It has been two weeks since Park made Carryl the offer. Two blissful weeks in which he had neither seen Park nor Eli. After he had accompanied Park to their mansion. They left soon after for their separate business trips. They had left him in the care of their house manager and their personal assistants. Both assistants had gone above and beyond for every request he had made and that's how he found himself being jostled along in the registration line at Perivale University.
After a lot of thought, he decided to pursue a degree rather than get a job. University tuition had been way out of his realm of capability, but with two billionaires in him, he was sure no one would object. Perivale had always been the University of his dreams and the fact that it was an hour's drive away did little to deter him. His acceptance had taken the whole three days after he had put in the request. Money did make the world go round, after all.
He finally made it to the front and ten minutes later he walked out of the admissions hall with his schedule and housing information in hand. He put in a request for housing despite knowing fully well Park would rather burn the hostel down than let him stay there. Still, he wanted to have a place close to campus in case of exams.
He followed a group of first years being led by a guide towards the orientation hall. The rest of the day was spent going around the school, learning about the different sections of the school. The orientation ended at seven-thirty with the last stop at the cafeteria. After a parting shot, the guide released the tired but excited students.
The aroma wafting around the cafeteria had his stomach growling loud enough for people around him to hear. The girls standing right beside him looked alarmed before giggling among themselves. The embarrassment caused him to lower his head as he made his way to the line. A heavy arm draped around his shoulders halting any progression. He turned and found himself staring into the bluest eyes he had ever seen. His own blue eyes were tinted with green, but the pair of eyes before him embodied the essence of a clear blue sky.
"Well, that was awfully loud don't you think?" Pink lips drawn into a wry smile had his heart shuddering.
"I am not normally this friendly, but you and I look like we could get along." Carryl failed to see any similarities with the vision in front of him and it must have shown on his face because the stranger quickly added with a flip of his ridiculously luxurious hair. "The hair, of course."
"Your hair puts mine to shame. I try to style, but it never gives in to me. Your hair looks like it belongs on the body of a hair shampoo."
"Okay, maybe it's because we are both handsome." The stranger countered, pulling Carryl towards the line.
"I am not going to say I am ugly if that's what you are waiting for. I know I look amazing I mean look at me." Carryl said turning his neck so that the stranger had a better view of his profile. Something about the man made him feel at ease. He was only joking, of course. He had never been particularly interested in his looks. Working three to four jobs at a time left very little time to be self-conscious. His morning routine involved taking a shower, wearing clean clothes, and running his fingers through his hair that had grown long because he could not be bothered to cut it.
"See best friends already. My name is Sam, by the way," he said, stretching his hand towards Carryl.
"My name is Carryl. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sam," he replied, taking his hands.
They finally made it to the front of the line and the buffet spread out in front of him had his stomach growling once again. He helped himself to a generous serving of pasta and meatballs ignoring Sam's snickers. He went through his meal in record time and looked up to find Sam waiting for him, his plate cleaned.
"How did you finish your food before me!" he asked genuinely shocked at how fast he must have eaten.
"Five brothers!" Sam shrugged like it explained everything.
Carryl was going to pry further, but they were interrupted by another guy. He was tall, taller than Park. The man leaned on Sam, using his head as a holder. His light brown eyes and pearl-white teeth contrasted with his glowing dark skin. He was a handsome, heavily muscled man who exuded masculinity. He looked like the kind of guy who could destroy you with a mere flick, but his loopy smile spoke of love, not war.
"Hey baby...sorry practice ran too long" he apologized to Sam who was busy trying to pull the man's arm away from his head. The man laughed at his effort before sitting next to the fuming Sam.
"Hey, my name is Gregory, Sam's boyfriend." He said, waving to him.
" 'name is Carryl Sam's new best friend." He gave back a tiny wave.
Gregory's loud booming laugh echoed throughout the hall, causing people to turn and stare only to quickly look away when they saw him.
Sam was already up on his feet, taking long strides as if trying to distance himself from his boyfriend as soon as humanly possible.
"Aww come on baby don't be like that! You know you can't get enough of me. Baby?" The unhinged man shouted while running after poor Sam who disappeared out of the hall. Carryl followed them to find Sam dangling in the air securely held by his boyfriend.
"Let me down you animal!" he yelled, thrashing his dangling feet uselessly
"And let my baby walk? Of course not!" Sam gave up, wrapping his legs around the taller man.
"Which hostel are you staying at?" he asked, turning towards Carryl.
"Moon... you?"
" Same. I am on the fourth-floor room number six....what?" he asked as Carryl's face contorted in surprise.
"That's my room!"
"What!!" he screeched, stretching his arm towards Carryl. " I knew it. We are soul mates!"
They all made their way to the hostel Gregory carrying Sam all the way. He clearly was not bothered by the looks they were getting while Sam hid behind his hair. Gregory settled down on Sam's bed finally letting Sam go.
"I have to go take a shower and I have an early practice tomorrow so we can't have breakfast together," Gregory explained to Sam who made no move to get off him even though he could.
"Thank god for small mercies. I cannot handle your enthusiasm in the morning."
Carryl grabbed his shower supplies and towel out of his bag and went to the communal bathroom. He took a long time showering not leaving until his skin was pruning. All he needed now was a good night's sleep and it would truly be a perfect day. He left the bathroom just as Sam was walking in.
"Gregory is gone...I will be there soon." Carryl fell on the bed that had been organized by the personal assistants despite his many protests.
He did not know if it was fear of Park and Eli or professionalism but the people who had been tasked with assisting him always went above and beyond. His rejection was treated as an attempted mutiny and he had quickly learned to let them do whatever it is they felt obligated to do. He had had a terrible, truly awful start in life, but things were finally looking up for him. He said a brief prayer, as he had done every night for the last two weeks. Praying with every ounce of sincerity, he could master that this was not a dream.