CHAPTER 4

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"Austin!" Ash was about to hug me, but someone stepped in front of me. I didn't expect to see "that guy."

What on earth is he doing?

Looking at Ash, she was taken aback to see the irritating guy who had prevented her from hugging me.

She uttered a word in a lowered voice, so I didn't hear it very well.

"I'm sorry, but could you please excuse us?" He asked Ash.

"Uh..." Yes. Yes, certainly. Of course!" Ash said. Her voice faltered, but she managed to smile at the end of her sentence.

Meanwhile, I was left unable to hear. It feels like I've run out of words to say.

"Thank you." He replied and then turned to face me. "Let's go." He took my hand and pulled me away from Ash and Liam until we left the cafeteria.

He is still holding my hand while we walk down the hallway. I don't know where we are going. But what on earth is he doing? Who is this crazy guy and why is he acting like this? What the heck. We were being stared at by the students we passed in the hallway.

I snapped back to my senses when I remembered what he said earlier.

"Let me go!" I stopped as I withdrew my hand from his grip, causing both of us to come to a halt. He turned around to face me.

"I thought you didn't want me to infect you? Why did you touch me?" I asked him. I raised my voice a little.

"Why?" he asked, his eyes suspiciously looking at me. "Do you really have sore eyes?"

"What?"

How did he come to know?

"You don't have sore eyes, do you?"

"What... What are you talking about?" I was trying to calm myself down so I wouldn't stutter. "I have sore eyes, that's why..." however, he interrupted me before I could finish my sentence.

"I know you don't have sore eyes. You don't need to lie." He asserted confidently. He exuded such confidence in it.

Yes, he's correct, but how in the world did he know? Through the glasses, is he able to see my eyes?

Not possible. It is tinted.

Once again, I was at a lost for words. Damn! I don't know what to say. I was caught off guard.

This guy is frustratingly strange.

But what does that matter to me? He is a stranger to me. I don't know him and he doesn't know me.

"So what? You shouldn't worry about this! Now, give me my bracelet and get out of my sight!"

"I haven't asked my friends yet."

"What!?" I raised my voice and drew my brows together. He still doesn't have my bracelet after all this time?

I sneered. "Then why the hell did you come to see me if you don't have my bracelet yet?"

He gave a small chuckle to what I stated. It truly irritates me the way he laughed.

"I never said that I already have your bracelet with me. Plus, I never said I came to see you. I just happened to see you in the cafeteria."

"Huh!" I laughed derisively. "You're annoying! Don't you even think about following me! Crazy!" I warned him before I walked over him.

Damn it! I could feel the heat of annoyance in my chest because of that crazy guy. My day is already ruined before it has even begun.

I thought Ash and Liam would ruin my day, but I was wrong.

—

CHASE's POV

I couldn't help but smile as I watched Austin walk away from me. I didn't know he would be this adorable when he's annoyed.

For now, I have no intention of giving him his bracelet. I'll hold onto it for now.

But why is he wearing glasses when he doesn't have sore eyes?

To be honest, at first I believed him when he said he had sore eyes, but I happened to notice out of the corner of his eye that his eyes weren't red. There was no sign of redness; instead, his eyes were a little bit swollen. It seems like he cried through the night.

Perhaps he truly cried through the night.

But for what reason?

Just then, I recalled what I saw yesterday. He was crying in the swimming pool area over a girl.

Then, it became clear. That was the reason for his swollen eyes.

—

ASHLEY'S POV

"Oh my god! Did you see that? Isn't that Chase? The swimmer? Is he close to Austin?" I asked Liam while we were eating here in the cafeteria.

I was really surprised to see Chase Wilson, the popular swimmer at our university. I used to have a crush on him the first time I saw him. He is handsome and very good at swimming.

I still admire him now, but not in a serious way. I am only admiring him as a fan because I have a boyfriend now, who is Liam. Thanks to Austin for helping me confess to Liam yesterday.

It was somewhat amusing, actually, because Liam had liked me for quite a while too. Basically means we had mutual feelings. But he couldn't find the right moment to confess to me because he was afraid of being rejected and that it would ruin our friendship.

Anyway, how did Austin and Chase get to know each other? When did it begin?

"Yeah. But I didn't know that he is close to Austin." Liam responded. He is as confused as I am.

I nodded my head, agreeing with what he said. "Right. Or maybe we just don't know anything? Anyway, let's ask him later."

"Right." Okay. Liam agreed and smiled at me.

"But did you notice it earlier too? Austin was wearing glasses."

"Yeah. I saw it."

"Why could that be?"

Liam shrugged his shoulder. "I am not sure, but I think it's part of his style."

"Hmm. I guess." I chuckled.

Then, we kept on eating. After we ate, Liam walked me to my classroom before heading to his.

Liam and I are in the same year, but we are not in the same class since he and Austin are in the engineering department, and I'm in the tourism department.

—

LIAM's POV

On my way to the classroom after I dropped Ash off, I couldn't stop thinking about how Austin and the swimmer guy know each other. Since when did they become close? I mean, Austin has never seen a swimming competition.

I never knew that Austin knew Chase, even though I'm with him all the time. It's simply really unbelievable.

Just then, from a distance, I spotted a familiar guy. When did I see this guy?

Right. This guy is a friend of Chase. I remember. I often saw them together.

I walked towards him and stood in his way, causing him to stop walking. He raised his eyebrows in confusion when he looked at me.

"Yeah? Do you have a problem?" He asked.

"Are you friends with a swimmer guy?" I asked directly.

"Swimmer guy? Who? There are many swimmers in the swimming club. Who are you referring to among them?"

"Chase. I'm talking about Chase."

"Oh. Yes. I'm friends with him. Why do you ask?"

"How did he know Austin? How did he become friends with him?"

"Excuse me? Austin? Who is that guy?" A look of bewilderment crossed his face.

"Don't you know Austin?"

"Yeah. I don't know anyone named Austin."

Doesn't he know anyone named Austin? How come when he is friends with Chase? Impossible, however judging from his face, I can tell that he is not lying. He looks clueless.

"Okay. Never mind. Thanks." Then I walked away from him.

When I arrived in the class room, I searched for Austin but there was no sign of him.

—

AUSTIN's POV

I spoke with my professor this morning to let him know that I won't be able to attend his class because I will be resting at the clinic since I'm not feeling well. Of course, that was just a lie. I just don't feel like going to class this morning. I'm lazy.

Fortunately, I know the assigned doctor at the clinic today, so I could rest here this morning.

My gaze was drawn when someone pulled aside the curtain. It was Doctor Travis.

"Hey, kid. I will be leaving for now. I will be right back. Keep an eye on the clinic for me." He gave me an order.

"Yes, of course. For the record, I am not a kid." I said, emphasizing the word kid.

"Whatever you say, Austin. You're still such a kid." He said and closed the curtain as he left.

"Tss." I whispered.

As soon as I heard his footsteps leaving the clinic and the sound of the door closing, I shut my eyes. I tried to sleep, but I just couldn't. So, I ended up opening my eyes and just stared at the ceiling.

Just then, for reasons I couldn't quite understand, the swimmer guy slash the annoying guy popped into my mind.

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