Bound By Hate (BL)

Bound by hate

By D.starling

Chapter 1

The campus buzzed with life, students streaming in every direction. Sunshine glinted off the windows of the tall buildings, and the scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the chatter of early classes.

Noel walked through the crowd, barely noticing anyone beyond the familiar faces he nodded to politely. At twenty-three, he was good-looking, smart, and self-reliant—balancing his studies with part-time jobs to support himself.

Across the courtyard, Theo strolled in the opposite direction. Hands in his pockets, phone in one hand, eyes catching his reflection in the glass windows as he passed. Every detail—his posture, his smirk, the way heads turned—radiated effortless charm and authority. Born into a wealthy family, he carried the cool aura of someone used to having everything. He, too, was twenty-three.

Their paths crossed near the lockers. Elbows brushed.

“You’re in my spot,” Theo said casually, smirking.

Noel glanced up, expression flat. “I don’t see your name on it.”

Neither smiled. A subtle tension lingered between them—small, almost invisible, yet impossible to ignore. Two forces—prideful, stubborn, strong—occupying the same space, measuring each other without a single word.

Quiet. Calm. Ordinary.

And then, everything changed.

The classroom door at the far end swung open, and in walked Maya—the new girl. Shy yet confident, carrying her books with careful steps. The world seemed to shift around her, though neither Noel nor Theo realized it yet.

When their eyes simultaneously caught hers, something unspoken ignited. In that instant, both knew—they couldn’t afford to lose.

The classroom fell into a quiet hum as students settled in, but all eyes seemed to drift toward Maya. She moved with an effortless elegance, her gentle smile and delicate features catching the light, making her impossible to ignore. Everyone noticed, but for Theo and Noel, she was something else entirely—an overwhelming mix of beauty, grace, and quiet confidence.

Maya scanned the room, searching for a good seat, her notes clutched in hand. Distracted, she fumbled, and the notebook slipped from her grasp, tumbling to the floor.

Both Theo and Noel instinctively moved to pick it up, their minds racing with the same thought: this was their chance to interact with her, to make a good impression. But as their hands reached for the notebook, they brushed against each other. Eyes locked, irritation sparking instantly.

“Back off! I noticed it first,” Noel snapped, frustration sharpening his tone.

“But I touched it first—it’s mine now,” Theo shot back, smirking.

They squared off, each tugging at the notebook, the tension between them electric. The room felt heavier with every second of their fight, but Maya, noticing the ridiculous scene, decided not to wait any longer. With a polite smile that neither of them earned, she bent down and picked up her notebook herself before moving to her seat.

When she was gone, the two men finally looked at each other. Pride and irritation warred in their eyes—they both knew they had blown their chance to make a first impression.

“Because of you, she leaves like this! If I’d gotten her the notebook, she wouldn’t have left!” Theo snapped, his voice low with annoyance.

“It’s not my fault, you moron! She left because of you!” Noel shot back, chest tight with anger.

And just like that, their rivalry had officially begun.