There was hardly anyone in the library that afternoon, and the tall windows let in the sunlight, which caught the dust particles in the air. At the far end, Travis was hunched over a pile of novels, while rows of shelves stood guard over the silence.

As soon as he entered, Jordan saw him.

As usual, Travis was by himself, his spectacles slipping off his nose as his pen scribbled madly across the page. His well-worn hoodie hung loosely on his body, with ink stains all over the sleeves. His lips were pressed in concentration, and a little furrow lined his brow.

Jordan pretended to scroll on his phone while staying in the doorway for longer than he intended. His heartbeat was too strong.

Why the hell am I anxious when he looks exactly the same as ever?

Jordan eventually made a move. The way everyone anticipated him to be calm and easygoing. He strolled by the tables, his sneakers making a faint squeaking noise against the shiny floor, until he came to a halt directly in front of Travis's desk.

With practiced ease, Jordan leaned against the table and said, "Wow. I didn't believe anyone used these dusty books. I figured they were only for decoration."

Travis's head snapped up, his eyes widening behind his glasses. For a moment, he simply blinked at him as if he had misunderstood. "...What are you doing here?"

"Studying. Same as you," Jordan replied with a smile. Keep your cool and don't freak him out.

Travis's forehead lifted. "You? Learning?" he asked, his voice more shocked than harsh. Nearly... innocent.

Without asking, Jordan smirked as he sat in the seat across from him. "What, do you think I'm simply a handsome face? Moreno, it hurts my feelings."

As he brought his books closer to him, Travis scowled at the interruption. "Don't you have friends to sit with?"

"Perhaps I'd rather stay here."

They were surrounded by silence. Jordan's smile remained unchanged, but his leg fidgeted beneath the table. In an attempt to ignore him, Travis, on the other hand, went back to his notes.

Jordan supported his chin in his hand as he asked, "What are you working on?"

"Calculus," Travis said simply.

Jordan gave a loud groan and collapsed in his chair. “Ugh, figures. Do you really enjoy this stuff?”

"I don't like it," Travis said, not glancing up. "But I need it."

Jordan stopped after that response. The mask fell for a second. He could see Travis's resolve in his drooping shoulders and the silent burden he bore alone. And it piqued Jordan's curiosity.

He noticed that he had been staring for too long. He immediately put the grin back on his face. "Well, lucky me—I happen to suck at calculus. Guess you'll have to tutor me."

Travis at last raised his head once more, his gaze filled with doubt. "You're... joking, right?"

Jordan's heart began to beat. Make a polite remark.

"I'm dead serious," he said, his tone a little bit lower. "You're smart. I could use a guy like you."

Travis blinked and stood still, unsure of how to react. The faintest blush appeared on his cheeks.

Jordan smiled contentedly.

Then, the bell rang.  Travis packed his stuffs with every action of it  was precise and almost ritualistic as he carefully arranged his notes in his worn backpack. The manner in which Travis treated his books with care, as if they were precious, rather than old and used copies, it was something Jordan observed. The flawless arrangement of his pens, even if half of them were out of ink.

Jordan, who often tossed items into his backpack without giving them a second thought, was captivated. His packaging is methodical as well.

Jordan put his phone in his pocket and asked nonchalantly, "Are you always this tidy?"

Travis gave him a suspicious look. "If things get ruined, some of us don't have the money to replace them."

The statement was more effective than anticipated. Jordan's grin faltered for a brief moment before he masked it with a laugh. "Fair. I suppose you'd hate to see my room. It's a disaster."

"I can imagine," Travis whispered, unaware that Jordan could hear him.

Jordan just chuckled, but he found it strangely amusing rather than offensive. He wasn't often spoken to in that manner. No girls fawning, no males attempting to wow. nothing but raw truth.

He enjoyed it.

Jordan purposefully slowed down his pace to match Travis's as they exited the library. Their strides were a little awkward, resounding through the corridor until Jordan broke the stillness.

"So... calculus, huh? Are you attempting to become a rocket scientist or something?"

"I want to earn a scholarship, which necessitates good marks," Travis said as he changed his spectacles.

"Scholarship to where?" Jordan questioned, sticking his hands in his pockets.

Travis looked at him dubiously and said, "Why do you care?"

Not in the least taken aback, Jordan smiled and said, "Perhaps I just like hearing you talk."

Travis tripped over his own feet. His ears turned red. He feigned interest in the posters that covered the corridor and quickly turned away.

Jordan held back a chuckle. Sweet.

A few of Jordan's pals strolled by with inquisitive glances as they approached the locker room. One of them gave Travis a knowing grin while raising an eyebrow.

Jordan's smile grew sharper, and he put back on his typical arrogant demeanor. He gave Travis a fake salute and said, "Catch you later, Moreno," in a polite manner.

Travis wasn't sure if that was meant to be a farewell or another joke at his expense, so he blinked. After whispering "bye," he immediately started to occupy himself with his locker.

Jordan walked away, but this time the smile on his face wasn't the same as the one he normally wore for his pals. It was less intense.

Because he wasn't merely performing a part for the first time in a long time.

Additionally, Travis had no idea how much Jordan had longed for this moment, given his bashful glances and prudent remarks.

Travis entered school the next day as usual, keeping his head low, holding his backpack straps, and passing through the bustling corridor like a ghost. He had mastered the art of becoming invisible.

Or so he believed.

“Good morning, Moreno. ”

The gentle voice made him stop in his tracks. Jordan Alvarez leaned casually against the lockers, arms crossed, a big smile on his face.

Travis blinked. “. . . Good morning,” he murmured, trying to move past him.

But Jordan pushed himself off the locker and matched his pace, ignoring the looks from other students.

“Do you always walk this fast, or are you trying to escape me? ” Jordan joked, easily keeping up.

Travis adjusted his glasses, glaring at the ground. “Maybe it’s a bit of both. ”

Jordan chuckled. His laugh was soft and real, not the loud one he usually had with his friends. “Ouch. I like that. ”

Travis felt more doubtful with each step. Jordan Alvarez wasn’t meant to be here, walking alongside him. He should be having fun with his friends, flirting with girls, living in a world Travis could never enter.

So why was he here?

“Let me help with that. ”

Before Travis could object, Jordan took the stack of books from his arms with one hand, balancing them with ease.

“Hey—! ” Travis reached out, flustered. “You don’t need to do that—”

“I want to,” Jordan interrupted, his voice softer than Travis expected. “Chill out. You don’t want to hurt your back carrying this every day. ”

Travis halted, staring at him. Jordan smiled, but there was something different in his eyes. Something serious.

Travis quickly looked away, muttering, “. . . Okay. Just don’t drop them. ”

Jordan’s grin got even bigger, sliding back into his confident self. “What do you think I am? Clumsy? ”

“Pretty much. ”

Jordan laughed again. It surprised Travis—real laughter, not mean or loud. Just friendly.

They arrived at Travis’s classroom, and Jordan placed the books neatly on his desk. A few students stared, whispering as they saw Mr. Popular hanging out with the class nerd.

Jordan ignored them entirely.

“See you at lunch? ” he asked casually, but his gaze stayed on Travis.

Travis hesitated, doubt pulling at him. He wanted to say no. He definitely should say no. But the way Jordan looked at him—it wasn’t like how others did. There was no judgment or mockery. Just. . . focus.

“. . . Maybe,” Travis murmured, taking his seat.

Jordan’s smile softened just a little before he stepped back. “I’ll take that as a yes. ”

As Jordan walked away, Travis looked at the books he had carried for him, his heart racing uneasily.

This felt off. Jordan Alvarez didn’t help people. He didn’t walk shy guys to class.

And yet, he had.

And Travis hated that a part of him… didn’t mind.