Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 99: The Stalker?

Chapter 99: The Stalker?

As Chris left the school grounds, the setting sun painted the sky with warm hues of orange and pink, creating a serene backdrop to the end of another school day. His steps were light, and a soft smile played on his lips as he pulled out his phone to reread the chat between him and Sky.

"You are my good luck charm."

That was the sweetest message anyone had ever sent to him. He wasn’t exactly sure how to respond to it, but he eventually responded with:

(I hear that a lot.)

Sky’s response came almost immediately, and a rush of excitement coursed through Chris as he read it.

Sky: *inserts a facepalm emoticon*

Chris chuckled to himself at the messages.

Another message came in.

Sky: What are you doing?

Chris: Oh, you know, the usual.

Chris Trying not to get distracted by thoughts of a certain someone. *inserts blushing emoticon*

Sky: Is that someone incredibly handsome and irresistible? *inserts ’cool face’ emoticon*

Chris couldn’t help but grin, his cheeks warming at Sky’s words. He typed back with a playful grin.

Chris: Bingo! How did you guess? I must be pretty obvious. *inserts laughing emoticon*

Sky: Only to me.

Chris: I just can’t stop thinking about myself.

Sky: LMAO

Sky: Can’t say I didn’t see that coming.

Chris could imagine him laughing, and he could not stop himself from laughing either.

Chris wanted to ask if he would come tonight. The idea of seeing Sky again after classes filled him with a sense of anticipation. He was about to ask it in the usual cheesy tone when his excitement came crashing down as he saw the unpleasant sight of Ashley Calvin standing outside the dormitory building.

His heart sank like a stone, and the smile vanished from his lips, replaced by a tight knot of anger.

Ignoring Sky’s texts for a moment, Chris’s gaze locked onto Ashley. His presence seemed to cast a shadow over the cheerful atmosphere, and a mix of anger and annoyance churned within Chris. He tightened his grip on his phone, his fingers digging into the device as he tried to shake off the unsettling feeling that washed over him.

As he neared the building, he couldn’t help but notice the curious eyes of onlookers, fellow students who knew about the tension between him and Ashley. Ashley leaned casually against the wall, exuding an air of confidence that only served to fuel Chris’s frustration. Dressed in a biker’s outfit, his appearance was as cool and composed as ever.

Chris hesitated, his initial joy at texting Sky now overshadowed by his dread of encountering Ashley. He remembered Sky’s words to ignore and stay away from him and was about to walk past him, his gaze focused straight ahead, when Ashley’s voice cut through the air.

"Hey there, Chris. Long time no see."

The sound of Ashley’s voice sent a shiver down Chris’s spine. He came to a halt, his jaw clenching as he turned to face his unwelcome non-acquaintance. His eyes narrowed, holding a mixture of anger and restraint. He couldn’t even bring himself to talk to this guy. Ash was indeed lucky that he was willing to let go of this; otherwise, he would have given him a good beating until he hated how he looked.

Ashley’s lips curled into a self-assured smirk, and he pushed himself off the wall, sauntering a step closer. "Just wanted to talk, you know. Catch up."

Chris’s jaw tightened further, his tone cold and dismissive. "You must be wishing for a good beating."

Chris just couldn’t help it.

Ashley’s grin only grew wider, as if he was relishing the discomfort he was causing. "Come on, don’t be so cold. We can be good friends."

Chris’s eyes flashed with a hint of incredulity. "Good friends?" He laughed. "Whatever drugs you are taking need to be banned."

Ashley chuckled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let’s talk about more interesting things."

Chris’s patience was wearing thin, and he was about to walk around Ashley when the other boy moved to block his path once again. The onlookers’ whispers and stares only added to Chris’s frustration. He took a deep breath, reminding himself that he didn’t want to create a scene.

"You’re really trying hard not to hit me, huh?" Ashley’s words were taunting, and he raised an eyebrow in mock amusement.

Chris clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He held back the urge to lash out, reminding himself that he couldn’t let Ashley get under his skin. "You’re not worth it."

Ashley’s confidence seemed to remain unshaken by Chris’s words. "You know, I’m quite impressed with your popularity around here. Not bad for a freshman. Even the dean had to get involved. Must be nice to have a rich friend." He taunted.

Chris’s eyes narrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line. Ashley’s words only fueled the fire of his frustration. He was about to walk past Ashley again, ignoring the provocation, when Ashley blocked his path once more, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"You’re really determined to ignore me, huh?" Ashley’s tone was almost playful, but Chris could sense the underlying malice.

Chris clenched his teeth, struggling to keep his emotions in check. "I don’t have time for this, asshole."

Ashley’s smile turned more sinister, his eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction. "Oh, but you might want to make time for what I have to say."

Chris eyed him, clearly not interested in whatever shit this boy had to say. He just wanted him to get off his path, counting down the seconds to when he would finally lose it and give him a good beating so they could at least have a good reason to arrest him this time since Ash looked his usual after charging him for a nonexistent injury.

"Let’s say... It’s about your little connection. With Sky."

Chris’s heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran down his spine. He felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, a mixture of dread and anger bubbling within him. He took a step back, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Ashley. "Leave Sky out of this."

Ashley’s smirk only deepened, as if he were enjoying Chris’s discomfort. "Don’t worry. I won’t bring him into it. As long as you do something for me."

Chris’s fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles turning white as he fought to control his temper. He didn’t want to give Ashley the satisfaction of seeing him react, but the threat Ashley was dangling in front of him was too real to ignore. He took a deep breath, his voice laced with irritation. "What is the meaning of this nonsense You’re trying to pull?"

Ashley leaned in closer, his gaze fixed on Chris’s eyes. His voice was low and dripping with malice.

"Does your rich girlfriend know that you have feelings for Sky?"

Chris kept his face straight as he looked at Ash, even though within him he was all but composed.

He wasn’t sure how Ash suspected that. But it didn’t matter how he found out. What mattered was that Sky was involved. And that was bad.

"What nonsense are you on about?"

He asked, trying to sound unaffected.

Ashley’s smile twisted into something more sinister—a glint of triumph in his eyes. "Am I? Think about it, Chris. Just imagine the chaos if everyone found out you had a thing for their dear Sato."

Chris’s fists trembled with restrained anger, his nails digging into his palms. His mind raced, torn between his pride and the need to protect Sky. The thought of Sky being caught in the crossfire because of him was not something he wanted.

Sky was someone who cared about his reputation.

With a surge of frustration and anger, Chris’s control snapped. He lunged forward, shoving Ashley against the wall with a force that startled both of them. His grip on Ashley’s collar was tight, his fingers trembling with a mix of rage and desperation. "Don’t fuck with me, Ash."

"If I wanted to fuck you up, I wouldn’t need to lift a finger," Chris warned darkly.

Ashley’s laughter filled the air, a chilling sound that sent a shiver down Chris’s spine. He seemed almost amused by Chris’s outburst, his amusement contrasting starkly with Chris’s anger. He tilted his head slightly, his smile unflinching, as he met Chris’s furious gaze. "Looks like I struck a nerve."

Chris’s grip on Ashley’s collar tightened even further, his knuckles turning white. His voice was low and seething, each word dripping with suppressed rage. "You have no idea what you’re messing with. Leave Sky out of this."

Ashley’s chuckle persisted, and he leaned in closer, his breath brushing against Chris’s ear. "Oh, but I think Sky deserves to know the truth, don’t you? The truth about your feelings for him."

"That boy can be really dense. And easily manipulated. I’m sure you don’t even know shit about him, yet you’re just attracted to his pretty face. Why not just stick with your girlfriend? Or Rain, at least. She seems to have a thing for you."

"Was it you?" Chris asked after a while. "The Stalker?"