After class, Dylan gave Flynn a ride home.
He ended up staying for dinner too, thanks to Lucas insisting that Dylan join them for a meal and a few drinks.
Flynn didn't really want Dylan to stay, but he had no choice—his father was the one who invited him, and Grandma Mina was always delighted whenever Dylan was around.
After dinner, Dylan flopped down on Flynn's bed as if it were the most natural thing to do.
"You've eaten already. Aren't you going home?" Flynn asked, brows furrowing.
"I can't get up anymore... I'm drunk aslhduahfdks," Dylan mumbled, pretending to slur his words.
"Cut it out. You're so dramatic. You only had one bottle of beer—as if that's enough to get you drunk." After saying this, Flynn just went to his study table and started reading a book.
Dylan slightly opened his eyes, peeked at Flynn, and stepped closer when he saw him engrossed in reading.
"Reading again? Aren't you going to sleep?" Dylan asked.
"How can I sleep when you've already taken up the whole bed?" Flynn replied, annoyed.
Dylan immediately adjusted his position and invited Flynn to lie down. "Here," Dylan said, patting the bed. "Come on."
"Dylan, how many weeks have you been sleeping over here? You almost eat here every day too. Next thing I know, you'll just move in. Doesn't anyone at your place miss you?" Flynn asked.
"If I moved in here, would you be okay with that?"
"You really have some nerve, huh?"
"Why? It's fine with your father anyway. And Grandma Mina likes me a lot," Dylan said proudly.
Flynn could only roll his eyes at Dylan's antics. He tidied up his things and got into bed, lying on his back, turning away from Dylan.
"Hey, why are you turned away? Face this way," Dylan said, trying to turn Flynn toward him.
"Why? This is how I sleep," Flynn replied, annoyed.
"You'll sleep later. Tell me a story first."
"What story would I even tell you?"
"About your girlfriend."
"My girlfriend?" Flynn asked, surprised. "Since when are you interested in my love life?"
"I just want to know why you were so grumpy with me yesterday," Dylan pressed.
"You're such a gossip. Why don't you tell me about your love life instead?"
"Ehh? You're curious about my love life?"
"I'm just returning the favor for all your gossiping," Flynn replied.
"Okay, fine. I'll tell you about my love life, but you have to tell me about yours too."
Flynn didn't know why, but suddenly he felt a little curious about Dylan's love life.
"Alright, go ahead. Tell me," Flynn said, trying not to show he was actually interested.
Dylan shifted slightly, propping himself up on the side of the bed and turning just enough to face Flynn.
"I've had a girlfriend for three years. Her name is Stephanie. We went to different schools. I met her three years ago when our school basketball team played against theirs. She was their team's muse back then." Dylan said, his voice softening at the memory.
Flynn raised an eyebrow. "How did you even meet her?"
"I wasn't interested at first. My friends Jake and Cholo liked her, and they practically forced me to go talk to Stephanie... just to ask for her number. I had no idea she'd end up liking me instead," Dylan said, a small grin tugging at his lips.
"So... how did you two actually become a couple?"
"After the tournament, she started coming to our school just to see me. At first, I ignored it—I didn't want to steal my friends' crush. But they told me to give it a chance, since Stephanie wasn't interested in them anyway," Dylan explained, shrugging lightly.
Flynn watched him quietly, noticing how Dylan's eyes softened when he talked about her.
"To be honest, I'm not really into relationships. But Stephanie... she's different from anyone I've ever dated. She's beautiful, yeah, but more than that... she actually made the effort to come see me at school all the time. She'd even chase away other girls who tried to get close. And though she's usually gentle, she can be... intense when she's mad. Haha," Dylan added, letting out a short laugh.
Flynn felt his chest tighten slightly. He quickly turned his gaze to the ceiling, pretending to stare at nothing. He didn't want Dylan to notice the small spark of something he couldn't name.
"Okay, I'm done telling my story. Your turn," Dylan said.
Flynn let out a sigh before starting. "I have a girlfriend too. She's beautiful, but our relationship is hidden because her family is wealthy. Back then, she was in the creativity department, while I was just in the regular class."
"Back then? Why? Where is she now?" Dylan asked.
"Last year, before the school year started... I didn't know she had already flown abroad to study. I only found out when someone handed me a letter she had written."
"So... does that mean you're no longer together?"
"Actually, I don't know if we ever really 'ended.' There was no closure, and we didn't break up officially. But for me, ever since she left... it feels like it's over," Flynn admitted.
"So... yesterday, is that why you were in a bad mood and snapping at me?" Dylan asked.
"I've actually moved on from her. I've accepted that she left me. But every time I read the letter she left me... it's like all the pain comes back," Flynn said quietly.
"If you've already moved on, why are you still keeping that letter? Why do you still read it?"
"I didn't mean to see it again. I kept it in case she ever came back... maybe to explain everything and at least give me closure," Flynn explained.
"Okay, since you said you've moved on, promise me now that you won't read that letter again." Dylan held out his pinky as if asking for a pinky promise.
Flynn stared at Dylan's hand. "Why should I make a promise to you?"
"It's not for me, it's for you. So you don't lose your mood and end up fighting for no reason," Dylan said teasingly.
"You've got too many things going on in that head of yours." Flynn muttered, turning his back to Dylan to sleep.
"You turned your back again," Dylan said, but got no response.
"Hey... are you asleep?" Dylan asked, trying to get Flynn to respond, but still got nothing.
He shifted slightly, just enough to press his body against Flynn's back, wrapping his arms around him.
Flynn jumped slightly at the sudden hug. "Dylan, what are you doing? If you don't want to sleep, just... let me sleep," he said, annoyed.
"Why? I'm going to sleep anyway," Dylan replied.
"Why are you hugging me?"
"Why not? We're both guys. And I can't sleep without someone to hug," Dylan said, trying to wrap his arms around Flynn again.
Flynn immediately pushed Dylan away. "Dylan, if you don't stop, this will be the last night you sleep here."
"Fine, fine. You're so stingy. It's just a hug," Dylan said.
Flynn lay back down immediately to sleep, and Dylan followed, chuckling quietly as he settled beside him.
The next day, while everyone was busy with their assignments in their rooms, Amanda suddenly appeared.
"Everyone, listen!" she called, catching the attention of the students. "The foundation week is coming up soon, and I want every one of you to participate in the activities organized by each department. Here, take one and pass it along."
Amanda handed out flyers to show everyone the activities they could join.
"You have 3 weeks to choose and prepare for the activities you'll be joining."
Flynn seemed completely uninterested when a flyer landed in front of him. But when he saw Dylan holding one, he suddenly perked up.
"You look excited," Flynn remarked, bored.
"Why? This is my chance to transfer to another department. From what I know, each department can recruit students from other departments to join them," Dylan explained.
"As if they'd want anyone from the regular department. In my four years here, I haven't seen a single regular student move to another department," Flynn replied.
"What if you try this year? Maybe they'll like you," Dylan suggested.
Nathan suddenly cut into their conversation. "You can't force Flynn into this, Dylan. He hates interacting with rich people, so he won't participate in things like this."
Hearing that, Dylan suddenly remembered the night Flynn got drunk. He recalled that Flynn had said he hated rich people because of what happened to his mother.
"Why do you want to transfer? Which department would you even want?" Flynn asked.
"Honestly, it doesn't really matter to me which department I go to. I didn't even expect it to work this way in this school," Dylan said.
"So why do you seem so excited?"
"I used to be a varsity player at my old school. There's nothing wrong with trying out for the sports department here, right?" Dylan said.
Flynn didn't answer. He just smirked and buried his head on his desk, pretending to sleep.
"Oh, come on, why are you like that? Afraid I'll leave if I get in? Don't worry. Even if I join the event, it's still my final decision whether I want to transfer or stay here," Dylan teased.
Flynn lifted his head from the desk and faced Dylan. "Don't get cocky. Honestly, it's probably better if you transfer so I can have some peace here."
"Really now? Haha," Dylan said with a grin. "But seriously... don't you want to experience participating? You've got only two school years left before graduation. That's six years wasted if you don't even try."
"Actually, a lot of departments want Flynn because of his academic record, but he refuses because of his ex," Nathan added.
"Shut the fck up, Nathan! Why are you even joining our conversation?" Flynn snapped at Nathan.
"Oooopsss... sarrey," Nathan said jokingly, quickly returning to his seat.
Right. Dylan reminded himself, Flynn had mentioned last night about his ex in the creative department and their secret relationship.
"But she's gone now, right?" Dylan asked gently, but Flynn didn't answer.
"How about this—come with me to try out for basketball. If we both get in, at least we'll be together. You won't have to worry about being alone," Dylan suggested.
"I'll think about it," Flynn replied.