After these profound reflections, Louis explained to Dan the true nature of the center created by the lawyer. It was not just a simple support center for the LGBT community, it was much more than that. It was a refuge and a home for those who lived there.
A concrete example was Ayline, whose real name was Bilal, who had been saved by the lawyer after narrowly escaping an assassination attempt by his father and brothers, simply because he was slightly effeminate and liked men.
For Ayline, this place had become more than just a refuge, it was his home, his sanctuary. The building was spacious enough to accommodate several people and housed no more than sixty young members, among whom Dan now belonged.
The lawyer regularly came to give them classes, especially for those studying law, while other teachers, such as dance teachers, cooking teachers, or other academic subjects, came to help them. Eleven of the young people at the center were studying law, three of them were in their third year, and eight, including Dan who would soon start, were in their first year.
"You're going back already?" Louis asked.
"Yes. I need to withdraw my registration from the management program and transfer to law," Dan replied.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Louis suggested. "I don't have anything planned. There are no classes until tomorrow."
"Okay. If you want. Are you okay with riding on the motorbike?" Dan asked.
"Of course, I love motorcycles," Louis replied.
"Alright then, let's go," Dan decided. They then left. The other young people whistled when they saw Louis getting on the back of Dan's motorcycle with his round buttocks and tight pants, as well as his white sheer shirt.
"We'll stop by the university first and then go to my place," Dan announced.
Arriving at the university, Dan and Louis crossed paths with Joy and her friends. They were quite ordinary girls, who seemed just as innocent as Joy. But unlike the others, Joy had a natural, yet sexy and elegant fashion style.
"Hello Joy."
"Hi Dan!" she responded, looking at young Louis who had his arm intertwined with Dan's.
"Oh, let me introduce you to Louis. A friend. And Louis, this is Joy, my best friend's girlfriend... no, fiancée."
"You could have said that I am your friend too, Dan," Joy said innocently.
"Are us?"
"No. But... nice to meet you, Louis," Joy said before walking off with her friends.
"So, she's the famous girlfriend," Louis remarked.
"Yes. And she's very nice but I can't help but hate her."
"That's understandable. She stole what should have been yours. I hate girls like that, stupid and foolish." Louis leaned in closer to Dan, who wasn't bothered by the gesture.
"Here we are." They were in front of the department president's office. "Can you wait for me here?"
"Of course," Louis replied, sitting on the bench with Dan's helmet on his lap, while his own was placed on the bench next to him.
With no one around, Dan knocked on the door and the president gestured for him to come in. He greeted him and immediately broached the subject.
He asked Dan several questions to ensure that the boy had thought through his decision. Dan explained that he had chosen the management track because of a boy, but that he had now taken a step back and wanted to pursue his true aspirations.
"How did it go?" Louis asked.
"Well. I didn't expect so many questions."
"Department of Law, here we come!" Louis exclaimed, full of enthusiasm. He was a true ball of fire and a source of joy.
The transfer had gone smoothly, without any obstacles. The dean of the law program had been open and welcoming, simply asking Dan a few questions before taking his file and wishing him good luck. Rumor had it that the selection process in the law department was merciless. Dan thought his transfer would be denied, especially in the middle of the semester.
According to reliable sources, students in the law department were eliminated one by one. It was said that two years ago, only twenty-five out of 3,000 students had made it to the second year.
As Dan left the office, he saw Louis sleeping on a bench and found him adorable.
"Louis, wake up," he gently shook him.
"Are you done already?"
"Yes, let's go home." They headed towards Dan's house, located not far from the university.
"You live here?" Louis was surprised.
"I live here with my best friend."
"And you live together on top of that?" Louis joked. Dan laughed as he opened the door.
As soon as he stepped inside, Jack rushed to greet him. "Dan!" He seemed surprised to see the young man behind him.
"Come on, Louis, make yourself at home. What would you like to drink?"
"Just some ice-cold water."
"Right away, Your Highness," Dan joked. Louis laughed as Jack briefly glanced at him before following Dan into the kitchen.
"Who is he?" he asked, closing the fridge door and leaning against it to prevent Dan from getting the cold water.
"What are you doing? Move, idiot."
"No. Not until you answer my question. Who is this guy?"
"He's just a friend of mine. Now move."
"A friend? Since when do you have friends?"
"Since I decided to have some. I take your advice very seriously. I'm going to make friends and maybe even a boyfriend while I'm at it."
"I don't trust your so-called friend."
"That's your problem, not mine." Dan then pushed Jack aside and opened the fridge to get the water and hand it to Louis.
Jack sat across from Louis as Dan sat next to him.
"So, your name is Louis," Jack began. "What do you do for a living?"
"I'm a student at the same university as you two," he answered, gesturing towards the two friends.
"How did you and Dan meet?"
"Dan, who's that guy? Your husband? You're too young to be married. Maybe your boyfriend?" Louis knew exactly who Jack was, but he continued to play his game. And Dan knew exactly what he was up to but was enjoying it.
"Just my best friend. His name is Jack, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Jack. I'm Louis," he extended his hand for a handshake.
"Likewise," Jack replied without shaking Louis's hand, which didn't bother him at all.
"Dan," Louis clapped his hands once before standing up. "I had a great day with you, but it's time for me to head back now."
"Already?" Dan exclaimed.
"Already missing me?" Louis teased.
"No, but... a little bit." Dan laughed. "Do you want me to walk you back? It's a bit far from here."
"No, it's okay. I'll walk for a bit. I know someone nearby who can give me a ride back."
"Alright," Dan walked Louis to the door, letting him kiss him on the cheek as a goodbye.
"What was that?" Jack asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You let him kiss you on the cheek !"
"I let you do more than that. It's not a big deal," Dan retorted, taking the glass from which Louis had been drinking.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you acting like this?" Jack questioned.
"What am I doing, Jack? How am I acting?"
"All of this. You weren't like this before."
"I'm still the same. Look."
"No. You've changed," Jack approached Dan from behind as he washed the glass. "Something has changed." He placed his wet lips on Dan's neck.
"What has changed?" Dan asked, turning to look him in the eye.
"Everything has changed." And Jack pressed his lips to Dan's.