Through the Noise

Testing Boundaries

Beam couldn’t get Forth out of his mind. The image of the fierce, unyielding engineering student, standing victorious amidst a pile of defeated men, left a deeper impression than Beam expected. Forth was the kind of person Beam hadn’t encountered before, a guy whose reputation preceded him but who didn’t seem to care about the notoriety it brought. The mystery gnawed at Beam, keeping him up that night and leading him to a decision: he had to meet Forth, had to see for himself if this man was as intriguing as he appeared.

So the next day, Beam waited near the engineering building, a place he rarely found himself but had to navigate now if he wanted to cross paths with Forth. It wasn’t a subtle plan, but subtlety was never Beam’s style. He was determined to draw Forth’s attention, one way or another.

As the hours ticked by, Beam grew restless. Engineering students streamed past him, some casting him curious glances, while others whispered, recognizing the Casanova from the Medical Faculty. He threw on his most casual, disarming smile, hoping to blend in. It didn’t work. Even with his white medical jacket slung over his arm instead of being worn, Beam stuck out in the crowd of grease-stained T-shirts and blue work jumpsuits.

Then, at last, he saw him.

Forth emerged from a nearby building, head held high as he walked with his usual air of unbothered confidence. Beam’s breath caught. In the daylight, Forth looked even more striking. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his muscular build accentuated by the snug black T-shirt he wore. His face was focused, as if he were lost in thought, but his sharp eyes scanned his surroundings with a quiet awareness. Beam could feel Forth’s presence even from across the walkway.

Swallowing his nerves, Beam straightened up, slipping into his most charming demeanor. “Hey, Forth!” he called, stepping forward.

Forth’s gaze flicked to him, mild irritation sparking in his eyes as he took in the sight of the unfamiliar medical student calling his name. For a moment, Beam wondered if Forth would ignore him and keep walking. But instead, Forth stopped, crossed his arms, and raised an eyebrow.

“Do I know you?” Forth’s tone was calm, yet his voice carried an edge that made Beam’s confidence falter for a split second.

“I’m Beam,” he said, recovering quickly and extending a hand. “We’re in the same year, and… well, I heard a bit about you.”

Forth glanced at his outstretched hand but made no move to shake it. Instead, he studied Beam, his expression skeptical.

“So what?” Forth replied, voice gruff and low, dismissing Beam’s handshake. “Plenty of people know me.”

The rejection stung a bit, but Beam was nothing if not persistent. He smiled, determined not to let Forth’s icy demeanor intimidate him.

“I was just impressed, I guess,” Beam said, shifting his approach. “I saw you in the parking lot yesterday. You handled yourself pretty well.” He gave Forth a sly grin, hoping to break through the man’s stoic exterior.

Forth’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he showed no signs of being flattered by the compliment. If anything, he seemed even more unimpressed.

“Impressed, huh?” Forth muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “What’s a med student doing watching fights? Thought you guys had better things to do.”

Beam chuckled, unfazed. “You’d be surprised what we get up to. And I’m more than just a med student. I happen to be pretty good at spotting people who can handle themselves in a tough situation.”

Forth gave him a look, his gaze cold and unreadable. “What do you want?”

For a moment, Beam hesitated. He hadn’t exactly thought this far ahead; his plan had been more about catching Forth’s attention than figuring out what to say next. But something in him stirred, and he realized he wanted to push Forth’s boundaries, see what lay beyond the tough exterior.

“Maybe I want someone who can back me up,” Beam said, flashing another grin. “I could use someone like you on my side. You know, someone who can keep me safe.”

Forth raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting from disinterest to mild amusement. “You think I’m some bodyguard for hire?”

Beam shrugged, trying to keep his tone light. “Not exactly. Think of it as… a partnership. You look out for me, I keep things interesting.”

Forth let out a low chuckle, though it was devoid of warmth. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that,” he said. “But I’m not interested in whatever game you’re playing.”

Disappointed but not defeated, Beam watched as Forth turned away, seemingly ready to brush him off. But before he could take more than a few steps, Beam called out, “Wait!”

Forth stopped, glancing back with a look that suggested he was moments away from walking off for good.

“Look, I’m serious,” Beam said, his tone earnest. “I know I’m probably not what you expected, and I know you don’t owe me anything. But you were helping someone out yesterday. That guy? He was a friend, right?”

For the first time, a flicker of something vulnerable flashed across Forth’s face, but it was gone just as quickly as it appeared. His expression hardened again, and he clenched his fists, as if to remind himself of his own strength.

“What about it?” Forth asked, his voice low.

“I respect that,” Beam replied. “You don’t seem like the type to fight just for fun. You do it because you care. And I… well, maybe I need someone like that in my life.”

Beam’s words hung in the air, and for a tense moment, he wasn’t sure how Forth would respond. The silence stretched, the sounds of campus life fading into the background as the two of them locked eyes.

Finally, Forth sighed, his rigid posture relaxing just slightly. “Look, I don’t know what kind of idea you have about me,” he muttered. “But I don’t babysit med students, especially not ones who think they can just charm their way into whatever they want.”

Beam opened his mouth to protest, but Forth continued, his voice softening just a fraction. “Besides, I don’t need anyone looking to me for protection. You want someone to keep you safe? Find someone else.”

With that, Forth walked away, his steps unhurried and purposeful. Beam watched him go, a strange mixture of admiration and frustration bubbling inside him. Forth wasn’t falling for any of his usual tactics, and somehow, that made him all the more interesting.

But as Forth disappeared into the crowd, Beam found himself smiling. He wasn’t giving up that easily.

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Tbc