Chronicles Confession: Love, Laughter, and Campus Chaos

Chapter Two: Linguistic Love-Hate; The Reunited Frenemies Part 2

Simon lay sprawled across his bed, staring at the ceiling of his dorm room. His mind wandered back to his childhood days with Ocean Zhang, the boy who was his protector and tormentor, his best friend, and his fiercest rival. Despite their constant bickering, Simon couldn't deny his deep-seated feelings for Ocean. Feelings that had grown from innocent childhood admiration to something more complex and consuming.

He remembered the time they built a treehouse together. Well, it was more like Ocean ordering him around while he tried not to fall off the ladder. But it was their treehouse, their secret hideaway where they would escape the world and dream about their futures.

"Hey, Simon," Ocean had said one afternoon, legs swinging off the edge of the treehouse. "Do you think we'll always be friends?"

"Of course," Simon had replied, heart, swelling with a mixture of hope and fear. "We'll always have each other's backs."

But as they grew older, their friendship took on a new dynamic. The fierce loyalty remained but was buried under layers of rivalry and banter. Simon couldn't help but think it was his fault that he had pushed too hard and competed too fiercely, and now, the only way to keep Ocean's attention was through their constant battles.

Shaking off his nostalgic mood, Simon dressed for the party, opting for his usual flamboyant style—a brightly colored shirt and tight jeans that accentuated his lean frame. He wanted to look his best, not just for the crowd but for Ocean. He needed to remind his rival why their battles were worth fighting.

As he walked to the party, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Aaron Zhang, Ocean's younger brother.

*See you at the party. Don't worry, I won't spill your secrets. Much.*

Simon groaned. Aaron had always known about his feelings for Ocean and never missed an opportunity to tease him about it. But deep down, Simon appreciated the younger Zhang's understanding and discretion.

#####################################

The party was in full swing by the time Simon arrived. Music thumped through the speakers, and the air was thick with laughter and the scent of spiked punch. Simon scanned the crowd, searching for that familiar head of perfectly styled hair. And there he was, Ocean, in the center of attention as always, surrounded by a group of admirers.

"Simon! Over here!" Aaron's voice cut through the noise, and Simon saw Aaron waving from the kitchen.

With a resigned sigh, Simon made his way over. Aaron handed him a drink, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, how long will you keep up this act of rivalry? Everyone knows you're just trying to get his attention."

Simon took a sip of his drink, trying to play it cool. "Rivalry keeps things interesting. Besides, it's the only way he notices me."

Aaron laughed, clapping Simon on the shoulder. "Oh, come on. Ocean notices you plenty. He talks about you all the time. 'Simon did this,' 'Simon said that.' You're always on his mind, even if he won't admit it."