As Riley disappeared, Elias sighed. Jay was left standing alone, feeling a bit awkward. Elias looked at him.

"What?"

"No offence intended, but why are you here?"

"You really like me, eh?" Jay responded sarcastically.

"Exponentially."

Jay chuckled. "Is it weird to accompany my friend?"

"I guess not," Elias answered, expression still flat.

"My best friend is your best friend's lover. You should get used to seeing me."

"It's a bit strange."

"Which part?" Jay set his bag in the chair with Riley's.

Elias took in Jay's appearance; his piercings were out and he looked like any other kid in his uniform.

Jay chuckled again. "What about you?"

"Hm?"

"No matter how you answer, I promise I won't tell Riley." Jay lifted himself onto the counter behind the desk.

Oh boy, this will be fun, Elias thought as he rotated his chair 45 degrees towards Jay.

"Did you follow Eran to university on purpose?" Jay knew this was a question Riley had been secretly wondering and Jay was beginning to grow curious himself.

Elias tilted his head curiously and remained quiet.

"I seriously promise I won't tell... Were or are you in love with him?" Jay was being honest in that he wouldn't tell Riley; he'd just keep his eyes open for any suspicious vibes Elias showed. Not that it was easy to tell with the mysterious man.

"Do I really seem that suspicious? I was just teasing Riley before, you know."

Jay nodded. "But either way, you've been with Eran since grade 12, right? Did you know what university he was going to when you applied?"

"No. I'd already applied when I found out."

"Which was when?"

"Sometime in test prep school."

"What about the scholarship?"

"How is that even relevant?"

"Department?"

"Well, I obviously already knew. We were biology nerds but we did have areas of specialty."

"And then grad school?" Not everything could be a coincidence, Jay thought.

"I like this school, so it made sense to continue here."

"And then even a doctorate?"

"We had similar ambitions?"

Well, even if that's true... "And did you ever think you might be soulmates—destined and bound to be together?"

"No."

"Seriously?" Even after all that, he thought nothing? Well, I figured he's no romantic...

Elias gave Jay a level 3 look of curiosity.

"You never broke up with a girlfriend and thought dating Eran would be better?"

"No," Elias paused. "Do you think that about Riley?"

"No, but I've known Riley for what—a little over a year? And you've known Eran for seven."

"I like Eran as a person. I consider him a good friend. But that's it." Elias rested his chin on his fist and elbow on the chair's arm. "Satisfied?" He expected Jay to look disappointed.

"I just wanted an honest answer." Jay shrugged, not looking disappointed at all.

"Well, you got one."

"Thanks. I wonder if Riley and I will be friends ten years from now."

"Who knows. Friends disappear just as quickly as they come."

At that moment, Max entered the room. The undergrad noticed the other two. He looked at Jay's uniform then looked at Elias. "You too?" He remarked with an exasperated expression that contained a hint of pity.

Elias ignored Max.

"Is he one of Eran's fans?" Jay asked Elias.

"I don't know," Elias replied honestly. He wasn't sure how Max felt about Eran, especially now; things had quieted down a few months ago. "Hey, Max, are you Eran's fan?"

Max stopped walking towards the inner laboratory's door and turned around. He looked at Jay. "Are you his friend?"

"Whose?"

"Eran's boyfriend."

Jay's eyes widened in surprise and he looked at Elias. He knows it's a guy?

Elias responded to Jay's silent question with a shrug.

"Oh, are you wondering how I know?" Max asked smugly. "We met. Thanks to him, Eran isn't out to kill me anymore. And don't worry, if I wanted to tell, I would've done it already. The fact that he's taken is enough to kill everyone's spirit." Max turned back around and went into the lab, closing the door behind him.

Elias watched Jay think silently to himself. After some moments, Jay looked at Elias. "Can we be heard from in there?"

"Not unless we're yelling." Jay didn't say anything, so Elias supposed he hadn't been asking in order to say something safely. "What's taking them so long?" Elias sighed.

"Maybe they found an empty bathroom and forgot about us."

"Eran wouldn't do that."

"People change and do crazy things when they're in love." Jay hesitated. "Do you think you could ever fall in love with a guy?"

"I'm not sure if I could fall in love with anyone," Elias replied pessimistically.

Jay smiled. "Should I make you fall for me?"

Elias's expression became a troubled level 2.

"I-I was kidding," Jay stuttered, surprised by Elias's seriousness. While, I admit I'm curious about what it's like between two guys... Maybe I could find some guy at a bar or bribe someone at school...

When the couple finally returned, Elias and Jay were visibly shocked. Elias knew Eran had left looking tired and worn, but here he was now smiling and skin practically glowing. Meanwhile, Riley's head was lowered and red to the ears with embarrassment, something Jay had never seen. The lovers' best friends exchanged awkward, knowing looks with each other.

A couple of weeks later, Jay received a call from Elias.

He answered, "You never call me, what's up? Should I be concerned or happy?" Jay chuckled.

"Are you seeing Riley today?"

Hah. It's about Riley, Jay thought cynically. "No, we don't have plans. Why?"

"Riley found out about one of Eran's secrets. I thought he might escape to you."

Jay could sense the seriousness of the situation. He knew Eran had secrets—Riley had secrets too. "Does Eran know?" The way he said it, it sounds like Riley found out on his own.

"I had to warn him, so he does now. Since you're Riley's best friend, I think you should know too..."

"Is that okay? It was a secret, right?" Jay asked worriedly.

"I'll take responsibility. So just listen."

Jay frowned and nodded although he couldn't be seen. "Okay. I'm listening."