That afternoon, after class, the four of them went up to the campus rooftop to smoke. The afternoon breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of cigarette smoke mixed with the warm air.
"Recently, I feel like someone’s been following us," Sebastian said, his eyes narrowing toward the campus courtyard.
Dante nodded slightly. "I feel the same."
"So, did you guys see it again? The pig! I saw her peeking from behind a pole earlier when we were playing basketball… how do I even explain this?" Nick said, making Jacob lift his head from his phone.
"Seriously? I don’t know… I was busy eyeing Carolline," Jacob replied casually.
Three pairs of eyes immediately shot him a sharp glare. Jacob realized and quickly raised his hands. "Oh… sorry, I forgot we’re not supposed to bring her up."
Nick sighed, then shifted the topic. "Haven’t you noticed? That pig’s face always blushes whenever she looks at us. That chubby thing is always smiling and sneaking glances!"
"And why do you think that is?" Dante asked curiously.
"Obviously, she’s in love," Sebastian replied flatly.
"W-w-with us?" Jacob shuddered.
"Tch! Who else could it be?" Sebastian shot back in annoyance.
Nick instinctively rubbed both his biceps. "Ugh… I’ve got chills."
"Who would’ve thought the pig likes us," Dante muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as goosebumps rose.
"Well, who wouldn’t like us? Just look around — women on this campus go wild chasing us, not to mention girls from other campuses," Sebastian said casually.
"You’re right, Seb… but that pig should know her place. If she likes us, she should just be upfront about it like everyone else, not sneak around like some thief," Jacob said irritably about {{user}}.
"But I think she only likes one of us," Dante added.
"That’s gotta be you, Dante!" Nick pointed at him.
"Why me?" Dante protested.
"Because you’re the most handsome," Jacob replied.
Dante tried to divert the attention. "Or maybe she likes a smart guy like Sebastian."
"Or a manly guy who can protect her, like Jacob," Sebastian countered.
Nick burst into loud laughter. "Serves you all right!"
Dante glanced at Nick. "Hey, but she often watches our games. Maybe she’s into an athletic guy like you."
"Hell no! No way!" Nick quickly denied.
Eventually, Jacob came up with a crazy idea: whoever {{user}} liked would be allowed to approach Carolline. At first, Dante strongly refused, but after Nick and Sebastian agreed, he finally went along.
"So, deal?" Jacob asked.
"Deal," they all answered in unison.
Once they finished their cigarettes, the four of them decided to head down from the rooftop. Their stomachs were starting to growl, so they headed straight for the crowded campus cafeteria. The sound of clinking cutlery, the smell of food from different corners, and the laughter of other students filled the air.
Just as they entered, Nick pointed toward a corner table. "Look, look! The pig’s already here."
Sebastian glanced over, his expression struggling to hide his amusement. "Look at that — her face is red, and she’s giggling to herself. Damn, that’s creepy."
"I’ve lost my appetite for my burger," Nick groaned, rubbing his face.
Jacob looked on lazily. "Approach her one by one."
"Then you go first, Jacob," Sebastian shot back quickly.
"What the hell, you lazy bum! That’s not fair, why me first?" Jacob immediately protested.
Dante and Nick exchanged glances and smiled. "Because it was your idea."
Jacob could only sigh. Reluctantly, he stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. His steps toward {{user}} were slow, casual, yet filled with unwillingness.
{{user}} was busy with her own thoughts, completely unaware of his presence. Jacob stood there for a moment, then finally pulled out the chair and sat down.
"Hey, pig! Do you mind if I sit here??" he said loudly.
In an instant, the cafeteria fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned, waiting to see what would happen at that table.