CHAPTER 21

[WEDNESDAY MORNING]

@DISMISSAL

"Jake!" Elle calls me from a distance. I waved at her while smiling.

I asked her to meet me here in the school quadrangle. I'm leaving the country tomorrow so I have to tell her that I can't go to their house. I thought for two days about what I would say to her. I hope she won't get upset.

"I'm sorry, I'm late. Our third subject has just finished. Did I keep you waiting?" She asked as she sat down on the chair across from me.

"Nah, it's fine. I understand."

"Thank you! By the way, what are you going to tell me?"

I'm starting to get nervous.

"Uhm... Elle. About our plan this weekend..."

"Uhuh? What about that?"

I haven't told her yet, but I already feel sad. I really wanted to make that plan happen. I was so excited.

"I'm sorry, Elle. But I can't make it again.”

Her face was a little sad. "Huh? Why? What's wrong? Do you have anything to do that day?”

"Um." I nodded my head. "I just really need to take care of something... important. I'm so sorry, Elle. I really... wanted to make that happen, but...”

"No. No, no. It's totally fine. I understand. We can do that next weekend, right?” She smiled, but I can still see the sadness in her eyes.

"Of course, we can. I really wanted to do that with you. I'm sorry."

"Nah, don't be sorry. I understand. It's fine!" She giggled.

"Thanks, Elle." I smiled back at her. I promise next time, I won't really let anything get in the way of our plan.

---

TOBI's POV

"You go first." Gab.

"No. You go first." Zed.

"No. You go first. Come on!"

"No. I can't. Tobi, you go first."

"What? Why me? No, I can't."

The three of us are here outside of the locker room. Rafael was inside, along with the other seniors I guess. We’re going to apologize to him today but we’re a little scared to do that. We don’t have the courage yet, but we need to.

"Why don’t you go first, Gab? You're the one who kissed his girlfriend." I said.

"And you’re the one who borrowed his clothes without his permission."

"Well, you're the one who told me to borrow that."

"It's not just me! Zed too."

"Hey! Can’t we just stop blaming each other right now? What is done is done. We're here to apologize, okay?" Zed.

"Right. So, why don't you go first?" I asked.

"Huh? No. I can't." He shook his head and took one step backward.

"Seriously, guys? Nothing will happen if you just point at each other." It was Jake who spoke. He was behind us. Leaning his back on the wall, his hands are crossed across his chest. "Just go inside and apologize to Rafael. Very simple. Why are you guys making things hard?”

"That's the problem. It's very easy to say but very hard to do." I said, scratching the back of my head.

"Are you in the process of moving on?” He raised an eyebrow.

"Bro, maybe you can help us," Gab said.

"Nah. You can do it, guys. Come on. Just do what I say. Open the door and do what you have to do. Rafael is a nice guy, so you have nothing to fear. Be more afraid of your mothers."

"Tss. Uh, fine. I'll be the one to open the door." I volunteered. I can do this!

“Oh! Nice one!” Gab tapped my shoulder.

I approached the locker door.

"You can do it, bro." Gab and Zed cheered me.

"Shut up. You guys are making me nervous." I nag.

"You can do it, bro." They whispered from behind.

They are really crazy.

I held the knob and I slowly opened the door. I peeked inside and saw Rafael. He was not wearing any clothes. Only the white towel wrapped around his waist. He didn’t see me since he was not facing in my direction. He is drying his hair. Obviously, he just came out of the shower room.

"Guys, let's..." I couldn't continue what I was about to say because someone behind me pushed me, causing me to go inside the locker. But unfortunately, I found myself on the floor.

Damn! Who the hell of them pushed me?

"What the hell are you doing?"

I lifted my head to look at someone who spoke in front of me, and it was Rafael. He was not facing me, so I could see his muscular body.

But hold on, I have that too.

"Hey! I'm asking you! What are you doing!? Are you watching me?"

I got back to my senses when he spoke again.

"What? I'm not." I stood up.

"Then, what are you doing here?"

"Am I not allowed to enter this locker? I'm an athlete too. We're on the same team." Damn? What am I saying? I should apologize to him.

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? But why didn't you attend the practice?"

"Uh, that is because we have a class." Damn! What are you saying, Tobi? Just say sorry and leave. Also, where are Gab and Zed? Why haven't they entered yet?

"Tss. Get out of here. Don't you know how to be respectful? I'm getting dressed. Get out." He scolded me and was about to turn his back on me, but I stopped him.

And by accident, the towel wrapped around his waist was the one I pulled instead of his hand, so the towel was removed. And my eyes broadened when I saw his cock.

"Ah!!!!!!!!!" I screamed and immediately covered my eyes using my hands. What the hell did I just see!?

"Hey! Why are you shouting!? Have you just seen a cock, huh? Why? Don't you have it!?"

"What!? You... You're disgusting! Is it okay for you to let other people see your damn eggplant, huh!?" I yelled back, still covering my eyes.

"Why not? As long as my fellow men can see it, it's fine. Tss. Besides, my eggplant is big and long, so I don't have to be ashamed."

What the fuck did he just say? Even though I'm a man, I'm not comfortable with other men seeing my cock!

"Ah, tch!" I murmured and I immediately left the locker room.

"Bro, what happened!?" Gab asked in concern.

"Are you the one who shouted? Why? What happened?" Added Zed.

"Let's just go," I said, and I walked past them.

"Hey, dude! Wait up!"

They followed me.

Shit! I couldn't believe what I saw. Ah! Why are my hands so careless?

Damn it!

"Hey, dude! What happened? Why did you suddenly leave? We haven't apologized to Rafael yet," Gab said as we got out of the campus.

"Yeah. And why did you shout? What happened? Did something happen inside?” Zed.

"Huh? No. Nothing. I was just surprised at the gecko I saw. Anyway, why didn't you follow me inside? And who pushed me, huh!?”

"I'm sorry, dude. We waited for your signal but you didn't get out. And we didn't push it. Three sophomores were running, chasing each other. They were the ones who pushed you. Not intentionally," Zed explained.

"Yeah. So, what happened inside? Did you see Rafael? How did he react when he saw you? Is there a trace of anger on his face?" Gab asked, continuously.

"He's not angry..." I paused because his eggplant entered my brain again. Ah, let's forget about that, Tobi!

"Hey, Tobi? You ok?"

"Yeah. Anyway, let's just apologize to him tomorrow."

"Much better. So we can prepare again." Gab agreed.

"Wait, where's Jake?"

"Oh, he came home first. His Dad called him. There must be an important event at their house." Zed.

"Oh, I see. Ok. Let's go home too."

"Yeah. I'm hungry. Let's go home." Gab.

"Ok. Bye, guys. See you tomorrow." I waved at them and got inside my car.

"Yup! Bye, bros!"

They also got into their cars and we left SIS.

---

JAKE's POV

I was packing my things when my phone rang. I thought it was Lukeweynn who was calling me, but it was not. It was my Ate so I immediately pick up her calls.

"Hi, my little brother!" She beamed on the other line when I answered her call.

"Hey, Ate." As much as I wanted to greet her happily because she hasn't been here for almost a week, I couldn't. I am so sad today because I will get married tomorrow.

Starting tomorrow, the course of my life will change. Ah!

"Turn on the video. I want to see you."

And I turned on the video.

"Aw! Long face. What's wrong?"

I let out a sigh. "You do not know?"

She chuckled a little. "Of course, I know." She also heaved a sigh. "It's alright, Jake. It will be over soon. Just trust, Dad. I'm sure Dad worked out a way to get our business back to normal. He won't let you be trapped in that kind of life for life." She comforted me.

"Yeah, I know and I trust Dad. It's just... I really don't want to do this, but... yeah, I don't have a choice right now."

"I know. It’s alright. Everything's gonna be fine. By the way, you already met Lukeweynn, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did." I lazily replied. And he's a very annoying man.

"So, how was it? I once met him and he looks nice."

"Why are you saying that? As if he’s really the one I'll marry for life."

Ate laughed at the other line. "You really looked so annoyed, huh? I'm just saying. So, how is he treating you? Is he nice to you?"

Hmm. Is he nice to me?

Well, I guess I can say that. I mean, yeah he's kind. He is a very calm person, even though I raise my voice and scold him, but sometimes he is really annoying. His jokes are annoying. I don’t know if he’s like that to other people and he’s also joking with other people. I also don't know if other people are also disgusted with his jokes or maybe it's just me.

Whatever! I am really disgusted with his jokes. Annoying!

"Well, I guess." I shrugged.

"Not sure, huh? Why is that?”

"Let’s not talk about that. When are you going home? Aren't you going to Paris to see me?"

She let out a breath. "I don't know yet when I'll be back, but I'm sure I won't take long. And as much as I wanted to see you there, I couldn't. I'm so sorry." She pouted.

"Are you that busy?"

"Yeah. Very. I'm so sorry, my little brother."

"Nah, it's fine. I understand. I miss you, Ate."

"Aw! And I miss you more, my bunso. Good luck with your wedding tomorrow. I'll see you soon."

[Ate - Older sister]

[Bunso - Younger brother]

"Uh. See you soon."

"Okay. Go to sleep. I know you're leaving early tomorrow."

"Yeah. I'll sleep after I pack. You too. Good night."

"Okay. Good night there! Bye, bye. See you."

"See you. Uh, wait. Try to reply to Tobi's messages to you. He's waiting for you."

"Jeez. Bye,"

Then the video call ended.

I threw myself on my bed, letting out a deep sigh. I hope everything is just a dream.

---

LUKEWEYNN's POV

I took the wine glass and drank some wine, then placed it again on the table. I'm still here in my office, looking at the two wedding polo suits in front of me.

Tomorrow will be the day and I can't believe this is happening in my life.

If it was all just a dream, I would not want to wake up.

---