If Only You Can Stay (BL/BXB)

XI

"No." I tried to shoo him away. His voice was irritating enough and he took every chance to flaunt the bracelet on his wrist in front of my face. I looked at it with quick glances as I really wanted them back.

"I can still follow you though."

"Go away." I tried to keep myself busy by pulling out my phone and looking into online maps so that I could get a look at how big the campus was. I looked through the flow of students walking. Some of them were heading inside the main building. Maybe this was where the classrooms were. While many went to the hallways leading somewhere. Since it was almost lunch time, I bet that that way led to the cafeteria. If I went that way, I might probably see other students that were part of the exchange student program and try to join them as a group.

"Well, if you went this way, you'll find the cafeteria. They offer quite good. But we personally go to stores nearby." This guy butted in as if he was trying to play as a tour guide. I just gave him a look. He stopped for a moment to give me a teasing smile.

"What?" He asked.

"How irritating?"

"Am I?" He asked. It wasn't that obvious for his little brain that I was referring to him. There were only the two of us who were talking in the hallway. So how on earth he couldn't tell that he was the one I was irritated with?

"Obviously." I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I am just playing the good guy here. Your tour guide to be exact."

"Well, I don't need one." I sighed. "I could handle things on my own."

"Fine, then. Show me around." He teased me. He raised his arm and motioned for me to come forward. However, I was late to realize that this was his invitation for me to lead the way and his chance to tag along where I was about to go.

I nervously walked towards the hallway that he told me would lead to the cafeteria. I didn't know whether this would lead me to the right way but I didn't care. I tried to walk with such confidence because I knew this boy was watching over me like I was some nine year old trying to explore the streets.

"See? You can't even tell where it is."

"Then, show me." I told him, admitting defeat.

"Gladly." With extreme joy, he jogged his way in front of me. I stopped on my tracks when I felt my phone vibrate from a message notification.

"Ate missed you so much already. Wishing you the very best on your first day. Make some friends and enjoy your time there. Don't worry about me." I read her text in my mind. She was always sweet and gave me these kinds of notes every time I tried something new or she knew I felt so nervous. I even received one before every examination I had and I was thankful for them because it motivated me to try harder and do my best. It's some kind of an amulet that boosts my mood whenever I need it.

"I missed you too. I love you. Will enjoy every bit." I texted back.

"What's up?" I didn't notice that the lump of muscle was now standing tall in front of me. I leaned my head back to meet his gaze looking down on me and on the screen of my phone. I quickly held the phone closer for him not to see the text messages I sent to my sister.

"Oh, nothing."

"Nothing?" He raised a brow.

"Well, it's definitely something when I saw you smiling while texting someone. What a lucky person? Who's that?"

"Just my sister." I replied with no trace of a lie lined across my face.

"Oh, tell her a handsome man was showing you around the campus." He quickly dropped his displeased face and turned his lips curved up at my response as he jogged his way towards me.

"No shot." I snarled back.

"Tell me her name if you don't want to tell yours."

"What? Why?" Is he interested in my sister? Like what the hell? Though I did not know his age. But maybe, since he was also studying here, he might be the same age as me or older. Though, with his matured face, I doubt that he was younger.

"So I could ask what's your name."

"I'll tell you if you give me that bracelet."

"Then what's my assurance you're coming to the pizza place later?" He leaned forward to meet my gaze in which I awkwardly took a step back and avoided his menacing gaze. I thought for myself that if I stayed longer with this tower, his debris would fall to me. Then, I would find myself gasping for the air as if I was drowning in his dust.

"That's not going to happen."

"Then you'll never see this again." He stretched the bracelet with his thumb hooking in then released it making the beads clashed against his flesh. My eyes widened at what he did.

"Hoy, you'll break it." I screamed at him and almost cried.

I tried to tackle him for it but then he just raised his arm up where I couldn't reach. I clung to his raised arm with my weight to pull it down. With all my might, I tried to pull his arm down. However, with all the things that I had done, he was a tower made of metal and bricks that he was so unfazed while I was now gasping for air like I had just finished a marathon.

"Please don't destroy it." I begged, teary-eyed. "Just give it back to me." The smug on his face was erased. I looked up at him who was now unsure of what he was about to do. He gulped.

"Fine, don't cry. I'll take good care of it." He held my shoulders and gave a tap.

"I promise I won't break it." He turned, cleared his throat and started walking away.

***

Thank you so much for the support. Love lots from me aka the author.