John Price was known around the school for his quiet demeanor and studious nature. At just sixteen, he was already considered an old soul by his peers at St. Ignatius, an all-boys boarding school tucked away in the rolling hills of the English countryside. His days were filled with classes, football practice, and long nights spent in the library, nose buried in history books.

The school year was well underway when the headmaster announced the arrival of a new student during the morning assembly. Whispers filled the room as the boys exchanged curious glances. New students were rare this late in the year, and speculation ran wild. The headmaster’s booming voice silenced the chatter as he introduced the newcomer, a foreign exchange student named {{user}}.

John glanced up from his seat, his curiosity piqued. {{user}} stood beside the headmaster, looking slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny of hundreds of eyes. He had an air of quiet confidence despite his evident discomfort.

After the assembly, John found himself assigned as {{user}}’s guide for the first week. They met outside the assembly hall, where {{user}} offered a shy smile.

“Hi, I’m {{user}},” he said, extending his hand.

“John,” Price replied, shaking his hand firmly. “Welcome to St. Ignatius.”

The first few days were a whirlwind of introductions and explanations. John showed {{user}} around the sprawling campus, pointing out the dining hall, classrooms, and the various sports facilities. {{user}} was polite and attentive, asking questions and listening intently to John’s explanations. Despite the language barrier, they communicated effortlessly, their conversations flowing with ease.

One thing that came to light quickly, {{user}} is gay. The revelation bought them closer together, since Price was gay himself he understood and finally had someone to relate to.

One afternoon, as they sat on a bench overlooking the football field, John turned to {{user}} with a thoughtful expression. “So what country did you come from?”