Sean...

Asher screamed and tried wringing out of the clasp he was in.

"Hey, hey! It's me."

The voice did not belong to Beau.

Slowly, the caged boy was liberated. Asher turned around, ready to roast whoever it was that had almost scared him to death.

"I'm so sorry I scared you." Dark and sincere eyes bore into Asher. "I'm so sorry."

It took Asher a full minute to take in the slender build, neatly braided hair and dark eyes. "Sean?"

"Hey Asher. I'm so sorry I scared you."

"No, it's okay. I am fine."

"You looked really scared." Sean smiled softly. "I didn't want you to scream out of fear, that's the reason for the gag. I wasn't trying to kidnap you."

If he meant it as a joke, it worked. Asher fell into a laughing fit.

"Do you think you can kidnap me in an institution this big with lots of security?"

"Well, Elite High is pretty secured. That's one of the beauties of this institution."

"Yeah, I noticed. They give maximum security here. It's good."

Sean switched the topic immediately. "Where are you going? Your condo?"

The question made Asher realize that the entire dorm was probably aware that he stayed in the condo. It had probably helped spread the rich-kid title that was already hanging around his neck.

"Yes, I am going to 'my' condo."

"Alright. Let me walk you." Sean gave him some inches of space. "You came almost at the end of the semester."

"I am wondering if the entire university doesn't know about that already. Well, yes I came at the end of the semester."

"Your looks are truly getting you popular."

Asher turned to him with raised brows. "My looks?"

"Yeah. Everyone keeps talking about the rich dude cute enough to melt snow."

For some strange reason, Asher did not blush like he normally did when Beau offered him a compliment. "I had no idea I am cute."

"Well, most cute and beautiful people don't know that possess that feature until someone tells them."

"I didn't know I had turned the university's celebrity overnight." Asher now had a faint knowledge of why Beau was very protective of him. Beau did not like to share—especially when it concerned something dear to him. Asher realized that he was closer to Beau than he imagined. "So... what course are you offering?"

"Computer science. The same course Beau is offering."

"Oh, you guys are the tech gurus. By the way, you know Beau?"

Sean shrugged. "I mean, we are in the same department, and the same level. I guess I can say that I know him."

Asher did not want to do the next part, but curiosity forced him to. "How do you describe him?"

Sean shrugged again. "Beau is handsome, attractive, intelligent, and very reliable." From all that he said, Asher clearly heard "handsome, attractive" before his brain processed the other words. "And... Well, he is a very loveable person. And he is the jealous type."

Yeah, Asher knew of the last part. "Hmm," he murmured.

"He protects the ones he loves with the last drop of his blood. And he loves like crazy, maybe a bit too extreme. It's like a knot. Once he sets his mind on something, there is no going back."

Asher could not tell if Sean was rattling off threats or Beau's features. All Sean said sounded like threats. And the threats sounded exactly like what Asher needed: a jealous lover who would love him, spoil him, hold him close, protect him, love him like the world could end any second.

"You seem to know a lot about him. Beau is so open and nice."

Sean smiled, exposing beautiful dimples on both sides of his face. "He is truly open and nice. There is not a single soul in this school who doesn't want the ambassador."

So Asher had gotten himself the crush of the entire institution. "That sounds funny."

"It's not." Sean absent-mindedly kicked a small stone. It soared into the air and landed in the middle of the compound, directly facing the chancellor's office. Asher's eyes went there. At once, a topic arose.

"If you did that on purpose, you have a very good aim."

A grin spread across Sean's face. "You should come to the field sometimes. I play for the soccer team."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. Do you know your way around yet? I could show you the field if you don't."

"Sure, let's go there." They took a detour away from the condos which were already in the distance and headed in the opposite direction. "This place looks like a community."

"It almost is. You could get lost within these walls. There are lots of buildings and corners."

"Does Beau also play soccer?" Asher asked out of the blue.

"Yes, he does. He also plays basketball. Those are the only two sports that don't clash when it comes to training. I guess that's why he is in both, else he wouldn't mind joining all the sports team."

"He seems to like sports a lot."

"He sure does. I guess that's one of the ways he keeps so fit." Sean looked at Asher. "Are you guys dating?"

Were they dating? Even if they were, was it safe to tell it to people? Questions swarmed Asher's head. With the way Asher and Beau kept flocking around each other, it wouldn't be long before people started asking questions. That was exactly what Asher didn't want. And he gave the best answer possible to the question asked.

A little chuckle, then a small titter. "Why do you ask that?"

"No, nothing. I just want to know."

For the first time since they started their walk, Asher looked at Sean's braided hair. That particular feature—coupled with the eyes—made Sean's looks stand out. Asher made judicious use of the distraction.

"I love your braids. I guess I'm not the only cute one in Elite High."

Sean chuckled. "You are so funny," he remarked. "Well, I've always had long hair. It wasn't long ago that I decided to braid them."

"They look so good on you. Makes me feel like braiding mine too, even though it's not as long as yours."

Sean chuckled again. The dating topic was long gone and forgotten. He stole a glance at Asher. "That's the field over there."

It was the exact standard field Asher remembered seeing when he travelled with his dad to see an international match. The grasses were neatly trimmed and well taken care of. There were long lamp poles for lighting at night.

"It looks exactly like a stadium," Asher noted as he stood in the middle of the field. "So beautiful."

"Yeah, it is." Sean stood beside him. He pointed up. "It even has an electronically-controlled canopy to cover the top and prevent raindrops from getting in during matches. Though, we do play in the rain when we are up for letting off some steam."

"That's so cool. So standard," Asher smiled and rolled his leg on some portion of the grass. "When do they practice? I mean the football team?"

"Wednesdays and Sundays. Sometimes, we get impromptu practices during weekdays, especially during preparations for a match." Sean's eyes lit up. "Do you want to join?"

"Not really. Soccer is not my thing. I would prefer any musical group."

"Well, you're just in luck! We have optional music classes and a band! Isn't that lovely?"

"Yeah, it is. I will like to find out more about the music group. Maybe even join if I am okay with them." Asher was silently wondering why Beau didn't tell him that the university had various groups for students. "When does the music class practice?"

"I don't know. I will find out if you want though."

"Oh, don't worry. I will do that myself."

"Okay. Though you can't do that now because all groups have closed for the semester. It's almost the end of the semester and we are bound to start exams soon. To give students enough time to study and prepare, all groups are paused until the following semester. "

That was probably the reason Beau didn't tell him. Asher nodded. "I understand. I will use the remaining parts of this semester to ask around and find out more."

"Yeah, you should."

Asher looked around the field again before turning to Sean. "It was really nice talking to you, Sean. Thank you so much for the walk. I feel like I know more about the school now."

"It's my pleasure. If you are having a difficult time with anything, feel free to come to me."

Asher already had Beau for that. He said nothing of such. "Thank you, Sean. I should go and prepare for class now."

"Of course. Let me walk you back."

They cracked jokes all the way to the bottom of the stairs leading to Asher's condo. After saying goodbye, Sean left him.

Asher smiled as he went up the stairs. Before his door came into view, he dug into his pockets for his key. It wasn't there.

In alarm, he looked around. He would have made a mad race down in search of the key if not for the voice that called him back.

"Ash?"

He turned to see Beau standing in front of his door, wearing a look of anger.

Beau held up a phone. Asher's eyes went there.

"Oh, that's my phone. Where did you see it?" He advanced closer when Beau suddenly raised the phone into the air. Asher's heartbeat doubled. Had something happened? "Beau, what's wrong?"