Dominic rode calmly on the highway. It's past midnight already, there are barely cars on the road. The city is quiet, slow songs from bars nearby filled the air. The air is cold, the weather is breezy. His phone has been ringing non-stop. He already know who it is so there's no need checking his phone.
The bike came to a halt when he got to a bridge. He then alighted from the bike after taking off his helmet. He just stood there staring at the empty space, recalling the scene at the bar.
"Jack Carter" He muttered under his breath.
*
JACK'S SUITE*
Roger sat in front of the suite, almost freezing to death, waiting for Jack's return.
"I'm so sorry" He rushed his words as Jack marched towards him in rage.
He almost punched him in the face but his fist hung in the air when a thought crossed his mind.
"Did you call?" He questioned with a ray of hope in his eyes as he brought down his hand.
"Yes, I did, obviously. Isn't that reason you're out?" He questioned.
"Wait, you aren't letting Dylan's words get into you right?"
"Fvck off, mtchew" He hissed, pushing him out of the way, heading inside the suite.
"A thank you won't hurt, you know?" Roger rolled his eyes, holding the door knob.
Surprisingly, the door was locked.
"Jack!" He banged the door.
"Go home, I'm not in the mood for talks!" He spat from inside.
"F you bro!" Roger kicked the door.
"You lack human sympathy and parental love" Those words rang in his head like a bell.
The harder he tried to ignore the voice, the louder it echoed in his head.
"I don't lack human sympathy and parental love! I'm loved! I'm enough" He found himself yelling without even realizing it.
He bolted up from the couch to get a chilled bottle of alcohol from the refrigerator. He poured a glass for himself, and gulped it down it at once.
"Wait, I'm thinking too much about that jerk. He doesn't have any impact on me neither does his words do" He convinced himself, gulping down the second glass of alcohol.
*
NEXT MORNING, DYLAN'S PLACE*
Dylan didn't get a blink of sleep last night, he just tossed on the bed from one side to another, lost in his own thoughts. Dominic didn't get answer his calls neither read his texts last night, making him worried.
"He's not overthinking things, is he?"
"What if something happened to him last night?" The thought of it made me sprang up from the bed.
He picked up his phone from the bed, and called his line several times but it wasn't connecting.
"He didn't block me, did he?" He wondered, already dashing out of the house.
He hurriedly ran to the nearest bus-stop, he needs to get to Dominic before he crosses path with the guys on campus. They might say something about the secret to him, and that will just ruin things for him.
He hailed a taxi, and got in immediately, still trying to call him.
He got to the pub but it was locked.
"Fvck" He cussed out.
"I need to tell him the truth as soon as possible" He ruffled his hair in frustration.
He kept on trying his line as he walked away from the pub with the hope of finding him in the streets. Unknown to him, Dominic was watching him from a little hole on the pub's door the whole time.
"He's so persistent" A smile crept on his lips.
"Do you like him?" His boss said behind him, making him flinch.
"No way! I'm straight!" He rushed away.
*
WESTSIDE COLLEGE*
It suddenly started raining heavily. Dominic ran to stand underneath a shield before he gets soak in the rain. He didn't take his bike today.
"I didn't look at the weather forecast today" He muttered in regret of not bringing his umbrella with him.
"Jeez, it's almost time for lecture" He said, staring at the time.
A car honk made him look up.
"Get in" Jack ordered.
He simply ignored him.
"I don't like repeating myself"
"Dominic!" Dylan called from inside a taxi.
"Come with me!" He screamed.
"Hello?! Get in fast" Jack ordered.
"I'd rather count salt" He hissed walking away in the rain.
The friends glared at each other for a while before zooming off.
Thunder lightening struck in the sky, making Dominic flinch in fear, his feets came to an halt.
He's scared of thunders.
"That stubborn nerd" Dylan muttered from the backseat.
"I'll alight here" He said to the driver, already bringing out an umbrella from his backpack.
"But it's still rain-
"I know" He almost snapped.
He got down from the taxi, and rushed to terrified Dominic and handed over the already open umbrella to him then brought his backpack to his chest.
"Hop on" He said, bending in front of Dominic.
"I'll be fine"
"From someone who got scared of thunder lightening" He said.
"Whatever" Dominic hissed.
"I'm sorry for last-
"Catch me if you can" Dominic laughed, running off with the umbrella.
"The fvck" He laughed, chasing him in the rain.
Their backpacks are made of leather so they have nothing to worry about.
Jack was watching them from a distance.
"Fvck!" He punched the steering.
The guys laughed so loud, forgetting everything about the world around them.
This has happened before in Grade 8. That was the day Dylan knew that Dominic is scared of thunders.
So, it is Deja vu.
*
"Can we talk?" Dylan said when they got to the hallway.
"Sure. 2 minutes though" He replied.
"I had no idea about whatever happened last night. Thank you for coming to bail us out.Why did you leave the hospital? Why did you block me? I also have something to tell you" He rushed his words.
"Let's forget about whatever happened last night. There was no need to spend the night at thTe hospital. I didn't block you, it's probably network, so worry not" He chuckled.
"You said you have something to tell me" He said.
"Y-Yeah, remember when we were in seventh grade"
"Yes"
"There was a day the guys and I were-
"Excuse me" He interrupted him, as his phone rang.
It's his boss.
"Yes sir" He chuckled and the call ended.
"Sorry, you were saying?"
"Remember I used to get bullied by the guys"
"Yes, you once told me about it"
"So one day, Jack asked me to-
"It's time for lecture, bye. Laterrrrrr" He dashed away.
"Not again" Dylan ruffled his hair.
*
BASKETBALL COURT*
Dominic watched as Dylan played effortlessly, scoring multiple points for his team. His eyes moved from his face to his exposed biceps. The way his wet hair is relaxed on his face is making him think about things.
Fvck.
Has Dylan always been this sexy?
He looks super hot when sweaty.
The way he catches his breath after throwing the ball into the next, is putting ideas in his head.
Dylan noticed him in the crowd of cheering audience, he just sat there observing quietly.
He shyly waved at him, earning a wink from Dylan which made girls glare at him.
Why is the superhot player winking at a guy?
* Who is he?
* Gosh, he looks so nerdy
He adjusted his eyes when he heard that comment.
"Check the school community channel, everyone!' A girl announced, making everyone present at the court except Dominic check their phones, including the players.
Dylan's eyes widened in shock as he watched the video. It's a video of him and Dylan playing in the rain with a ridiculous caption underneath it; "Gays spotted on campus in broad daylight. How will the school authority take this?"
Dominic just stared at everyone in confusion, unaware of whatever was going on. He's not on the school community channel. He doesn't socialize so he has no friends.
"Wait, aren't you the-
Dylan quickly dragged him out of the place before the guy could complete his sentence.
Murmurs from students filled the place immediately, some even went after them with their phone cameras.
"Stay in here. I'll be back in a jiffy, okay?" Dylan assured, stroking his hair.
They are inside an empty lecture hall.
"What happened in the court? What was posted on the channel? Why was everyone staring-
"I'll explain everything later" He interrupted.
"Lock the door from behind, okay?" He concluded, and with that he left.
Dominic locked the door as instructed.
Students are now in the hallway in search of the boys.
He could clearly hear their voices. He just stood there in fear.
What's going to happen now?
How is Dylan supposed to get in here now?
Is he going to be expelled from the school?
Is his scholarship going to be withdrawn?
The thought of it terrified him so much that he trembled in fear, sweating profusely.
"I can't possibly lose everything just because of a rumor, that's not true. Playing in the rain doesn't mean anything"
"Where is Dylan?" He wondered, picking on the hem of his clothes in fear.
He's scared that they might find him soon.
His phone rang, students immediately dashed to where the sound came from.
It's an unknown number.
"The hell" He muttered, turning off the phone.
"Told you guys that they are hiding around this area" Roger bragged with a smirk.
He kicked the door open. Dylan arrived at the same time on a bike. He borrowed the bike from a friend. He rushed into the building when he heard screams from inside.
"They didn't find him, did they?" He muttered in fear.
Instead of Dominic, it was Jack standing in front of the lecture hall.
"Why are you calling me, Roger?" He asked reluctantly with a cigar between his lips, almost looking pissed.
"The hell" Roger cussed, and he smirked.