Chapter 9
648 Words
Breaking Point
The tension exploded one Friday night. Ethan had agreed to meet Leo for library study, but Kai tagged along “just for fun.” Halfway through, Adrian showed up, leaning casually against the table.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” Adrian drawled.
Ethan groaned. “Why do you guys always follow me everywhere?”
The three spoke at once:
Leo: “I’m helping you study.”
Kai: “I’m keeping you entertained.”
Adrian: “I’m making sure no one bothers you.”
Ethan buried his face in his hands. “I don’t get you people.”
Kai grinned. “Face it, Ethan. You’re irresistible.”
Leo blushed faintly. Adrian’s smirk hid his clenched jaw.
---
On their way back, the laughter died. The hooded figure reappeared, this time not lurking but standing directly in the path.
Ethan froze, fear prickling his skin. The man’s voice was low and harsh.
“Stay away from Adrian. Last warning.”
Before Ethan could react, Adrian stepped in front of him, eyes cold and sharp. “You’ll regret saying that.”
The figure vanished into the night, but the damage was done. Ethan trembled, confused and scared.
When he looked at Adrian, Leo, and Kai — all three were staring at him with different emotions: protectiveness, worry, jealousy.
Ethan whispered, “What… what’s going on?”
None of them had an answer he was ready to hear.
He was totally confused and scared at the same time
---
The day began innocently enough for Ethan. The sun was out, the air crisp with the smell of fresh-cut grass on campus, and he’d promised himself he would focus on classes instead of the constant, exhausting circus his life had become.
But the moment he stepped out of his dorm, Adrian was leaning casually against the railing outside their building, sunglasses perched on his nose despite the fact that it wasn’t nearly bright enough to need them.
“There’s my Puppy,” Adrian drawled, straightening with a grin. “Late start today? Or were you hoping I’d carry you to class?”
Ethan’s face heated. “Stop calling me that. People will hear.”
“They should,” Adrian said, falling into step beside him. “They should know you belong to me.”
Ethan opened his mouth to argue when a calm voice interrupted.
“Good morning, Ethan.”
Leo appeared at his other side, neatly dressed as always, holding out a book. “I borrowed this from the library for you. It’s the anthology you were looking for.”
Ethan’s heart lifted. “Oh—thank you, Leo.” He took it eagerly.
Adrian snorted. “What’s this? Gifts now?”
Leo’s smile was polite, but his eyes carried challenge. “Some of us know how to support people without making them uncomfortable.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “You calling me uncomfortable? Please. Puppy loves me.”
“I don’t—!” Ethan started, only for another voice to cut through.
“Oi, Ethan!”
Kai came jogging across the courtyard, hair a little messy, grin bright. He looped an arm around Ethan’s shoulder before anyone could stop him. “Skipped breakfast? Don’t worry, I brought doughnuts.”
He shoved a pink box into Ethan’s arms.
Ethan blinked down at it. “You… bought these?”
“Course not,” Kai said proudly. “I sweet-talked the cafeteria lady. All for you.”
Adrian’s smirk vanished. “Hands off him.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. “You’re being inappropriate.”
Kai shrugged, pulling Ethan closer. “Nah. I’m just faster at winning hearts than you two.”
The three of them locked eyes, tension crackling like electricity. Ethan stood trapped in the middle, holding a box of doughnuts, a library book, and the heavy weight of impending doom.
Why is this my life? he thought miserably.
- Writer
