Making new friends

A few days later, Jadon spotted Olivia just as he walked into the lecture hall. She was already seated, flipping through her notes, relaxed but focused. He hesitated for a second, then walked over and sat beside her.

“Hey… you good after the hike?” he asked, keeping it casual.

Olivia looked up, a little surprised, then smiled. “Yeah, I’m fine. Took me like two days to recover though,” she said with a soft laugh. “You?”

“Same. The experience was something though.”

They slipped into an easy conversation about the hike, the subject, random campus things. It felt normal. Too normal, considering what sat unspoken between them.

Jadon could feel that moment creeping back into his head. The locker room. The brief eye contact. The tension. He shifted slightly, about to bring it up—

“Alright everyone, let’s get started.”

The lecturer’s voice cut through the room. Jadon leaned back, exhaling quietly, letting it go for now.

Midway through the lecture, the assignment was announced and pairs were called out.

“Jadon.. with Olivia.”

They both turned toward each other at the same time.

“Guess that’s us,” Olivia said, a small amused smile forming.

“Yeah… guess so.”

As the lecture continued, Jadon caught Olivia glancing at him a couple of times whenever his gaze drifted in her direction. Neither of them said anything, but the awareness lingered.

Later, they met at the library. They sat across from each other, laptops open, notes spread between them. At first, it was all work. Focused. Efficient. Olivia was sharp, clear in the way she explained things. Confident. Jadon kept up, but every now and then, his attention drifted.

He found himself watching her.

Small things. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she concentrated. The slight shift in her expression when something clicked. The quiet intensity she carried. It wasn’t just attraction. It was curiosity. A kind of fascination he couldn’t quite explain.

“Jadon?”

He snapped back. “Yeah, sorry. Go on.”

A couple of hours later, they finished up. Olivia closed her laptop, stretching her arms slightly. “That was actually productive.”

“Yeah, surprisingly,” Jadon said, leaning back in his chair. “We might not fail this.” She smiled faintly. “That’s a good start.”

There was a brief pause, but this time it wasn’t heavy yet. Jadon tilted his head slightly, studying her for a second before speaking.

“Where are you from?” he asked. “You don’t sound… local.”

Olivia didn’t seem surprised by the question. “Korea,” she said simply. “I moved here a couple years ago.”

“Damn,” he nodded. “That’s a big shift.”

“It was,” she said, her tone calm but honest. “Still is, sometimes.”

He watched her for a moment. “Makes sense why you’re so… on top of everything.” She let out a small breath through her nose, almost a laugh. “Yeah. I kind of have to be.”

“How come?”

“Scholarship,” she said, glancing at her notes briefly. “If my grades drop, I lose it. So… I don’t really get to slack.”

Jadon nodded slowly. “That explains a lot.”

She looked at him. “What about you?” He gave a small shrug. “I’m just trying to survive at this point.” She smiled slightly. “What’s your GPA?” He hesitated for a second. “Trying to keep it at a 3.”

“Trying?” she raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” he exhaled, half-laughing. “It’s… not as stable as yours.”

“I’m at a 3.8,” she said.

“Of course you are,” he said, shaking his head lightly. “That tracks.” She smiled, but there was a quiet weight behind it. “It has to.”

A small pause settled between them again, softer this time. Jadon leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. “Do you like it though? Or is it just… pressure?” Olivia thought about it for a second. “A bit of both,” she admitted. “I like being good at what I do. But sometimes it feels like I don’t really have a choice.”

He nodded, understanding more than he expected to. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I get that.”

She studied him for a moment. “What about you? You don’t seem like you care that much about grades.”

“I do,” he said, then paused. “Just… not in the same way.”

“How so?”

He leaned back again, thinking. “I’ve got other stuff going on. Work, people, things that kind of pull me in different directions.”

“Work?” she asked. “Yeah,” he nodded. “Part-time. Helps with rent and everything.” She seemed to register that, her expression shifting slightly. “That’s a lot to juggle.”

“It is what it is,” he said with a small shrug. There was a quiet understanding that settled between them now. Not awkward. Not heavy. Just… real.

Then—

The silence that followed shifted again. Slightly heavier this time. Jadon leaned back, rubbing the back of his neck. “So… uh…” Olivia looked at him, already knowing what was coming. “The locker room thing,” he said, a little awkward but direct. “That was… yeah.”

She let out a small breath, glancing down for a moment before looking back at him.

“What..? oh the one where I caught you naked with Daisy? Yeah.. that was… unexpected.”

“Yeah.” A short pause.

She tilted her head slightly, curiosity slipping through. “So… are you and Daisy like… a thing?” Jadon shifted in his seat. “It’s… complicated.”

Olivia raised an eyebrow. “Complicated how?” He gave a small, helpless smile. “Exactly like that.”

She let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Right.”

Another pause, but lighter this time.

“But like… you guys just do that in locker rooms?” she added, half-joking, half-genuinely asking. "Don't you guys worry if someone catches you and actually complains?"

Jadon groaned softly. “Okay, when you say it like that, it sounds worse.”

“It is worse,” she said, trying not to laugh. "I saw a penis when I was least expecting it. Its worse for me," she said as they both laughed, the tension easing.

Olivia leaned back slightly, arms crossing loosely as she looked at him. Not judging. Just observing. Remembering his naked body underneath all the clothes he was wearing.

Then she shrugged.

“Honestly? I don't know about Daisy, but I prefer you with clothing for now.”

Jadon blinked. “For now?”

“Yeah.. I mean.. I prefer you with clothes," she said, as she realized she was clearly not thinking before she spoke those words.

“Fair.”

She smiled faintly. “You definitely made lecture day more interesting though.”

“Glad I could contribute,” he said dryly.

They shared a small laugh.

The awkwardness didn’t disappear, but it softened. It shifted into something easier to carry.

As they stepped out of the campus building, the late afternoon air felt lighter compared to the quiet intensity of the library. Students moved past them in small groups, conversations blending into a soft background hum.

They walked together for a short stretch before the path split in two directions.

Jadon slowed slightly, glancing ahead, then at her. “Well… I should probably head off home and get ready for the shift.,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Olivia looked at him. “Already?”

“Yeah,” he exhaled with a faint smile. “If I’m late, my manager’s gonna start cutting my pay. And I can’t really afford that right now.”

She nodded, understanding immediately. “Makes sense.”

There was a brief pause. Not awkward, just that small moment where neither of them rushed to leave.

“You work a lot?” she asked.

“Enough,” he said. “Keeps things… stable.”

She held his gaze for a second, like she was about to say something more, but instead just gave a small nod. “Take care then.”

“You too,” he said.

He took a step back, then turned, starting down his path.

After a few steps, something pulled at him. He glanced over his shoulder.

At the same moment, Olivia turned too.

They caught each other mid look, just for a second.

She lifted her hand in a small wave, a faint smile forming, like she hadn’t meant to be caught but didn’t mind that she was.

Jadon returned it just as subtly, a small nod following, before turning away again.

This time, neither of them looked back.

But the moment lingered anyway, quiet, unspoken, and just enough to stay with them a little longer than it should have.

The bar was already alive by the time Jadon got there.

Warm lighting filled the space, and low music blended with the constant murmur of conversations. Glasses clinked against each other, and the air carried a mix of citrus, ****, and something faintly sweet.

Jadon stepped behind the counter, clocked in quickly, and headed to the staff area. He changed into his black shirt, rolled his sleeves neatly, and tied his apron before walking back out.

As soon as he pushed through to the back of the bar, Alina’s voice cut through the noise.

“Jadon, finally. I need two mojitos, a whiskey sour, and three vodka sodas. Please make them quickly, the orders are piling up.”

“Got it,” he replied immediately as he stepped into position.

They fell into rhythm without needing to say much. They had been working together for months, and the coordination came naturally to both of them.

Jadon reached for the shaker, the ice clinking sharply as he moved. He added mint leaves and lime, pressed them together, then poured and mixed with precision. His hands worked automatically as he prepared one drink after another.

Alina moved just as efficiently beside him. She handled the POS system, called out orders, and managed customers with ease. She spoke clearly and confidently, keeping everything under control as the crowd grew.

Even though they were focused on work, Jadon found himself noticing her again.

He had always found her stunning. It was not just her looks or her curves, but the way she carried herself. The way she spoke, the confidence in her tone, and the way she held eye contact made her hard to ignore.

There was something about her that stayed with him.

As the night went on, the rush slowly settled. The number of orders decreased, and the noise softened into something more manageable.

By the time they closed, the bar felt almost calm.

Jadon wiped down the counter, his shoulders slightly sore from the long shift. Alina walked over, grabbed two beers, and handed one to him.

“You look like you needed this,” she said," The manager's gone early today, so we can steal a couple for ourselves."

“I definitely did,” he replied, opening the bottle.

They stepped out to the back of the bar and sat on the steps, where the air was cooler and the noise of the street was distant. For a moment, they stood quietly, drinking their beers. After a while, Jadon turned slightly toward her. “You were not around for a few days. I noticed you were missing from your shifts.”

She took a sip before answering. “Yes, I went back home for a bit. I had not seen my parents in a while.”

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Yes, everything is fine,” she said. “I just needed to go and see them.”

Jadon nodded, then asked, “Where is home for you?”

“It is in a neighbouring state,” she replied. He looked at her thoughtfully. “I always thought you were Russian.”

She let out a small laugh. “You are not completely wrong.” He raised an eyebrow, waiting.

“My dad is Russian,” she explained, “but I have lived my whole life here.”

“That makes sense,” he said. “I think I have noticed it in your accent sometimes.”

“That only happens when I am tired,” she said with a slight smirk.

Jadon smiled. “It is different.”

She looked at him. “Is that a good different or a bad different?”

“It is a good different,” he said without hesitation. She held his gaze for a moment, as if considering his answer, before looking away and taking another sip of her beer. “Be careful,” she said lightly. “You are starting to sound like the customers.”

Jadon let out a quiet laugh. “I am not that bad.”

“Not yet,” she replied. There was a brief silence between them, but it felt familiar rather than uncomfortable.

Jadon leaned back against the wall. “Do you miss it? Your home, I mean.” She thought for a moment before answering. “Sometimes I do. But I think I am used to being here now.”

“What do you mean by that?” he asked.

“I mean this life,” she said, glancing around slightly. “Working late nights, meeting different people, everything always moving.”

He nodded slowly. “I understand that. I think I am used to it too.”

Another quiet moment settled between them.

Jadon finished the last sip of his beer and straightened slightly. “I should probably head home,” he said, his voice a little heavier now that the tiredness had settled in. “I am exhausted.”

Alina turned toward him, raising an eyebrow. “Already?”

He gave a small smile. “It has been a long day.”

She stepped a little closer, just enough to close the distance slightly. “Or,” she said, her tone lighter, teasing, “you could stay a bit longer.”

Jadon looked at her, a faint smirk forming despite how tired he was. “Trying to keep me here?”

“Maybe,” she said, holding his gaze. “Is it working?”

He let out a soft breath, amused. “You are making it difficult to leave, I will give you that.”

“That sounds like a yes,” she replied, her voice playful.

He shook his head slightly. “It sounds like I am tired and easily convinced.”

She smiled, clearly enjoying it. “Good. Then do not leave yet.”

He studied her for a second, then sighed lightly, though there was a hint of a smile in it. “Alright. A few more minutes.”

“Not a few minutes,” she said, turning toward the staff room. “Wait here.”

He frowned slightly. “For what?”

She glanced back over her shoulder. “I will change. Then we can leave.”

“Together?” he asked.

“If you can keep up,” she said, a small smirk forming.

Jadon leaned back against the wall again, watching her disappear inside. “I think I will manage.”

A few minutes later, she came back out, having changed, her hair slightly adjusted, looking just as composed as ever. She was wearing a sleeveless blue top where the top button was undone. Jadon had never looked at so much of her skin before. He knew she was hot and had considerably big boobs, but he was lost in the moment as he was getting horny thinking about her.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said, coming back to reality.

They stepped out together into the night, falling into pace side by side.

As they walked side by side, the quiet of the night made everything feel a little more noticeable. Their footsteps stayed in sync, and every now and then, their shoulders brushed lightly.

Alina glanced at him, a faint smile playing on her lips. “You’re very calm for someone who just spent a whole shift surrounded by drunk people.”

Jadon let out a soft laugh. “I’m just tired.”

“That’s it?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. “No chaos, no stories, no secret life after work?”

“Not tonight,” he said. “I’m saving Gotham some other day.”

She giggled and looked at him for a second longer than usual. “You’re always like this.”

“Like what?”

“Composed,” she said. “You don’t… react much.”

He shrugged. “I react. Just not dramatically.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, clearly unconvinced. “Or maybe you just don’t get distracted easily.”

“By what?”

She looked straight at him now, a little more direct. “People.”

Jadon caught the shift in her tone. “Depends on the person.”

She smiled slightly. “That sounds like a safe answer.”

They kept walking, the quiet stretch of road giving their voices more space to linger. The streetlights cast long shadows, and every step seemed to slow just enough for the conversation to stretch further than either of them intended.

Alina glanced at him again, a faint smirk forming. “You still didn’t answer my question properly.”

Jadon sighed lightly. “Which one?”

“Why you’ve never made a move on me,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

He looked at her for a second, then ahead. “When did you even ask me that before?”

“Well, I’m asking now,” she said, almost amused at his reaction. “I never thought you’d like that honestly.”

She stopped for half a step, turning toward him. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You had a guy come pick you up all the time,” he said. “I thought you guys were together. I didn’t want to overstep anything.” She let out a small breath, then said, almost casually, “That’s not happening anymore. We broke up.” There was a tiny pause before she added, with a slight tilt of her head, “So… that kind of removes your excuse, doesn’t it?”

Jadon huffed a quiet laugh, caught off guard. “That’s one way to put it. And also,” he added, recovering slightly, “you don’t seem like the type.” She raised an eyebrow. “Pretty girl with a great physique?”

Jadon was caught by surprise. He wasn't expecting that.“ No, I mean the type who’d want someone just… making moves on her.”

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “What girl doesn’t like a guy making advances?” Jadon raised an eyebrow. “So you do?” She shrugged, looking ahead again. “Depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether the guy knows what he’s doing,” she said, glancing back at him.

He smirked slightly. “And you think I don’t?”

“I think you’ve never tried,” she replied.

There was a small pause before he asked, more directly now, “Do you have any such intentions?” She looked at him, then away again, her expression unreadable for a moment. “Doesn’t matter.”

“It kind of does,” he said. She shook her head lightly. “Not really.” That made him frown slightly. “Why?”

She glanced at him again, her tone shifting just a little. “Because you’re not interested anyway.” Jadon let out a quiet breath. “You keep saying that like it’s a fact.”

“Well,” she said slowly, “you haven’t exactly proven otherwise.” He looked at her now. “Or maybe I just didn’t assume you wanted that.”

“Or maybe,” she said, stepping a little closer as they walked, “you’ve got someone already.” He hesitated for a second. “It’s… complicated.” She smiled instantly, like she had been waiting for that. “There it is.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s not,” she said, her tone playful. “You definitely seem like the ‘complicated’ type.”

“I don’t know if that’s a compliment.”

“It is,” she said. “A slightly dangerous one.”

He huffed a quiet laugh. “You’re enjoying this too much.”

“I am,” she admitted. “Especially because you won’t give me a straight answer.”

“I did.”

“You didn’t,” she said. “You just made it sound interesting.”

He shook his head slightly. She leaned a little closer, her voice dropping just enough to change the tone. “For the record… I make a great partner.”

He glanced at her. “In general,” she added casually. “And in other areas too,” she said, pulling the straps of her top slightly before placing it back in place. Jadon wished she showed more of what was inside that top of hers.

Jadon raised an eyebrow, amused. “You’re very confident.. and comfortable.”

“I have reasons to be,” she said, holding his gaze.

There was a small pause, then she added, almost testing him, “What do you think?”

“About what?”

She gestured subtly toward her tits. “These two.”

Jadon looked at her properly this time, not avoiding it. The way she carried herself, the quiet confidence, the way she knew exactly what she was doing in this moment. “Yeah,” he said simply. “I do like them.”

She blinked, just slightly. “You do?” she asked, a little more surprised than she expected.

He nodded, calm. “Yeah, what's there to not like about them?” For a moment, she didn’t say anything. Then a softer smile formed, and she looked away briefly, almost to hide it.

“Didn’t expect you to actually say that,” she admitted.

“You asked.”

“I did,” she said quietly. “Still.”

They walked a few more steps, closer now without either of them noticing when it happened.

Then Jadon glanced at her again. “What about you?”

“Do I like you dick? I haven't even seen it yet!” she said, laughing. It caught Jadon by surprise. "Are you interested? I can put up a decent show I guess."

Alina let out a soft laugh, shaking her head at him, clearly amused. “You’re bold all of a sudden,” she said, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. “Where was this energy the past hour?”

Jadon smirked slightly. “Maybe I was just waiting for the right moment.”

She slowed her steps just a little, turning her head toward him more fully. “And you think this is the right moment?”

“Feels like you like it,” he said.

She studied him for a second, looking at his pants, then smiled—slower this time, a little more deliberate.

“A decent show?” she repeated, almost teasing the words. “That sounds very… confident of you.”

“Only a little,” he said.

She let out a quiet breath, then leaned slightly closer as they walked. “Careful,” she said softly. “You’re starting to sound like you’ve been holding back.”

“Maybe I have.”

That made her pause for half a second.

Then she smiled again, but this time there was a hint of something warmer behind it.

“Well,” she said, her voice light but edged with flirtation, “if I’m going to be honest… I wouldn’t mind finding out. But I think my ex is still home, so definitely not today.” She looked ahead again, but the faint smile stayed.

“But don’t get too ahead of yourself,” she added, glancing back at him. “You still have to earn it.”

“You broke up with your partner but still living together? Thats crazy territory.”

She paused. “Not really,” she said after a moment.

He looked at her, waiting.

She exhaled lightly. “I mean… it’s complicated.”

He let out a quiet laugh. “Of course it is. Looks like we’re the same type.”

“We still live together,” she said, almost too casually. “Its a two-bedroom apartment.”

Jadon turned his head toward her. “That sounds messy.”

“It is,” she admitted. “I’m trying to find a flat mate so I can move out properly.”

“And until then?”

“We just… coexist,” she said with a small shrug. “Separate rooms. Minimal conversation. It’s weird.”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah, I can imagine.”

She glanced at him. “You judging?”

“Not really,” he said. “Just sounds like something that gets complicated fast.”

“It already is,” she said, a hint of honesty slipping through.

There was a small pause.

Then she nudged him lightly with her shoulder, pulling the tone back.

“So… now that you know all that,” she said, “I seem to have caught some of you attention.”

Jadon looked at her, a faint smile forming again.

“Of course you have. And I am very interested”

She held his gaze this time, not looking away.

“Then what are you saying?” she asked quietly.

He took a step closer, just enough to close the gap between them as they walked.

“I’m saying,” he said, voice steady, “I would like to find out if you were truthful when you said you make a good partner in bed.” She let out a soft breath, almost a laugh, but there was something else in it.

“Good,” she said quietly. “Because I don’t like making things too easy.”

“Yeah,” he replied, glancing at her. “I noticed.”

They walked on, closer than before, the teasing still there—but now layered with something that neither of them was pretending not to feel anymore.

Jadon glanced at her again, the confidence from earlier still sitting with him, but steadier now.

“Do you wanna grab coffee someday?” he asked, his tone casual but direct.

Alina slowed slightly, turning her head toward him, a smirk forming almost instantly. “Are you asking me out?”

He let out a small breath, half-smiling. “I mean… I don’t want to overstep or create the wrong idea. I just want to grab coffee and talk.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not letting him off that easily.

“My life’s a bit too complicated right now,” he continued. “I don’t think I can get into anything serious before I sort things out. But I am… interested in spending time with you.”

She watched him for a second, then tilted her head slightly. “So… just friends?”

There was a beat.

“Or,” she added, her tone turning lighter, more playful, “friends with some benefits as well?”

Jadon huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “You don’t make this easy, do you?”

“I’m not trying to,” she said, smiling. He looked at her again, this time not dodging it. “Let’s start with coffee,” he said. “And see where it goes.” She held his gaze for a moment longer, then nodded slowly. “That’s a very safe answer.”

“Yeah,” he said. “But it’s an honest one.” She seemed to accept that, at least for now. They walked a few more steps before the tone shifted naturally.

“So what do you even do outside of work?” he asked. Alina shrugged lightly. “I try to stay busy. Lately I’ve been learning boxing.” He glanced at her, surprised. “Boxing?”

“Yeah,” she smiled. “Been going for a couple of months now.”

“That actually suits you,” he said.

“How?” she asked, amused.

“Confident. A little dangerous,” he replied. She laughed softly. “I’ll take that.”

He thought for a second. “I’ve actually been meaning to try something like that.” She turned toward him again. “You should.”

“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“My gym,” she said immediately. “Come with me sometime.” He raised an eyebrow. “You inviting me?”

“I am,” she said. “But don’t embarrass me.”

“No promises,” he said. She smiled, clearly entertained by that.

By the time they reached her apartment building, the energy between them had settled into something easy, but still charged underneath. She slowed to a stop near the entrance, turning to face him.

“This is me,” she said.

Jadon nodded, glancing up at the building, then back at her.

There was a small pause.

“I would’ve invited you upstairs,” she said, her tone light but intentional, “but my ex is probably home.”

“Yeah,” he said. “That sounds like a bad first impression.”

“Very,” she agreed.

She stepped back slightly toward the entrance, then looked at him again, that same teasing expression returning.

“But,” she added, her voice dropping just a little, “I’m definitely looking forward to finding out what you’ve been hiding.”

Jadon smirked faintly. “Guess you’ll have to wait.”

“I don’t mind waiting,” she said. “As long as it’s worth it.”

He held her gaze for a second, then nodded. “Coffee soon.”

“Text me,” she said.

And with one last glance, she turned and walked inside, leaving the door to close softly behind her—while Jadon stood there for just a moment longer than he needed to, looking at her ass.

"Can't wait to see what's underneath you as well.." he said to himself before walking off.