EPISODE 15
Ken slowly looked at Alex.
Neither of them knew what to do.
"Should face the problem..." Alex muttered.
Ken barely heard him.
"What?"
"Let's see why... I mean, how he's doing. Wasn't he the long-lost friend?"
"Three months only, man," Ken replied.
I forgot you keep tabs on him, Alex thought.
"Let's move," Alex said to Ken.
The two of them walked toward Noel.
Noel noticed them approaching and smiled.
Just like before.
Both Ken and Alex awkwardly smiled back.
"It's been so long," Alex said dramatically.
"Yeah, that's true," Noel replied softly.
A brief silence followed.
"So?" Alex asked.
"Ah... I got admitted here for the Sports major. I already heard you guys were here, but I didn't think we'd meet this fast."
"Oh."
Alex nodded.
"Well, it's nice seeing you."
Noel blinked.
"Bye."
Alex immediately turned around and started walking.
Ken stared at him for a second before quickly following.
Noel stood there with his suitcase.
Both Ken and Alex reached the dorm.
"You... you didn't talk to him?" Alex asked quietly, stuttering slightly.
"I don't know. Why do I have to talk to him?" Ken replied.
"Don't you have any interest in him? Are you really over him?"
Ken stayed silent for a few seconds.
"I am confused."
Those words somehow made Alex's heart feel heavy.
It wasn't like this before.
"What am I supposed to say? It's your feelings. You should do whatever your heart wants."
Ken simply hummed in response.
"I'm going to sleep."
Alex wrapped himself in his blanket and closed his eyes.
It was probably the fastest he had ever fallen asleep.
Ken also went to bed.
The night passed quietly.
The next day was normal.
At least until they arrived at college.
There, they met Noel again.
Noel smiled when he saw them.
"You're here early," Alex said, trying to start a conversation.
"Since it's my first day, I thought I'd come early," Noel replied.
"And how did that idea help you?" Alex asked with a grin.
"Pretty well. I already got a tour around the campus."
Then Noel looked at Ken.
"By the way, how are you guys doing?"
"We're fine," Alex replied.
"Glad to hear that."
Noel's eyes lingered on Ken for a moment.
At the same time, Ken was looking at Alex.
Alex didn't notice.
"We haven't had breakfast yet," Alex said.
"So we're heading to the canteen. What about you?"
Noel smiled.
"I already ate. You guys go ahead. I have somewhere to be."
"Alright."
With that, Noel left.
Alex turned toward Ken.
Then he got startled.
Ken was already looking at him.
"What?!" Alex almost shouted.
"What?" a clueless Ken asked back.
"Let's go to the canteen. I'm starving," Alex groaned.
Both of them headed to the canteen.
There, they met Jane.
"Do you guys mind if I join you?" she asked.
"Nope," Ken replied.
Alex smiled warmly.
"So... how's college been so far?" Jane asked curiously.
"It's getting fun and twisty," Alex replied.
"What twist?" Jane asked.
Ken suddenly choked on his drink.
"How many times have I told you not to think about random things while eating?" Alex scolded him while patting his back.
Jane blinked as if she wasn't supposed to witness that.
"So... you guys are...?"
Both Alex and Ken looked at her, waiting for her to finish.
"Never mind. Hope I get the news when things become official," Jane said with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"I mean what I said."
Jane picked up her tray and winked at Ken before walking away.
Ken smiled at her reaction.
Alex noticed immediately.
"Why are you smiling? What did she mean by that?" Alex asked furiously.
Ken stopped smiling.
"It was funny, but I don't know what she meant."
"You sure you don't have anything to hide?"
Alex's tone suddenly changed.
"What do I have to hide?"
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking."
"I don't have anything to hide."
"If that's the case, good for you."
Alex grabbed his tray and left.
Ken quickly picked up his own tray and followed him.
After eating, they headed to class.
The day was hectic.
They received a lot of assignments and work.
Both of them decided to go to the library afterward.
However, they had to split up because they were working on different things.
Ken settled down at a table after collecting all the materials he needed.
Alex was still looking for books.
One of the books he needed wasn't on the shelf, so the librarian helped him find it.
When Alex finally returned to where Ken was sitting, he froze.
Noel was settling into a seat near Ken.
Instinctively, Alex hid behind a bookshelf.
He wanted to see what was happening.
But somehow, deep in his heart, it didn't feel right.
Instead of watching them, he chose a table far away where he couldn't even see them.
Yet no matter how hard he tried to focus on his work, his thoughts kept drifting back to Ken and Noel.