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Chapter Text

Jun and Dylan had hated each other since the very first day of college.

Hate might have been too small a word, actually. It was rivalry, it was tension, it was the kind of ongoing war that professors whispered about when they had to put the two of them in the same group.

The tragic part is it hadn’t started that way at all.

The first time they met in the hallway outside their dorm room, it almost felt like fate had done them a favor. They stood there, two boys holding up the same key number, staring at each other in mild surprise.

Jun had grinned, sticking out his hand. “Guess we’re roommates then. I’m Jun. Biochem, first year.”

Dylan had shaken his hand and smiled back. “Dylan. Same department. Small world, right?”

They had walked together down the hall, chatting easily. Jun admitted he liked sports but also spent hours gaming. Dylan said he loved sports too and secretly read mystery novels. Both were aiming to be biochemists, both had grown up in towns only a few hours apart, both had big dreams and a ridiculous amount in common.

Jun thought he might have found a friend for life. Dylan, for a moment, had believed the same.

But then they opened the door to their dorm room and everything fell apart.

The room was narrow and poorly lit, with just one small window. On one side of the room, the bed near the window came with extra space for a bookshelf and more light. On the other side, the bed was shoved against the closet, closer to the door, dim and cramped.

Dylan walked in first, dropped his bag by the window bed without hesitation and said, “I’ll take this one.”

Jun froze, then marched in after him, tossing his bag right on top of Dylan’s. “No, I need this side. I’ve got asthma. I need fresh air.”

Dylan turned, unimpressed. “I have asthma too.”

The friendliness dissolved in an instant. It was the beginning of the end.

Every time one of them claimed a reason, the other mirrored it. Jun said he needed natural light to study. Dylan said he did too.

Jun said his allergies would kill him if he slept near the closet. Dylan said his allergies would kill him first.

What began as an argument turned into a standoff. They tried rock-paper-scissors. Again and again, they both threw the exact same move until it felt like the universe itself was mocking them.

They begged the dorm manager, who only shook her head and told them no rooms were left.

Neither boy was willing to back down and neither could stand the thought of losing.

Things escalated. Within an hour they had hurled each other’s bags across the room.

Within two hours they had shoved, shouted and finally swung fists until Dylan ended up with a split lip and Jun with a warning from the dorm committee.

Since Dylan had more visible injuries, Jun was banned from the dorm.

Dylan might have felt guilty, but the next day his guilt evaporated when he opened his locker and nearly passed out from the smell.

Dead fish.

Jun had stuffed something foul in there and Dylan smelled like a dockyard all day.

That was only the beginning.

Two years later, in the second week of junior year, their rivalry was still alive and well.

Their professors had stopped bothering to separate them because no seating arrangement could prevent chaos. Which was how they both ended up sitting beside the same boy in Biochemistry II.

Po was sweet, polite and far too pretty for his own good.

He had just transferred and when he sat down, Jun plopped into the chair on his left. A second later, Dylan sat on his right.

The air turned heavy at once. Jun and Dylan didn’t even look at each other at first, but when they did, their eyes locked, sharp and poisonous.

Po’s smile froze on his lips. He shifted uncomfortably, clutching his notebook, his wide eyes darting between them as if silently begging for divine intervention.

Jun leaned across Po slightly, voice low and mocking. “What, following me again? Can’t get enough of me, Dylan?”

Dylan snorted, flicking his pen against his notebook. “Please. I got here first. You’re the one chasing me.”

Po coughed delicately, trying to interrupt. “Uh, hi, I’m Po. Nice to--”

“Not now,” Jun and Dylan snapped in unison, glaring past him.

Po blinked, clearly regretting every life choice that had led him to this chair.

Jun smirked, leaning back with his arms folded. “Better hope you keep up this semester, Dylan. Wouldn’t want you crying when I score higher again.”

Dylan’s jaw tightened. “Funny. I remember beating you last term.”

“You cheated.”

“No, I studied.”

The tension was electric, a knife-sharp mix of competition and something neither of them wanted to name.

Po sat in the middle, shrinking further into his seat as though he had stumbled into a lovers’ quarrel disguised as a death match.

By now, everyone else in the room had gone quiet, sneaking glances their way. It was the same show as always: Jun and Dylan circling each other with words like weapons, their rivalry famous across the department.

No one knew whether they would finally kill each other one day or, more terrifyingly, fall in love.

Jun and Dylan had never cared much for love before. Sure, they had both dated here and there, but nothing serious, nothing that made their hearts race beyond the first few weeks.

Jun, bold and shameless, had dated both boys and girls, collecting stories more than partners.

Dylan, in contrast, was choosier. He had dated two boys, turned away more than a handful of others and generally preferred to keep to himself.

Romance was not on their minds. Their rivalry left little room for anything else.

Part of what made them clash so violently was how much they actually had in common. The same department. The same interests. The same clubs. The same taste in sports, video games, even food.

To them, it was infuriating. Jun would slam a basketball into the hoop during practice, only to spot Dylan smirking on the other side of the court, playing just as well.

Dylan would log into a game late at night, only to find Jun already in the lobby, racking up points. Every time one of them found something they liked, the other somehow liked it too and the thought was unbearable.

“Why must I like the same thing as him?” Dylan would grumble under his breath.

And Jun, on his side, would fume, “Why would you like basketball like I do? Find your own sport, loser.”

Yet, through all of this, there was one comfort: they never liked the same people. Their types were different enough that at least romance was not another battlefield.

Until the day everything changed.

It happened in Biochemistry II, when the professor announced that a new transfer student would be joining the class.

Jun and Dylan were seated far from each other that day, a rare moment of peace where they did not have to trade glares across the table.

They leaned back lazily, bored, until the door opened and the new student walked in.

Po.

Both Jun and Dylan froze.

He was tall. Handsome in a soft  devastating way. His eyes were round and dark, like boba pearls catching the light. His lips were shaped like a heart, his skin flawless, his voice quiet and polite when he introduced himself. It was like time itself stuttered.

In Jun’s head: He. Is. So. Cute.

In Dylan’s head: Gorgeous. Mine.

Simultaneously, both boys thought the same words. I want him.

That was how, just a few days later, they ended up sitting on either side of Po. Like vultures circling prey, except instead of tearing into Po, they were tearing into each other and poor Po was stuck in the middle.

At first Po had tried to make himself small, curling into his seat with the quiet awkwardness of a child caught between divorced parents.

Jun noticed and leaned forward, flashing his most charming grin, the one that had made people melt before.

“Hi,” Jun said smoothly, offering his hand. “I’m Jun. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ll be happy to show you around if you need anything.”

Po blinked, smiled politely and shook his hand. “I’m Po. Po Pawat--”

He did not even get to finish before Dylan leaned in, snorting. “Wow, Jun, tone it down before you scare him. I’m Dylan Zhou,” he said, reaching out to shake Po’s hand in a much calmer, cooler manner.

His voice was steady, confident, not flirtatious, but assured. “Topper of the class.”

Jun’s head whipped around so fast it was a wonder his neck did not snap. “Topper? Excuse me? We tied in the last exam. If anything, I’m the topper.”

Dylan gave him a side glance, smirk tugging at his lips. “Tied, yes. But let’s be honest, Junie boy. My paper was better. Your handwriting is a mess and I actually know how to explain things. If the teachers were being fair, I would have scored higher.”

Jun gasped dramatically, smirk returning to his own face. “Oh, so you read my paper? Knew you were secretly a fan.”

Dylan scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was checking how you managed to scrape by.”

The back-and-forth escalated in seconds, like always. Their voices grew louder, snapping at each other, while Po shrank further into his chair, clutching his pen like it was a lifeline.

Finally, the professor slammed his hand against the desk. “ENOUGH!”

The entire class went silent.

“Jun. Dylan. I am sick of this nonsense. You, there. Move. Sit apart.”

Both boys scowled but obeyed, gathering their things and trudging to opposite sides of the room.

Before they sat down, they made sure to glare daggers at each other, mouthing silent threats.

Jun: “You’re dead.”

Dylan: “Fuck you.”

Jun plopped into his new seat, fuming. Dylan had ruined everything. He had been this close to charming Po and Dylan just had to butt in.

Dylan sat stiffly at his desk, his jaw tight. He should have gotten Po’s number yesterday. If he had, Jun would not even have had the chance to mess it all up.

Across the room, Po finally let out a breath. He turned to the boy sitting beside him now, Pepper, who had been quietly watching with a book propped against his desk. Po whispered nervously, “Is it always like this?”

Pepper pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, sighed and gave a single firm nod. “Always.”

Chapter Text

The next time Biochemistry II rolled around, the air in the classroom was already tense before anyone even opened their notebooks.

Jun arrived early, strutting in with his usual confidence, dropping his bag onto the desk nearest to Po’s. Po, polite as always, greeted him with a soft smile and a quiet “Good morning.” Jun beamed like he had just been handed a trophy.

“Morning, Po,” Jun said smoothly, sliding into the chair beside him. “Did you sleep well? I heard the dorms can be tricky at first, but don’t worry. I’ve been here long enough. You can ask me about anything.”

Po chuckled lightly, though his eyes were on his notes. “That’s kind of you.”

Jun leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret. “I’m kind of known around here for being reliable.”

A second later, the door banged open and Dylan walked in. His gaze landed on Jun sitting beside Po and his jaw clenched. Without hesitation, he crossed the room, pulled out the chair on Po’s other side and sat down with a cool nod.

“Hey, Po. Good morning,” Dylan said, his voice casual, smooth. He pulled out a notebook, flipping it open to a page already filled with color-coded notes. “If you need help adjusting to Professor Ananda’s style, let me know. I’ve already outlined the entire syllabus.”

Po blinked between them. “Oh, that’s… impressive.”

Jun leaned forward instantly. “Notes are fine, but I’ll warn you, he loves throwing random experiments at us. Best way to handle him is hands-on practice. You can pair with me if you’d like.”

Dylan tilted his head toward Jun, smiling sweetly, though his eyes were sharp. “Actually, Po, you’d be better off with me. Jun here gets distracted too easily. He starts talking and forgets half the steps.”

Jun’s head whipped around. “I do not!”

“Yes, you do. Remember last semester when you spilled hydrochloric acid because you were too busy trying to beat my answer time?”

Jun slapped his hand on the desk. “That was one time. And you distracted me on purpose!”

Before Po could say anything, the professor entered the room and began dividing everyone into lab pairs. Jun’s heart soared when he heard his name followed by Po’s. Dylan’s name came next, paired with some other student at the back of the room.

Jun smirked triumphantly across the desks. Dylan’s face was a mask of calm, but his grip on his pen tightened until his knuckles whitened.

The lab began and Jun leaned over to Po with exaggerated helpfulness. “Careful with that, Po. The pipette’s tricky the first few times. Here, let me show you.” He gently guided Po’s hand, their shoulders brushing. Po gave a shy smile.

From across the room, Dylan glared so hard he might have set the Bunsen burner on fire.

He raised his hand. “Professor, quick question. Shouldn’t we be paired by performance rankings? Wouldn’t it make sense for the topper to guide the new student?”

Jun’s head shot up. “Oh, so now you suddenly care about helping others?”

Dylan smirked. “Unlike you, I actually help people without showing off.”

The professor pinched the bridge of his nose. “Dylan, you’ll manage with your partner. Jun, focus on your work. Po, ignore them.”

Jun stuck out his tongue. Dylan mimed strangling him from across the room.

By the time the experiment was over, Jun was basking in the glow of Po’s polite gratitude “Thank you, Jun, that was very clear” while Dylan seethed in silence, scribbling furious notes he did not even need.

As everyone packed up, Jun leaned casually on Po’s desk. “So, Po, do you like basketball? There’s a game this weekend. I could take you.”

Po opened his mouth, but Dylan appeared beside them in an instant, notebook tucked under his arm. “Don’t listen to him. Basketball is overrated. If you really want to experience campus life, the literature club is hosting a showcase tomorrow. You should come with me.”

Po blinked again, trapped between them like a deer caught in headlights. He gave a small, polite laugh. “Uh… I’ll think about it?”

Jun and Dylan turned to each other immediately, smiling in that way only enemies smile, the kind of smile that says I’m going to bury you alive.

From the back of the room, Pepper and a few others watched the entire exchange. Pepper shook his head, muttering, “They’re going to destroy the entire department before they even confess, aren’t they?”

Lunch time arrived. The cafeteria was buzzing with chatter, trays clattering and the smell of fried rice drifting in the air. Po had just stepped inside with the quiet intention of grabbing a quick lunch and maybe a seat in the corner where he could eat in peace. What he had not accounted for was Jun and Dylan.

Jun spotted him first, abandoning his half-filled tray to jog over with a grin that looked almost blinding. “Po! There you are. Perfect timing.” He grabbed Po’s tray before the boy could protest. “Let me get your food for you. You deserve to be treated right.”

Po blinked. “Oh, that’s not necessary...”

“Of course it’s necessary,” Jun cut in, already piling fried chicken and an extra scoop of rice onto the tray. “A handsome guy like you needs fuel. You like spicy, right? Here, the curry’s amazing.”

Before Po could respond, Dylan appeared on his other side, calm and collected as always, already holding his own tray. “Ignore him, Po. He’ll drown you in food you don’t even want. Let me help. Balanced diet is important.” With careful precision, Dylan added grilled vegetables and soup to Po’s tray. “You’ll thank me later.”

Jun narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me? Are you calling me unbalanced?”

“You said it, not me,” Dylan replied smoothly, adding a fruit cup. “Po, trust me, you need vitamins.”

Jun snatched up a bottle of iced tea and dropped it on the tray with a flourish. “And hydration. You can’t live on Dylan’s boring rabbit food.”

Dylan frowned, plucking the bottle off and replacing it with water. “Sugary drinks are terrible for concentration.”

“Better than being boring,” Jun shot back, grabbing dumplings.

And just like that, the tray became a battlefield. Every time Po opened his mouth to speak, another dish landed on the tray. Spring rolls, noodles, salad, bread. By the time they reached the cashier, the poor boy’s tray looked like it belonged to a starving football team, not a single student.

Po stared at it, wide-eyed. “I… can’t eat all this.”

Jun, unfazed, leaned closer with a grin. “That’s okay. You’ll grow stronger.”

Dylan, cool as ever, added, “Or you can share with me. I don’t mind.”

Jun whipped around. “Back off, Dylan. Po’s with me.”

“Funny,” Dylan said casually, “because I don’t remember him agreeing to that.”

The cashier raised an eyebrow at the ridiculous amount of food but said nothing. Po, cheeks warm with embarrassment, quickly paid and muttered something about needing to find a seat.

Before Jun or Dylan could follow, he slipped away, making a beeline for the corner where Pepper was already sitting with his usual stack of books.

Po slid the tray down carefully and gave an apologetic smile. “Mind if I sit here?”

Pepper glanced up, adjusted his glasses and gave a single nod. “Go ahead.”

Po sat gratefully, placing the overloaded tray between them like a shield.

It was not long before a tiny freshman with bright eyes and an eager smile approached their table. “Hi! Phi Can I sit here?” Nano asked, balancing his tray in both hands.

His gaze flicked curiously between Po’s mountain of food and Pepper’s unreadable expression.

Pepper’s eyes landed on him, lingered for a beat too long, then turned back to his book. He gave no answer.

Nano’s smile faltered. “…Right. Okay.” He slid quietly into the seat anyway, though his shoulders slumped just slightly, sadness flickering across his face. Maybe this Phi did not like him after all.

Still, Nano’s curiosity burned too brightly to be snuffed out by one cold shoulder. He leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “So! I saw everything. Those two P'Jun and P'Dylan they’re insane, right? Do they always fight like that?”

Po chuckled awkwardly, pushing a dumpling around his plate. “I wouldn’t know. I’m new.”

Nano turned to Pepper, who sighed heavily, snapping his book shut with just enough force to show his irritation. “They’re not our friends,” he muttered flatly.

Nano tilted his head, frowning. “But you know them, right?”

Pepper pushed his glasses higher, refusing to meet Nano’s eyes. “Knowing them isn’t the same as wanting to talk about them.”

Nano sat back, lips pressed together in a pout, staring down at his tray. For the first time since he had arrived at college, he felt a sting of disappointment. Maybe Pepper really did not like him.

Po, sensing the shift, glanced between them. He wanted to say something comforting but instead found himself shoving another spoonful of food in his mouth to avoid getting dragged into yet another mess.

Across the cafeteria, Jun and Dylan stood frozen near the drink counter, both of them glaring at the sight of Po sitting safely at Pepper’s table, out of reach.

Jun muttered under his breath, “He ran because you kept acting like a saint.”

Dylan shot back coolly, “He ran because you wouldn’t stop flirting like an idiot.”

Their bickering was muffled by the distance, but anyone watching could tell the rivalry was far from over. And at the table by the window, Nano leaned his chin into his hand, already daydreaming about the next explosion.

“Interesting,” he murmured to himself.

When Nano isn't looking. Pepper took a glance at him. The boy is seriously too pretty. Way too pretty to be real. His ears turned red. He did not dare look at him again.

Chapter Text

The next few days turned into something of a cold war between Jun and Dylan. Neither admitted they were at war, of course, but anyone with half an eye could tell they were trying to sabotage each other’s “friendly” advances on Po.

Po was just coming out, arms full of books, when Jun suddenly appeared, all charming grin and easy laughter.

“Po, you going anywhere this weekend?” Jun asked, swooping in to hold the door like some gallant knight. “There’s this art showcase downtown figured it’s totally your style. We could check it out, grab coffee after. My treat.”

Po blinked at him, slightly startled. “Oh… uh--”

Before he could answer, Dylan slid into the scene, leaning casually against the wall like he’d been there the whole time. “Funny you say that,” Dylan drawled, hands shoved in his pockets. “Because Po actually told me he was interested in that new café opening near campus. Didn’t you, Po? I was gonna check it out with him this Saturday.”

Jun’s head whipped around. “Excuse me? He never said that.”

Dylan shrugged, cool as ever. “Guess he just likes talking to me more.”

Po, poor man, shifted his stack of books and tried to smile politely. “I… don’t remember saying that, but,”

“See?” Jun interrupted, eyes narrowing at Dylan. “Don’t put words in Po’s mouth. That’s rude.”

“Rude is ambushing people with fake dates,” Dylan shot back.

“It’s called inviting!”

Their bickering escalated until Po muttered something about being late for class and quickly escaped down the hall, leaving Jun and Dylan still glaring at each other.

Later that week, in the cafeteria. Jun spotted Po heading toward the food line and immediately launched himself out of his seat. “Po! You eat yet? My club’s throwing a barbecue Saturday. You should totally come, the food’s insane. I’ll save you a plate.”

Po opened his mouth to respond but Dylan popped up at his other side, balancing his tray like a shield. “Careful, Jun, you might scare him off. Po, ignore him. There’s a movie marathon at the student center. Way more chill. I’ll grab us the good seats.”

Jun snorted. “Because watching Dylan snore through movies is such a thrill.”

“Better than eating burnt hot dogs at your lame club events.”

“It’s called socializing, ever heard of it?”

“Yeah, with people who actually want you there.”

By now, Po looked like a deer trapped between headlights. “I… actually have plans this weekend,” he mumbled. “Sorry. I should, um, sit down.”

And like last time, he made a tactical retreat to sit with Pepper.

Nano had been hovering around the cafeteria like a lost puppy. When he saw Pepper sitting alone, he grabbed his courage (and tray) and approached.

“Phi… can I sit here?” Nano asked carefully.

Pepper glanced up, stiffening. He opened his mouth like he might say yes, but then caught himself, cheeks faintly red. “Do what you want.” He went back to stabbing his rice like it had wronged him.

Nano sat, but the silence weighed on him. “I don’t think Phi likes me,” he muttered under his breath.

Pepper’s chopsticks froze mid-air, ears burning. He wanted to snap, “That’s not true,” but instead he grumbled, “Eat your food.”

Nano’s face fell further, but he obeyed quietly.

Across the table, Po gave Pepper a knowing side-eye, like he could see straight through him. Pepper ignored it, refusing to look up.

Later, Jun cornered Dylan outside their class. “What the hell was that?”

“What?” Dylan asked innocently.

“Sabotaging me. Every time I ask Po somewhere, you just ‘happen’ to show up with a better plan?”

Dylan smirked. “Better plan? More like… realistic. You come on too strong. You’re like a human fire alarm.”

“At least I don’t act like I’m Po’s babysitter. You think being cool makes you his favorite? Newsflash it doesn’t.”

Jun stepped closer, eyes narrowing. Dylan didn’t back down. Their faces were inches apart, tension crackling between them.

It was only Nano’s voice that broke the moment. He had crept up behind them, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Wow… are you two fighting or flirting?”

Both whipped around, horrified. “WHAT?!”

Nano tilted his head, clearly enjoying this. “I mean… all the glaring, the getting in each other’s space, the arguing… feels like those dramas where the leads fall in love after bickering.”

Jun sputtered. “We are NOT--”

Dylan cut in, voice sharp. “Nano, stop reading nonsense into this.”

But Nano just grinned. “Uh-huh. Sure. Totally not flirting. Got it.”

He skipped away before either of them could catch him, leaving Jun and Dylan standing there, fuming and just a little flustered.

Dylan have a “Plan B”. Realizing he wasn’t winning head-to-head against Jun, Dylan decided on another strategy: go through Po’s closest friend, Pepper.

One afternoon, he slid into the seat next to Pepper in the library. “Hey. You’re Po’s friend, right?”

Pepper looked at him flatly. “Depends who’s asking.”

“Dylan,” he said smoothly. “Thought I’d get to know you better. You seem… cool.”

Pepper narrowed his eyes, suspicious. “You think if you’re friends with me, Po will like you more?”

Dylan blinked. “…Yes. I mean, no. I mean, it’s called networking.”

Pepper snorted, but for some reason, he didn’t tell Dylan to go away. Maybe because Nano had just walked in and Pepper found himself suddenly hyper-aware of being watched.

Dylan noticed Pepper’s slight stiffening and filed that away. Interesting.

Meanwhile, Nano sat two tables over, watching Dylan chat with Pepper and Jun pacing angrily near the vending machines. His smile widened. “Yep,” he whispered to himself. “They’re definitely flirting.”

The cafeteria had become their stage again. Po, as always, was friendly to both Jun and Dylan, never shutting down their advances, never encouraging either of them too far.

He smiled when Jun leaned in with that movie-star charm and he nodded along when Dylan played it casual-cool, like the friend who just “happened” to be useful at the right time.

They both thought they were making progress.

But Pepper… Pepper was watching something else entirely.

From his corner of the table, his eyes kept flicking to where Nano sat right between him and Dylan. Somehow Dylan had gotten closer to Nano lately, laughing with him over stupid jokes, even helping him with math problems.

Pepper had never seen Nano so relaxed with anyone else before and the pang of jealousy that twisted in his chest was sharp, ugly, unfamiliar.

He slammed his chopsticks down a little harder than necessary, earning a quick glance from Po. Po’s gaze was knowing but he said nothing, only gave a small shrug that seemed to say you’re on your own, kid.

That evening, Pepper did something shocking even to himself.

“Nano,” he said quietly as they were packing up, his voice more gravelly than usual.

Nano blinked. “P’Per?”

“Come hang out. Tonight.”

The words landed like thunder. Nano froze, wide-eyed. “M-me? Hang out? With… with you?” His voice cracked and he flushed instantly, gripping his notebook like it might float him away. “I must’ve done something good in my past life.”

Pepper’s ears went pink. “Don’t make it weird.”

But Nano was already spiraling inside. Pepper. Wanted. To hang out. With him.

Meanwhile, Jun had managed to drag Po to the basketball court. He was all confidence, twirling the ball in one hand like a show-off.

“Come on, Po, you’ve got good form, you just need someone to teach you the tricks,” Jun said, stepping behind Po, hand on his wrist to guide the ball.

From the bleachers, Dylan was pacing like a caged animal. His muttering was nonstop. “Too close. Way too close. Don’t put your hand on him, you disgusting creature. He’s not yours.”

Nano, who had tagged along, leaned his chin into his palm, studying Dylan. “P'Dyl, you’re jealous.”

Dylan stopped mid-step. “What? I’m not!”

“You are. You’re mad it’s not you in P'Jun's arm ” Nano said, dead serious.

Dylan’s face went red, but he scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Still, he didn’t stop glaring at Jun’s hand on Po’s shoulder like it was a war crime.

The next day, Dylan made his move. He appeared in class with a cup of coffee, sliding it onto Po’s desk with a casual shrug. “Thought you’d like it. Sweet, just how you take it.”

Po lit up, sipping it with a pleased hum. “This is really good.”

Jun pounced instantly, grinning like a cat. “Sweet? Dylan, what are you, a barista or his boyfriend?”

Dylan rolled his eyes. “Better sweet than whatever bitter sludge you drink.”

“Bitter builds character. Sweet makes you soft,” Jun teased.

But then Po smiled again, “I actually do like it sweet.”

Jun’s words faltered. He stammered, flushed, then quickly covered with, “Well, I mean, yeah, sure, sweet is fine.”

Nano nearly fell off his chair. “P'Po, did you see that?! He backtracked! That’s like textbook flustered flirting!”

For the first time, even Po chuckled softly, sipping his coffee as the two continued their bickering. To him, it wasn’t fighting anymore. It was… something else.

Later that evening, he admitted it in passing.

“Nano,” Po said quietly, “maybe you’re right. They don’t hate each other. Feels more like flirting.”

Nano lit up so brightly he nearly blinded the room. “I knew it! I told everyone, I knew it!”

Pepper muttered, “You’re loud,” but his lips twitched at the corner.

The rivalry only grew stranger. Dylan ended up spending an evening in Po’s dorm room what started as a quick homework session had turned into laughter, jokes and easy conversation.

When Jun heard about it the next day, he nearly exploded. “You what?! You spent time in his dorm? His room?!” His voice cracked like a betrayed lover in a drama. “I’m banned from dorms because of you and now you’re waltzing into his space like you own it?!”

Dylan smirked. “Not my fault you can’t follow rules.”

Jun was fuming. He stormed off and returned the next morning with a cup of sweet coffee, setting it on Po’s desk with a flourish. “Here, made sure it’s extra sweet, just the way you like it.”

Dylan’s eyes narrowed. “You copied me.”

“I elevated it,” Jun said smugly.

“Pathetic,” Dylan muttered.

But Po just sipped quietly, unfazed, even as they squabbled right in front of him. After more than a week, he was oddly used to it. Their voices were just… part of the background now.

That day, though, Po was distracted, phone buzzing constantly. He kept texting between classes, smiling faintly, his focus more on the screen than on either of them.

Jun and Dylan both noticed. Both hated it.

“Who’s he texting so much?” Jun whispered furiously during break.

Dylan shrugged but scowled. “Usually he’s not like this.”

They didn’t ask. They didn’t dare. But the question gnawed at them both.

Later, Nano was the one who dropped the bomb.

“You two have been hanging out a lot these days, P,” he said casually, looking between Jun and Dylan.

They both froze.

“What? No we haven’t,” Jun said quickly.

“We’re around Po,” Dylan added, defensive.

Nano tilted his head, grinning slyly. “You sure? Looks more like you’re hanging around each other.”

Jun smirked instantly, turning to Dylan. “See? Obsessed. Dylan, admit it! You just can’t get enough of me.”

“In your dreams,” Dylan shot back, but his ears burned red.

For some reason, Jun’s grin made his chest feel weird flustered, almost. He brushed it off, but the thought lingered, buzzing under his skin.

Nano, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with joy. His ship was sailing faster than he’d ever hoped.

Chapter Text

It had become a strange routine. Somehow, the five of them Jun, Dylan, Po, Pepper and Nano were constantly together. Whether it was grabbing lunch in the cafeteria, sitting under the big tree in front of the field, or even sneaking into the quieter corners of the library, they had fallen into a rhythm.

Jun and Dylan would sit opposite each other, trading barbed words like it was oxygen. Po, poor soul, often ended up between them, trying to smile politely while his tray filled with food or his notes got caught in the crossfire.

Pepper usually sat slightly to the side, book in hand, calm as always until Nano popped up like clockwork.

It was uncanny. The moment Jun leaned too close to Dylan while arguing about basketball statistics, or when Dylan reached across

Jun to grab a book off Po’s desk, Nano would appear. No one knew from where. He just… materialized, plopping himself down with a grin, watching the drama unfold like his favorite TV show.

“P, you really have no timing,” Jun grumbled one afternoon when Nano slid into the seat beside him mid-bicker.

“I have perfect timing,” Nano corrected cheerfully. “Right when it gets good.”

Dylan pinched the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t a soap opera.”

Nano only tilted his head. “Could’ve fooled me.”

But while Nano thrived on observing the chaos, his own life was shifting in ways he hadn’t expected. Pepper had gone from quiet, grumpy Phi who avoided eye contact to someone who now regularly helped him with homework. Math, especially.

“Again,” Pepper said one evening in the library, pointing at Nano’s notebook. His tone was firm, but not unkind.

Nano bit his lip. “I swear I studied this formula, P’Per.”

“You skipped a step,” Pepper replied, leaning closer. His voice dropped a little, patient. “Here. Try again. I’ll check.”

Nano’s ears turned pink as he scribbled down the equation, heart racing. Pepper didn’t just help, he invited him to hang out after class now. They shared snacks, sat together during study breaks, even walked to the cafeteria side by side.

His friends teased him endlessly.

“Is that P'Pepper your boyfriend now?” one of them asked during lunch.

Nano nearly choked on his rice. “B-boyfriend?! No! He’s my senior. Helping me study. Just… being nice.”

But the thought lingered. Were these just casual senior-junior hangouts? Or… were they dates in disguise? Nano didn’t know. All he knew was that his crush on Pepper had blossomed into something impossible to hide.

Confessing, though? That was terrifying. It had taken Pepper weeks to even talk to him. What if saying the truth ruined everything?

Meanwhile, Jun and Dylan were falling apart in a different way.

Their midterm results came back. Both of them normally tied at the very top of the class stared in horror at their grades.

Not just lower. Bad.

Jun’s eyes widened. “No way. This can’t be real. Did they mix up the papers?”

Dylan grimaced. “I… didn’t just drop. You dropped too.”

They turned their papers around at the same time. Both had identical scores. Lower than ever.

They froze.

Again.

Tied.

Not at the top, but tied down here.

Dylan’s face twisted. “Why do I always have to tie with the devil?”

Jun jabbed a finger at him. “Excuse me, I was about to say the same thing.” Then, smirking, he added, “You’re such a fan of me, Dylan. Even copied my grade.”

“Shut up.”

“No, really,” Jun teased, grinning ear to ear. “Next time, just admit you’re obsessed with me. Saves time.”

“Obsessed with your stupidity, maybe,” Dylan snapped back, but his ears betrayed him, turning red.

Their classmates walking by had had enough.

One groaned, “Can you two flirt somewhere else? Not in the middle of the hallway.”

“We’re not flirting!” Jun and Dylan shouted at the same time.

Another snorted, “Could’ve fooled us. Get a room.”

Nano, who had been tagging along, clapped his hands together dramatically. “Looks like flirting to me.”

Jun and Dylan both froze, caught between indignation and embarrassment. Their cheeks burned, though neither would admit it.

They turned sharply back to their “goal” Po. Except… Po wasn’t there.

Lately, he had been absent more often, either on his phone or slipping away before they could follow. Both Jun and Dylan noticed. Both hated it.

“Where is he today?” Jun muttered under his breath.

Dylan shrugged, but his jaw was tight. “He’s always texting someone. Whoever it is, they’re keeping him busy.”

Neither said it out loud, but both wondered the same thing. Who?

By the time almost semester end rolled around, the air on campus had shifted. Sports Day was at the corner, banners were being painted in bold colors and students were buzzing with excitement.

For Jun and Dylan, though, the only excitement was yet another deadlock.

Two months had passed since Po’s transfer and somehow neither of them had managed to win him over.

Yes, they hung out with him all the time in the cafeteria, in front of the field, even late nights at the library but a date? Impossible.

Every time one of them got close, the other would appear and it would dissolve into bickering until Po politely excused himself.

Then there was Nano, who had made it his full-time hobby to tease them.

“P, how many times have you scared him away now? Lost count?” he asked one lunch, grinning like the devil himself.

Jun scowled. “He didn’t run away. He just… had somewhere else to be.”

Dylan folded his arms. “And you’re delusional.”

Nano hummed innocently. “If you two stopped fighting for five minutes, maybe one of you would actually get somewhere.”

Neither of them dignified that with an answer.

But Dylan had a bigger problem than just Po slipping through his fingers.

For some reason maybe hatred, maybe sheer bad luck every time he was near Jun, his heart beat too fast. Too much to be normal.

Whenever he was around Po, he couldn’t just focus on him. His eyes always darted sideways, checking if Jun was watching, if Jun was about to swoop in and ruin everything again.

Worse, when he finally got to bed, he couldn’t sleep. He would lie awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying every single argument they’d had that day. And then he would laugh. Quietly to himself.

What the hell was wrong with him?

Three years. He had known Jun for three years. All he had ever wanted was to beat him in exams, in sports, in everything.

But lately, sometimes when he looked at Jun, the thought wasn’t 'I need to crush him'. It was …'he’s handsome.'

Dylan hated it. Hated how Jun’s smile was unfairly charming, how his confidence filled every room. Hated that it made him wonder: what if Po chose Jun? What if Jun’s handsomeness killed his chances?

It was unbearable.

One afternoon, after Po slipped away again with a vague “I have something to do,” the two of them were left glaring at each other under a hallway poster board.

“Just give up, Jun,” Dylan said, voice low and sharp. “He clearly doesn’t like you.”

Jun crossed his arms, smirking. “Me? Please. He likes me better than you. You’re boring. I’m charming. Simple math.”

“Oh yeah? He laughs at my jokes.”

“He laughs at how bad your jokes are.”

The fight might have gone in circles forever if Jun’s eyes hadn’t flicked to the poster pinned beside them. His smirk widened.

“Sports Day, huh?”

Dylan followed his gaze. His expression shifted instantly.

The 500-meter race.

Both of them looked at it. Both of them thought the same thing.

By the time they turned back to each other, the bet was already born.

“Whoever wins,” Dylan said, voice firm, “asks Po out.”

“Whoever loses,” Jun added, “backs off. For good.”

Neither of them laughed. Neither of them backed down. They shook on it like sworn enemies sealing a pact.

It was war.

From that day on, their lives turned into training montages. Jun stayed late after class, running laps around the track until his legs ached. Dylan took it a step further literally. After dinner, he ran the road behind the dorms, so late into the night that students started whispering.

“Did you hear? Someone saw a figure running outside at 1 a.m.”

“Glowing eyes, pale skin”

“A ghost?”

No. Just Dylan, sweating buckets and determined to win.

Both of them trained so hard that their homework began to pile up. Assignments sat untouched, books left unopened. Professors frowned at their slipping attention spans.

When Po noticed, he frowned too.

“Why is this race so important?” he asked one day, watching as Jun and Dylan stretched like Olympians in front of the classroom.

Jun waved him off. “For honor.”

Dylan nodded stiffly. “For pride.”

Po narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. Nano, of course, was already suspicious.

“They’re definitely hiding something,” he whispered to Pepper later.

Pepper just shrugged. “Not our problem.”

Except Pepper did have a problem. His own.

For weeks now, he had been circling closer and closer to Nano helping with homework, sharing snacks, even walking him home sometimes. And now there was a new variable: a good-looking guy who had started hanging around Nano a little too often.

Pepper didn’t like it. At all.

What if Nano fell for that guy? What if he missed his chance? He had taken weeks just to talk to Nano. Weeks to break out of his shell. He couldn’t let someone else swoop in now.

He found himself fidgeting, restless, mind racing. He needed to do something.

Secure his crush before it was too late.

And so, as Jun and Dylan prepared for their ridiculous “race to love,” Pepper quietly prepared for something much scarier.

Confession.

Meanwhile, Po remained a mystery. He still smiled at them, still accepted their coffees and jokes and charm, but he hadn’t let either of them in. Not truly.

Some nights he slipped away. Some days he stayed glued to his phone, typing quickly, hiding little smiles at the screen.

And while Jun and Dylan chased him on the track and Pepper plotted his confession, Po was somewhere else entirely.

Nano, for his part. He was preparing for bed. A warm blanket, a full belly and sweet dreams. That was all he needed.

The world could wait.