Chapter 13

Once they were at the hall outside the classroom, Eric began to nag Dino.

"Dino, you almost got into trouble for punching Nathan!" Eric said angrily. "Good thing I was right there to stop you!"

"But he's the one who started it!" Dino retorted. "Didn't you hear what he told me?!"

"Yeah, I know!" Eric answered back. "But if you had punched him, then Nathan might report that incident to the dean! Do you want that to happen?!" 

Dino found himself unable to answer back for a moment since he realized that Eric was right. It was not worth punching Nathan if it meant that he himself would get into trouble for it. 

[Yeah...I wouldn't want that.] Dino thought with his eyes looking down at the floor while imagining himself being scolded in the dean's office. [I don't want to get into any trouble.]

"Dino?" Eric inquired with a puzzled look upon noticing the change in Dino's mood and facial expression. "What's wrong?"

"I just realized that you're right, Eric," Dino replied, with his voice calmer now than before. "Also, even if Nathan teases me like that, I'd be much worse than him if I punch him."

Eric smiled and declared, "It's a good thing that you have realized it already. Anyway, don't talk to Nathan for now. Do you understand?"

Dino nodded and replied, "Yeah."

"Good," Eric said while grinning. "Anyway, since no one can see your face in the picture, it would be fine. Don't think about that too much."

Dino nodded and answered, "Yeah, got it! Thanks, Eric!" 

"No problem, man!" Eric exclaimed with a smile. "So, what do you want to do? Do you want to go back inside the classroom?" 

Dino shook his head and responded, "Not for now. I'll be right here for a while."

"Okay," Eric replied before looking at the time on his Android phone. "There's still about fifteen minutes left before our class will start, and the professor is not even here yet. So, it's no problem if you want to stay here for now. I'll accompany you here if you want me to."

"It's okay. You can go back inside if you want," Dino answered seriously, shaking his head. "I'll be staying here since I don't want to see Nathan right now."

"I have nothing to do right now, so it's fine for me to stay here," Eric responded while showing his usual friendly smile to Dino. "Unless you want to be alone right now."

Dino thought for a moment and said, "I'd prefer if you stay with me here, Eric. If I'm alone, I might end up doing something reckless like what I almost did to Nathan."

Eric nodded and replied, "Okay then. No problem man."

"Thanks, Eric," Dino answered while smiling innocently.

At that moment, Eric remembered asking Dino about why the latter was smiling yesterday morning while they were on the way to the university.

"Oh, that reminds me, why did you look so happy yesterday morning?" Eric asked curiously. "Do you mind if you tell me that now?"

Dino blushed and broke his eye contact with Eric before answering, "Well...Last Tuesday, after you went home first, I suddenly met Ivan."

"R-Really?!" Eric inquired in utter amazement. "Are you sure that it was him?"

"Yes, I am," Dino responded.

"Okay," Eric replied with his right hand on his chin. "So, will you tell me everything that happened?"

"Sure," Dino answered. 

It took Dino a few minutes to tell Eric everything, with the former even saying that he was also kissed by Ivan.

"He kissed you that time too?!" Eric inquired again in utter amazement. "So your kiss on the stage was your second one!"

"Yes, you're right," Dino replied, with his face red from blushing.

"So, does he like you?" Eric asked curiously. 

"Well...yes. At least he told me that he does," Dino responded shyly. 

"So he's gay," Eric declared with his right hand on his chin. "Or he could be bisexual."

"I guess so," Dino answered with his eyes still not looking directly at Eric's eyes. "But I haven't asked him about his sexuality yet."

"I see," Eric said with a nod. "What about you? Do you like him?"

"I...I'm not sure about how I feel for him yet," Dino replied awkwardly with his face still red. "But I admit that his kiss felt really good."

"Hmmm...The way I see it, you're having an identity crisis right now, Dino," Eric declared. "But you have dated girls before, so you could possibly be bisexual."

At that moment, Dino realized something and thought, [Could I really be bisexual?]

Afterwards, Dino looked directly at Eric's eyes again and asked, "What if I'm bisexual, Eric? Would you still be my best friend?"

Eric laughed and replied, "Of course, Dino! Even if you're a member of the LGBT community, I'll still accept you as you are!"

"Thanks, Eric," Dino answered while smiling innocently. "I'm glad that you're not homophobic like Nathan."

"I'm not like him, so don't worry," Eric answered reassuringly. "By the way, did Ivan ask you on a date already?"

Dino took a moment to answer, "Yes, he did."

"And when will your date be?" Eric inquired.

"This Sunday," Dino answered.

Eric smiled and said, "I see. Looks like he's serious about you. You'd better tell me if you need any advice."

"Yeah, I will. Thanks, Eric," Dino declared with a nod and a smile. 

"You're welcome, man," Eric replied while smiling gently.

At that moment, Dino noticed someone walking through the hallway towards their direction. He realized that it was their professor. 

"Oh, the professor's here now," Dino said, pointing at the direction of the professor..

Eric turned around and saw the same professor.

"Okay, let's get back inside," Eric replied before he and Dino went into the classroom together.

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A few days passed, and it was Saturday evening. Dino remembered to ask Ivan about the place and time of their date. 

[Oh yeah! My date with Ivan will be tomorrow!] Dino thought before quickly sending a message to Ivan via Messenger. 

[Hi, Ivan! Where will we meet tomorrow? And what time?] Dino sent via Messenger. 

[Let's meet in front of The Peninsula Manila at 4:00PM.] Ivan replied.

[The Peninsula Manila?! That five-star hotel?!] Dino thought, feeling a mixture of both excitement and amazement. [I've never been there before, so this will be a great opportunity for me!]

[Okay. But won't it be dangerous if someone recognizes you?] Dino answered.

[Don't worry. I'll be wearing my face mask and sunglasses.] Ivan replied with a winking emoji. 

[Okay then. See you, Ivan!] Dino sent.

[See you, Dino! I love you!] Ivan sent with a heart-eyes emoji. 

Dino felt his heart beating more quickly than normal after reading Ivan's message.

[My heart is beating so fast.] Dino thought while smiling and blushing. [And I feel happy hearing 'I love you' from him too.]

Afterwards, Dino sent a huge Like sticker, with Ivan replying with a huge Like sticker as well.

[Ivan, I wonder what kind of a person you are. I'm looking forward to knowing more about you tomorrow.] Dino thought excitedly with his heart still beating fast.