"I think you guys are getting weirder and weirder every day. Is there something you haven't told me?"

 

"Yeah, you guys have been acting really weird this whole week. Or has someone already been put on probation?"

 

"Yeah, you can think that if you want. No problem," Jinn, with a measuring tape draped over his shoulder, said dismissively.

 

"Yeah, you could say that. Can you stick this pin in place for me?" Jerome replied nonchalantly, wrapping fabric around the mannequin. He nudged Jinn, who was standing beside him, with his foot, urging him to secure the fabric to the mannequin with a pin because his hands were busy.

 

"Really?"

 

Van and Farm looked at each other, seeing disbelief in each other's eyes, but they couldn't do anything. After all, if the person responsible didn't want to reveal the truth, what else could the one making the choice do?

 

"That's it. Get started, you guys. At least make sure there's some cloth on the mannequin, the lady of the house will kill you," Jinn warned his two friends, who were too busy meddling in other people's affairs to get their own work done.

 

Right now, the entire department is in the sewing room. After the dress designs have been finalised, it's time to bring them to life for their beloved teacher to see, touch, and receive their scores—the amount depending on each individual's ability.

 

As for JJ, the fashion designer, their secret romance has been going on for over a week. They're both still doing the same things, not feeling like they're showing too much interest. But others don't think so. Over the past week, they've been constantly asked similar questions by friends, whether from old friends who drop by or from classmates they see every day. But they always give the same answer.

 

It's not that they don't want to reveal their relationship, but it's really hard to talk about. If two people who were so close, who were famously fighting over a guy, suddenly announced they were dating romantically, I'm sure a lot of people would be shocked. At the very least, the guys who were fighting over him back then would be the most stunned.

 

Jerome and Jinn chose not to tell anyone for now, but they weren't as tense with each other as usual. It was as if they preferred to let their actions speak for themselves. You could say they were shy, but it was truly embarrassing to admit it now. At least they wanted some time to pass, for both of them to become more stable before deciding to tell anyone else. This was something they both agreed on.

 

I'm not ashamed of having someone as a boyfriend, but I'm ashamed of all the countless mischief we've gotten into together—more than a hundred of them! Who would have thought that rivals would end up like this? If I knew we'd be together today, I wouldn't have played such a cruel trick on him back then. I guess I need time to build up my own thick skin to withstand all the teasing that's going to come.

 

"Yeah, but you look amazing, Jinn. Is that a woman's dress? This is really something," Farm, who was now unexpectedly joined by a group of four, asked.

 

"Yeah, I have my mom as a model. I want to make something flowy and feminine. I don't want to sew men's clothes anymore, I'm tired of it."

 

Jinn’s women's dress designs are amazing. He must have seen his mom's designs often. He's definitely going to get full marks this time. Now it's my turn," Van complimented his best friend before turning to look at his own design. It was pretty too, but whether he could replicate it was another matter...

 

“Okay, fine. JJ’s not bad either. You two compete against each other, and I’ll compete with the rest of my friends. Haha,” Farm laughed, and all his friends in the department nodded in agreement. In their department, JJ was the best, so he should just go for it. They were all rooting for him.

 

"Damn it, you're so weak. Come on, fight! Maybe this time you'll win," Jerome urged his friends, but it seemed to have no effect, as the looks they gave seemed to say, "No, life is too exhausting."

 

"No one's enthusiastic," Jinn shook his head before turning back to his own work, ignoring everyone else.

 

"Jinn, that's enough. Let's go back to our room." A voice called out close to his ear, accompanied by a large hand from someone standing behind him, making Jinn jump slightly. He looked around, realising that all that was left were mannequins and no one else, and that he had been lost in his own world, oblivious to everyone else.

 

"What time is it?" I asked my boyfriend softly.

 

"It's six thirty already. I'm hungry. Let's go back and get something to eat," Jerome rested his chin on Jin's shoulder before burying the tip of his handsome nose against it.

 

“Okay, that’s enough. Have the others left a long time ago? I don’t even feel anything.” Jinn let Jerome nuzzle him as much as he liked, or rather, he’d gotten used to it. For the past week, the other man had been doing this the most. He’d nuzzle here or there, like a child lacking affection. At first, he wasn’t used to it and almost kicked him away several times. But, you know, with practice comes practice.

 

"Probably around four o'clock. I saw they were really into it, so I didn't call, but now I'm hungry."

 

Jinn nodded in agreement. They quickly packed their things, turned off the lights, locked the room, and walked down from the building, which was now so quiet that there was hardly any sound other than their footsteps.

 

Outside the building, a few students were still to be seen. Not all faculties finished classes at the same time, as in high school; some finished earlier, some later. And that's not even including the various extracurricular activities they had to do during classes. In short, the university in the evening wasn't scary at all.

 

"What do you want to eat?" Jinn fastened his seatbelt and asked his boyfriend sitting beside him. Since they started dating, almost nothing had changed between them, except for their feelings and physical contact. They still criticised each other the same way, and kicked each other the same way. You could say that if they weren't together all the time, they would have thought that confession of their feelings that day was just a dream.

 

Anything is fine. "What do you want to eat? At a restaurant or in the room?" Even though he said he was hungry, he was just hungry; Jerome didn't have a menu in mind yet. The young man was easy to please when it came to food.

 

"Outside is fine, I'm too lazy to wash the dishes."

 

"K"

 

Jinn drove away from the university, heading towards a shopping mall not far from his condo. He was too lazy to walk around looking for anything; after all, it was a one-stop shop for all kinds of food anyway, so he didn't need to go to multiple places.

 

Jerome glanced at the profile of the driver's face, a small, good-natured smile playing on his lips. Since they started dating, he felt Jinn had become even more endearing. It wasn't that Jinn was acting cute or effeminate, but rather the feelings he genuinely expressed. Outside, Jerome could barely tell they were together; it was only in their room that he could truly understand their relationship.

 

Jinn isn't a romantic person; he's known that since his dreams. But he's the type to express his feelings directly. Perhaps it's because he's younger now than he was back then, and they've only just started dating, so things aren't quite settled yet. However, he can still clearly see the difference between when they're enemies and when they're lovers. Jerome isn't demanding anything either; he's very happy now and just hopes this happiness will last forever.

 

"You've picked up those habits from when you were in your thirties, haven't you? Haha. You don't listen to music, you only listen to the news," the driver teased the person who was listening to the news more than music, as they should have.

 

"Yeah, I guess so. It's kind of nice to keep up with current events," Jerome said, not taking offence. He scrolled through the news until he came across a particular story.

 

This is news that anyone sitting behind the wheel probably doesn't want to hear at all, one hundred per cent.

 

"Let's get an update on some semi-entertainment news. I say semi-entertainment because this person is a former superstar, a national favourite, who has now transitioned to running his family business. We have news about 'Jett,' who recently made a large donation to more than 100 orphanages nationwide. And rumours are circulating that he might return to the entertainment industry at the end of the year, perhaps taking on some small roles to fill his time. He must be tired of desk jobs! We'll have to wait and see what kind of project will bring this former multi-millionaire leading man back into the spotlight."

 

"It must be a big project; otherwise, how would they get him to participate? But I don't think it's a theatrical performance, because that would take too long. The executives probably wouldn't have that much time. But what I do know is that his young fans will definitely be eagerly awaiting it. Or for those who missed the era of this 'National Brother,' you can watch his old movies or dramas. Then you'll know that legends really do exist! Haha."

 

“Huh.”

 

"Didn't even talk to him, huh?" Jerome chuckled softly at the sound of disapproval. His right hand moved to his lover's thigh and stroked it gently, as if trying to calm him down.

 

"Do I have to talk to him?" "Talk about what? Why would I talk to him? We're not anything to each other." Jinn pouted, annoyed. Why talk? Why?

 

"Yeah, nothing's really going on. We're just 'father and son,' that's all."

 

"Spit! I'm Mae Chan's only son; I don't have a father. Say that again, and I'll kick you out of here right now!" The car owner turned around while stopped at a red light.

 

He glared at the person sitting next to him, and a large hand patted the pale forehead neither too gently nor too forcefully.

 

"Ouch! You're hurting me again! So, do you really love me, Jinn?!" Jerome squeezed Jinn’s thigh in retaliation, making the other man groan in pain.

 

"Ow! My leg's probably bruised now. Yours too! What kind of love is this, squeezing so hard?!"

 

"That's definitely a sadistic kind of love, I bet. Who would believe we're dating?" The man with the broken finger burst into loud laughter, eliciting another smirk from the driver.

 

"He'd probably think I lost a bet if I told him we were dating. But it's good this way, it's more like us. If we had to be all sweet and lovey-dovey all the time like other couples, I think I'd break up with you. I couldn't handle it. I'd rather go back to being heartbroken." Jinn wasn't genuinely angry like before anymore. Since they started dating, they've become more accommodating, almost automatically. It wasn't just him who softened; Jerome did too. It's like they're gradually realising that certain emotions and situations can't be compared to being a lover.

 

"Yeah, I think so too. I like how we are. Time will probably help refine us and make things work out on their own."

 

"That's right. That's why they say time is of the essence, Jay."

 

"Yes, Jinn, whatever you say, I agree."

 

Jinn smiled at the other person's unquestionable acceptance. This is what he meant by softening up. Normally, if he called him "Nong Jay," the other would definitely retort, but now he seemed to ignore it. It felt more like playful banter between boyfriends than the usual teasing.

 

Jerome watched his boyfriend, who was driving intently and thoughtfully. Hearing about Jett, a strange tingling sensation struck him, as if for no apparent reason. He felt that he himself had never seen Jinn’s father in that future either. But for some reason, he suspected his previous assumptions were connected to the other man. However, the question remained: in what way?

 

Something that will happen in the next few years, something whose exact cause and effect he doesn't yet know, something he desperately hopes he can change.

 

Aunt Jan, Jinn’s mother, died.

 

In the future, Jinn says it's his own fault.