Chapter 27 - May the best man win

**Asher P.O.V**

After our practice in the music room, I decided to head straight to our exclusive room, just for the four of us, to rest. I won't be attending my next subjects. When I arrived, I was shocked by what I found. The place was a mess, everything scattered.

Denzel and Sade were just standing on the side, while Cairo was sitting on the floor, crying. Damn! What happened? The last time I saw Cairo cry was a long time ago, probably when we were still in elementary school.

"Sade, Denzel... what happened?" I asked the two.

"We don't know either, he won't tell us. When we got here, he was already in a rage, and now he's crying." Sade said sadly, and Denzel just shook his head.

I tried to approach Cairo.

"Cairo, what's going on? Tell us, maybe we can help you," I said to him.

"Get out!" he shouted, tears still streaming down his face.

"Cairo, c'mon, tell us." I insisted.

"Aria, she wants me to stay away from her... I can't do it!" Cairo said, and I was shocked.

What happened between them? I'm not clueless, I know Cairo has feelings for Aria, but what is he saying? Denzel and Sade were just as surprised as I was by Cairo's revelation.

"I hate her for making me feel this way. I hate her so much, dude, but I can't stop loving her." Cairo said. He looked so helpless and wasetd. Damn this really is done serious.

"I knew it, Cairo's really fallen for Aria." Denzel said, shaking his head.

"It's obvious. He's definitely into Aria. But what could've happened for Aria to want him to stay away?" Sade added.

"What happened? Why does she want you to stay away? Have you been bullying her again?" I asked.

"No, I f*cking tried my best to be good enough for her, I've been trying to change." Cairo replied.

"So what exactly happened, dude?" Sade asked.

"Why don't you just ask her? From now on, I don't care about her anymore. I'm done trying to change." Cairo said coldly.

"Dude, don't be like that." Denzel said, but Cairo didn't respond.

He stood up and left.

"Hey, dude, where are you going?" Sade asked.

"Just leave me alone! Don't follow me." Cairo said.

The three of us were left shaking our heads at what happened. But I was also curious—what could've happened to make things turn out like this?

"I'll go find Cairo. You two, go talk to Aria and ask her what exactly happened." I told Sade and Denzel, and they agreed.

We've known Cairo for many years, and if he's crying, it means he's really hurting inside. As his friends, we need to help him. I went to the parking lot, but his car was gone.

He's somewhere outside the university. Where could I possibly find him? Then it hit me where he might have gone, so I got into my car and drove to find him.

I headed to the cemetery where Cairo's grandfather is buried. Whenever he has problems, he always goes there. I don't know why, but I think it's his comfort place. And I wasn't wrong—his car was parked there.

I immediately went inside the cemetery. I saw him sitting on the grass, leaning against his grandfather's grave. I quickly approached him.

"I knew I'd find you here." I said to him.

But he didn't respond right away.

"Leave me alone. Didn't I tell you not to follow me?" Cairo said.

"Dude, stop acting like a child, man up." I told him.

"Tsk, did you come here just to insult me?" he said, annoyed.

"I'm serious. We're not kids anymore. You need to face your problems, face Aria. You like her, right?" I said, and he gave me a sharp look when I mentioned Aria's name.

"Tsk, is that your idea of being smart?" he snapped.

"I'm just telling the truth. If she told you to stay away from her... are you just going to follow her? Are you just going to sulk and throw a tantrum?" I said.

"Shut up, Asher! I might forget that you're my friend, and I'll seriously punch you right now." Cairo said.

"Then go ahead, punch me. You always think violence is the solution to all your problems." I replied.

"She asked me to stay away from her. That's what she wants. What else can I do? She's mad at me, and she said that staying away is the only solution so she won't be mad anymore." Cairo explained.

"Then fine, if that's what she really wants. I'll stay away from her. I don't care about her anymore. From now on." Cairo added.

"If you won't take care of her, then I will." I said, and Cairo looked at me. I saw anger in his eyes.

"What did you say?"

"I'll take care of Aria. You've given up, right? And besides, we're not kids anymore for me to always let you have your way. May the best man win. But right now, it looks like you've already given up. I'll take her." I said.

"Tsk, I knew it. You like Aria... tsk, you traitor, Asher!" Cairo said angrily.

"I didn't betray you. I even gave you a chance. But now that you've given up, and yes, I like Aria. And I will take care of her because you can't." I said, and I was shocked when he punched me in the face.

"You're a bastard, Asher! You're a worthless friend. Traitor!" Cairo shouted after punching me.

"Ha? Is that what you call betrayal? You're no longer capable of taking care of her because you already gave up, dude. Now it's my turn to take care of her. That's what a real man would do." I said, and then I left him at the cemetery.

I was annoyed with him. He even had the nerve to call me a traitor. Tsk. He never really changed.