Nathan decided to drop by Flynn's place before heading to school for the last day of Foundation Week so they could go in together. As he approached Flynn's building, he bumped into Lucas outside.
"Hey, Nathan," Lucas called out.
"Uncle! Where's Flynn?" Nathan asked.
"Flynn's in his room. Just go up and see him."
Nathan thanked him and made his way inside. When he reached Flynn's room, he froze. Dylan suddenly stepped out of the bedroom... wearing only a tank top. The two of them locked eyes for a brief, awkward moment.
"What..." Dylan muttered casually before turning and heading to the bathroom.
Nathan hurried over to Flynn. "What's Dylan doing here?"
Flynn shrugged nonchalantly. "He lives here."
Nathan blinked. "Since when? Your dad okay with this?"
Flynn smirked. "Actually, it was Dad who told Dylan he could stay here."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Wait... but you usually don't like having people next to you."
Flynn just shrugged. "I don't have a choice."
"Why? Where's his family?" Nathan asked.
"He ran away from home. Things aren't good between him and his father," Flynn explained.
After the brief, awkward encounter, the three of them left for school together.
Flynn had rehearsal, so Dylan excused himself and decided to visit Nicole. Even though they went to the same school, they rarely saw each other — their departments were in different buildings, and their schedules almost never aligned.
The moment Dylan stepped out of the elevator, heads immediately turned. Students from the Star Department couldn't help but stare, whispering to each other as he walked confidently down the corridor toward Nicole's classroom.
Inside, Nicole was busy sorting through her notes when she heard a sudden commotion outside — excited voices, mostly from the girls. Curious, she glanced toward the door and blinked in disbelief when she saw Dylan standing there.
She approached Dylan, one brow arched in curiosity. "Dylan? What are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to see you," he said with a small shrug.
Nicole quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him away from the curious stares, leading him straight to her father's office.
Once they were alone, she turned to him with suspicion written all over her face. "What's gotten into you? What made you suddenly decide to visit me here?" she asked.
Dylan grinned and shrugged. "What? Am I not allowed to visit you now?"
Nicole groaned, narrowing her eyes. "Oh, please. Don't give me that. What did you do this time?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you here?"
Dylan drew in a deep breath. "Do you know Flynn?"
"Flynn?" Nicole repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah... Flynn Amaro Luz."
"Oh, the handsome guy from the Regular Department," Nicole said, a knowing smile curling her lips.
"Who doesn't know him? Aside from being good-looking, he's smart too. Most of the professors know him, and I've heard a lot of seniors from the Star Department even tried to recruit him, but he refused. Why do you ask?"
"I think... I think I like him," Dylan admitted quietly.
Nicole blinked, taken aback for a moment before grinning. "So the rumors are true?"
"Rumors? What rumors?" Dylan asked, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"Well... it's not exactly a rumor," she said, leaning closer. "But a lot of girls have been fantasizing you two together ever since Foundation Week started."
Dylan frowned slightly. "They what?"
Nicole chuckled. "I just have to ask though... are you gay, Dylan?"
"No! I'm not gay. I don't feel this way about any other guy... just him," Dylan said, his voice low. "And honestly, I'm confused too."
"But... don't you have a girlfriend?" Nicole pressed.
"We're not together anymore," he replied simply.
"So... you broke up because of that Flynn?" she asked, curiosity written all over her face.
"No, it's a different story. She no longer satisfied me. I think girls doesn't satisfied me anymore." Dylan admitted with a small shrug.
"So you want it to try with that Flynn?"
"Something like that."
"Have you told him how you feel?"
"No. I don't think I can," he confessed.
"Why? Because he's a guy?" Nicole asked softly.
"It's not that... I know he's a guy, but I'm confused by how he acts around me too," Dylan said, biting his finger nail. "I try to be caring — clingy, and sometimes I try to touch him, but he doesn't let me. But if he truly didn't feel anything, or if he's uncomfortable he should've told me to stop a long time ago."
"Why are you telling me all this then?"
"I just wanted to get your opinion."
Nicole looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well... only you can tell that. I don't know him personally, so I can't say anything... and I don't really know much about these kinds of things either."
Dylan leaned back, his gaze distant. "Actually... I'm planning to confess to him. I can't wait any longer. I think I'll tell him after he performs tonight."
Nicole chuckled, shaking her head. "You're something else. Who would've thought that a guy who looks so rebellious could be tamed... by another guy?"
Dylan laughed at Nicole's comment, but he couldn't deny it to himself. He had never felt this way about anyone else before, and it was only with Flynn that he experienced something like this.
---
Flynn was backstage with Jacob, going over the last-minute details for tonight's contest. The energy in the room was buzzing, but it only made his nerves spike higher. He didn't know why, but his stomach twisted in a way it hadn't before.
As other contestants rehearsed on stage, Flynn's eyes kept darting toward the entrance, almost subconsciously. He was looking for Dylan, hoping to catch a glimpse of him before the performance started. But the space was empty.
"Relax," Jacob murmured, noticing Flynn fidgeting. "We've got this."
Flynn nodded, but the anxiety didn't fade. He tried to watch the other performers, to study their timing and stage presence, but his gaze kept wandering. Why wasn't Dylan here yet?
Time slipped by, and one by one, the contestants finished their performances. It was almost their turn. Flynn swallowed hard, scanning the crowd again. There was no sign of Dylan. His pulse quickened. He needed him here.
Jacob whispered, "You good?"
"I... yeah," Flynn forced a smile. But the truth was, he wasn't.
Finally, it was their turn. Jacob adjusted the mic and gave Flynn an encouraging nod. Flynn stepped forward, heart hammering, eyes flicking across the audience. Still no Dylan. He closed his eyes for a brief second, trying to focus, when suddenly — a loud screech blared from the speaker.
The noise echoed through the auditorium, making the crowd wince and laugh nervously. Some students covered their ears, while others giggled at the chaotic sound.
Jacob tried to call out over it, waving his hands, but Flynn could barely hear him. The feedback amplified his panic rather than alleviating it, and he froze mid-step, feeling the tension coil in his chest.
Then, faintly at first, he heard a voice from across the room — distant, but unmistakable. "Flynn!"
He blinked, straining to see through the lights and crowd. There, in the far corner, holding a banner high above his head, was Dylan.