The SOTUS gathering is officially closed. The Engineering gear bracelets have been given to the freshmen and said youngsters are spread along the shore raining confessions to those who caught their attention.
Rich was staring out in the sea as he nurses his bottle of beer. The other Hazers are also enjoying themselves, either with their friends or some with the freshmen.
Sandee caught up with his friend and nudged him. "Hey, Padbok said your freshie walked down the shore" he saud while waggling his eyebrows.
Rich looked at him as he gulped his beer. "Hmmm?"
"Alone" Sandee added.
Rich looked around and focused on Kyros with Sage and the other Hazers.
"Go now while he's busy to notice" Sandee urged him. "We'll hold him back if he notices quickly but I think he wouldn't though"
Rich hastily stood up and moved closer to the shore, pretending to shove his feet into both sand and water with no care. He kept his carefree attitude and walked along where the water meets the sand.
As he walked further along, he noticed a few men scattered in the area despite it being a bit further than where the Engineering students are. He knows the place was solely rented just for this event, so there wouldn't be other guests.
'Unless they are Jay's bodyguards. He must be here somewhere then' Rich thought to himself.
He kept walking until he saw someone sitting on a swing under the tree. Said person seems to be on the phone talking to someone.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
A/N: just imagine it's dark and there's sand and the sea instead of the restaurant (???) behind him...or in front
As Rich approached him, he noticed the scattered men on alert and seemed to focus on them. He could also hear what the younger was saying.
"Oh Papa, don't worry too much. I'll be fine...nothing wrong will happen and I have my guys with me" Jaron said in a soft tone.
After a few more hushed murmurs, the call ended. Jaron straightened himself in the swing and cleared his throat. "Isn't it rude to listen in on somebody else's conversation"
Rich scratched his nape and finally stood beside the younger. "I didn't know you noticed my presence"
Jaron snickered as he shuffled his feet into the sandy surface while still looking out the sea. "When my guards tenses up it also alerts me to be vigilant with my surroundings"
Rich sighed and kept his hands in his pockets even though he's itching to brush the younger's hair back and tuck them behind his ear. "You've been avoiding me"
Jaron snorted. "You flatter yourself too much. What made you think I was avoiding you? It's not as if we have classes together or same set of friends"
"Come on Jay. We both know that's total bull" Rich groaned out.
Jaron sighed loudly. "What do you want Phi? Just say it now before I forget you're my Senior, while I still have respect left for you"
Rich gritted his teeth. The younger was harder to crack than he imagined and Aran made it worse. Oh how he wished he could strangle his so-called-brother's neck. "Look Jay, I really like you. I just wish you'd give me a chance to prove it to you"
Jaron wasn't expecting that. He thought the older was just messing with him. He poked his tongue on his cheek as he mulled over the older's words.
"What about Aran? You're his brother" Jaron stated.
Rich could only groan in frustration. "Don't remind me. Sometimes I wished our parents didn't adopt him back then but what would that make me" he said.
Jaron's eyes widened at that information. He never expected for his grade school bully to be adopted. Maybe that's why he's an ass, but still. "Now I get it" he said as he shook his head in amusement.
"Get what?" Rich asked him, brows knotted in confusion.
"Why he was pissed off at the parking lot that night...when he told me to stay away from you" Jaron answered.
"And?" Rich prompted.
"He likes you...no, more than like" Jaron stated while lost in his thoughts. "He's crazily in love with you" he added as he looked in the older's eyes.
Despite the dark, with only the moon as the source of light, Rich can clearly see the younger's mesmerising face. He is awestruck with Jaron's features, those pinkish supple lips, expressive eyes and prominent cheekbones.
"What?" Rich said as he finally processed what the other told him.
Jaron stood up from the swing and took a step towards the sea. "Your brother, Aran, is madly in love with you" he said as he kept staring out the sea. "I don't know what your intentions are Phi but I'm sure he would be totally devastated if you continue to ignore his feelings. You need to address that first before you come on to me. I don't want a chaotic life. My family doesn't take our tears lightly" he added before walking away.
Rich was left dumbstruck. He didn't think Aran would make things more complicated. Yes, he was aware that his adopted brother developed feelings for him. How could he not know when his sisters made sure to let him be aware.
He just brushes the knowledge aside, thinking Aran would grow out of it and will meet someone who will catch his interest. He should've made it clear that he would never be interested in him that way.
He already finds him annoying and a source of their family's troubles. How many times have their parents been called to school because of the fights and troubles he caused. Their Dad had almost enough when they encountered the Jamornhums in Krabi but their Mom begged to just give him a chance to improve.
Rich is determined to win Jaron's affection. Getting to know about their other brothers is the least of his concern right now. He needs to clear the issue with Aran before he could come near Jaron. That's what he understood from the younger's words earlier.
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 TBC 091921
A/N: Happy Sunday people 😘😘😘
Will Jaron give him a chance? What would Rich do about Aran?
