The next day felt… almost normal.
Almost.
Jarnell walked into campus alone again.
Same pace.
Same quiet expression.
Same controlled presence.
But something was different.
His eyes—
moved more than usual.
Not obviously.
Not enough for others to notice.
But enough to betray one thing:
He was looking for someone.
And when he didn't see him—
his steps slowed slightly.
"…Annoying," he muttered under his breath.
He didn't wait.
Didn't stand around.
He went straight to class.
Jonas and Calvin were already seated.
"You're late," Calvin said casually.
"I'm not," Jarnell replied, sitting down.
Jonas watched him for a second.
Then—
"You're distracted."
"I'm not."
Calvin smirked slightly.
"You've said that twice now."
Jarnell didn't respond.
By the way where is Jayden? You have always been coming together to class what happened today?
Jarnell didn't answer because he was also wondering. Was it because i refused him from staying over to my place!??. He was still thinking.
When—
Calvin's phone appeared in front of him.
"Look at this."
Jarnell frowned slightly.
"I'm not interested."
"Just look."
Reluctantly—
Jarnell glanced down.
And that was when it hit.
It was a video.
Short.
Clear.
Jayden.
Standing outside another department building.
Talking.
Laughing.
With her.
The same girl.
She was close.
Too close.
At one point, she lightly touched his arm—
and Jayden didn't move away.
Jarnell's fingers tightened slightly on the edge of the desk.
But his face—
remained calm.
Unbothered.
"What about it?" he said.
Calvin raised an eyebrow.
"That's your partner, right?"
Jonas added quietly—
"He seems… close with her."
Silence.
Jarnell leaned back slightly.
"He can talk to whoever he wants," he said.
Calm.
Controlled.
Detached.
Perfect.
Too perfect.
Jonas and Calvin exchanged a look.
Because they knew him.
And that tone—
wasn't indifference.
It was restraint.
Jarnell looked away from the phone.
But the image didn't leave.
Her hand on Jayden's arm.
Jayden not pulling away.
The ease between them.
Something tightened in his chest.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
Unwanted.
He didn't like it.
Didn't want it.
But it stayed.
"…I said I'm not interested," he added, more quietly this time.
Calvin slowly lowered the phone.
But the damage—
was already done.
Jayden arrived late.
And the moment he walked in—
Jarnell felt it.
That same presence.
But this time—
it didn't feel steady.
It felt… irritating.
Jayden walked over like usual.
Sat beside him like it was normal.
"Good morning," he said.
Jarnell didn't respond.
Jayden noticed immediately.
"…Something wrong?" he asked.
"No."
Short.
Cold.
Different.
Jayden frowned slightly.
Because this—
was new.
The lecture went on.
But Jarnell didn't speak.
Didn't engage.
Didn't respond when Jayden tried to involve him.
Every answer was short.
Every reaction minimal.
Distance.
But this time—
it wasn't quiet distance.
It was sharp.
After class—
Jayden finally stopped him.
"What's your problem?" he asked directly.
Jarnell turned.
"I don't have one."
"You do."
Silence.
Then—
Jayden added—
"You've been like this since I walked in."
Jarnell stared at him.
Then laughed lightly.
But there was no humor in it.
"You think everything is about you?"
Jayden didn't react to the tone.
"Right now? Yes."
That—
made Jarnell's control slip.
Just slightly.
"Then go talk to her."
Silence.
Jayden blinked.
"…What?"
Jarnell looked away.
"The girl," he said.
"Since you seem busy."
Now—
Jayden understood.
Fully.
And something in his expression shifted.
"You saw that," he said.
Not a question.
Jarnell didn't answer.
Because answering would mean admitting something.
And he wasn't ready for that.
Jayden stepped closer.
"She came to me," he said calmly.
"I didn't ask."
Jarnell shrugged slightly.
"Not my business."
But his voice—
wasn't steady anymore.
Jayden watched him carefully.
Then said softly—
"You don't mean that."
Silence.
Jarnell's jaw tightened.
Then—
before he could stop himself—
he said it.
"I hate it."
Jayden stilled.
What?
"I hate it when someone comes into my space…"
Jarnell continued, voice low—
controlled—
but breaking underneath—
"…acts like they care…"
A pause.
"…then gives that same attention to someone else."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Jarnell realized what he had just said.
Too late.
He turned away quickly.
"…Forget it," he added.
But Jayden didn't let it go.
Because he couldn't.
Not after that.
"Say it again," Jayden said quietly.
Jarnell shook his head.
"I said forget it."
Jayden stepped closer.
"I'm not giving that to anyone else."
Jarnell froze.
"You're the only one I came to," Jayden continued.
"You're the only one I'm staying with."
Silence.
Jarnell didn't look at him.
But he didn't walk away either.
His heartbeat was increasing hurriedly although he pretended to stay normal
After a long pause—
Jarnell spoke again.
"…Come over."
Jayden blinked.
"What?"
"My place," Jarnell said, still not looking at him.
"I have things to do."
A lie.
A very obvious one.
Jayden's lips curved slightly.
"You just want me to stay."
Silence.
Jarnell didn't deny it.
Didn't confirm it either.
And somehow—
that was enough.
But again he told him that they still had to finish the project work assigned to them before the deadline.
In fact it was an excuse —
Jayden nodded.
"Okay."
They walked together again.
But this time—
the distance between them felt different.
Closer.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Because something had finally been said—
even if it wasn't said properly.
And for the first time—
Jarnell didn't just feel something.
He showed it.
Even if he didn't mean to.