Ethan arrived at college
earlier than usual.
He was still thinking about the events of the previous night.
The rain.
The shared bed.
And the forehead kiss.
He shook his head, trying to focus.
"Ethan!"
Ryan suddenly appeared beside him.
Ryan looked suspiciously amused.
"So… how was my brother?"
Ethan blinked.
"What?"
Ryan smirked.
"I didn't mean anything weird. I'm just asking how he treated you."
Ethan relaxed slightly.
"Oh. Your brother is really nice. Nothing to worry about."
Ryan froze.
"…Nice?"
Ethan nodded.
"He even cooked for me and
helped me study."
Ryan looked completely shocked.
"My brother?"
"Yes."
Ryan stared at him as if he had heard something impossible.
Adrian… nice?
Ryan scratched his head in disbelief.
"That's new."
They attended their classes normally for the morning.
After lunch, however, several seniors gathered everyone in the lecture hall.
One of them stepped forward.
"Attention everyone!"
The students slowly quieted down.
"We have an announcement."
Another senior continued.
"A mentor-mentee beach trip has been organized for this semester."
The room suddenly
filled with excited whispers.
"It will be in a beach town in the nearby city," the senior explained.
"We will stay there for three days."
Another senior added,
"And everyone must attend. It's compulsory."
Groans and cheers filled the room.
"There are rules," the senior continued.
"Each mentor must stay with their mentee during the entire trip."
Ryan immediately looked at Ethan.
"Uh oh."
The senior continued.
"You cannot separate from your mentor or mentee during the trip."
Some students laughed nervously.
"And each pair will receive one room at the beach resort."
The entire room erupted
in louder reactions.
"Transportation will be arranged by the college. We will travel by sleeper bus, since the journey takes around eight hours.We would reach there by morning"
The seniors finished the announcement.
"Prepare your bags. We leave tomorrow evening."
With that, they left the hall.
Ryan stretched.
"A beach trip sounds fun."
Ethan nodded.
"I should pack today."
"Same."
Later that afternoon they went to the cafeteria.
Both of them ordered juice.
Ryan leaned back in his chair.
Then suddenly—
Tap.
Someone flicked his head.
Ryan jumped.
"What the hell?!"
Victor sat down beside him casually.
"Relax."
Ryan glared at him.
"Don't hit my head!"
Victor smirked.
Meanwhile Adrian sat beside Ethan.
Before Ethan could react, Adrian casually placed his arm around Ethan's shoulder.
"You look tired today."
Ethan stiffened.
Adrian leaned closer.
"After hugging me all night, I should be the tired one."
Ethan's eyes widened.
He immediately pushed Adrian away.
Ryan stared.
"Wait… what was that?"
Adrian looked calm.
"Nothing. Yesterday—"
Before he could finish, Ethan quickly covered Adrian's mouth with his hand.
Ryan looked confused.
Ethan laughed nervously.
"Nothing! He just cooked noodles for me yesterday."
Ryan nodded slowly.
"Oh."
Adrian removed Ethan's hand from his mouth, smiling slightly.
Ryan changed the topic.
"Did you guys hear about the trip?"
Victor nodded.
"Yeah. I need to pack tonight."
Ethan sighed.
"Me too. I want to pack today itself."
"I have afternoon classes tomorrow."
Adrian looked at him.
"I'll come to your condo
and help you pack."
Ethan immediately shook his head.
"What? No!"
"I'm coming."
Ethan stood up.
"That's not necessary."
Victor stood as well.
"Let's go."
Adrian followed Ethan calmly.
As they walked down the corridor, Victor suddenly looked at Adrian.
"So."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"So what?"
Victor smirked.
"What's going on between
you and Ethan?"
Adrian looked straight ahead.
"Nothing."
Victor laughed softly.
"Nothing, huh?"
He shook his head.
"We'll see."
With that, they entered their classroom.
After college ended, everyone went their separate ways.
Ethan returned to his condo.
Meanwhile Ryan went home.
Ryan dropped his bag and stretched.
Then he suddenly looked at his wrist.
"…Wait."
His watch was missing.
Ryan searched everywhere.
On the table.
Inside his bag.
Even under the sofa.
But it was nowhere to be found.
"Where did it go…?"
At the same time, Ethan stood inside his condo nervously.
He kept glancing at the door.
Adrian had said he was coming to help him pack.
Ethan sighed.
Why am I so nervous…
Outside, footsteps
echoed in the hallway.
Ethan's heart began beating faster.
Adrian was about to arrive.