Jay barely survived the lecture.
Not because the material was difficult he had already read half of it the night before but because his brain refused to cooperate. Numbers blurred on the projector screen while Professor Keller talked endlessly about economic forecasting models. Normally Jay would have been the first person answering questions in class. Today he couldn't focus for more than ten seconds.
Roman's voice from that morning kept replaying in his head.
"Whatever happens, you don't flinch."
Jay pressed his pen harder against the notebook, scribbling formulas that looked more like angry scratches than real notes. Around him, the lecture hall buzzed quietly with students typing, whispering, or scrolling through their phones.
Michael nudged his elbow.
"You look like someone who committed a crime and is waiting to get caught," Michael whispered.
Jay didn't even look up. "Maybe I did."
Michael stared at him for a second before grinning. "If you murdered someone, please tell me it was Marcus. That guy deserves it."
Jay snorted quietly. "Marcus sits two rows behind us."
"Exactly," Michael muttered.
Right on cue, Marcus's voice drifted forward.
"I can hear you idiots."
Jay leaned back in his chair just enough to glance behind him. Marcus sat slouched with his usual irritated expression, one arm draped around the back of his seat. Next to him was Tyler Marcus's current boyfriend and a well-known flirt across half the campus.
Tyler noticed Jay looking and immediately smiled.
Not a normal smile.
A slow, teasing one.
Jay turned back around instantly.
Michael noticed.
"Oh no," Michael whispered dramatically. "Please tell me that didn't just happen."
Jay groaned under his breath. "Don't start."
"Tyler is flirting with you again," Michael said. "Marcus is going to commit a homicide."
"Not my problem."
Michael laughed quietly. "Oh it's absolutely your problem."
The lecture finally ended twenty minutes later. The second Professor Keller dismissed them, the room exploded into movement chairs scraping, backpacks zipping, students rushing toward the exits.
Jay packed his notebook slowly, hoping to escape before anyone dragged him into unnecessary drama.
Unfortunately, Marcus had other plans.
"Jay."
The voice behind him sounded sharp.
Jay sighed and turned around.
Marcus stood there with Tyler beside him, arms crossed and expression dark.
Michael sit there like he was watching a live TV show.
"This should be interesting," he murmured.
Marcus ignored him and focused on Jay.
"Why is my boyfriend smiling at you in class?"
Jay blinked.
"That sounds like a you problem," he replied calmly.
Tyler laughed.
Marcus did not.
Tyler casually stepped forward, completely unbothered by the tension in the air. "Relax, Marcus. I was just being friendly."
Marcus shot him a glare. "You're never just friendly."
Jay grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "If you two are done with your relationship therapy session, I'm leaving."
"Wait," Michael said, jumping up from his chair. "No, no, we're not done yet. I want popcorn."
Jay shoved him lightly as they started walking toward the exit.
But the drama clearly wasn't finished.
Outside the lecture hall, Tyler suddenly caught up with them.
"Jay."
Jay stopped reluctantly.
Tyler leaned against the wall beside him, clearly enjoying himself.
"You never answer my messages," Tyler said.
Michael's jaw dropped.
"You texted him?" Michael asked loudly.
Marcus looked like he might explode.
Jay rubbed his temple. "I ignored them."
"That hurts," Tyler said dramatically.
Marcus grabbed Tyler's arm. "We're leaving."
Tyler didn't move.
Instead, he looked directly at Jay again and smiled that same annoying smile.
"Still cute, though."
Marcus lunged forward instantly.
Jay saw the punch coming but Tyler didn't react fast enough. The fist connected with his mouth, and Tyler stumbled backward with a surprised laugh.
"Are you kidding me?" Jay groaned.
Marcus moved again, ready to swing a second time.
This time Michael grabbed him.
"NOPE," Michael said, locking both arms around Marcus's shoulders.
"Let go!" Marcus snapped.
"Absolutely not," Michael replied. "You already punched him once. That's enough campus drama for today."
Tyler wiped blood from his lip, looking more amused than angry.
"You're insane," he told Marcus.
Marcus laughed bitterly. "Leave."
Tyler grabbed his jacket from the floor but before walking away he glanced once more at Jay.
Then he smirked.
"Still cute."
Marcus tried to lunge again.
Michael tightened his grip.
"NO."
Tyler walked away laughing down the hallway.
The tension slowly drained from the corridor as nearby students lost interest and continued walking.
Jay exhaled heavily.
"Fantastic," he muttered. "Exactly how I wanted my afternoon to go."
Michael finally released Marcus, shaking his head. "You need therapy."
Marcus ran a hand through his hair, still fuming.
"That idiot keeps flirting with you."
Jay stared at him.
"Marcus."
"What?"
"I have done literally nothing."
Marcus opened his mouth to argue but stopped.
Michael grinned.
"Wow," he said. "Personal growth."
Jay checked the time on his phone.
"Forget it. I need coffee."
"Drinks," Michael corrected immediately. "After a fight like that, we deserve drinks."
"It's two in the afternoon."
"And?"
Marcus finally sighed.
"Fine."
Twenty minutes later they were sitting inside a small bar just off campus. It was dim, loud, and smelled like cheap tequila and fried food.
Michael raised his glass.
"To unnecessary violence."
Jay clinked his glass against his. "To stupid boyfriends."
Marcus rolled his eyes but drank anyway.
For a moment things felt normal again.
No board meetings.
No company wars.
Just noise, laughter, and cheap alcohol.
Jay leaned back in his chair, letting himself relax for the first time all day.
His phone buzzed.
He ignored it.
Michael kept talking about something ridiculous involving a professor and a parking ticket when the phone buzzed again.
Jay sighed and finally looked down.
Unknown number.
One message.
Jay opened it.
His stomach dropped instantly.
Roman:
Come to my office.
Jay stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
Now.
Jay slowly lowered the phone.
Michael noticed his expression immediately.
"What happened?"
Jay grabbed his jacket.
"I have to go."
Marcus frowned. "Where?"
Jay didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
And somehow, he had the feeling that whatever waited for him in Roman's office…
Was about to ruin everything.