Kaelith got admitted to study Mass Communication, while Jaden was admitted for Law. They both headed to the registry, where they were instructed on how to register for their courses and given a booklet containing their schedule and timetables. After that, Jaden and Kael left for their dorm.
Kael lay on his bed, his back resting against a pillow propped against the bed frame. One hand supported his weight as he looked at Jaden, who seemed to be moving around the room with clothes in his hands.
Jaden pulled out a white crop top and showed it to Kael. He asked with a smile, "What do you think about this top? It's cute, right?"
Kael looked at him, then at the smile on his face, and finally at the piece of clothing in his hand.
'A crop top?' he thought, then glanced back at Jaden's face. 'Does he want to wear one?'
"It's nice. Are you wearing this?" Kael asked.
"I'm not sure," Jaden mumbled, then looked at Kael as he asked, "How are you dressing for the club tonight?"
"Like an Alpha, or an Omega?" he said with a chuckle.
"Huh…." Kael looked at him, his brows furrowed. "Why would I dress like an Omega when I'm an Alpha?"
"There's nothing wrong with that," Jaden laughed. Then, with more seriousness in his tone, he added, "You see, you have this frail build that leans more towards the Omega side, so no one would even know if you dressed like one or not. But that's not why I'm asking. The terms 'dress like an Alpha or Omega' are just a way of asking whether you typically present as a top or bottom. There's a certain way tops and bottoms dress: bottoms tend to dress more submissively, while tops dress more dominantly."
"For example, a crop top is typical bottom attire. It shows the stomach, attracts an Alpha, and all that," he added with a playful smile.
Kaelith's face was tinged with annoyance at Jaden's words. He didn't know why, but something about them irked him. They reminded him of how some people assigned rigid labels to others, like how straight people often labeled gays as unaccepted because they adhered to the belief that only straight relationships were valid.
Kael sighed as he voiced his thoughts. "Being an Alpha or Omega doesn't necessarily mean one is strong and dominant while the other is submissive. Take me as an example. I'm an Alpha, and as you said, no one would know unless I told them. But why do you assume I'm the bottom or the submissive one just because I look like an Omega? Are you saying I can't be dominant and have an Alpha-looking partner?"
Jaden looked at Kael's face and realized his demeanor had changed. "Are you annoyed by my words?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I was only joking. It's true that the current hierarchy is a result of societal norms and shouldn't be so strict. Omegas can be strong, and Alphas can be weak. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. There's nothing wrong with you being a frail-looking Alpha…"
Kael chuckled at Jaden's words. "The way you say it... Yes, I'm frail. Guess I've got to live with that. Sorry for my outburst too. I know you didn't mean it that way. I just got worked up because I've always thought about how rigid the hierarchy is."
"I understand," Jaden said, still holding the crop top in his hand. Then, looking at Kael with a sly smile, he asked again, "So, are you a top or a bottom?"
"Though I'm an Alpha, I've never fantasized about being the one doing the fucking. I've always wanted to be the one being fucked or, well, I wouldn't mind being a switch, but being fucked would be better. Like, I'm completely gay…" Kael chuckled as he spoke.
Jaden arched a brow at him. "Have you been fucked before?"
"No…" Kael responded.
'At least not in my previous world, and I haven't searched this world's memory enough to know…'
"So, how do you know you'd prefer being fucked rather than doing the fucking?" Jaden asked with a laugh.
"I just know. Now enough about me. What about you?" Kael asked, changing the subject.
"I've still got one more question before I answer yours," Jaden said, and Kael nodded. "Since you're a bottom, would you say you're dominant or submissive? You know, some bottoms still dominate," he added with a slight chuckle.
"I don't really know, but I feel like I'd like to be both: dominated and dominant. So it could go both ways, but I wouldn't mind a really strong top," Kael responded, his face heating up from the conversation.
He fanned himself with his hand as a sudden oppressive heat washed over him. His mind had flashed to a vivid image: a strong top pressing him against the bed frame, his back arched, hot breath fanning against his neck.
'No… no… no.' Kael shook his head, forcing the thought away.
When he refocused on Jaden, his cheeks were already flushed, and Jaden had a sly smile on his face.
Kael smiled as he said, "Don't ask me anything else, and most definitely don't say whatever is currently on your mind."
Jaden laughed, as if caught red-handed. "Okay, if you say so."
Then he raised the crop top in his hand again. "Since you're a bottom and don't mind being submissive, why don't you wear this crop top with some baggy jeans to the club? You'd definitely attract some strong tops…" Jaden said mischievously.
Kael looked at the top for a moment, then shook his head. "Who said I'm going to the club to attract strong tops?"
He laughed and said, "Enough about me. What about you?"
"Me?" Jaden asked, coughing lightly. "What exactly about me?"
"Top or bottom? Are you even gay?" Kael asked.
"I'm a top, at least, that's what I've always been in relationships. And no, I'm not gay, I'm bi. I've dated both men and women, and I don't mind either gender. So I'm cool."
"So, you definitely wouldn't be caught wearing a crop top?" Kael asked.
"Definitely not. My style is more baggy T-shirts, sweatshirts, joggers, and the like," Jaden said.
"Then why do you have it?" Kael asked.
"Oh… I bought it as a gift for my ex-boyfriend, but we broke up before I could give it to him. It ended up in my bag, and when I saw it, I thought of you. I figured you'd like it since you're gay and a bottom…" Jaden said.
"Oh… I see," Kael said, then smirked mischievously as he pointed at Jaden. "You thought of me. Do you perhaps like me?"
"Ewwww…" Jaden pulled a disgusted face. "Why would you even think that? Do I give you that vibe?"
"No!" Kael said, slightly annoyed. "Why did you deny it so quickly? Am I not lovable?"
"Ah…" Jaden laughed. "Don't get me wrong, you're cute. So cute, in fact, that I wouldn't even think of you as an Alpha. You have these mesmerizing blue eyes, a cute face, and an overall adorable look. But you're an Alpha, and I don't do Alphas. What are we supposed to do? Battle pheromones?" he said with a laugh.
"Huh?" Kael gave him a blank stare, due to the seriousness, he had only been joking, "I also don't like you, just saying."
"Why wouldn't you? I'm perfect." Jaden said.
"Pfft..." Kael laughed. "You're annoying."