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Ayub’s been out with Tessi all of three times. They went on lunch dates since both have busy college courses, and all three dates ended with sweet kisses and not much more. Tessi has asked Ayub if they can go slow, since she had a serious relationship in school and would like to dial things down for at least a few weeks.

Ayub is fine with this. He likes his dates to be up front with him. Tessi has set her limits, and Ayub appreciates that.

What he doesn’t appreciate is her constant texting anytime he invites people over for a study session, a Bud Light and soda gathering, gaming overnight, or anything else.

Tessi
Why are there girls
in ur guys-only night?
???
Ayub
seriously?

2 missed calls

Pick up!

Ayub
That’s Rosh

Tessi
And the blond!!!
????

Ayub
her gf Fiona
Also, kayla from boolean

Tessi
Why’s kayla here??
why’d u invite her!
Ayub, you said
it was just guys!

Ayub
I didn’t say that
I said peeps
Kayla is a friend of Rosh’s
Can u please relax

Tessi
EXCUSE YOU

Call incoming

“If she doesn’t trust you, dump her,” Rosh says.

Fiona gasps. “Don’t be so rude, Roshy!”

“I’m not taking dating tips from you,” Ayub groans as he takes the call and hears Tessi’s immediate complaining come online.

He leaves the room while six pairs of eyes watch him go, offering sympathetic glances. (Well, as sympathetic as Rosh can get.)

“I’m not saying you should ditch her,” Rosh says.

“That’s literally what you said, though,” Simon points out.

Ayub just slumps on the table. Their little booth is tucked away in the corner of the diner, out of the line of sight from most people, which is the way Simon likes it when he’s out in public these days.

“I’m saying,” Rosh stresses, “if she’s pressuring you despite setting boundaries for distance, then Ayub should ditch her. She’s being a hypocrite.”

Ayub pouts. “She had a difficult boyfriend during gymnasiet. She’s being overly cautious.”

Simon nods. “Maybe it’ll help if you do something serious. Go out on a dinner date.”

Ayub makes a face. “I honestly don’t know if I’m ready to go home with her just yet.”

“You don’t have to,” Simon shrugs. “When you discuss the date, let her know you’d like a more secluded atmosphere, a nice ambiance for a romantic night with no expectations afterward.”

That does sound nice. Ayub prefers the romantic side of things to intense physicality anyway.

“It’s also a good way to show that you’re serious about boundaries,” Rosh adds. “If she wants it slow, then it’s slow. She can’t expect you to stop hanging out with me.”

“She’s fine with you,” Ayub says, “since you’re going out with Fiona.”

Rosh huffs. “Come on, Ayub. That’s still not healthy.”

“She’s right,” Simon adds. “Maybe Tessi had a bad dating experience, and she’s taking it out on you. Just set things straight from the get-go so you can avoid the constant texting and calls--”

“And accusations,” Rosh mutters.

Ayub rests his face on his palm and sighs. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll do that.”

Tessi appreciates their fancy little dinner date. She wears a pretty cerulean blue dress, and Ayub is in his pressed white shirt with a blue blazer over it, along with smart blue pants and shiny shoes. He’d slicked back his long hair into a nice bun and trimmed his goatee.

“I’m sorry for being so neurotic,” Tessi admits.

Ayub blinks. “What? No, Tessi. You weren’t--”

“You know I was. With the quadruple texting and the constant calling,” she sighs. “Andre cheated on me in our final year.”

Ayub’s jaw falls open with a pop. “That bastard!”

“Yeah,” she says miserably. “I’m getting therapy for it. And my roommate, Freja, is the only other person who knows. I really like you, Ayub. You’re so sweet and genuine. I want us to really work. If you can stand me for a little longer while I work through this, I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

She looks so pretty and sad under the electric bulb light decorations hanging from the restaurant’s ceiling. Ayub takes her hand and gently squeezes it.

“Of course, Tessi,” he says softly, and she melts. “We can take it slow. I’m not looking for anyone else but you.”

She beams and kisses his cheek. They order their entrees and have a grand time with the dishes and the wine. Ayub is just happy with her company when she’s like this, free and completely relaxed.

They end the date with a longer kiss than usual, and Ayub walks back to his dorm with a wide smile on his face.

So it comes as a complete surprise when Tessi texts Ayub frantically just two days later.

Tessi
WHOS SIMONE!
WHY D’YOU KNOW
SO MANY GIRLS!???
AYUB????!!!!!

Ayub
STOP YELLING!

Tessi
Who is simone?!

Ayub
I dont know?
w8 u talking about Simon?

Tessi
that’s how she spells it?

Ayub
What? I told you about Simon
my friend from Bjärstad!
Me, rosh, and simon are a trio

Tessi
He’s a guy?
Why does he look likethat?

Ayub
??

Tessi

Ayub
He’s just growing
out his hair

Tessi
why?
He looks like a girl

Ayub
Tessi. what

Tessi
Is he trans?
No shade, I’m just asking

Ayub
u promised to stop
flinging accusations

Tessi
i’m not!
You promised to be
patient with me!

Ayub
Simon is a guy.

Tessi
Cis?

Ayub
Please stop

Tessi
Why r u avoiding?
Ayub?
This isn’t fair!
You kno i hv trauma!

“Yeah, sure! I can shear it off for her,” Simon says, now annoyed. “Look. I get she’s worried because of what her ex did, but this is crossing a line.”

They’re sprawled on the floor in Simon’s dorm room, having paused their Donkey Kong Run to complain because Tessi has been blowing up Ayub’s phone for the better part of an hour.

“Can I tell her you’re cis?” Ayub asks.

“You’re missing the point, dude.”

“Hasn’t she met Simon?” Wille asks, puzzled, resting his chin on Simon’s shoulder.

“Once during orientation,” Simon says. “I was rocking that haircut, remember?”

Wille nods. “Even so, maybe if you remind her that she’s met Simon, she’ll calm down.”

Ayub’s phone lights up with a fresh barrage of texts. He sighs. “Worth a shot.”

Tessi
I checked online
He doesn’t have socials?
Why?

Ayub, please

I trust you
not the others
He’s pretty
Is he gay?

Ayub
Tessi, you met Simon
during orientation

Tessi
That was more
than a year ago!
i dont remember that!
Do you remember
every1 u met?!

Ayub
no

Tessi
Then that’s moot huh?!

Ayub drops the phone on the couch and faceplants into a cushion.

“Good conversation?” Simon asks, lightly. Wille muffles his laugh desperately.

“She thinks you’re gay because you’re pretty,” Ayub mumbles.

Simon makes a choking sound.

Wille hums. “Interesting thesis.”

It gets harder to ignore. On a Monday, Tessi calls him, stating she heard from her girls that Ayub was spending too much time talking to a woman. He has to clarify that the woman was his professor and that she could hear Tessi’s shrill voice as she literally held Ayub’s test papers.

Another time, Ayub is smiling at his phone when Tessi snatches it from him and demands to know who he’s texting. Ayub just holds out his hand and waits for her to reluctantly hand the phone back before he says his mother had sent him a meme.

One fine weekend, Ayub has plans to game all night. He invites his friends and tells Tessi she cannot barge in and ruin the night. She is suspiciously quiet after giving him a clipped nod.

They’ve paused their Donkey Kong run for a break as Rosh gets more snacks and Wille heads off to the bathroom. That’s when Ayub’s phone rings with an incoming video call.

“Don’t tell me,” Simon sighs, his eyes glued to the TV screen.

“It’s her,” Ayub says, dismayed. He pauses the screen while everyone else moans.

“I thought she was easing off,” Rosh says suspiciously, as she comes back with new packs of chips. Ayub ignores her and picks up the phone, swiping the green icon.

Tessi’s face fills up the screen.

“HI, TESSI!” Rosh and Simon shout so loudly that Ayub jumps.

“Assholes!” he curses them.

“Of course, it’s the usual suspects,” Tessi huffs. “Ayub, do you really spend hours just gaming?”

“Yes,” he says pointedly. “Just like I told you.”

“And it’s just these two, right?”

“And Wille,” he adds.

“Who’s that?”

“Simon’s boyfriend.”

She scowls. Ayub can’t believe it. If she starts complaining about his guy friends too, he might just break up with her over this call.

They hear Wille approach them, all tucked up inside Simon’s old hoodie.

Tessi inhales. Her face goes red.

Ayub thinks she’s recognized Wille as the ex-prince, but she instead yells, “YOU SAID THERE AREN’T ANY ACTUAL GIRLS THERE?!”

Simon blinks. Rosh makes a face. “No girls. Just three guys and one woman.”

Ayub rubs his forehead. “Tessi, I swear! Wille’s a guy.”

He looks up and sees Wille standing, confused. The ‘issue’ is clear. Wille’s curtain bangs that he’s been growing out are squished over his forehead and eyes from the hoodie. He looks like a sleepy androgynous anime character. Or like that Russian guy who got stuck in China for some reality show.

“You can’t fool me!” Tessi says, her voice cracking. She’s on the verge of tears, and Wille grows more alarmed.

He pulls his hood off and waves at her. “Hello. I’m Wille. I’m Simon’s boyfriend.”

Tessi sucks in a deep breath. “Are you trans too?”

Ayub is on his feet as Wille is still stuck, unsure how to respond. Ayub heads away from the living room and tells Tessi, “That’s rude. You know it’s rude. At some point, you have to trust me, Tessi. Or else you’ll hate everyone I ever talk to.”

Tessi sobs. “But--”

“Tessi,” Ayub says, tired. “Is the therapy not working?”

“Yes, it is!”

“You’ve accused me of cheating on you with every single person in my life now.”

“No, I never said that!”

“Then what are you accusing me of by hating my friends?”

She sniffles. “I just… I know. I have issues. And I need time to work through them--”

“And I’ve been patient with you for months,” Ayub says. “I can’t keep doing this. I’ve known these people for years. I love them. If you make me choose between you and them, you know what the answer will be.”

Tears fill her eyes, and Ayub instantly feels terrible. But she wipes her face and says in a meek voice, “I’m sorry.”

He sighs. “I’m sorry too. But they are important to me. And so are you. Please stop hurting my friends.”

She nods. “I… I’ll stop. I promise.”

The thing is, when they hang out, everything is rosy. Tessi is the perfect girlfriend, and Ayub can genuinely relax and enjoy her company. With the exams coming up, he studies with her, and that helps because she’s amazing with taking notes and making flashcards.

Perhaps the last straw happens when the exams are over because Ayub is reminded that the world exists outside of them and he does have other people in his life.

They’re all celebrating in a grand frat party at the house of one of Ayub’s friends. They enter the party with her clinging to his arm tightly, as if Ayub plans to run off with someone.

“I’d like us both to have fun,” he tells her. “Look, let’s talk to your friends and mine, dance a little, drink a lot, and call it a night.”

“Sounds good,” she says, her eyes scanning the room like a Terminator.

Nishant and Jorre wave Ayub over to the kitchen, where everyone is watching someone do a keg stand badly.

“Quaint,” Tessi says, watching the guy splutter out a mouthful of beer. Everyone groans around him.

“Hey, man,” Ayub says, nodding toward his friends. “Recovering well?”

“Second year was better than the first,” Jorre says.

Nishant just downs his solo cup, and that’s enough of an answer.

“Tessi, right?” Jorre says pleasantly. “Yeah, I remember. You had Ayub on video call and made him show us all to your face that one time.”

Tessi turns red. Ayub shoots daggers at him for the reminder. Nishant elbows Jorre and says, “Is your friend Rosh here? I’d like to see her again.”

“She’s with someone,” Ayub says patiently. “Stop mooning after her and find someone here to dance with!”

Nishant raises his cup and heads off to the packed living room. Tessi watches him go, suspicious.

“I thought you said Rosh is a lesbian,” she whispers.

Ayub already knows Tessi’s spiraling. “She is. Tessi, not tonight. Please.”

She scowls and lets go of Ayub’s arm, heading off in a huff.

Jorre blinks after her. He stares at Ayub and mumbles, “Is the sex that good?”

Ayub shoves him. “Don’t start, Jorre!”

“I’m just saying,” Jorre splutters. “Why are you with her if she second-guesses everything you say?”

And isn’t that the question of the day?

Ayub just grabs a bottle of Guinness and wanders around to find his friends spread out all over the place. In an hour, lots of people crash the party, and the music pumps up, vibrating in Ayub’s chest. He bops his head to the beat and smiles when he finds a familiar face he hasn’t seen in months.

“Sara!” he greets her loudly.

Sara raises her hand, looking relieved. She hugs him and says, “I got lost on my way here. Simon is terrible with directions!”

“Didn’t he send you a location pin?”

“He said his net wasn’t working,” she says, rolling her eyes.

Ayub groans good-naturedly. Simon’s ‘internet problems’ usually meant Wille had distracted him away from worldly issues.

“AYUB!”

An ear-shattering shriek pierces the air. It’s sharp enough to cut through the abundant music thumping from the speakers. Some people look around, alarmed.

Sara stares wide-eyed. Ayub groans quietly.

Tessi pushes through the crowd and steps between Ayub and Sara, shoving Sara back.

“Wait--”

“He’s taken!” Tessi snaps at her. “Go find someone else!”

“Tessi, this is Sara!” Ayub groans. “Simon’s sister! She’s my friend!”

Tessi bristles. “Why are you friends with so many girls?!”

Sara holds her hands up in case Tessi pushes her again. Ayub is annoyed now.

“Let’s talk outside,” he tells her firmly.

Tessi has a storm cloud above her head, but Ayub is just as frustrated now. They make their way out of the party house and stand in the warm air of the summer night.

“I think we should break up,” he says.

Tessi’s anger dissolves in an instant. She looks shocked.

“You don’t trust me,” Ayub says. “It’s been months of this, Tessi. Aren’t you tired of hating anyone I talk to?”

“I don’t hate everyone!” she gasps. “You can have friends, okay?! Just not with other girls!”

“That’s unfair,” Ayub points out. “I’m perfectly at liberty to hang out with anyone. You do it too. You’re friends with people in your courses.”

“That’s different!” she complains. “I don’t go around hugging the guys or spending hours in a room with them!”

“Tessi,” Ayub sighs. “I haven’t seen Sara since winter break. It was nice to see her in person again. That’s all.”

“In person,” she says, frowning. “Did you FaceTime her?”

“Yeah. She’s in Uppsala Uni, and I talked to her once this semester over a call,” Ayub says. “Once.”

“Do you text her a lot?”

“You’re doing it again.”

“You’re avoiding my question again.”

“I’ve known Sara since I was five,” Ayub says, at his wits’ end. “And I’ve been best friends with Simon and Rosh since then, too. They are important to me. I’m not going to ignore them just because you think I’m too close to them or something.”

Tessi’s anger breaks. Tears fill her eyes.

“Don’t do this,” she sobs. “Ayub, I really like you! Why can’t you just spend time with me?”

“We are together right now!” he groans. “And you’re trying to guilt-trip me!”

“I’m not! That’s awful! How can you even say that?!”

Ayub runs a hand over his face. He looks back into the house and sees people staring at them through the windows. Among the faces are Sara, Simon, and Wille.

He’s just glad Rosh hasn’t seen this, or she’ll give him that look that says he should have broken things off ages ago.

Simon makes a motion, gesturing whether he should step out.

Ayub shakes his head. He’s sure Tessi won’t appreciate that.

“What?!” she snaps. “What did he say? Why’s he wearing makeup?! And who’s that other guy?!”

Ayub groans out loud.

“You saw him. That’s Wille,” Ayub drones.

“He looks really straight now!” she complains. “Why do they keep changing?”

“Unbelievable,” Ayub mutters. “Tessi, we’re done. Please stop insulting my friends.”

She gives him a hurt look. “When have I ever done that?!”

“You did, just now!”

“All I said what it was weird he was pretending to be a girl back then with the long hair and--”

“Goodbye, Tessi.”

“Wait!” she gasps, grabbing his arm. “I’m sorry! I won’t say anything else about them!”

“Don’t drag this out,” Ayub moans, pulling his arm away.

“You know this hurts me!” she cries. “You know what Andre did!”

“Yes. He was an ass to hurt you,” Ayub acknowledges. “But you can’t point fingers at all my friends and say I should avoid them. You can’t keep checking in and invading my quiet time with my friends. It doesn’t matter if they’re dating others or not, I’m not getting together with any of them, especially when I was already seeing someone!”

Tessi freezes. “Seeing who?!”

Ayub pauses. Then he says slowly, “You!”

“... oh.”

Ayub steps back. “Take your time and figure things out, Tessi. But we’re through.”

“You love me though!”

“I do like you, yes.”

“So you don’t actually want to break up!”

“I have to. You don’t tru--”

“I trust you! Just not them!”

She points at his friends again.

Ayub exhales. “Yeah, I’m leaving.”

“Are you sure Simon is gay?” Tessi asks, following him. “Because he’s all dressed like a girl and his boyfriend looks blander than mayo.”

“Wille looks like what?” Ayub says flatly.

Tessi falters. “Erm… it’s just an observation. He doesn’t look gay.”

“I’m not.”

She jumps and shrieks.

Ayub sees Wille, Simon, Rosh, and Sara trudge toward them now. Rosh is supremely annoyed. Simon obviously divulged the details to her.

Wille waves at Tessi. “I’m not gay. My boyfriend is, though.”

Tessi scowls. “That doesn’t even make sense! Are they lying for you, Ayub? Simon and Wille are obviously pretending and--”

They take it as a challenge. Simon grabs Wille’s lapel and drags him down for a filthy, noisy kiss that kills all protest in Tessi.

“Look what you did!” Rosh groans. “They don’t even need an excuse to suck face!”

Tessi is absolutely stumped. Sara covers her ears and looks away. Ayub, who’s all too used to it, gets his phone out and tells Tessi, “I’m texting Freja. She’ll pick you up. Bye, Tessi.”

She sniffles, and it hurts Ayub’s heart to hear her like that. He allows Rosh to sling an arm around his shoulders. Simon detaches from a glowing Wille and rubs Ayub’s back. The five of them leave the party and head out of the campus for a sobering supper.

“This has been going on for months?” Sara asks, surprised. “Are you okay, Ayub?”

“I guess,” Ayub mutters, resting his head on the table beside the open pizza boxes. “Aside from the constant prying, she was a nice girlfriend.”

“Just that one hiccup?” Rosh says, shaking her head. “She has her troubles. But she had no business harassing you over them.”

“Hopefully she gets help for that now,” Simon says. He smiles at Ayub. “It’s not your fault, Ayub.”

Wille nods thoughtfully. “You can’t fix someone, no matter how much you sacrifice yourself. Not unless they’re willing to address the situation themselves.”

Ayub munches on his pizza with dull enthusiasm.

“Hey,” Rosh says. “At least on the plus side, this is your first break-up! It’s a milestone! You handled it so well!”

“Really? First?” Wille asks, surprised.

“I didn’t date in school,” Ayub says. “Simon and Rosh’s respective dramas were enough for me.”

Simon shoves his shoulder, and Rosh swears at him. Ayub grins.

“I guess by living vicariously through both of you,” he says, sitting up, “I gained second-hand experience on how to handle the situation. All four of you, really.”

Sara chortles a breathless laugh. “Glad to be of service.”

Wille is overcome with giggles. Simon tries to stay annoyed, but he laughs too. Rosh gives up as well and grins. “You know the real antidote to heartbreak?”

“What?”

“Isolate yourself and power through the emotions,” Sara says.

“Bang out pages of sheet music,” Simon chimes in.

“Listen to sad songs on repeat,” Wille quips.

Rosh gives them all a tired look. “For fuck’s sake. I was talking about ice cream!”