Love is... 2 (Gus and Rex) - 3. Chapter 3

That evening, after we all left the cinema, I exchanged numbers with Rex (damn he’s such a cutie with a cool name). He said he’d call me later to talk about tutoring, since we hadn’t really talked much today. I was too busy being shy and messing around with Marcus, while he mostly chatted with his own friends. So we still hadn’t properly gotten to know each other. But honestly, just this little bit was enough to make me giddy—and I stayed in that daze all night.

The next day, after school, I couldn’t stop talking about Rex to those two idiots. They ended up egging me on to call him first. And, well, I’m the type who gives in to peer pressure. So, once I got home and chatted with my mom a bit, I went straight up to my room, pulled my phone out of my pocket, and dialed Rex right away.

“Hello?”

Oh my goddddd... even his voice on the phone sounds hot!!

“Hi, Rex. It’s Gus.”

“Hey, Gus. What’s up? How are you doing?”

“I’m good, thanks. What about you? Is this a bad time? Am I bothering you?”

“Nah, I’m just sitting in my room reading.”

“Wowww, you’re so studious! I just got home and I’m already sleepy. I was about to take a nap. Now I feel ashamed! You make me look bad, you know?”

He chuckled softly. “No wonder your mom wants to hire a tutor. So you’re a sleepyhead, huh?”

“Sleepyhead is putting it nicely. You should just point at me and call me a lazy ass! Haha!”

He laughed again, and just picturing that smile made me go all melty and sink right into the bed.

“So, Gus, is there something you needed? Or just calling to chat?”

“Oh! Yeah, right—so I talked to my mom, and I’d like to study with you. Math and Physics. If that’s possible, I mean. It depends on when you’re free—what day, what time, where, all that—yada yada yada.”

“Haha, honestly, I haven’t really thought about it yet. I don’t have class on weekends. And during the week, I’ve got class every day except Tuesday. On Thursdays and Fridays, I’m free in the afternoon. Has your mom said what day or time she prefers yet? But if you’re doing two subjects, we’ll have to add more days. You think you can handle that?”

It’s not just that I can handle it. I’m dying to!

“And about where to study—any thoughts?”

“Hmm... how about this? Would you be okay with coming to my place during the week? Just pick two days that work for you—Wednesday and Thursday maybe—and just stay over here. I mean, like sleep at my house, with Max. Then you could go to class with him the next morning. That way it wouldn’t be so tiring for you. My mom prefers that I study at home anyway, but I also don’t want to inconvenience you by making you come here all the time. So, on the weekends, just two hours a day—I’ll come to your dorm. That way it’s fair, half and half. Sound good?”

Rex went quiet for a second, and I lay there waiting nervously, wondering if my plan—I mean, my suggestion—was okay with him.

“Alright, that works. But my dorm’s kind of a mess. If you’re really coming, I better tidy up.” He chuckled softly.

My heart ballooned instantly. “Nooo, I don’t mind at all! My room is even messier. My mom says it’s so bad that if a snake slithered in, it’d get scared and run away! Haha!”

“Haha, that’s a bit dramatic. So, when do you want to start?”

How about... right now?? It’s only been a day, and I already miss you so bad I could die!

“Let’s say next week? I’ll talk to my mom again just to make sure...” Gotta play it cool sometimes, you know? “And also... I need to clean my room first. Haha!”

“Alright, cool. That gives me time to go buy books and prep a bit. Anything specific you wanna focus on?”

“Everything. Please don’t forget the reason you’re about to tutor me is because I’m dumb. But hey, if you’re going to buy books, can I come with? I wanna look around too—and I can show you which topics I suck at the most.”

“Geez, listen to you. Max’s never once told me his little brother is dumb. He just says you’re into hanging out with friends, sports, going out... and girls.”

“Girls?? You can toss that one out the window! In fact, toss it at Max’s face. Damn it. Me? Into girls? No way. Never happened.”

Did I give myself away too much?

“Alright, alright. So, we’re going book shopping together. When’s good?”

“Tomorrow’s Friday, right? You don’t have class in the afternoon, yeah? Wanna go in the evening after I finish school?”

“Hmmm, tomorrow? I don’t think I can make it.”

My heart sank a bit. “Oh really?”

“Can we do Saturday instead? I’m free all day.”

“Absolutely!” I said, instantly cheered up.

“Hehe, alright. Let’s go with that. I’m gonna hop in the shower and grab something to eat now.”

“Okay, cool. We’ll talk again soon.”

“Yep, just call me. Oh, and one more thing—sorry again about yesterday in front of the bathroom.”

“Haha, no worries! I was spacing out anyway.”

“No, it was me. I was on my phone. I was texting with Christina and wasn’t paying attention. Swung that door open way too hard. I nearly lost a customer there, huh?” He giggled.

“If I’d been knocked out or got amnesia or something, you’d have to take care of me. Feed me and everything!”

“Damn, that serious, huh? Then I’m lucky you were okay.” He chuckled softly again. “Hey, by the way... what should I call you? I mean, you seem to call yourself Gus, but everyone—your friends, my friends—they all seem to call you Chubby.”

“Yeah, that,” I said, though secretly I’d been hoping he’d call me lover—but that was way too damn cringey. “So at home, my dad, the workers, relatives—they all called me Gus, or August. Only my mom and Max ever called me Chubby, and my school friends just picked it up from them. But actually, a lot of people still called me Gus. Probably more than the ones who picked Chubby.”

“So, what do you want me to call you—Gus or Chubby?”

“Gus, please! I like that name better. I’m not fat, right? Plus ‘August’ is kinda cool—it totally suits my face and vibe!”

“Haha, alright, you got it. Then I’ll call you Gus from now on. Talk soon, Mr. August.”

He ended with a teasing tone.

“Okay, Rex,” I grinned so hard my cheeks almost split.

After hanging up, I grabbed my bolster pillow, rolled around the bed, grinning like an idiot, blushing like mad, and feeling like I was floating. My heart felt so full, I couldn’t believe I got to talk to someone this cute.

I seriously wonder... could someone this sweet, this cute, this smart and proper—could he actually be gay too?

.
.
.

Friday passed by so slowly I could barely wait for Saturday to come. And when the morning of the day I’d been waiting for finally arrived, I woke up early and got myself all dressed up. With the little bit of short hair I had on my head, I had to wax it and shape it the best I could to look neat but still natural. The cologne I picked was a soft scent—the kind I liked most. I was determined that this time when we met, I’d make sure he’d be impressed by something about me. And more importantly, I had to find out if he liked guys too.

I took the NJ Transit to meet Rex at downtown New Brunswick like we had agreed, and I arrived a bit early—just as planned. I waited inside a donut shop that had a moderate crowd. I hadn’t been there long when I saw him open the door and step inside. But it seemed like he hadn’t spotted where I was sitting yet, so I took this chance to admire—uh, look at him freely and happily.

Rex was seriously cute. I’d say he was probably just around 5 feet 8, maybe a bit shorter, but it suited his face and personality perfectly. He had fair skin, baby face, small nose, small ears, round shiny eyes, thin lips, braces, almost-shaved head—and on top of that, he had a dimple. That made him look even cuter when he smiled or laughed, several times over. And yet, he also gave off a cheeky, playful, slightly mischievous vibe. He wasn’t the kind of small, sweet-faced guy you could immediately label as gay. How should I put it… I thought he looked really masculine—not feminine at all. So, when Max once told me that a lot of girls liked him, and even if he did have a girlfriend, I wouldn’t find it surprising at all.

But because of his looks, combined with his small build, I couldn’t help but wonder whether he might actually be gay. I’m sure a lot of tops must’ve wondered the same thing.
Hmm… So, does that mean I’m a top?

Rex stood around scanning the shop for a moment before our eyes finally met. When he saw me, he smiled wide and walked straight toward me. My heart was pounding so hard. I wanted to just grab him into a hug and get it over with!

“Have you been here long? Sorry I’m late—I was busy cleaning up my room,” he said, pulling out the chair across from me and sitting down.

“It’s fine,” I replied. “But why were you in such a rush to clean? I’m not going to your place until next week.”

“Oh, no. One of my friends is coming over this evening, so I had to tidy up a bit.”

“Ohh, what time?”

“Early evening, I guess. Why?”

“No reason. Just asking. Is it your friends—Art and them?”

“No, no. Not Art. It’s another friend.”

“Mmm. Got it. Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet. I woke up late and just rushed to clean, shower, and get dressed. What about you? Have you eaten?”

“Not yet either. Should we grab something to eat first? Do you need to hurry back?”

“Not really. I’m free until this evening. Got the whole day.”

“In that case, after we buy the books, wanna catch a movie with me?” I jumped on the chance. “Keep me company, please. I mean, I already left the house, I don’t really wanna go back so soon.”

“Heyy, didn’t you just see one the other day?”

“Yeah, but I really like watching movies. But if you don’t feel like it, it’s okay. I can go alone.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll go. Don’t make that sulky face. I never said I wasn’t going. Besides, I’m free anyway.”

Ohhhhhh, thank you heavens!!

“Thank you so much!!” I grinned wide.

“Hey, what are you thanking me for? I haven’t even done anything yet,” Rex laughed softly.

I swear, someday I might really die from his smile.

After that, the two of us went to another place to have brunch together. During the meal, we ended up talking about all kinds of things. I did most of the talking, sure, but we still exchanged bits and pieces about our lives.

I learned that Rex was originally from Cape May, down south. He got in through a recommendation and now attends a university near New Brunswick—the same one as my brother. He was the middle child, with one older sister and one younger brother. He had met my brother shortly before freshman orientation started, and since they hit it off, he decided to move out of his old dorm and live at the apartment near Rutgers with my brother. Rex said that honestly, Max was a pretty decent guy and did okay in his studies. It’s just that he got too wrapped up in partying and chasing girls, so his grades started dropping. That’s why my parents decided to bring him back home. And that was no news to me. I even knew who the girls were. Of course, when I got the chance, I went straight to the question that had been nagging at me.

“Rex, can I ask you something? Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Heck no,” he laughed.

“Really?” I raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

“Yeah, really! Why would I lie?” He grinned, showing his dark blue braces.

“Okay, okay! I wasn’t accusing you or anything,” I shrugged, though deep down I was thinking—if he was telling the truth, then that was amazing.

They say time flies when you’re happy, and man, that couldn’t have been more true—especially today. The whole day passed way too fast. I wanted to freeze it… or at least stretch it out to 48 hours.

After brunch, we browsed for books together. Then we had lunch, caught a movie, and ended the day with ice cream. Before I knew it, it was already pushing seven in the evening, and Rex said he needed to head back to his dorm.

“It’s just six-ish,” I said. “Didn’t you say your friend was coming over late in the evening?”

“Yeah, but it’s already six forty-five. That kind of counts as evening, doesn’t it? And anyway, my dorm’s close. You, on the other hand, still have to catch the train all the way back to Westfield. Won’t your parents freak if you’re home too late?”

“Oh, no one really keeps track of me anymore. Everyone’s used to me getting back late.”

“Wow. What a bad kid,” he teased.

“That’s not true at all! I’m a good kid, okay? I only get back late ‘cause of sports. It’s not like I’m out partying or whatever.”

“Haha, okay, okay. I get it. I just don’t want your parents blaming me—your so-called tutor—for dragging you around the city. Then they’ll ban you from studying with me.”

“Ugh, Rex, you’re overthinking it. But if you’re gonna make it sound like that, fine, I’ll go home. Sigh... I bet the ‘friend’ coming over is a girl, huh?”

“What’s with the tone?” he chuckled.

My heart dipped—but I kept smiling through it.

“Ohhh, so you’re not denying it. That means yes, huh?”

“Well... yeah.”

“What the hell! And you said you didn’t have a girlfriend. Damn, you sly dog. Is she your secret hookup?”

“No, no! She’s not a girlfriend or anything like that. Just a regular friend,” Rex said with a smile—but for some reason, that smile stung. “Anyway, enough about that. Come on, I’ll walk you to the station.”

“Okay...” I said, grabbing my bag.

We paid, and after Rex got his change, he turned back to me with another warm smile.

“Let’s go.”

I shook my head gently. “It’s alright, Rex. You should head back. I can walk myself.”

“What? Nah, it’s fine. She hasn’t even called yet. I’ll walk you over first.”

“No need to wait around for her. You’ll just end up arguing. I’m going now. Thanks for today, seriously. We’ll talk later. Bye.”

I gave him a short wave—then a couple more for good measure—and walked off without looking back.

That night, after I got home, I stared at my phone. I wanted to text him so many times… but I just sat there looking at the screen. I opened my messages, hoping he’d texted me.
Nothing.

Frustrated and restless, I couldn’t stop thinking about what he might be doing... with that “female friend” of his.

The more I imagined it—his soft, fair skin, those bright eyes, being with someone else—the more it messed with my head.

“Hey! Chubby… Gus… Chubby Gus! Gus Chubby! Yo! Gubby!!” That idiot brother of mine was yelling from outside my door. “Open up already!”

“What?!” I yanked the door open. “I told you—pick a name and stick with it. Quit being annoying. I don’t like it.”

“What the hell’s with you?” Max squinted at me. “You mad at someone?”

“No. What do you want?”

“Nothing big. I just wanna borrow that pink long-sleeve of yours. Gonna wear it tomorrow.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I walked to my closet, grabbed it, and tossed it at him.

“Thanks, man.” He turned to go but paused halfway. “Oh, right—you went out with Rex today to get books, yeah? How’d that go?”

“How’d you even know?”

“Mom told me. Didn’t you mention it this morning? That you were heading out with your future tutor?”

“Yeah… I did…”

“So? What’d you guys do? How’s Rex?”

I shrugged. “It was fine. Nothing special.”

Max raised a brow. “What’s with you, Chubby? Oh wait—Gus, right? Didn’t you make him call you that?”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s it. You done now? I gotta make a call.”

“Yeah, yeah. Chill.”

He turned away.

“Hey, Max.”

“What?”

I hesitated. “…Never mind.”

“What’s up with you, Chubby?”

I shut the door in his face.

I checked my phone again. Still nothing from Rex.

Scrolling aimlessly, I saw Art was online, so I messaged him.

“Art, whatcha doing?”

“Listening to music. What’s up, Chubby? You went out with Rex today, right?”

“How’d you know that?”

“Rex told me. Last night. Said he was hitting the bookstore with you. He even called me earlier tonight too. Why?”

“No reason. Just asking.”

I tapped my screen a few times before typing again.

“You free? Can I call instead? Looks like a storm’s coming and my Wi-Fi’s trash right now.”

“Sure, give me like five minutes.”

“Cool. I’ll call then.”

I tossed the phone down and flopped onto the bed.

What the hell was I even gonna say?

A few minutes later, Art called me first.

“Yo, what’s up?” he said as soon as I picked up. “Figured I’d just call you instead. So—what’s going on?”

“Oh, nothing! Just missed you, my bro, that’s all,” I said casually. “Felt like talking but didn’t feel like texting. Plus, my Wi-Fi’s being a pain right now. Thunder’s rumbling out here. Is it raining near your dorm?”

“Hmm, not really. Just windy. It hasn’t started raining yet.”

“What are you up to?”

“Not much. I was on my laptop earlier, then got up to pee. After I shook it off and washed my hands, I figured I’d call you.”

“Dude, TMI! I didn’t need the whole bathroom play-by-play,” I groaned.

“Hey, you asked!” Art chuckled.

“Oh, right—Art, is your dorm close to Rex’s?”

“Yeah, just a short walk away. Oh! So how was today anyway? What did you guys end up doing? Rex didn’t say much.”

“Not much. Looked at books, grabbed lunch, got ice cream, saw a movie. You know—normal stuff.”

“Daaaamn, that sounds like a date.”

“It wasn’t a date! We’re both guys, okay? And besides, Rex already has a girlfriend… doesn’t he?”

“Wait—what? Rex has a girlfriend? Did he say that?”

“Not directly. I mean… kind of. He got all weird when he said someone was coming over to his place tonight, and it turned out to be a girl.”

“What?! A girl went to his dorm? Seriously?!”

“You didn’t know?”

“Hell no, how would I know?! Who is she? Did he say her name? What exactly did he say? Spill it!”

“Relax. He just said he had a friend coming over this evening. When I poked a bit, I figured out it was a girl. He didn’t deny it, but he did say it wasn’t anything romantic. Just a friend.”

“Wow. Rex having a girl over… I’m dying to know who she is now.”

“So… you’re saying it’s really not his girlfriend?”

“Not as far as I know. I’ve never seen him seriously talking to any girl like that. Unless he’s been sneaky about it.”

“But he said she wasn’t his girlfriend. Not even someone he’s talking to.”

“Well, if he’s telling the truth, then yeah—probably nothing. Maybe just sex… But I mean, from what I’ve seen, Rex isn’t the type to flirt around or hook up casually. He’s not your brother.”

“Okay okay, stop. Don’t bring Max into this. I’m so done hearing about him.”

Art laughed. “Alright, alright. Sorry. So what’s the verdict? Still wanna study with Rex?”

“Of course I do. He’s a good guy. Super chill. But not as talkative as you guys made him sound. I feel like he spent most of the time just listening to me ramble.”

“That’s because you talk nonstop, Chubby. Rex probably couldn’t even get a word in. Haha!” Art cracked up. “But for real, he’s the kind of guy who smiles and laughs more than he talks. Not loud and chaotic like you, Mr. Energy.”

“Whoa, slow down! I’m totally soft-spoken, shy, and sweet.”

“Yeah. Sure you are,” he said, snorting. “Totally believable.”

Arthur had been my brother’s friend first, but I felt closer to him than I did to Max. I could talk to him about almost anything. Honestly, sometimes I felt more like he was my real older brother. Not that I didn’t love Max or anything—it’s just that Max and I felt more like roommates who shared DNA, while Art gave off that actual big brother vibe. Like the kind who joked around but still made you feel safe. Maybe that was what having a proper sibling relationship was supposed to be like—friendly, but with some respectful distance.

“So, who exactly was it that visited Rex?” Art asked, like he’d been dying to know the whole time.

And that, right there, was exactly why I called—to get him curious enough to dig around for me.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” I replied, playing it innocent.

“Guess I’ll just call him myself. No way I’m letting this mystery slide. Hahaha!”

“Suit yourself. Anyway, I won’t bug you anymore.”

“Alright, talk soon, bro. If I find out anything juicy, I’ll let you know.”

Yes!! That was exactly what I’d hoped for.

“Fine, whatever. Not like I care that much,” I tossed in one last line for drama before he hung up.

The next evening, Art texted me and said the visitor at Rex’s apartment turned out to be really just one of their friends—no one suspicious, nothing happened apart from chatting about the report they were working together, just like I’d hoped. He even joked that he was disappointed it hadn’t been something spicier. But me? I was thrilled. That meant I still had a shot. And yeah, love always came with a few roadblocks, right? A little distance makes the heart grow fonder, or whatever they say.

So, I told myself that ever since our little bookstore hangout, Rex must’ve liked me—at least a little. And to test the waters, I decided not to text him. No messages. No phone calls. No casual check-ins. I wanted to see if he’d miss me first.

That little silent challenge lasted a whole… two days.

Because by the second night, my phone lit up with a message from him:

“How’s it going, handsome? You disappeared on me.”

At that moment, I was sitting at my desk, stressing over a report. But the second I read his message, a huge, stupid grin spread across my face like a maniac. Just one short sentence and I was already over the moon. So much for playing hard to get—those plans evaporated the second his name lit up on my screen.

“Nothing much, just sitting here looking handsome in front of my laptop,” I typed back and hit send.

“Oh really,” he replied.

“And thinking about Rex at the exact same timeee~” I added.

“Awwww, come on. Why are you thinking about me?” he shot back, followed by a bunch of laughing emojis.

“Thinking about our tutoring, of course. I’m excited!”

“Why though? What’s there to be excited about?”

“I dunno. I just am. Hehe.”

I grinned to myself. I was so tempted to type: “Because I get to study with a hot tutor like you.” But I figured that might be a little too much. So I held back.
He didn’t answer for a second, then:
“It’s only a few days away. It’s this Saturday, right?”

“Yup! You cleaned your room already?”

“Hahaha yeah, every corner is spotless.”

“How about your bed? Is that clean too? No weird stains or anything?”

“Hey! That’s too far, you little perv. Hahahaha!”

“Chill~ I’m not being pervy. I’m pure and innocent, thank you very much.”

“Oh suuure. First thing you ask about is stains on my bed. Really now?”

“Pfft, I meant like, drool stains or something! Thought maybe you drool in your sleep or whatever.”

“I don’t, okay? And even if I did, so what? It’s my bed. I sleep alone. Jeez.”

“Here, Gus will come sleep with you, keep you company. Hahaha!”

“Uhhh, are you here to study or nap?”

“Study first. Nap later. But if I do nap, you gotta sing me a lullaby. I can’t sleep otherwise.”

“Hahahaha, this kid.”

“And you gotta pat my butt gently too, like, real soothing~ lol.”

“LOL what is wrong with you? You’re nothing like your brother!”

“Obviously! How can you compare sweet little Gus to someone like Max? That’s just insulting!”

“Alright, alright. My bad. Hahaha.”

“Comparing me to him is like comparing pure gold to gold foil, Rex!”

We kept texting like that for a while, and honestly, I was glowing. If Marcus saw me, he’d say I was being way too flirty. And he’d be absolutely right.

But I swear I wasn’t usually like this. I wasn’t some flirty, over-the-top guy. I was just a regular teen who happened to like guys and maybe—just maybe—was really good at showing it. That’s all.

I mean, come on. I didn’t want to bottle up another secret crush like I did with Marcus. I never wanted to feel invisible again. And I’d never liked anyone or wanted anyone to be mine this much—not until Rex.

Then finally, the day I’d been waiting for—the tutoring day—arrived.

I woke up early, feeling refreshed and full of nervous energy. After brushing my teeth, I bounded downstairs and grabbed a cold glass of orange juice.

“What’s going on? How come you’re up this early? It’s only seven-thirty,” Mom asked from the kitchen, raising an eyebrow.

“What? You forgot I’ve got tutoring with Rex today?” I said as I opened the fridge.

“But your lesson isn’t until one!”

I poured the juice and grinned. “Come on, Mom. Isn’t it a good thing I woke up early for once? You’re acting like I sleep in all the time.”

“You do sleep in all the time—till like ten or eleven,” she said flatly.

I took a huge gulp of the juice—regretting it instantly because brushing your teeth right before orange juice is always a bad idea. Still, I didn’t care. I loved juice.
Then I gave her my best sparkly-eyed look and pouted dramatically. “Ouch. That hurts, Mom. Truly.”

“Ugh, look at that face. Get outta here!” she laughed, waving her kitchen knife at me. “Go do whatever you want. But hey—go tell someone to clean up the kitchen. Find Ash or someone. Shoo.”

“Yes, ma’am!” I finished my juice and ran off to grab one of the housekeepers like she asked, then headed back upstairs to my room.

I sat at my desk, turned on my laptop, and—of course—checked my texts first. Nothing from Rex yet. So, I jumped on Facebook, scrolled through the feed, and even peeked at Rex’s profile to see if he’d posted anything new.

But just like Max and Art had said—he didn’t post much. Barely anything. A couple tagged pics, a few generic comments from classmates, and that was it.

I let my fingers tap absentmindedly on the keyboard as I stared at the screen. Then I shifted in my chair and updated both my Facebook status and profile message. I knew he’d see it eventually. And if any of my friends asked me what it meant, I wasn’t going to explain a thing. Let them wonder.

Eventually, I got up, hopped in the shower, and picked out something cute to wear. Then came breakfast—which, to be honest, was the first time in months I’d actually sat down to eat with both of my parents in the morning.

As for Max… well, since he went out last night, there was no way in hell he’d be up before noon.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go to school not long ago? And now look at you—all dressed up and ready to go,” my dad teased. “Who are you? What have you done to my son?”

“What? Come on, Dad. Your son’s just naturally handsome and diligent, that’s all,” I shrugged.

“Yeah? Must’ve gotten it from me,” he grinned.

“I swear, you two are gonna drive me nuts one of these days,” Mom muttered, shaking her head. “So, what time are you heading out, Chubby?”

“Around ten-thirty. Maybe eleven.”

“Then leave with me at eleven. I’ve got errands to run anyway. I’ll drop you at the train station.”

“Sweet! Deal. Saves me money too. Love that!” I pushed myself up from the table.

“And after you arrive there, don’t forget to tell me, alright? And after your lesson, don’t wander around. Got it? I have Rex’s number, and I can check in anytime. Also, don’t mess with him too much.”

“Mooooom! I’m in eleventh grade! And I haven’t even left yet! Why the early lecture?”

“I’m not lecturing, I’m warning you. Now, go get ready. I’ll give you some pocket money for snacks”

“That’s why you’re my favorite, Mom!” I hugged her and planted a big kiss on her cheek.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. In this house, everyone’s affectionate when money’s involved.”

Laughing, I kissed her again and headed back upstairs. When I opened Facebook, I saw a ton of likes and comments on my status. The first comment? Of course, it was Marcus—my bestie. He didn’t say much. Just one word: “Hoe.”

I kept scrolling until I hit the last comment. It was from Rex.

I immediately opened iMessage and sent him a text.

“You’re up already, Rex?”

“Just woke up a minute ago.”

“What’re you doing?”

“Nothing really. Just woke up. Thinking of tidying up a bit. Haven’t even brushed my teeth yet. LOL.”

“Ewwww stinky! LOL.”

“You’re so dramatic. I don’t stink.”

“Let me smell and check for myself. Gotta confirm.” I added a wink emoji and sent it.

“Are you crazy? How would you smell me?”

“Then I’ll do it in person.”

He didn’t reply right away. Then finally:
“Haha.”

That was all. And honestly? My heart sank a little.

I was about to change the topic when another message popped up:
“If you dare, then go ahead.”

I smiled like a fool.

“Ohhh hoooo, was that a challenge?”

“It wasn’t a challenge. By the way, that Facebook status this morning… who was that about? You crushing on someone?”

“Nooo. Just a joke.”

“Ahh, I see.”

“Just feeling warm and fuzzy, that’s all.”

“Hmmmm.”

“Hehe. It’s nothing really. Anyway, aren’t you gonna go shower and eat? I might be heading out soon.”

“Oh? Why so early?”

“My dad wants me to leave with him. So I might get there a bit earlier than planned.”

“Ah, okay. Once you’re on the train, don’t forget to call me.”

“What, you leaving already?”

“Huh? You were the one who said you were heading out soon and told me to go shower.”

“Ohhh nahhh. I meant I’ll probably leave in like an hour. But you go shower first!”

“Alright, got it.”

“But come back and text me after! I’m bored. None of my friends are up yet.”

“Haha, okay, okay. I’ll be quick.”

I grinned to myself and waited while he showered. We ended up chatting again afterward, long enough that I completely lost track of time. I didn’t realize how late it was until Dad came knocking on my bedroom door.

To be honest, I’d already planned to arrive early—just so I could hang out with him a little longer. And since Dad drove me to the station, I got to Rex’s place even faster than expected.

After I got off the train, I called him.

“Hey, I’m almost there.”

He gave me directions to his building, and after a short walk, a quick bus ride, and another short walk, I found myself outside his place.

“Hellooo! I’m outside your building now,” I texted. “Come get me, please?”

“Alright, alright. Give me three minutes.”

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and waited, heart thudding in my chest. It wasn’t even the first time I was seeing him, but I still felt like my stomach was doing somersaults.

A few moments later, I spotted his compact, muscular frame coming down the stairs toward the front entrance. He wore a plain white T-shirt and white soccer shorts—simple, sure, but somehow, he looked like he’d just walked out of a laundry detergent commercial. Clean, glowing, unfairly attractive.

“What’s up? Why are you just standing there? Come in already,” Rex said, grinning as he opened the door and waved me inside.

“Good afternoon, Rex.” I flashed him a cheeky smile. “You’re looking extra chill today.”

“Well, I’m not going anywhere. What do you want me to wear? A tux? It’s hot as hell. This is survival gear,” he shot back with a laugh.

I followed him up the narrow stairwell, watching the sway of his round butt as we climbed. Not trying to be creepy, but hey—some sights are worth appreciating.

“My room’s on the fourth floor. You good with stairs?”

“Come on, Rex! I’m seventeen, not seventy. I can handle it.”

He chuckled. “Just messing with you.”

“Did you eat yet?”

“Not yet. You?”

“Not yet either,” I said, meaning lunch.

“You hungry?”

“A little. You?”

“Yeah, same. Let’s drop your stuff off first and figure it out after. Sound good?” he said as we reached the top floor.

“Sounds good to me,” I said with a shrug.

Rex turned left, walked a few doors down, and opened one without even unlocking it.

His room looked exactly like how I imagined an off-campus Rutgers student’s place would look. Not too big, but cozy. On the left was a queen-sized bed. On the right, two desks—one of which doubled as a TV stand. There were two wardrobes tucked into the far corner, a mini fridge, a microwave, and a full bookshelf with stuff crammed onto two shelves. The rest of his essentials were neatly tucked along the edges of the room or in makeshift organizers. It had that lived-in, slightly chaotic charm that screamed college guy.

“Whoa,” I said, pointing at the lineup of shoes on the rack and floor. “How many pairs do you even have?”

He laughed. “It’s not that many. I only really wear a few. Most of them belong to my friends’. That black-and-white pair is actually your brother’s.”

"Oh right! I remember those. But why would people leave their shoes at your place and walk out barefoot?"

“Beats me,” he chuckled. “You can drop your bag on the bed if you want.”

I tossed it down and flopped onto the mattress while he crossed the room to turn on the TV. He grabbed the remote, walked over, and held it out to me.

“Here. Watch whatever you want.”

I reached for the remote—but then, a mischievous idea popped into my head. Instead of taking it, I grabbed his wrist, pulled him a little closer, and stood up.

“Let me smell you,” I said, leaning in slightly with a grin.

“Wha—HEY!!” Rex jumped back, laughing. “Dude, what the hell! Hahaha!”

“What? You said I could, remember?”

“I was joking! Who actually takes that seriously?” He kept laughing, flustered.

“Then why are you blushing?” I teased.

“You just startled me, alright? Now sit down and stay here like a good boy. I’m hitting the bathroom for a sec,” he said, tapping my forehead with a light flick.

“Owww! How dare you bully poor little me like that?”

“In what universe are you poor or little?” He laughed as he walked toward the bathroom. “We’ve barely hung out a handful of times and you’re already trying to sniff me...”

“Wipe clean while you’re in there, alright?” I called after him with a grin.

“Leave me alone, you brat,” he said over his shoulder, still smiling as he shut the door.

I flopped onto my back, giddy. At least he wasn’t weirded out by me. And that blush? That gave me life.

A moment later, I heard the toilet flush. The bathroom door creaked open.

“Wanna drink something, Gus? I’ve only got Coke, orange juice, and water. Didn’t really stock up this week.”

“OJ’s good, thanks.” I sat up straighter on the bed.

“Alrighty.” He flashed that signature Rex smile, then walked over to the mini fridge, grabbed the carton, and poured it into a glass from the rack above.

God, how does someone smile so easily like that?

“Oh, right…” he said as he closed the fridge and headed back over with the drink in hand. “That Facebook status you posted this morning—who was that about? Don’t tell me you’ve got a secret lover already.”

“Huh? What status?”

“The one that said something like, ‘Falling into a state where there’s someone to love, someone to miss.’ Very poetic of you,” he teased with a grin.

“Haha, come on, I just wrote that for the vibes. No girlfriend. No lover. Just wanted to stir the pot a little.”

“Mhm. You sure about that?”

“Positive! Who’d want to date someone like me anyway? Even Marcus was roasting me in the comments—remember?”

He chuckled. “Alright, alright. So… you hungry? Wanna grab something before we dive into physics?”

“Sure! I’m easy. Wherever you wanna go, I’ll follow.”

“Hmm… not really in the mood for anything heavy. I’ve got kind of a headache. Might be a tiny bit hungover.”

“What? You were drinking last night?”

“Yeah. Went out with your brother and the guys. Art came, too. But I headed home pretty early—just after midnight.”

“Ugh, you party boy. Shame on youuu~”

“Hey, I wasn’t even drunk, okay?” He laughed. “Just got a little buzzed, danced a bit, and bounced. I had to tutor you today, remember?”

“Wait—you danced too? Show me then! Come on, bust a move!”

“No way. I don’t dance like that.”

“Then what kind? You’re giving me more of a The Weekend or BTS vibe. Or maybe something old-school like early Drake? Ooh—don’t tell me it’s Olivia Rodrigo or Jungkook from BTS?”

“You’re ridiculous. Honestly, forget SATs—you should go into stand-up,” he laughed. “Alright, let’s hit the diner downstairs. The food’s decent, and it’s like two minutes away.”

“Perfect. Let’s gooo. I’m trembling with the urge to learn already,” I said dramatically, giving myself a fake little shiver.

Rex let out a laugh and ruffled my hair, completely messing it up. He only got away with it because I was sitting—if I’d been standing, no way would he reach.

After we finished eating, we got back to studying, this time for real. Two hours passed in what felt like twenty minutes. I’d never known learning could be this fun—or that physics could make this much sense.

Rex was bright, upbeat, and just plain good at explaining things. Like Art and Max had told me, he made complicated stuff feel simple. And because the vibe between us was so chill, I never felt stupid for asking questions. He’d explain as many times as I needed without ever sounding annoyed.

Sure, I’d drift off sometimes just staring at his face or getting lost in his eyes, but I always snapped myself back to reality. I didn’t want to waste the effort he was putting into helping me.

Around three-fifteen, Rex closed the textbook. After checking my answer to the last problem, he turned and smiled at me.

“You’re actually really good at this, Gus.”

It was the first time anyone had said that to me—and I could feel myself blushing like an idiot.