CUPID

5.

CHAPTER 5

During a General Education course, Natan's gaze drifted towards the students playing basketball in the gym. Since his seat was near the window and their classroom was close to the gym, he had a clear view of the players.

Tsh. Is that their P.E. class? Why don't we have something like that today?

Natan forced himself to focus on the lecture.

"Class dismissed!"

As soon as the professor uttered those words, the students began to file out of the classroom. Natan followed suit, eager to leave.

Bradley, who had been sitting next to Natan, walked out with him. They were classmates in the same subject. "Dude, today's been rough, huh?" Bradley commented.

Natan sighed but didn't respond.

Bradley studied him. "Tsk. Is this what happens when someone won't let you court them? You're worried?"

Natan merely rolled his eyes and continued walking, ignoring Bradley's remarks. Bradley didn't press further.

Natan was still irritated by Bella's brother, Brian. He couldn't understand why Brian's annoyance affected him so much, especially since he usually didn't care about people who bothered him on campus.

That jerk is really getting on my nerves!

As Natan and Bradley passed by the gym—they had to go that way to get to the cafeteria—Natan spotted Brian sitting on the bleachers. He was wiping his face with a towel, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Brian was wearing a blue jersey and basketball shorts.

Jerk.

But as Brian looked up, he immediately noticed Natan and winked at him.

Damn it!

Natan quickly walked away, not wanting to ruin his day any further.

"Fuck, dude! Did you see that?" Bradley caught up with him. "Brian winked at you," he continued.

Natan pretended not to hear him.

"Hey! Did you hear what I said?" Bradley insisted when Natan didn't respond. "I said, Brian winked at you!"

"Just ignore him," Natan replied.

Bradley didn't press the issue, and they continued to the canteen without further conversation.

Bella. Bella. Where are you, my love?

Natan scanned the canteen for Bella but didn't see her. He and Bradley sat down to eat.

"Natan, are you okay?" Bradley asked after a while.

Natan looked at his friend. "Why? What's wrong with me?"

"You don't seem okay. You've been spacing out a lot lately. Are you really alright?" Bradley asked, concerned.

Natan forced a smile. "Of course, I'm okay. Don't mind me. I'm just stressed."

Bradley frowned. "Is it because Bella still won't let you court her?"

Natan nodded. "Hmm..."

He didn't want to tell Bradley that Brian had been stressing him out even more lately.

"But it feels like there's something else bothering you," Bradley pressed.

Natan took a sip of his beef soup and a bite of his fried chicken. "There's nothing else," he insisted.

"Are you sure?" Bradley asked again, not touching his food and focusing on Natan.

Natan sighed and put down his food, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Why so many questions? I'm fine, okay? I already said that! I'm just thinking about why Bella still won't accept me, that's all."

"But why do you seem angry?" Bradley asked.

"I'm not angry!" Natan retorted.

"Okay," Bradley conceded and resumed eating. "You're really moody today!" he added, rolling his eyes.

"I'm always moody," Natan replied.

As Natan took a drink of water, Bradley spoke up again.

"Oi! Oi! Hey, dude, how's basketball?"

When Natan looked up to see who Bradley was talking to, he was startled and spilled his water, which splashed onto Bradley.

"Fuck! What the hell, Nat?! Are you really okay? This is too much!" Bradley exclaimed, trying to dry his shirt with a napkin. "Shit! I just changed my uniform, and now I have to change again! Tsk. Grr. Wait a moment, I need to change!" he muttered, storming out of the canteen without waiting for a response from Natan.

Natan didn't try to stop Bradley, who had already left before he could react.

Then Natan remembered that Brian was still standing in front of him. When he looked up, he saw Brian, tall and sweaty, but standing confidently before him.

Brian was wearing a blue jersey and basketball shorts. Natan's gaze traveled from Brian's sweat-soaked hair to his deep, brown eyes that always seemed sleepy. His sharp nose, attractive pink lips, and strong jawline were accentuated by his prominent collarbone. His chest, covered by the jersey, was drenched in sweat, and his abs were visible despite the clothing.

Natan was about to look away when he heard Brian clear his throat.

He froze.

What the fuck? Did I just check him out? What is wrong with me?!

Natan quickly looked up, cursing himself internally. Brian was smirking at him, his eyebrows raised.

"Like what you see?" Brian asked.

Natan's mouth opened, but no words came out. He had just checked out Brian, something a normal guy wouldn't do to another guy.

I'm doomed.

"If you do, you can take it all," Brian added when Natan didn't respond.

Natan's nostrils flared. "Can you stop? If you're just here to mess with me, you can leave," he snapped.

Brian grinned. "Actually, I'm here to eat. I'm hungry," he said, sitting down in the seat across from Natan, where Bradley had been sitting earlier.

"What are you doing?!" Natan demanded.

"Sitting," Brian replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"What I mean is... why are you sitting there?!" Natan clarified.

"Because it's a seat?" Brian responded casually.

"Are you an idiot? Someone else is sitting there, okay?" Natan retorted, taking a sip of water and sighing heavily.

Annoying. This guy is really infuriating.

"Well, it's okay. They can find another seat. This one is mine now," Brian said arrogantly, causing Natan's eyebrows to furrow.

"Are you always this rude?" Natan asked.

Brian just smirked. "Why? Did I touch you?"

Natan felt his eyes widen in shock at Brian's response.

"W-What?!" he stammered.

Brian grinned. "You said I'm rude. But I'm not rude, am I? I didn't touch you. Unless you want me to—"

Before Brian could finish his sentence, Natan stood up, grabbed Brian's arm, and quickly pulled him out of the canteen to a secluded area where they were alone. Then he let go of Brian's arm.

"What is your problem with me? Why are you always annoyed? Is it because I'm courting your sister? Huh? If you don't want me to court your sister, too bad! Because I love Bella!" Natan shouted, his voice filled with anger and frustration.

Natan took a deep breath after saying all that. But Brian seemed unaffected, like a robot.

After a moment, Brian spoke. "There is," he said calmly.

Natan looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

"There is something I can do," Brian replied calmly.

"What?" Natan challenged.

Brian licked his upper lip and then spoke again.

"This," he said, and then he kissed Natan on the lips.