At the school, Gavin's girlfriend, Lu Lu, is there, demanding to see Gavin. She wants him to come back home but he responds with that he likes it here and that she is being too rowdy and suspicious of everything. This is proven to be correct when a few minutes later, Lu Lu is wailing on a female student that was flirting with Gavin earlier. Embarrassed by the incident, Gavin takes his girlfriend out on the P.E. field and makes a proposition with her: Lu Lu can stay in town for however long she wants as long as she 1. doesn't mention Gavin's economic status and where he's actually from, and that she 2. doesn't seem "too rich" when she meets his new friends. After school, Gavin invites Loui to meet Lu Lu and the three of them have lunch together. Lu Lu is jealous of the attention Loui is getting from Gavin but she gradually grows to like Loui as he always deflects that attention back to her. Once they finish eating, Lu Lu asks Loui to watch over Gavin and to call her if anything happens. When she does come back, she'll treat Loui to another meal. The next day, at Loui aunt's shack, Gavin tells Loui of his relationship with Lu Lu and they end their conversation at breakfast by talking about what type of girls they like.
P.O.V....
Gavin's girlfriend, Lu Lu, demands he return home, but Gavin insists he likes it there. After Lu Lu attacks a girl flirting with him, Gavin makes a deal: she can stay if she avoids mentioning his background or acting too rich. Gavin then introduces Loui to Lu Lu, and though Lu Lu gets jealous, she warms up to Loui. Before leaving, she asks Loui to watch over Gavin and promises another meal. The next day, Gavin and Loui discuss Gavin's relationship with Lu Lu and the types of girls they like.
Gavin didn't expect to see her today.
He was standing near the school gates, chatting with some classmates, when a familiar voice rang out behind him.
"Gavin! Gavin!"
He turned to see Lu Lu striding toward him, her expression a mixture of frustration and determination. Gavin sighed inwardly. He had a feeling this wasn't going to be a good conversation.
Lu Lu stopped right in front of him, arms crossed, her gaze fiery. "What are you doing here?" she demanded. "You promised you'd come back home. This place... it's not for you. You're not like them." Her voice wavered with a mix of concern and annoyance.
Gavin's face remained calm, but there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "Lu Lu, I like it here," he said coolly. "You're making a scene. You're being too rowdy. Can't you see that?"
Before she could answer, a shriek echoed across the courtyard. Gavin turned just in time to see a girl who had been talking to him earlier—flirting, if he was honest—now backed into a corner. Lu Lu had her hands on the girl's collar, her face twisted in anger.
"You dare talk to him like that?" Lu Lu shouted, her voice cutting through the air.
Gavin quickly rushed over, grabbing her by the wrist. "Lu Lu, stop! What the hell are you doing?"
She glared at him, her voice sharp. "She was flirting with you! I saw the way she was looking at you. You're mine, Gavin. No one else can touch you."
The scene was attracting attention. Gavin could feel the eyes of the students on them, and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Let's go," he muttered, pulling her away from the scene. He wasn't angry at her, just... exhausted by the whole situation.
Once they were far enough away from the crowd, Gavin led Lu Lu to the P.E. field, a quiet stretch of grass where no one could overhear them. The cool breeze helped clear his mind, but his frustration was still there.
"Look," he said, his tone a little firmer now. "I don't want to argue, but if you're staying here, there are two conditions."
Lu Lu raised an eyebrow. She wasn't used to being told what to do, but she stayed silent, waiting for him to explain.
"First," Gavin started, "don't mention my background, my family, or where I'm from. I don't want to talk about it. You know that. It's not something I want anyone to know." He looked at her, waiting for her to respond.
Lu Lu nodded, her expression still a little defensive. "Fine. But what's the second one?"
"Second," Gavin continued, "don't act like you're 'too rich' when you meet my friends. These people don't care about money or status. I don't want them thinking you're different just because of that."
Lu Lu's mouth twitched, but she sighed, resigned. "I don't like it, but okay. I'll play by your rules. For now."
Gavin nodded, his gaze softening. "Thanks. It'll make things easier, I promise."
Later that afternoon, Gavin invited Loui to meet Lu Lu. He had warned Loui beforehand about the situation, and Loui agreed to come along for the lunch. They met up at a quiet café after school. Gavin was a little anxious—he didn't know how this was going to go—but he tried to remain calm.
Loui walked in with his usual easygoing smile, and Lu Lu looked at him with cautious curiosity. She wasn't exactly thrilled about this meeting, but she had agreed to it. Gavin made the introductions.
"Loui, this is Lu Lu, my girlfriend. Lu Lu, this is Loui, my friend."
The two exchanged polite greetings, though Lu Lu's eyes stayed sharp, sizing Loui up. As they sat down to eat, the air between the three of them felt a little stiff at first.
Throughout the meal, Gavin could sense Lu Lu's jealousy creeping in as Loui and he joked around. Gavin had always been the center of attention, but it felt like he was giving Loui more of it than usual.
"Why does he always talk to you?" Lu Lu finally asked, trying to sound casual but failing. "Isn't that supposed to be my role?"
Gavin chuckled awkwardly, trying to ease the tension. "It's not like that. Loui's just... well, he's a good friend. We joke around, that's all." He gave Loui a side glance, but Loui just smiled and shrugged it off.
Loui, ever the smooth talker, leaned back in his chair, flashing Lu Lu a grin. "You know, Lu Lu, you seem pretty cool. Gavin's lucky to have someone who cares about him so much," he said, throwing Gavin a teasing look. "But hey, don't worry. I'm not trying to steal him away from you."
That seemed to ease some of Lu Lu's tension. She could see that Loui wasn't competing for Gavin's attention. In fact, he was deflecting it back to her, and that was something she hadn't expected.
By the end of the meal, Lu Lu was actually smiling a little more. She could see the dynamic between Gavin and Loui wasn't threatening—it was just two friends being... well, friends.
She sighed and pushed her plate aside. "Okay, fine. You're not so bad. But promise me one thing, Loui," she said, her voice serious. "Take care of Gavin while I'm gone. If anything happens, I want you to call me."
Gavin looked at her, surprised. "You're leaving?"
"I have some stuff to take care of," Lu Lu explained. "But I'll be back. And when I do, I'll treat you to another meal, Loui. Consider it a thank-you."
Loui gave a playful bow. "I'll hold you to that, then."
The next morning, Gavin and Loui were back at Loui's aunt's shack, having breakfast. The sun was just starting to rise, and the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air. They sat at the small table, enjoying the simple meal.
"So, Lu Lu, huh?" Loui asked, breaking the silence. "You really love her, don't you?"
Gavin paused, looking out the window for a moment. "I do. She's a little complicated, but yeah, I care about her. It's just... tough, you know? She doesn't understand why I want to stay here."
Loui nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "I get it. Balancing two worlds isn't easy." He smiled a little, his eyes glinting. "But you'll figure it out. You always do."
Gavin smiled back, grateful for the support. "I hope so."
After a beat, Loui asked casually, "So... what type of girls do you like?"
Gavin raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me that now?"
Loui shrugged. "Why not? I mean, we're talking about relationships, right?"
Gavin chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess... someone who understands me, I guess. Someone who doesn't try to change me. I don't really care about looks or status. Just someone real."
Loui thought for a moment, then smiled. "That's fair. Me, though? I like someone with a bit of attitude. They've gotta be strong-willed. Someone who knows what they want, but also knows how to laugh."
Gavin laughed, shaking his head. "So, basically, exactly like Lu Lu, huh?"
Loui grinned. "Maybe. But that's your problem, not mine."
The two shared a quiet laugh, the kind of friendship where words didn't need to be said to understand. And as they finished their breakfast, Gavin felt a little lighter, knowing he wasn't alone in this strange journey of balancing his old life with the new one.