What a day.

Looking at his reflection in the mirror, JP notices the faint bags under his eyes. He glances at the digital clock on the study table and learns that it is almost one o'clock in the morning. He didn't expect that playing with those students would keep him up this late.

A chuckle escapes from him as he recounts all the things that happened earlier.

It is good to be young, he thinks even though he is just nine years older than those third-year college students.

He hopes they are all able to go home safely. His expression softens, remembering two certain male students.

I hope it won't take them long to settle their issues.

"You didn't have to go that far to mess with those boys."

JP smiles as he feels someone hug his waist from behind and rest their head on his shoulder.

"I already said I wasn't messing with them," he replies, staring into his lover's eyes through the mirror. Batting his eyes innocently, he adds, "There's no way I could have done that, is there? Unless I'm a psychic as what the rumors say."

"No, you're not a psychic," Sky agrees easily. He takes his eyes off the mirror only to nuzzle into his boyfriend's neck. He showers JP with feather kisses before his mouth finds the other's ear. "You're a Philosophy professor who also happens to be good in psychology. It was child's play for you to manipulate those naïve young men. The last round was rigged," he whispers, voice low.

His eyes still fixed on the mirror, JP reaches a hand to caress Sky's face. He then turns his head, facing his lover, to give him a peck on the lips. There is mirth in his eyes as he keeps denying the other man's accusation. "You have no proof I did that. How could I have rigged the game when those kids were watching? They could have seen me if I did something suspicious."

"How?" Sky hums thoughtfully as he looks his boyfriend in the eyes. He tightens his embrace around JP's middle, pulling him flush against him. "Well, first, you asked Poll if Eujae is the guy whom he said he hates?"

"Hey, it's true that Poll told a story about his nemesis during our class."

"He said the story wasn't about him." Sky raises an inquisitive brow.

Chuckling, JP disentangles Sky's arms around him and turns around so they are facing each other. He slightly cranes his neck to look up at Sky. Standing on tiptoe, he hooks his arms on the back of his boyfriend's neck and pulls him down to his height. "Darling, I wasn't born yesterday. Anyway, what does the question have to do with me allegedly rigging the game?"

"It was a distraction," Sky starts to explain, his arms finding their way back around JP's waist. He leans down, their lips gently brushing against each other, as he continues, "You knew the question would create tension so you took advantage of it. Those poor children were too anxious that they didn't even realize you didn't really reshuffle the cards. Considering there were only ten cards, it was a piece of cake for you to memorize their positions. You lied when you said you didn't know which card was which."

"Okay you caught me," laughing, JP finally admits. "But I wasn't messing with them. I just thought I'd give those boys a little push, help them come to terms with how they really feel." The playfulness vanishes in his eyes as he asks, "You also saw it, didn't you?"

"Sure did see it," Sky answers, nodding, "There's no doubt about those two. But I have to say you can only come to terms with feelings if you know what those feelings are. I mean, how can you face something if you don't even know what you're supposed to face? And in those boys' case, I doubt they're even aware of the feeling that they're supposed to come to terms with."

"Makes sense. Anyway, there was one thing in that last round that didn't go as I'd expected. I thought Poll was going to be the one to object to the dare. I didn't expect it to be Eujae. Now I can see that the boy is more in deep. For now, at least." He shrugs as if to suggest it's not that big deal. "Oh well, pretty sure they'll end up together anyway." Suggestively, JP wiggles his brows at his boyfriend. "Hey, wanna bet about it?"

It only earns a chuckle from Sky. "You and I know that betting against fate is a sure way to lose. We already had a firsthand experience of it, so I think I'll pass."

Sky's right hand goes up to JP's back while the left one travels down his lover's thigh to lift him. Carrying the smaller man in his arms, he wordlessly walks across the room.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Bed," Sky answers simply. He puts his lover down on the bed before climbing on all fours above him, knees straddling JP's thighs, hands pressing against the soft mattress on either side of the other man's head.

As they stare at each other, JP reaches to play on the hair on Sky's nape. "But seeing the pride and stubbornness on those boys, don't they remind you of someone?"

"Are you talking about yourself?" Sky asks with a raised brow, his tone challenging.

Grinning, JP answers, "Nuh-uh, I'm talking about someone who confidently told me before, and I quote..." He clears his throat, and then, mimics a deeper voice as he continues, "I like women."

A scowl crosses Sky's face just as a groan escapes his throat. "You'll never let me live that one down, will you?"

JP's smile widens. He stops playing with Sky's hair, his fingers interlocking on the back of his lover's neck. "Those were your first words to me, so nope, I'll never forget that moment nor will I ever let you forget about it. But is the declaration still true?"

"Maybe. Or partly," Sky mutters, "I mean, it's true that I liked women, still do, but because of you, I realized I can also like men. But it doesn't matter now, does it? You're the only one I like now, tomorrow, and forever."

"Sweet talking me to get yourself off the hook, I see. Alright, I will cut you some slack, and won't tease you about the past, for now, baby," JP whispers before pulling Sky down for a deep kiss.

Note: You can check out Sky and JP's whole story "Go Against Destiny" on Wattpad username: _reichii