That night, Jayden was barely asleep when he heard the sound of the door opening and closing.
He stretched his limbs, looking at both sides of the bed to realise Ryan was no longer there.
He remembered noticing Ryan leaving the room a couple of nights and thought maybe it was the heat and discomfort that might have chased him away.
But now the MAGEO had done something for them that was worth a testimony, they were living large on campus, so the dude was probably up to something fishy.
Jayden got up from the bed and went straight to the door.
He hesitated for a moment, thinking of bonding with Draco, who was sleeping on his couch, in case things went south.
But no, at least he had to have some faith in his friend.
He stepped out of his room and his gaze caught Ryan taking a turn to the other side of the building.
Jayden followed behind, his back pressed against the wall while peeping into the space behind the campus building.
His gaze caught Ryan standing at the centre of the vast space.
"Why the hell is he taking off his shirt right there?" Jayden frowned his face, but he had to throw his gaze to the side when he noticed Ryan was undoing his shorts.
"The hell is he up to? A midnight curse?"
Jayden bared his teeth like he saw a ghost. He turned to look again, but Ryan was completely in sports trunks, already doing a row of push-ups.
Jayden gave out a deep breath. At least now, he was sure his friend wasn't some native herbalist.
"Hey, Ryan, don't you think you're gonna burn yourself out? It's already been a tough day, you know."
Ryan paused, stealing a glance at Jayden before continuing.
"What are you doing out here?"
Jayden shrugged, "Just wanted to know the kinda party you were sneaking to at this hour."
Ryan stood up and began throwing punches mid-air, "Well, now you've seen, mind if I get some privacy?"
Jayden raised an eyebrow, "Why are you sounding so bitter?" He took a stance with his fist clenched just below his chin, "Come at me"
Ryan punched Jayden right in the face. First, it appeared slow, but that was only because Jayden thought he was faster, not until he realised his beast, strength and speed boost was lying on a couch.
Ryan fist scrapped Jayden's face.
Jayden backstepped, "Yoo, take it easy, I'm beastless remember?
Ryan hissed and continued coming at him with more punches. "You know, back in secondary school, I used to have friends just like you and Tyler. We would play together, eat together and even gist babes together...
But I was always left behind when results came out. It appeared they were reading in the dark while I was busy laughing on WhatsApp, and guess what?"
Ryan attacked with two simultaneous punches but Jayden backstepped, skidding across the ground,
Jayden muttered, "They all ended up with good beast and you..."
Ryan bowed his head, dark shadows cloaking his eyes, "Yeah, I ended up with the only mammalian beast weaker than an insect, 'glass forg'.
Jayden rushed at him, swiftly ducking below Ryan's punch and blasting countless counter punches right into Ryan's chest.
Ryan fell to the ground, coughing, while Jayden stood, looming gracefully above him.
"Say that again and I'm gonna kick ur ass, your beast isn't weak, you can literally erase ur self from existence once you cultivate it. That OP and you're too blinded to see it." He pointed a finger at Ryan.
"See Ryan, life wouldn't give up on you except you give up on it..."
"I'm trying, Jayden, I'm trying", Ryan spat bitterly, "but we both know reality is as dense as ever and the back seat is the only place left for people like me.'
"That's why we're gonna get you a second contract!" Jayden added, voice laced with confidence.
"See, bro, I know you're trying to sheer me up, but we both know this second contract has always been a rumour."
"You think it's impossible?" Jayden leaned in with an intense gaze.
Ryan stayed quiet for a bit, then whispered, "I don't know, but let's make this impossible, possible."
Jayden smiled and gave him a hand up his feet. "Now you're talking, so let's work towards it, and unlike your secondary school friends, we're gonna do this together."
Ryan nodded with a smile, and afterwards they continued sparring.
☆☆☆
Minutes later, they returned to the room with the warmth of early morning exercises.
Ryan's shirt hung on his shoulder, laughing with Jayden as they entered the room.
"Huu?" Tyler hummed, studying the scene before him.
Two boys walking bare-chested and laughing together at what time? 4: 30 am.
He crawled back on the bed like he saw a monster
"W, Where are you both coming from?" He clenched his teeth, acting like he was completely creeped out, "Don't tell me you both are... gay!"
Jayden and Ryan stepped away both waving their hands in the air, "Don't get the wrong idea, we just went to train outside, nothing more"
Tyler crawled back until his back was pressed against the wall with nowhere to run.
"By this time? Train what exactly?" Tyler muttered.
Jayden and Ryan looked at each other, "You know, we've got combat practicals today—"
"So we just went for some sparring to warm us up before the main event!"
Tyler stood off from the bed, back pressed against the wall while cautiously looking at his roommates and making his way into the bathroom,
"Warming up huu? You guys better bring me along next time, and if I notice anything fishy...I'll slice ur heads off."
Jayden and Ryan gave out a deep breath and went straight to their morning routine.
"You caused that you know?" Jayden said while heels took some wind and flame crystals, packed fifty each.
"You're the one who came peeping at me." Tyler protested while dressing the bed. "By the way, what's your rank now?"
Jayden sat on the edge of the bed with everything he needed for mana absorption placed in front of him.
"I guess we'll find out once I'm done with this."