Sweet Home [BL]
A Speed Bump
Evan Lawrence
*Standing Outside The Gates*
Evan Lawrence
So this is where…
Evan Lawrence
I will spend my final year…..
A small smile found it’s way on Evan’s face
Three long years at a small local university where every semester had been a struggle, not because of studies, but because of Money. He had worked tirelessly, stayed up countless nights and graduated every year with outstanding grades.
All of that hard work had finally paid off.
The scholarship letter was still carefully folded inside his drawer at home. It had granted him a transfer into one of the country’s most prestigious universities. Only the brightest students could earn a place here through academics alone. Everyone else…..had wealth.
His parents had cried the day the acceptance letter arrived.
Evan Lawrence
*Takes a long breath*
And then he stepped through the gate.
The campus buzzed with life. Music drifted from somewhere near the student center, while groups gathered beneath the trees, taking photos and laughing.
Evan quietly observed everything. It was… overwhelming. He had never seen a university this beautiful. His old campus had only one academic building and a small canteen. Here, There were cafés, research centers, indoor sports complexes, libraries bigger than shopping malls, and gardens that looked professionally landscaped.
Evan Lawrence
*Glances down at my own clothes*
Old sneakers that had been cleaned until they looked new.
Compared to everyone else around him, he looked quite ordinary.
A few passing students gave him curious glances before continuing on.
Evan simply smiled awkwardly and kept walking. He wasn’t here to impress anyone. He wasn’t here to make rich friends. He was here for one reason. To graduate.
Evan Lawrence
*Pulls out my folded campus map*
He searches for the building where the final-year orientation would be held.
Evan Lawrence
Business Administration..East Academic Hall..
Evan Lawrence
*looks around*
Evan Lawrence
I think…it’s that way ?
After hesitating for a second, he started towards the pathway.
As soon as turned to walk,
Someone slammed into him from the side with enough force to knock the air from his lungs.
Both of them were sent sprawling across the pavement.
The campus map fluttered away in the breeze.
Evan landed harshly on his butt.
A sharp pain shot through his lower back and straight to his butt as he hit the stone pathway. He winced immediately, squeezing his eyes shut.
Evan Lawrence
*Rubs the sore spot with one hand*
Soren
*Clutching a pale pink envelope*
Before either of them could get up
A furious voice echoed through the pathway, students turned to look.
A beautiful girl came marching toward them with murderous intent.
Katherine
*Points a finger at him*
Soren immediately sat up, still holding the envelope.
Katherine
You little thief !
Soren
I prefer “Professional Borrower"
Katherine
You stole my letter !
Katherine
You took it my locker !
Soren
It was sitting there unattended..
Evan was still sitting on the pavement, completely forgotten.
Evan Lawrence
(They are arguing..?…..)
He looked down at himself. His backpack had fallen open, pens rolling across the walkway. His campus map had drifted several feet away. And his butt still hurt. Very much. He quietly reached over to collect his scattered belongings.
Evan Lawrence
(Maybe…I should just…leave..)
Before he could stand, Soren finally noticed him.
Soren
I just bulldozed someone..
The realization hit both of them. They had been so busy fighting over the stolen love letter they had completely forgotten the innocent student Soren had crashed into.
Without wasting another second, soren jumped to his feet and hurried over to Evan.
Soren
Sorry ! Are you okay ??
At the same time, katherine crouched beside him.
Katherine
I’m so sorry. He has absolutely zero awareness of his surroundings.
Katherine
You literally ran someone over…
Soren
I was being chased..
Katherine
Because you stole my letter..
While still bickering, the two of them each grabbed one of Evan’s arms and carefully helped him stand.
Evan dusted off his trousers, wincing slightly when his sore backside reminded him of the fall.
Evan Lawrence
*Smiles politely*
Evan Lawrence
Nothing is broken
Katherine
*looking guilty*
Katherine
That looked like a really hard fall
Soren
*Scratches the back of my neck*
Soren
…sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was running.
Evan Lawrence
Accidents happen
The easy forgiveness only made Soren feel embarrassed.
He smiled awkwardly before asking.
Soren
I’ve never seen you around before
Soren
Are you a new student ?
Evan Lawrence
Today’s my first day here
Evan Lawrence
Transfer Student
Katherine
*Stares at Evan*
Katherine
We know almost everyone in our batch
Soren
And every transfer student we ever had joined in first or second year
Soren
I’ve never heard of someone transferring into the final year
Evan Lawrence
I was studying at another university before
Both of them exchanged puzzled looks
Just as Katherine opened her mouth to ask another question
Evan Lawrence
Can I ask something ?
Evan Lawrence
Do you know where the final-year orientation is being held ?
Soren blinked once before checking the expensive watch on his wrist
Soren
You came way too early
Soren
Orientation doesn’t start for another thirty minutes
Katherine
Most people don’t show up this early on the first day
Evan let out a small, embarrassed laugh
Evan Lawrence
I wanted to make sure I didn’t get lost
Soren suddenly clapped his hands together
Soren
Well, we’ve got half an hour to kill
Soren
Let’s hangout for a bit
Evan Lawrence
I don’t want to bother you two…
Soren
I kind of owe you after using you a speed bump
Evan Lawrence
*Laughs softly*
Soren
You’re so pretty while laughing
Soren
I mean you’re pretty still
Soren
But while laughing, there’s something different
Still exchanging playful jabs, Soren And Katherine began walking toward the campus café, slowing their pace so Evan could comfortably walk beside them.
Evan followed quietly, listening to their lighthearted banter.
Campus Royalty
Evan stopped for a moment
Evan Lawrence
this is the cafeteria..?
The cafeteria was enormous
The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, pastries, frilled food and desserts lingered.
Students casually sat around with iced coffees worth more than what Evan usually spent on lunch in an entire week.
Others chatted over breakfasts served on porcelain plates, while some worked on laptops that looked newer than anything he had ever owned.
Evan Lawrence
My old university had one food stall..
Evan Lawrence
And half the menu was usually unavailable
Katherine
That's... definitely different from here
Soren
*Leans in dramatically*
Soren
Here, students complain if the café runs out of imported chocolate syrup.
Soren
I'm not even joking..
Evan Lawrence
Imported chocolate syrup..
They continued walking through the cafeteria , Soren suddenly stopped.
Katherine
*Follows his gaze*
Near one of the large windows, he sat
Everything about him looked.. Immaculate
A neatly arranged breakfast sat before him
Untouched for the moment as he focused on typing something on his ipad.
Katherine
Our favorite perfectionist
Caspian's sharp eyes landed on the two of them, then, his gaze slowly drifted towards the slightly crooked collar on Soren's shirt.
Caspian
You left home looking like that ?
Soren
*Tries To Fix It Blindly*
Katherine
*Burst Into Laughter*
Katherine
I told you this morning you looked messy
Caspian calmly stood from his seat and walked over. Without saying a word, he reached out, straightened Soren's collar in one smooth motion, brushed an invisible speck of dust from his shoulder then stepped back to inspect his work.
Soren
See ? That's why we keep you around
Katherine
That's his version of friendship
Then Caspian's attention shifted to the unfamiliar face standing beside them.
Evan Lawrence
*Give a polite nod*
Evan Lawrence
Yes, I'm Evan
Caspian
*Glances At Soren*
Caspian
You recruited another stray ?
Soren
*Gasps Dramatically*
Katherine
You literally ran into him on your way to stealing my love letter
Caspian
*Close eyes for a second*
Caspian
Of course he did..
Caspian pinched the bridge of his nose.
Caspian
It's Eight-thirty in the morning
Caspian
And you two have already exhausted me
Evan Lawrence
*Smiles Faintly*
The four of them settled around Caspian's table
Evan sat a little stiffly, careful not to put too much pressure on his still-sore backside.
Soren noticed him shifting uncomfortably and rubbed the back of his neck.
Evan Lawrence
*Smiles helplessly*
Evan Lawrence
It's alright
Katherine
If you apologise any more
Katherine
He is going to feel bad for you
Caspian rested his elbows lightly on the table, his fingers loosely interwined.
Caspian
Tell us about yourself
Evan Lawrence
There isn't much to tell..
Evan Lawrence
My family is..pretty ordinary
Evan Lawrence
My parents live back home
Evan Lawrence
My father works, and my mother stays
A small smile appeared on his face as he spoke about his parents.
Evan Lawrence
It's just the three of us
Evan Lawrence
They've always supported my studies
Evan Lawrence
So..I wanted to work hard enough to make all their sacrifices worth it.
There wasn't any self pity in his voice
Evan Lawrence
I'm here to finish my final year
Evan Lawrence
I still have to figure everything out
Evan Lawrence
My room assignment
Evan Lawrence
My class schedule
Evan Lawrence
I've barely seen the campus
Evan Lawrence
I was actually trying to find the orientation hall when someone crashed into me.
Evan Lawrence
*Looks at soren*
Soren
I deserve that look..
Katherine
You absolutely do
Soren
*leans forward curiously*
Soren
How did you transfer here in your final year ? We were seriously confused.
Evan Lawrence
*Nods in understanding*
Evan Lawrence
I transferred through an academic scholarship
The 3 of them looked at him
Evan Lawrence
My previous university nominated me after reviewing my grades, I had to go through several examinations.
Evan Lawrence
When I passed, I was offered a full scholarship to complete my final year here
Katherine
That makes sense
Katherine
Our families have always donated to the university, We didn't really know how scholarship admissions worked.
Soren
*Rests my chin on my hand*
Soren
I got in because my grandfather practically funds an entire engineering building
Katherine
My parents were alumni
Katherine
Admission wasn't exactly.. difficult
All 3 of them looked towards Caspian.
Caspian
*Takes a sip of water*
Caspian
My family has been affiliated with this university for generations
Soren
Translation, Ridiculously rich
He had guessed they came from wealthy families, but hearing them speak about it so casually still felt surreal.
They had entered this university because doors had always been open for them.
Evan had entered because he has earned every step of the way.
The realisation made katherine smile warmly
Katherine
That's really impressive, Ivan
Soren
Seriously, getting into this place through merit alone isn't easy
Caspian
You must have worked very hard.
Evan Lawrence
*Embarrassed*
Evan Lawrence
I...just studied
The conversation around the table flowed easily until
The lively chatter throughout the cafeteria began to fade
Students instinctively glanced towards the entrance. Some immediately looked away.
Others straightened in their seats
Evan Lawrence
..What happened ?
Before any 3 of them could answer
The glass doors slid open
Three young men walked in
At the center was someone who carried himself with effortless confidence, as though every pair of eyes in the room naturally belonged to him.
Tall and Strikingly Handsome, the top buttons of his shirt undone just enough to make it look intentional rather than careless.
His expression held the relaxed arrogance of someone who had never been told “No”.
Walking behind him were his 2 closefriends
Erwin, who wore an easygoing grin and greeted a few students with lazy waves.
And Jade, quieter than the other two, hands tucked into his pockets as his observant eyes swept across the cafeteria.
The moment Argyle stepped inside
Several girls whispered excitedly
“Didn't he just break up with Sophia ?”
“I heard they only dated for a week”
“She was crying all afternoon”
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