Finally he's mine

CHAPTER 7: UNEXPECTED REUNION

Ayden's pov

The final exams were ongoing and Ethan was more interested in his studies than he was in me, his texts were less frequent, he took longer to reply my texts, it scared me, thinking he was no longer interested in me but I was trying to understand so he doesn't feel pressured.

Whenever he was less busy, he'll stay active allaying my fears and making silly jokes.

The more we talked, the more I realized how cute and adorable he was. I've not been able to hold or kiss him since our last time at Lily's house but we talked as much as we could and he always assured me that he was always going to be there.

I rolled on the bed my eyes now facing the ceiling, I wanted to ask him to come over to my house but I knew he wouldn't want to.

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Ethan's pov

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The exams were over and we were waiting for results and admission letters.

Group video calls got more intense with Lily talking about how she feared we won't go to school together, Felice saying if she failed to get in she won't even bother trying again , I kept encouraging them that we're all getting in together, Ayden kept saying his school choice was a secret.

Today's video call was initiated by Lily which was normal but she was quiet, which was strange.

" What's wrong with u" Felice asked

"You noticed?" I asked Felice

"Of course I noticed, why would you start a video call and stay silent" She said.

"

Y'all I got a mail, but I'm too scared to check" She finally said

"Whaaaaat?????" Felice screamed and jumped

"Congratulations, don't be scared" I encouraged her.

"It's easier said than done" she murmured

"Well it's okay to be scared but don't worry, we'll be there when you open it" Ayden encouraged

"Yes, so that's why I called " she said turning the phone camera to her laptop.

"1, 2, 3 go" we said together and she opened it.

I was still trying to read the mail when Felice began screaming

"You got innnnnnnnn"

"How did you see it before everyone" Ayden asked squinting

" I know where to check" she said giggling.

Lily turned the phone to her face and she was smiling.

"I said I wasn't going to scream or overreact". She said

"The moment went we end this call she'll be running around screaming" Felice said laughing

"I might as well do it now" lily said and dropped her phone.

In the background we could hear things falling and her voice screaming and the sound of her jumping around the room.

She picked the phone and said "this is how the hierarchy works" she explained "I got the admission letter before everyone of you so I am your senior, y'all are my juniors"

"She's drunk y'all , I'm leaving bye" he left the call.

"You've chased him" I told her

"Well me too" Felice said leaving too

"Congratulations" I told her.

"Thank you, I can't wait for my parents to come home so I can tell them"

"Ohhhh your Mom's not home " I said nodding like I had figured something out. "That's why you were able to jump around and make that noise, without ending up on the streets". I said and she giggled.

"Goodbye" I said and she waved.

I laid down on my bed for some time looking at the ceiling when Ayden's call came in.

"Are you free " his voice was soft and I smiled. He never talked to others this way , this was just a special him, and only I got to see this side.

"yes I am, what are you doing?"

"Nothing" I replied

" I hope you're not worried cus you haven't gotten a letter" he asked

"Was that why you called?" I asked back

"I was worried you'd be beating yourself up about it" he said

"I'm fine, I'm not disturbed " I mumbled.

I was actually worried cus I wanted the scholarship and I wanted to get into college.

"Just so you know, I and Felice are still waiting and we're waiting with you" he said and I laughed

"Is that you trying to console me?" I asked but he stayed silent.

"I'm fine, I'm really fine like there's still a long time for them to send it " I said .

"Better, goodnight" he said

"Goodnight" he said and ended the call.

I turned around in bed trying to sleep and I couldn't sleep till early hours in the morning.

My mom peeked into my room at 8:00 am.

"I'm going to work" she said "there's breakfast on the table " she said

"Good morning and bye" I mumbled turning in the bed.

I heard the door click before I went to bed.

The day was far spent when the blaring sound of my ringtone woke me up, it was Felice . I picked up almost immediately.

"Were you dead? Do you know how many times I've called you?" She asked

"I've been sleeping " I mumbled

"I didn't know you were this lazy, I just got my confirmation letter " she said

"Congratulations, wait why are you being so nonchalant about it?"

"I should be in pains because this means I'll be getting stressed out over lectures and exams for the next 4 years" she said.

"You're the lazy one " I was laughing.

"Have you checked yours?" She asked

"Not yet, I'm too scared to open my mails"

"Time to beat that fear" she said

I got up and headed to my study desk , I turned on my laptop and opened my mails.

"Well there's a mail " I giggled. I was scared.

"Ohhh you're in" she said

"Not so sure"

"Open it if you want to be sure" she said.

I opened the mail and read carefully

"I got in" I screamed.

"I really got in"

"Congratulations big boy" she said. "So three confirmed admissions. Ayden pisses me off, he keeps saying it's a secret, did he tell you anything " she asked.

"No he didn't, whenever I ask he'll change the topic, I really don't know what's wrong with him " I said.

"Ohhhh he's so annoying, I can't with him " she said sighing " I don't even know what you see in him"

"Bye"

"Yeah avoid the conversation " she said and ended the call.

"Why wasn't he telling me" I thought. I opened the messenger app and saw a message from Ayden "Will you be free this weekend?" He asked

"Yes, what's wrong?" I asked

"Nothing much" he said.

A notification popped up, it was from the group chat.

"Felice is asking if we should have a party to celebrate our admissions " I sent him the message. I was hoping he'd at least tell me something about his admission status or college choice.

"Ohhh maybe a pool party, we can do it at my house, my parents are on a business trip" he replied

"For how long I asked" a month or more.

" Wait wait wait, you've been admitted" he said.

"Yeah just saw it this afternoon" I said

"And Felice knew before I knew?"he asked

"She called me to tell me about hers and encouraged me to check mine " I said.

"Let me text the girls " I said. He didn't reply. I didn't understand what it was between he and Felice.

Felice didn't like him much and he didn't like her.

I texted each of the girls and Felice argued that it should be done in her house but later agreed to doing it in Ayden's house. Lily readily agreed, it was going to be our first party as legal adults and Ayden was arranging drinks.

We were all looking forward to it.

I stood up to take my bath and get some things done.

I was done idling and was ready to make myself useful.

I had just taken my shower and was wearing my clothes when the doorbell rang, I hurriedly wore my clothes and ran to the door, I looked through the peep hole and saw a skinny, fair skinned boy, he was pulling a big suitcase.

"Uhmmm who are you looking for" I asked

"Are you Ethan, I'm Clinton , your mom said you'll be home and I could come over in the afternoon" I unlocked the door.

Clinton was my childhood friend, he was with me till I was 7 years of age, helped me during my parents divorce, his mom took me to live with them when my mom had to leave the state to get a job. I lived with them for a year without seeing my mom.

I ran into his arms, he giggled holding me, I pulled away to look at his face, he still looked the same.

"What are you doing here?" I asked pulling his luggage into the house

"My university is close so I wanted to tour the school before resumption" he replied following me into the house.

I poured a glass of orange juice for him before remembering to ask

"Fruit juice or water" I asked

"I'll go with fruit juice" he said sitting on the sofa.

"My mom didn't tell me you were coming" I said walking into the sitting room.

"Well it was supposed to be a surprise" he said. He still laughed easily.

He was pretty, compared to me he had a smaller build and long lashes, his hair was dyed blonde making him look exceptional.

" You're really good looking" I mumbled and his face flushed.

" How's your mom" I asked " I've missed y'all" I said.

" She's the same, just nags a bit more, she remarried and I don't like my step dad so it caused a strain in my relationship with her" he said

"I'm sorry" I said and he laughed

"Why would you be"

We talked for a long time and then he asked me " Do you know why I want to school here?"

"No" I replied honestly. How was I supposed to know.

"Ethan I'm gay" Clinton said studying my facial expressions when he didn't see any trace of judgement he continued.

"Mom found out and blew up on me, she said so many harsh words to me that night, she said it was either a mental or spiritual problem and that I needed help I..... I.... couldn't say anything for some reason I felt I was a disappointment to her and our relationship has been worse since then" he was sobbing and I hugged him, letting him cry it out.

" It's all right, let it out, let it out" I whispered patting his back.

Mum came back later in the night and we ate dinner together, she kept asking Clinton questions about home.

She asked me to share my room with Clinton.

I took Clinton to my room and helped him settle in, we barely slept.

We talked about so many things till we finally slept in the early hours of the morning.