notification, and he quickly opened it, smiling unconsciously when he realized it was a text from Sky.

"I’m sorry."

The text said causing Chris to raise a questioning brow, wondering why he had sent that message.