A week later, everything seemed to have settled down. Flynn and Dylan had made up, and they were finally back at school. Nathan and Jacob had also learned the reason behind their fight.
But even though things were "okay" again and Flynn was attending classes as usual, it was no longer easy for the others to spend time with him or even talk to him. Dylan had grown fiercely protective of Flynn, unwilling to let anyone else get too close. And whenever someone tried to approach him, Dylan's glare would sharpen instantly, like a tiger ready to pounce.
With no other choice, Nathan endured Jacob's constant teasing instead.
During lunch, the four of them gathered in the pantry. Nathan's phone kept ringing nonstop. When he checked the screen, it only showed an unknown number.
Jacob noticed it.
"That phone of yours has been ringing for a while now. Aren't you going to answer it?"
Nathan immediately ended the call. "No. It's probably just random fans again."
"Looks like you really gained a lot of fans after your theater performance," Flynn said.
"Yeah," Nathan sighed. "At first, I thought it was great. But now it feels like I've lost all my privacy."
"You wanted this, so deal with it," Dylan said bluntly.
"Dylan, you're being harsh again," Flynn scolded.
"Why? I'm just telling the truth."
"It's fine," Nathan said with a shrug. "He's right. I chose this. But at least I still have this idiot here. When I'm with him, my fans don't bother me as much." He glanced at Jacob.
"Hey, watch your mouth," Jacob shot back. "You should be grateful you've got a guardian angel saving you from those leeching girls who like you."
"You're more of a leech than they are, sticking to me all the time," Nathan retorted.
"Alright, alright, enough of that love quarrel," Flynn teased. "Hurry up and eat, or we'll be late for the next class."
"We're not lovers," Nathan and Jacob said at the same time.
"Funny coming from you," Nathan laughed. "Aren't you the ones who just came back to school after a long love quarrel?"
"Right," Jacob added. "And aren't you living with Dylan now?"
"S-shut up, both of you," Flynn said shyly. "I already told you what happened."
Dylan remained quiet, staring off into the distance, but deep down, he couldn't help smiling at Nathan and Jacob's words.
After lunch, they left the cafeteria and headed back to their classroom. Jacob parted ways with them along the corridor.
As they walked, Nathan's phone rang again. It was the same number. Now truly curious—and slightly annoyed—he finally answered.
"Hello?"
"Nathan? Thank goodness you finally picked up."
"W-who is this?" Nathan asked.
"It's me. Chloe."
"C-Chloe?" Nathan froze, staring at Flynn and Dylan walking ahead of him.
Flynn noticed Nathan lagging behind. "Nathan, hurry up! We're going to be late."
"Is that Flynn?" Chloe asked on the other line. "Tell him I want to talk to him."
Nathan couldn't respond right away. He stood there, torn, watching his friends walk on while the phone pressed tightly against his ear.
"If you're planning to be late, that's your problem," Dylan said, grabbing Flynn's wrist and pulling him along. "Come on."
"Nathan? Are you there? Please, talk to Flynn for me. I need to speak with him." Chloe said.
"S-sorry, Chloe," Nathan finally said. "Call me again later. I'm in class right now."
He ended the call, let out a long breath, and hurried after Flynn and Dylan.
"Who were you talking to?" Flynn asked.
"Oh, n-no one. Just my fans," Nathan replied.
He didn't know how to tell Flynn that it was Chloe who had called. Especially now, when Flynn finally seemed to be moving on... and when there was clearly something growing between him and Dylan.
After class, Nathan was walking home when his phone rang again. The same number flashed on the screen—Chloe's. This time, he answered right away.
"Nathan? Please... help me talk to Flynn," Chloe pleaded from the other end of the line.
"Chloe, I don't think Flynn wants to talk to you anymore," Nathan said carefully. "It looks like he's already moved on from you."
"I don't believe that," she replied. "I won't believe it unless I hear it from him myself. So please, Nathan. I'm begging you."
Nathan let out a slow breath. "Alright. I'll help you—just this once. But after this, I don't want to get involved anymore."
Several weeks passed after that conversation. Chloe never called Nathan again, and she never tried to reach out to him. Nathan didn't mention any of it to Flynn. From what he could see, nothing had changed—Flynn seemed fine, and things between him and Dylan were still going well.
In the end, Nathan assumed that Chloe had decided not to go through with it after all. And so, he let the matter rest.
It was the last day of school before the upcoming Christmas holiday. Since it was the final day, there was hardly any actual work left to do. Most of the students were already in a relaxed mood—wandering around, taking photos, or simply enjoying the last hours of the term.
Jacob stretched his arms behind his head and glanced at the others. "Since we're basically free... why don't we walk around the campus? All four of us."
Nathan looked up briefly, while Flynn didn't react much.
But Dylan answered first.
"No."
Jacob blinked. "No?"
"I said no," Dylan repeated, his tone flat. "You guys go if you want."
Jacob frowned. "Why? It's the last day."
Dylan shrugged lightly, though his arm was already draped over the back of Flynn's chair in a casual but unmistakably territorial gesture. "I just want to stay here."
The message was clear enough. He didn't want anyone else tagging along when he was with Flynn.
Jacob clicked his tongue softly but didn't argue further. Instead, he turned toward Nathan, his expression immediately shifting.
"Then come with me," Jacob said.
Nathan frowned. "Why me?"
"Because you're free."
"I'm not."
"You literally have nothing to do."
Nathan opened his mouth to deny it—then paused.
Jacob smirked, clearly victorious. "See?"
Nathan leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "Why are you so persistent?"
Jacob shrugged. "Because I don't want to walk around alone."
Nathan glanced around the room. Several girls were already sneaking looks at him, whispering among themselves.
He grimaced slightly.
Spending the whole day surrounded by them sounded more exhausting than walking around with Jacob.
"...Fine," Nathan muttered. "Just for a bit."
Jacob grinned immediately. "Knew you'd agree."
Nathan rolled his eyes, grabbing his bag.
"Don't get used to it."
While Nathan and Jacob were walking around the campus, it was impossible not to notice the number of girls approaching Nathan to hand him small gifts.
He accepted them with practice ease, offering polite smiles, while Jacob simply watched in amusement.
Not too far from where they stood, Nathan noticed that Dylan was also being surrounded by students. It wasn't surprising. Ever since Dylan became MVP, his name had spread quickly across the school.
"Hey, look," Jacob suddenly said, nudging Nathan lightly. "Who's that pretty girl hugging Flynn?"
Nathan frowned at the sudden question. He followed Jacob's gaze and saw Flynn standing there with Chloe wrapped in his arms.
They weren't the only ones who had noticed. A few students nearby had already slowed their steps, some openly staring, others whispering behind their hands as they watched the scene unfold. Curious glances and hushed murmurs spread quickly.
And it wasn't hard to see why.
Chloe was undeniably beautiful, the kind of girl who could steal attention without even trying.
Nathan's eyes instinctively shifted to Dylan.
Dylan's expression was impossible to read. He simply stared at Flynn and Chloe—but Nathan could feel the tension in the way he was looking at them.
"Damn, Flynn's lucky," Jacob muttered. "I wish a girl that pretty would hug me like that. I didn't even know he had a girlfriend."
"Ex-girlfriend," Nathan corrected.
Jacob blinked. "Ex? Since when do exes hug like that?"
Nathan kept his eyes on the scene ahead. "I don't know."
The truth was, he really didn't.
He didn't know if Flynn and Chloe were truly over. He didn't know if they had talked again after he gave Chloe Flynn's contact information. The only thing Nathan knew was that this would turn into another complicated problem for Flynn and Dylan.