My Childhood Friend Has Long Been Coveting Me

d the school beauty confessing her

n't help but wonder how I cou

ad to stir up

er, our families bound by decades

down on me, and I wasn't

so routine that even our par

s size to his advantage. I realized if I didn't do something to

do. After one brutal session, I came home bru

e him down was over

ecided to join the class himself. To my dismay, he fe

issed a chance to tease me about it, but I'd learned t

school graduation. I thought college would f

cking my bags when he appeared at my door, leanin

eeing him soon gave me courage. I straightened up and

. Instinctively, I held up a pile of clothes

ression dripping with mischief. "Y

I am! Finally free from your tyranny. I'd b

nigmatic, plotting smi

his schemes had taught me one thing,

lready mapping o

s no match for him physically,

s, but now... I glanced around the empty hou

turned and walked out, leaving

wrong w

from him made me quickly forget abo

as about to savor my newfound freedom, a familiar voice ca

eeting my parents with his usual charm. My jaw

s voice low and teasing. "Surprised? Bet you didn't s

e to slap him. "Didn't you apply to As

shot back, "How do you ev

ng his gaze. "Just

ked his mom, who assured me he

University. But now, here he was, standing in fron

going to Astra College. But later, we all agreed that Westwood University was

n't matter? Your mom gav

own all along we'd be at the same school, while

without him crumbl

Toby here, we feel much better," my dad said, patting T

an adult. You don't

get your back. Just live with it. Don't interrupt." Then she continued to kindly remind Toby, "

e of attitude l

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of her.

ed. He grabbed my bag and dragged me toward the

ctivity, upperclassmen mannin

spot my department, but the s

enly looking at us, their fa

aze. From childhood to now, whenever To

se Toby was

feel he was a mature, gentl

r jobs at weekends, a model youth with good grades, good character, and good l

down, he was a mischie

e of his face and pretense, m

some distance between us. "S

shoulder. "Your mom told me to look aft

child!" I

was it that cried over a d

as just... frustrated. Stop twisting my words! I don't beli

way you did," he an

ou

udged me toward a table labeled "S

Had he been helping m

and smiled, "Since you're so eager to make p

e and for all, otherwise you'll bring

re you s

the campus. Let me help you maint

and a pen, his exp

t wasn't worth damaging my reputation just to make a point, so I

ble-a very pretty girl in a black dress. She took the form, gl

n, we share the same major. We

you,

to leave when Jesse suddenly turned to To

not from this department, s

ng Toby again. "Oh, I see. Which major are you in? I mi

in smoothly, "No need, I've al

Without another word, he grabbed my luggage a

, and she just smiled, her gaze

to dwell on it and

ssed, catching up to him. "

his tone flat. "I don't need

p it. Arguing with him was l

ry. The staff gave us the address and floor number, and a gu

dorm, I was left to haul my suitcase, bag

ely drained. I shoved my things inside and l

npacking. When the fourth roommate arrived, we al

he campus supermarket to pick up some es

tted Toby standing outside, holding

r eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hey, isn't that the guy fr

ow do you eve

aken-came to campus with his girlfriend today. Ah, outstanding people are always taken before co

. "Gossip queen, huh? Wel

familiar with the environment yet. Give me a

oesn't have a

ened. "How d

rs chimed in, their voices over

o a trap. Their eyes were gleaming w

Because I'm the one who came with him,

omical. "What?" they screeched, lo

is phone and starte

enly straightened up, forming a nea

dn't comment, simply handing

" I asked, pe

inkillers, and disinfec

picion. "Why are you giving me t

lightest change in weather. And with your knack for getting into trouble, you'll probably need these sooner or

hed the items from him as he was about to take them

try not to end up in the medical room aga

ike vultures, bombarding me with questions. It was like high

ir inquiries while hea

tic. I came down with a nasty cold that escalated into a feve

through freshman activities, I

Toby standing by my bedsi

hallucination, but I could've sworn

im, murmuring, "Why are you here? Aren't

to my ears like a whisper in the wind, "Why

ind foggy, and grumbled softl

ng pulled up to my neck, tightly coverin

d back t

room, my fever had subsided, and I

he medical room, I sa

as his lessons were over, as sw

rom my hand and offered me his

. "I'm not an in

ook. "You coul

"Can you lower your voice? I'm still a patient. W

o say something but holding back, a

still managed to get t

the chance to enjo

to celebrate a roommate'

figure standing alone near the gates. It

nd him and tapp

when he saw it was me. He reached out to pinch

?" he muttered,

e you doing here? W

ded va

been standing here for ages.

a voice interrupted us. "Sor

e approaching, her s

d me with a friendly, "Oh

. "Jesse, right? Wha