The man fell back as his chin whipped into the air and gasps from other passengers filled the car.
“You sleazy creep!” Jun roared as he glared down with disgust.
The man whimpered. “Where’s the cute kitten from before?”
“Cute what?!”
After Jun was done mercilessly defending himself, the man was left twitching on the subway floor as the doors opened. Fists on hips, Jun let out a huff. He looked over to see a young man in a hoodie looking like he wanted to say something. “What?” Jun demanded.
“Uh… No, I saw what he did and was about to stop him but you totally took care of it yourself. Pfft.” The guy laughed.
As Jun thought about the cuteness of his laugh, he noticed the aura coming from the young man’s chest. Silvery.
“Let me help you drag him to the station police.”
After handing the beaten creep over to the officers and having to answer questions for a police report, Jun was incredibly late for class.
“Thanks!” he said the the young man.
“No problem. I’m Chris.”
“Jun.” They shook hands. “Sorry, but I have to go. Um…” He glanced down at his phone.
“Maybe I should give you my number in case you need a witness... you know?”
Smooth, Jun thought to himself. His first match had been gross, but this second guy was cute and nice.
“Sure!”
After exchanging numbers, Jun skipped to school on Cloud Nine.
***
Jun snuck into the lecture hall as quietly as possible and slid onto the bench next to Li Hua who he could easily spot with her dyed pink hair.
“Where the hell were you?” she whispered.
“I ran into some trouble in the subway,” Jun explained as he took out his notebook and a pen.
“I wouldn’t have come if I were you. Class ends in 10 minutes.”
“Has Professor collected the papers yet?”
“Not yet.”
Jun took notes on the last few minutes of the lecture before the professor announced class was over and to bring him their papers. He and Li Hua travelled down the steps and placed theirs on the podium.
The professor raised his grey eyebrow. “Jun.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Were you perhaps late because you were writing this?”
“Of course not, sir.” Jun whipped out a piece of paper.
“What’s this?” The professor took a look. “‘Please excuse Jun Adachi for being late… Officer Brooks.’” Jun flashed a smile and the instructor sighed. “You’re lucky you’re an A student, Jun.” He playfully gave a look of chagrin.
“See you Wednesday, Professor!” Jun and Li Hua waved goodbye and strolled out of the hall down the corridor.
“What kind of forged note was that?” Li Hua pursed her lips.
“It was not forged! I told you I ran into trouble in the subway.”
Li Hua stopped in her tracks. “You got arrested?! My best friend’s a criminal?!” She held up her hands in agony. “My baby! Where did I go wrong in raising you?”
Jun rolled his eyes. “Stop being so dramatic. Come on, I desperately need some coffee.”
As they walked across campus to the coffee shop, Jun was still on the lookout for matches until he remembered Chris. ‘Is it cheating to see who else is out there?’ he wondered.
As the friends sat down for coffee, Jun looked at his phone. He’d received a message from Chris!
“Hey! Are you okay?”
Jun texted back. “My butt feels a little gross, but I’m okay. I feel better after beating him up.”
“Yeah, that guy was gross. I’d scrub my butt redder than that jerk’s eye is black.”
“Hahaha. That’s pretty red.”
“Did you make it in time for class?”
“Yep! My professor didn’t believe the note, though.”
“That officer looked so confused. Lol”
“Lolol”
“What are you grinning about?” Li Hua asked through the straw of her frozen coffee drink.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Lies! Does Jun finally have a girlfriend after 20 years of being single?”
“Li Hua!” Jun whined.
“Am I going to become a grandmother?!”
Jun facepalmed.
Li Hua shot up from her chair. “WAIT, IS BABY JUN ACTUALLY GOING TO LOSE HIS VIRGINITY?”
The other people in the cafe turned to look their way. Jun’s hands shot over Li Hua’s lips as his eye twitched. “Your joke’s going too far.”
Li Hua sat down. “Sorry. It was a joke until I stood up.”
Jun sighed as he leaned his chin on his palm. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Sure wouldn’t!” Li Hua sipped her drink. “The perks of being aromantic. I don’t need romance!”
Jun glanced at Li Hua’s chest. When he’d first met another person without an aura, he thought maybe he was aromantic too. Once Li Hua explained to him what that meant, he was assured that he was just unlucky with his ability. No, Jun hadn’t had the chance to fall for anyone, but he wanted it and knew he was capable.
“My little sister is thinking about art school.” Chris had texted. “Are you free anytime this week? Maybe we can get lunch and you can tell me about what you like and don’t like about art school.”
Jun snorted. Smooth. Things were looking up. He pressed his palms together. ‘Thank you God,’ he prayed.
“Be sure to invite me to the wedding,” Li Hua remarked then loudly slurped the last drops of her coffee.
Comments (17)
See all