Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 89: Plan in motion

Chapter 89: Plan in motion

The holiday had drawn to a bittersweet close, leaving behind a lingering sense of camaraderie and a touch of melancholy as the routine of school resumed.

Wilson had bid his farewells, the atmosphere tinged with a note of uncertainty regarding his relationship with Jack. They had made progress, at least in terms of communication. Wilson had taken Chris’s advice and texted Jack first. Jack had responded. It was the first time Chris had seen Wilson cry so earnestly. He even thanked Chris for being there for him and not letting him do something stupid because he was sad.

As Wilson left, Chris felt a glimmer of hope that they could rebuild what was once strong. He believed in them.

Back in his dorm room, Chris couldn’t help but reflect on the intricate web of relationships that had woven itself around him. The intrigue surrounding Sky’s life remained ever-present in his thoughts. Rain had unexpectedly become a confidante during the break, and despite the guilt gnawing at him for exploiting her feelings, Chris found himself drawn to their conversations.

Their interactions had deepened, with conversations ranging from the trivial to the profound. Chris appreciated the connection he shared with Rain, even as he grappled with the knowledge that his motives weren’t entirely pure. He tried to keep things mild and even turned down hanging out with her twice.

As for him and Sky, there was nothing. No texts, no calls, no showing up either.

Chris did not want to lie to himself.

He missed him. It had taken all he had in him to keep himself from texting and calling Sky for the past few days.

He wanted to know how he was doing. He was worried about him. But also knew it would be hard to find out what exactly was up with him. The only thing he knew so far was that the Sato family was kind of struggling financially.

Fortunately for them, he was Christopher Owen, and one of the things he didn’t lack was money and influence.

So on the first day back to school, Chris awoke with a newfound resolve. He decided to seize the opportunity to leverage his family’s influence for a greater cause. Taking a bold step, he sought out the university’s Dean, a man who had always been eager to curry favour due to the weight of Chris’s family name.

Usually, Chris did not like involving himself with people like this and always did his best to avoid them. But now, he went to him first.

Entering the Dean’s office, Chris was greeted with a warm smile. "Ah, Mr. Owen, good to see you. How can I assist you today?" The man left his seat and gestured for Chris to take it instead, which made Chris cringe and shake his head. He chose to take the usual couch, and the man quickly sat down across from him, smiling.

Chris returned the smile, his confidence bolstered by the Dean’s evident eagerness to please. "Thank you, sir. I came to relate an issue with you, but... I’m not sure—"

The Dean’s eyes lit up, his enthusiasm palpable. "Whatever it is! All you have to do is tell me about it, and we will get it done."

Chris internally smiled at his enthusiasm as he shifted forward in his seat, putting his hands together as he said, "I’ve been thinking about the deserving students here at the university. Don’t you think they could benefit from some extra support?"

The man nodded eagerly. "Indeed, Mr. Owen. We always strive to recognize and reward exceptional students."

Chris leaned forward, his voice carrying a note of conviction. "I was wondering if certain students, those who have truly made an impact, could receive funding. It could be a way for the university to show its appreciation and encourage their continued efforts. Of course, my family would be willing to invest in the growth of those individuals."

That was it.

Chris had finally accepted the fact that life was smoother under his family’s influence. It was difficult to pull himself away from it. Especially when it came to helping those he cared about.

The Dean nodded at once, his eyes shining at the mention of his parents. "A brilliant notion, Mr. Owen. And who do you have in mind?"

Chris’s heart raced as he ventured into the heart of his proposal. "Well, I’m not sure you know this, but sport is my thing. And I’ve come to appreciate the sports here. So maybe those students who have been really great at sports? And maybe one or two exceptional others. Let’s say... there’s the Sato twins, for one. Sky and Rain."

The man sat up, nodding even as Chris continued.

"They’ve contributed significantly to the university, particularly Rain with her involvement in the women’s basketball team. As for Sky... hmm..." he tried to sound nonchalant as he said, "That one isn’t so bad either."

The Dean’s eyes sparkled with approval. "An excellent choice! Their dedication and achievements are commendable. Especially Mr. Sato. He has been an incredible talent since he got here."

Then why haven’t you rewarded him ever since, stupid?!

Chris tried not to let his glare be obvious.

Seeing how the man had a high rating of Sky made him satisfied.

"I also believe we could add some additional incentives, perhaps scholarships or research opportunities, to further motivate these exceptional students. Monthly stipends and good laptops aren’t a bad idea either."

The Dean’s enthusiasm was infectious. "Absolutely, Mr. Owen! Your vision aligns perfectly with our goals. Is there anything else you’d like to suggest?"

Chris couldn’t help but smile, relishing in the impact he was making. "I think we’re on the right track, sir. With your guidance, I’m sure we can make a meaningful difference."

The Dean beamed, clearly pleased with the direction the conversation had taken. "Thank you, Mr. Owen. Your initiative is truly remarkable. If there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to let me know. As for this suggestion, it would be put into effect immediately."

"I will trust you, sir. Rest assured, my family would be proud of you and happy to be a part of this."

You could say the man was more than excited.

As Chris left the Dean’s office, a sense of accomplishment accompanied him. He couldn’t help but feel a newfound purpose, knowing that he was utilizing his privilege for a noble cause.

Hopefully, this would make Sky less stressed out if he didn’t have to pay for his tuition and also receive monthly stipends. That way, he would be able to save more money and not have to force himself to go to places he did not like or do things he didn’t like just because he needed some extra cash. As for the laptop he had suggested, he had noticed Sky’s laptop wasn’t exactly very pleasant. Even he that was trying to appear like an average guy had a better laptop model.

He was going to make sure Sky was so comfortable that he wouldn’t know when he would start sharing all his problems with Chris and have him fix them for him. Hopefully, money will be able to fix them.

However, the euphoria was short-lived. That evening, Chris found himself visited by an unexpected and unwelcome intrusion. A knock on his dorm room door shattered the peaceful atmosphere, and when he opened it, he was met with the stern faces of the dorm supervisor and coordinators, along with a message from the police waiting outside for him.

He had thought it was a joke because why would the police look for him? But seeing how serious the others were, he concluded there had to be a mix-up somewhere and followed them out amidst the watchful eyes of the dorm residents and visitors.

"Chris," one of the policemen said, his tone formal. "We need you to come with us to the police station for questioning regarding an accusation of harassing and battering Mr. Ashley Calvin."

Chris was stunned speechless. Well... just wow!

"Battering Ashley?" He could not help but repeat, thinking this was probably a joke or prank.

The officer’s expression remained unyielding. "We have some questions we’d like you to answer. Please accompany us."

Chris’s mind raced; his thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind. He guessed this was what Ash had meant with the threat he made.

He could feel all the eyes on him. Some were rapidly texting. Some were trying to secretly take pictures and videos.

Well, shit.

With a heavy sigh, he nodded and followed the officers to the police station.

Anxiety gnawed at his insides, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being dragged deeper into the enigmatic world he had stumbled upon. He hadn’t wanted to get entangled in all of this because, one way or another, his parents would find out, and if they did, this issue would turn into something more serious.

He quickly texted Rachel, adding the phone number of the Dean and asking her to come with him.

Little did he know that this unexpected turn of events would be a pivotal moment, setting in motion a series of revelations that would lead him closer to unravelling the secrets that enveloped Sky and the enigma of Ash.