The problem started slowly.
That was what made it dangerous.
Jayden began appearing everywhere naturally.
At first, it was after class.
Then before class.
Then lunch.
Then random moments in between.
And somehow—
without permission being spoken aloud—
he became part of Jarnell's routine.
Which was exactly the problem.
"You're here again," Jarnell said as Jayden slid into the seat beside him.
Jayden placed a coffee in front of him casually.
"You sound disappointed."
"Hmm he nodded."
"Drink your coffee."
Jarnell looked down at it.
His usual order.
Exactly right.
That irritated him more.
"You memorized it?"
Jayden shrugged lightly.
"You make the same face every time it's wrong."
Jarnell stared at the cup for a second too long before taking it.
Jayden smiled faintly.
"Cute."
Jarnell nearly spilled the coffee he had put in his mouth and put the coffee down.
Across the cafeteria, Brian watched them dramatically.
"He accepted the coffee," he whispered loudly.
Calvin didn't even look up from his phone.
"They're basically dating already."
"They kissed three times."
"Four."
Brian gasped.
"You count?"
Calvin glanced toward them calmly.
"Jarnell looks at Jayden like he's trying not to."
Brian blinked.
"…That was weirdly deep."
"I have layers."
The strange thing wasn't the kissing anymore.
It was everything else.
The small things.
Jayden fixing Jarnell's collar absentmindedly.
Jarnell automatically waiting when Jayden stopped to answer a call.
Jayden carrying his bag without asking.
Jarnell no longer fighting him for it.
And the touching.
God.
The touching.
A hand at his back while crossing the road.
Fingers brushing his wrist.
Knees touching under tables.
Jarnell leaning too close while speaking.
All of it had become normal too quickly.
And Jarnell didn't know how to stop it anymore.
The music department was crowded after class.
Students moving everywhere.
Voices overlapping.
Jarnell was speaking with one of his classmates when he noticed it.
A girl standing too close to Jayden again.
Laughing too brightly.
Touching his arm while talking.
That sharp feeling returned instantly.
Hot.
Immediate.
Unreasonable.
Jayden noticed Jarnell staring almost at once.
And instead of moving away—
he looked amused.
That made it worse.
The girl continued talking.
Completely unaware she was moments away from becoming a victim of Jarnell's mood.
"You're very popular lately," she teased Jayden.
"Unfortunately," Jayden replied.
But his eyes stayed on Jarnell.
Jarnell's jaw tightened.
Then—
without warning—
he walked over.
The girl blinked as Jarnell stopped beside them.
Jayden looked entirely too calm.
"What?" Jarnell asked flatly.
The girl looked confused.
"…Nothing?"
Jarnell turned to Jayden.
"You said we were leaving."
Jayden's eyes sparkled immediately.
Because he absolutely had not said that at all.
But he played along perfectly.
"Right," he said calmly.
"We are."
The girl looked between them slowly.
Then suddenly understood.
"Oh okay i was also..."
Jarnell grabbed Jayden's wrist before she could finish.
Not aggressively.
Possessively.
And started walking.
Jayden followed without resistance.
Looking far too pleased for someone being dragged away.
The moment they reached a quieter hallway, Jayden laughed softly.
"You're jealous again."
"I'm not."
"You literally kidnapped me."
"I saved you."
"From what?"
"That conversation."
Jayden stepped closer slowly.
"Interesting."
Jarnell crossed his arms.
"What?"
"You're getting bolder."
"I'm getting irritated."
Jayden smiled faintly.
"No."
Another step closer.
"You're getting attached."
Silence.
That word hit harder than expected.
Jarnell looked away first.
"…You talk too much."
Jayden reached up and brushed his thumb lightly near Jarnell's jaw.
A touch so casual now it felt unfair.
"And you still haven't answered me properly."
Jarnell frowned slightly.
"About what?"
"About letting me court you."
The warmth in Jarnell's ears returned instantly.
"I never said yes."
Jayden nodded once.
"But you also never said no."
Silence.
Because again—
he was right.
Jayden's voice softened.
"Am I making you uncomfortable?"
The question caught Jarnell off guard.
Because beneath all the teasing—
Jayden was still careful.
Still watching him closely.
Still giving him room to stop everything.
And somehow—
that made this harder.
Not easier.
Jarnell looked at him quietly.
Then admitted in a low voice—
"…No."
Jayden's expression changed immediately.
"No?"
Jarnell exhaled slowly.
Annoyed at himself already.
"You're annoying."
"That wasn't the question."
"…But no."
Silence.
Then—
Jayden smiled so genuinely that Jarnell instantly regretted speaking.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me."
Jarnell rolled his eyes immediately.
"Control yourself."
"I'm trying."
Jayden leaned closer slightly.
Not enough to trap him.
Enough to feel warm.
"You know," he said quietly, "you've started looking for me before I even speak."
Jarnell froze briefly.
Because he had noticed that too.
"And when I'm not around," Jayden continued softly, "you look disappointed."
"…You're imagining things."
Jayden smiled faintly.
"Am I?"
Silence.
Jarnell hated that he no longer had convincing arguments.
That evening, Jayden drove him home for the first time.
Jarnell normally preferred walking.
Always had.
But today—
he got into the passenger seat without arguing much.
Jayden noticed.
Of course he did.
"You trust me enough to enter my car now?"
Jarnell looked out the window calmly.
"Don't make it emotional."
Jayden laughed softly.
Too fondly.
And Jarnell realized something terrifying during that drive home:
Jayden's presence no longer felt like an interruption in his life.
It was starting to feel like part of it. In fact he had even started missing him whenever he was absent
Though the scariest part wasn't falling for Jayden.
It was how natural it had started to feel.