The classroom buzzed with noise long before the lecturer arrived.
Groups whispered nervously.
Some students were confident.
Others already looked defeated.
Jarnell sat quietly near the window, scrolling through his phone.
Jayden sat beside him, one arm resting lazily over the back of Jarnell's chair like it had become his natural position.
"You're calm," Jayden said.
"We did well."
"That confident?"
Jarnell finally looked at him.
"You distracted me for half the project and we still finished first."
Jayden grinned immediately.
"So you admit I'm talented."
"I admit you're annoying."
Before Jayden could respond, the lecturer entered.
The room quieted instantly.
"The highest score," the lecturer announced while checking the paper in his hands, "goes to…"
A long pause!!.
"Jayden and Jarnell."
The room exploded into reactions.
Brian shouted loudly from the back.
Calvin looked unsurprised.
Several students groaned.
Jayden turned toward Jarnell immediately, smiling like he had expected nothing else.
"Told you."
Jarnell tried to stay calm.
Failed slightly when Jayden squeezed his wrist under the desk.
Brian, Calvin and the others all congratulated them.
After class, Jayden walked beside him casually.
"So," Jayden said, "pick your reward."
Jarnell frowned slightly.
"What reward?"
"We won."
"And?"
"And I said I'd treat you if we did."
Jarnell looked ahead quietly.
"You don't have to."
Jayden stopped walking suddenly.
Which forced Jarnell to stop too.
"I want to."
Silence.
Then Jayden smiled faintly.
"So choose."
Jarnell stared at him for a moment.
Then unexpectedly said—
"…Shopping."
Jayden blinked once.
"You?"
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"No," Jayden replied immediately.
Then smirked slightly.
"I'm just surprised you voluntarily want to spend hours around people."
Jarnell rolled his eyes.
"Forget it."
Jayden caught his wrist gently before he could walk away.
"No."
His voice softened.
"Let's go."
The mall was crowded.
Bright.
Loud.
Normally, Jarnell would have hated it.
But with Jayden beside him—
it felt strangely manageable.
Jayden carried most of the bags without complaint.
Picked clothes for Jarnell shamelessly.
Rejected outfits dramatically.
Praised others too much.
"You look good in white," Jayden said while handing him another hoodie.
"I know."
"You're supposed to say thank you."
"You stated a fact."
Jayden laughed softly.
Too fondly.
Hours passed easier than expected.
Until—
Jarnell disappeared briefly into another aisle while Jayden paid for drinks nearby.
Jarnell stood in front of the shelf for longer than necessary.
His ears already warm.
He glanced around once.
Then quickly grabbed a small box and added it beneath the other items in his basket.
Condoms.
The action alone made his heartbeat faster.
Not because he fully planned anything.
But because lately—
every touch with Jayden felt one second away from becoming dangerous.
And deep down—
Jarnell knew he was no longer afraid of that possibility.
He paid quickly before Jayden returned.
And hid the bag among the others before the other boy noticed.
When Jayden walked back over, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You look suspicious and irritating."
"Hm."
Jayden stepped closer.
"What did you buy?"
"Things."
"That's not an answer."
Jarnell walked away calmly.
"Then stop asking questions."
Jayden smiled slowly while following him.
Clearly unconvinced.
By evening, the sky had begun turning gold.
Jayden drove them through quieter streets before glancing sideways.
"So where now?"
Jarnell looked outside the window for a moment.
Then quietly said—
"…My parents' house."
Jayden blinked.
"You want to go there?"
"I left something."
Which wasn't entirely a lie.
The house was enormous.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Too silent.
Jayden noticed it immediately.
No staff.
No movement.
No warmth.
"Your parents aren't home?" he asked softly.
Jarnell unlocked the door calmly.
"They rarely are."
The words weren't bitter.
Which somehow made them sadder.
Inside, the house looked untouched.
Like a display rather than a home.
Jayden followed quietly this time.
Less playful now.
More observant.
Jarnell led him upstairs toward the wide balcony overlooking the city.
The sunset spread gold and orange across the skyline.
Beautiful enough to stop conversation for a moment.
Jayden leaned lightly against the railing.
"…This view is insane."
Jarnell stood beside him.
"I used to come here alone a lot."
Jayden looked at him.
Not the city.
Him.
"And now?"
Silence.
Jarnell answered quietly—
"…Not alone anymore."
That sentence changed something.
The wind moved softly around them.
The city glowing below.
The sunset fading slowly into evening.
Jayden turned toward him fully.
"You've changed a lot since I met you."
Jarnell looked at him quietly.
"You talk like we've known each other for years."
"It feels longer."
The honesty in that answer made Jarnell's chest tighten unexpectedly.
And before he could overthink it—
he stepped closer first.
Jayden stilled immediately.
Almost surprised.
Jarnell rarely initiated anything.
Never first.
But this time—
he reached up slowly and pressed a small kiss to Jayden's lips.
Soft.
Brief.
Jayden looked genuinely caught off guard.
"Jarnell…"
Another peck.
Longer this time.
Then another.
Until Jayden's hand finally moved carefully to Jarnell's waist like he was afraid too much pressure would make him disappear.
Jarnell kissed him again—
slower now.
Warmer.
And something shifted instantly.
Because this time—
Jarnell wasn't reacting.
He was leading.
Jayden kissed him back carefully at first.
Still controlled, respectful and waiting.
But Jarnell moved closer again.
Closing every inch between them himself.
His fingers curled into Jayden's shirt.
Pulling him nearer.
That broke the last thread of restraint.
Jayden's kiss deepened slowly.
Warm enough to steal breath.
Careful enough to still ask permission.
Jarnell answered by kissing him harder.
The city lights blurred beneath them.
The cool evening air forgotten completely.
Jayden's hand slid along Jarnell's waist carefully.
Holding him close.
Steadying him.
And when Jayden finally pulled back slightly, breathing uneven, he whispered—
"Tell me to stop and I will."
Jarnell looked at him through unsteady breaths.
Heart racing far too fast.
Then quietly said—
"…Don't."
That single word ruined everything.
Jayden kissed him again immediately.
And this time—
Jarnell kissed back like he had been holding himself back for far too long.
The sunset disappeared completely around them.
But neither noticed.
Because somewhere between quiet touches, lingering kisses, and the loneliness of a house too big for one person—
Jarnell stopped resisting what he wanted.
And for the first time—
he chose Jayden first.
Because sometimes love doesn't begin with a confession.
Sometimes—
it begins with finally saying:
"Don't stop."