Five

It's Sunday.

Ethan has long thought about what he witnessed during the past few days about Troye, but he let it passed. There's no harm done, he thought.

He went into the bookstore yesterday to buy some books and to stock up his shelves with them. He chose random books on the random genres. He's just filling up the shelves. 

He swam right into the corner of the pool where the end is much elevated than the rest of the surface, with a table-mounted on the wall, allowing him to sit on it and look through the windowpane and appreciate the beauty of the city. 

He grabbed the cup of coffee he prepared for himself, took a sip, placed it back on the table, and grabbed the book, carefully, for it not to wet with the water. 

"Romance," he said under his breath. Shuffling through the pages to let himself see through the events and look forward to it. 

Then, he began reading The Tale of Men. 

Hours passed he felt his toes and feet wrinkly as it was on the water for a long time. He carefully put the book on the table swiped it into the very corner until it was safe from the water. Then he dried his feet on the mat, drying his body, grabbing the book and the cup, and going into the sofa to continue reading there. 

"Well, it seems like it's ending with two guys falling in love with one another," he said as he continued. 

His phone rang. It was Chrystyn. He picked it up. 

"Hey, what are you doing?" Chrystyn asked. 

"Reading a book while drinking my coffee."

"Well, that sounds boring." 

"The book's kinda interesting, though."

"If I were there, you wouldn't be lonely, and we could hang out." 

Ethan answered, "You can come; I'll meet you downstairs." 

"Really? Oh, thank God. I was really bored and hoping that I could use some fun, you know?" 

"Take a cab. I'm living here on Palace Towers." 

"Got it." 

Then he hangs up. 

One thing he knows? He doesn't know how to entertain visitors, let alone a friend he does not know for years. He's thinking about what he should serve her. 

The phone rang again. 

"I'm here now." 

"Wait for me." Then he wore his shirt and shorts. He entered the elevator and saw that there was a stupid man on the elevator. 

Troye. 

He stopped halfway and still proceeded to enter. 

"Don't kiss me, man," said Troye. 

"What the heck is your problem?" 

"Chill, I was just kidding," said Troye while patting Ethan's back. 

"Don't touch me." 

"If you act more like that and say things like what you said to me, I would really think you're homophobic," Troye said seriously. 

"I'm not homophobic, and I don't like involving myself with you after you and your friends tease me every second when we're in the same class. So, no, I am not homophobic. I don't like you." 

The elevator stopped on the 6th floor. A man entered. The conversation stopped. 

Then, they've reached the ground floor. Ethan walked away as fast as he could. 

"There you are," said Ethan as he saw Chrystyn. 

"I thought you stood me up," said Chrystyn.

"No, I did not. We have to make a stop on the 6th floor. Come on, and you won't believe what I'll tell you." 

They rode the elevator again. Ethan pushed button 15. 

"This is the highest building here in the city. And one of the most expensive. You're the real deal." 

Ethan just laughed it off. 

They've arrived at the floor then they walked into the end of the hallway. 

"How come your door starts here, but there's still too much space on the end of this hallway?" 

"You'll see," Ethan answered. 

He put his passcode, and there it opened, revealing to Chrystyn where he lives. 

"Holy cow," Chrystyn said in shock. "You live in a penthouse." 

"Yeah, I do." Ethan takes Chrystyn's bag and hangs it into the wall hooks just right by the door. 

Starting with the 10th floor up until the 20th floor, each has one penthouse on the corner, which is really visible on the outside of the building as it was more protrude than the other units. 

Ethan added, "You know, make yourself at home. I honestly don't know how to handle visitors." 

"You never had any visitors?" Chrystyn asked. 

"No. I mean, there is, but it's my parent's visitors. Not mine."

Chrystyn nodded, "But your parents still have time for you, right? Unlike other rich families where children have problems growing up because of the absence of their parents." 

"Yes, we're all close. We bond each day. We have family time, and it is when the sun sets. We picnic just right in our backyard."

"Sounds like a perfect family to me," Chrystyn said while going into the kitchen counter. She pointed to the refrigerator and said, "Can I?" 

"Sure," Ethan answered. 

Chrystyn took out bags of chips, a couple of chocolate bars, and soda. Then, she placed it on the table in the living room. 

"So, what is it that you're gonna tell me?" Chrystyn asked while she opened the chips. 

Chrystyn scooted over as Ethan sat beside her. 

"I saw Troye in the elevator. He said, 'Don't kiss me, man,'" Ethan said. 

"What? The audacity of that guy," Chrystyn said as she rolled her eyes. "You know what I think?" 

"What?"

"I think he likes you." 

"That's nonsense, Chrys."

"No, it is not," Chrystyn said, and then she pointed out Ethan, "For you, it's nothing. For him, he's always talking about it like it's a big thing and that it's something to be proud of." 

Ethan nodded. "And, what I am gonna do with that information?" 

Chrystyn slightly slapped his face, "You're gonna tell him that, and that will make him piss off, or the best-case scenario, embarrass him in front of the class, just like he did to you." 

Chrystyn smirked. Ethan grinned. This will be an act of good revenge. 

Chrystyn and Ethan just watched a movie and ate snacks. When it's already late, Chrystyn bid goodbye. 

"I can handle myself. You picked me up earlier, and now, I'm gonna be an independent woman," Chrystyn laughed. 

"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah, dude. I'm just gonna ride an elevator, and a cab, then I'm home," Chrystyn said. "Also, I'm gonna explore more of your penthouse, I can see the pool from here on the living room, so I'm hoping to dive there next time."

They laughed and hugged. "Take care," Ethan said as he closed the door. 

He then made a group chat for his family and texted, Goodnight, everyone. 

Ethan did not bother to eat dinner, and his tummy was already full of snacks. 

He went upstairs, changed into his pajamas, and went to bed. 

The alarm clock went off. It's morning, and he's gonna face Troye and his friends again. 

He showered and then dressed. He wore a knitted white turtle neck and black checkered trousers with white sneakers. Then he ate scrambled eggs and drank tea for breakfast.

Ethan decided not to take his car and just hail a cab instead. 

He arrived at the university, ready to take Troye head-on. 

But first, Ethan is nauseous. He never had anyone to fight in his life, and it's the first time that he made an enemy, and it's the first time he'll get his revenge on Troye for embarrassing him. 

He headed straight into the restroom, entered the cubicle. He can feel his heart thumping. He doesn't know for sure if this is even the right decision. It could only end in two ways: he will shut Troye up forever or be more teased. In the latter case, he wishes he'd vanish. 

He got out of the cubicle and noticed that this familiar man lent him the jeans. 

"Mr. Jeans," Ethan called out. 

Mr. Jeans has then looked at him, "Hey, are you okay? You look pale." 

Ethan nodded, "I am fine. I'm just kinda nervous." Ethan touched his chest for him to calm down. "Oh, your jeans, I forgot it in the car. It's always in my bag, but I changed bags today, and I forgot it, again." 

"It's okay, and there's a lot of next time." Then, surprisingly and attractively, he touched Ethan's chest. 

He just felt electricity right through his knitted top. 

"What you're going through right now, it's gonna be fine," Mr. Jeans said, removing his palm on Ethan's chest and tapped his shoulder. He added, "I gotta go now." 

Ethan nodded. 

"Wait!" Ethan hurriedly went after him right after he was going to leave. 

"Hmm?" 

"What's your name?" 

Mr. Jeans smiled, "It's Chad Kleigh Rayver. Chad is fine." And then he left. 

"Chad," Ethan said under his breath. 

And right then and there, Mr. Jeans is no longer Mr. Jeans, and he's now called Chad. 

Ethan mustered up the courage to open the door, and he could see that there was still no professor. But Chrystyn is already there, eyeing him. 

"The bride is here," said one of Troye's friends. As he can remember, it's Wick. The others laughed. That remark already pisses Ethan off, but he remains calm. 

"Don't start it, Wick. He'll definitely kiss me because you called him my bride," Troye added. 

The embarrassment. 

"Well, Troye," Ethan said while approaching Troye. "That kiss. It was not much of a big deal for me." 

Ethan set up his mocking face. 

"And you see, it's you. It's always you who is bringing that memory back. That accident of a kiss," he said while looking at Troye and then to his lips. 

He added more, "Maybe. Just maybe, it is you who wanted to be my bride because you are having such a great time reminiscing that moment." 

He hears 'Ohh' from the crowd. He felt confident.

He continued, " So if you wanna be my bride badly, you don't have to announce it publicly each day we meet. If you think I am mistaken, then shut your mouth, and keep your friend's mouth zip as well." 

He heard more cheering from the crowd. He smirked. 

Troye and his friend were shocked. No one reacted. 

And that is when he knows he won this round.