5

"What?" without feeling guilty Jules glared at Matheo.

Matheo raised an eyebrow in confusion at Jules' attitude. "Strange man." His mumbling was so low that Jules couldn't hear him, but Jules could still tell what he was saying from the movement of his lips.

"You!" Jules on his hips. Staring resentfully at Matheo.

Matheo no longer cares about the man who he thinks is strange. He then returned to his focus on the phone in his hand, ignoring Jules' presence.

Jules clicked his tongue. He walked into the classroom, stomping his feet. For some reason seeing Matheo always made his emotions rise. Even though the man didn't do anything that provoked his emotions Jules looked around, looking for a seat in a comfortable position for him and Evan. After sitting in the chair of his choice, Jules took out his cell phone from his bag and played it for a while.

The atmosphere in the classroom that morning was quiet because there were only Jules and Matheo in it. From his seat, Jules continued to stare at Matheo's sturdy back and then looked at Matheo's thick hair.

Twelve-door fridge, you look pretty cool from the back. Praise Jules subconsciously.

Plaque!

Jules suddenly hit his cheeks when he realized he had just praised Matheo.

Jules... What are you thinking? He cursed in his heart to himself.

Ting!

An incoming message notification from his cellphone made Jules immediately open the messaging application. "Whose number is this?" He muttered seeing a message from an unknown number. Jules' confusion was immediately answered when a new message came back from an unknown number.

"Jules... It's me, Lorenzo."

"Uncle Lorenzo," Jules said then opened the incoming message from Lorenzo. Jules's fingers started to surf on the keyboard

his cell phone replied to a message from Lorenzo. The man he considered his new friend.

Several minutes passed. Jules also replied to a short message with Lorenzo which was enough to make him comfortable with the man's style of language when sending messages.

'It turns out that bro Lorenzo is quite cool too and is not sloppy like the others,' Jules thought.

"Jules." A tap on his shoulder made Jules turn his face to the side. "Evan. Have you come?" Jules asked then turned off his phone screen.

Evan nodded. Then dropped his ass on the chair next to Jules.

"Not usually, you came earlier than me?" Evan asked confused.

"Yes. I did choose to come early. Sometimes I also want to be diligent." Jules said.

"I want to see how diligent you are, Jules," Evan said with a laugh.

Jules laughed at that too. "Of course only for today." He said then.

Evan patted his friend's shoulder lightly. "You're..." Evan shook his head.

His gaze was suddenly fixed on Jules' cell phone that was lying on the table.

"Jules... did you exchange messages with brother Lorenzo?" Evan asked when he saw an incoming message notification from Lorenzo on Jules' phone screen.

Jules nodded.

"Since when?" Evan asked in disbelief.

Because usually Jules is very reluctant to reply to messages from men who approach him.

"Since today. bro Lorenzo asked for my cell phone number when we met in the corridor when I had just arrived at campus."

"You met bro Lorenzo?" Evan asked.

Jules nodded. "Wait a minute. I want to reply to a message from Kak Lorenzo first." Jules said then opened the message from Lorenzo.

****

Starting from exchanging messages, Jules and Lorenzo's relationship became closer. Jules who usually ignores messages from men who approach him is now quite the opposite.

"You seem to be getting closer to bro Lorenzo, Jules," Evan said when they were in Jules' room that afternoon. Because today is a holiday, Evan also plays at Jules' house.

Not so close. It's okay. Jules replied casually.

"Tsk. You're still dodging. You've been texting him a lot lately.

Yes. You're right, Evan. But just replying to messages only. He's a pretty cool person and doesn't overdo it in sending messages. And the important thing is that he doesn't show off his wealth even though I see he's not a random man." Jules explained. Because usually, Jules is quite uncomfortable with many men who approach him with the wealth he has.

Evan nodded in understanding. "Do you like him?" Evan asked.

Jules looked thoughtful. "Like," he replied later.

"What?" Evan was wide-eyed. How come? For the first time, his best friend admitted that he liked a man. "Are you serious?" Evan asked again to make sure.

Jules nodded. "I like the chocolate he gave me," Jules said then laughed.

"You..." Evan smacked Jules against the pillow in his hand. "I'm not kidding!" He grumbled then.

"Hahaha. You're too serious. Me replying to his message doesn't mean I like his. My crush isn't that easy. Besides, I'm not sure if he's single or not." Jules in the end.

"It seems that bro Lorenzo is single, and he can't approach you if he already has a girlfriend." Says Evan.

"Could be. A lot of crocodiles are pretending to be nice guys nowadays, Evan. And I don't want to be like Mutia back then." Jules said remembering one of his best friends at school who had been bumped into by the lover of the man who approached him.

"You're right too. Then how about bro Lorenzo's offer to invite you to eat this afternoon?" Evan asked.

"I accept the offer as long as you and Vincent come with me."

"What? Seriously, Jules! You took us both as mosquitoes!"

Jules laughed. "Never mind. After all, later you will get a free meal from Kak Lorenzo."

"So bro Lorenzo will accept you taking us?" asked Evan to which Jules nodded. "Really. Your first date will have to be interrupted by Vincent and me." Evan shook his head in disbelief,

In the afternoon, Vincent's car seemed to have been parked in front of Jules' parents' house.

"Vincent... have you come?" Evan asked as Vincent had just entered Jules' house.

"Not yet. I'm still at home."Vincent replied.

Evan's tongue clicked. "You're so annoying!"

"Besides, your question doesn't make much sense. I'm already in front of you which means I've arrived." Vincent replied then laughed.

Jules, who was texting with Lorenzo, laughed at Vincent's words.

"It's a good thing you brought your brother's car today, so we don't have to bring a lot of vehicles." Says Evan.

"Yes. All this I did for our best friend's first date. I was willing to beg my brother to lend me a car," said Vincent.

Jules threw the sofa cushion in his hand at Vincent. "You're talking too much! I told you I wasn't going on a date." Jules grumbled feeling lazy with his friend's true words.