AIDEN
"Yo Aiden! When are you gonna boot that sorry ass roommate of yours, outta your space." Miller asked, stabbing his steak with his fork as he chewed on his food a little too loudly.
It was excruciatingly painful to watch but that was Miller. He'd never stop no matter how much you complain about his habits.
I sat across the table with the other guys as we talked about different topics ranging from sports and now, the bone of contention in my life; my new roommate.
I don't know why he's still hesitant on leaving. It's almost like he's challenging me, like he wants me stoop even lower than I already have.
I scoffed just thinking about that stubborn attitude he carries around like a hero's cape.
Despite his demeanor and how brittle he looks from a distance, who would've thought that he'd hold out strong enough to challenge me?
No one has ever done that. No one has ever told me to my face that they're not scared of me and then there's him, playing the long game especially when he knows that I could easily break him in two.
Anyone in his shoes would've moved out days ago or found another alternative but he was proving stubborn on purpose.
"He's pretty interesting if you ask me." Clyden chimed in. "No one dares to share a space with you even for a second and yet there he is, standing his ground like a deer in headlights, as if he fears nothing."
"Are you going soft on him?" Miller asked, his gaze holding mine but I looked away, feeling a little uninterested. "Why haven't you kicked him out yet?"
"Aiden? Soft?" Clyden chuckled. "I've never seen Aiden and soft in the same sentence before. He's probably going to keep tormenting that guy until he eventually caves and moves out himself."
He fell back to his chair, eyes observing me with every sip he took of his bottled water. "I'm still betting that he won't break or move out though."
"Why not?"
Clyden shrugged at the question. "Because he's got spirit which is something that none of Aiden's past roommates have."
"He has already stayed for two whole days. Someone like him won't break so easily. I can already tell that he infuriates you."
Clyden dared me to say something but I'm too caught up in my own thoughts to even think properly. One thing is certain though; he will move out even if it means I have to throw him out myself.
He doesn't break so easily my arse. Everyone has a breaking point whether they'd like to admit to it or not.
Besides, the pile of garbage on his bed is enough to break anymore and if he has any shred of dignity left, he won't be able to continue staying there after something like that. He'd pick up and leave immediately.
I'm expecting to go back to an empty, quiet dorm room with no frail human almost on the verge of death, breathing in my space.
"Why don't you want to share a room with him anyway?" Miller asked, the first reasonable question he's asked all evening.
"I mean, if we want to look at it from his perspective, he's got no where else to go." He remarked.
"It's not like it's his fault that the school decided to tear down the west campus. Everyone is suffering from that decision as much as you are so why don't you toughen it out and find a common ground?"
"Besides, all athletes were forced to room together so it's not like it's his choice or anything." Clyden murmured.
"I mean, we both know that he wouldn't willingly stand outside your dorm alone if he had options to begin with."
"Hell, he wouldn't even stand outside your dorm if you paid him to." He said, earning a glare from me. "I know I wouldn't."
"Well I don't care if everyone is living in the slums with no place to go. It's not my fucking business." I growled in unseethed rage.
"They can't just dump him on me and except it to be all roses and sunshine."
"Then take it up with the committee instead of barking at the wrong tree." Clyden interjects.
"Your father is one of the core sponsors of this Academy and if his son, who happens to be the future heir of Cross-X doesn't want anything, they'd make it happen in the blink of an eye."
"Then it's pointless because it'll only mean that I've lost; that I caved and I won't give in so easily. He's leaving and since I can't kick him out willingly, it has to be his choice to make."
They both looked at me like I've lost my mind or something but I didn't care. I wanted him out of that place and out of my sight.
After dinner, the boys decided to hang out at a bar but I insisted on going home to change first before joining them so I excused myself while they waited.
Maybe, tonight will be the night I celebrate that punk leaving my room forever. Just the thought of it already has me looking at the bright future in front of me.
The air suddenly feels fresh with clear clouds.
I arrived at my room and swiped my card, opening the door. The room was dimly lit so I assumed that he must've left already. I knew it. I know that he wouldn't be able to tolerate staying here for long.
Stepping fully into the room, I came face to face with a smirking Hayes who had his hands crossed over his chest, watching me. His bed space was empty which only meant that he's taken it out for cleaning.
At that moment, my eyes caught the horrendous state my bed was in. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that I was hallucinating.
My bed was stained beyond recognition with wasted leftover food sprawled everywhere. My sheets are a mess and so are my pillows that were torn beyond repair.
I darted my eyes from my bed to his amused face. He clicked his tongue and went back to his bed, picking up a book from his desk.
"Welcome back, dear roommate." He greeted in a sarcastic tone, his eyes a visible reflection of his face that danced in delight. "I guess that tonight, we'll both be sleeping on the floor since our beds are messed up."
"What did you just do?" I asked but he shrugged, acting like I was speaking gibberish that he couldn't understand.
"Me? Why would you think that I did this? Didn't you invite your friends over and have them trash your space or do you suddenly have Amnesia?" He asked, his eyes narrowing my face.
I pushed him out of my way forcefully as I stepped forward to take a closer look. "You fucking bastard! You did this, didn't you?"
He pointed at himself in sheer innocence. "Did you see me do it? Do you have proof or are you just making baseless accusations because you're pissed?"
In one swift move, I grabbed him by the collar. His eyes went from amusement to horror in a matter of seconds but it disappeared as quickly as it came, making me wonder if I had only just imagined it.
"You're playing with fire, Hayes and you're going to get burned if you keep this up."
He shoved my death grip off from his collar, facing me squarely. "What's the matter? You can't handle what you dish out to others? Does it upset you to see your things in disarray?"
I don't respond even though all I wanted to do now was smack him in the face.
"Great. At least now you know how I felt when you decided to become a thorn in my flesh."
"You little pest—"
He raised a finger at my face to shush me, "Language, Cross. No curse words between roommates."
His words touched a muscle, adding to my already existing anger. "Don't make me—"
"What will you do? Report to Coach?" He clicked his tongue again. "Too bad cause just as you said, Coach won't believe you without proof so reporting is out of the option for you as well."
I stared at him a little longer. If looks could kill, he'd probably drop dead right here this instant but he didn't. Instead, he walked towards me in steady strides, stopping a few feet away from me.
"You know, I actually thought of moving out when you pulled that stupid stunt this afternoon but then it hit me; where's the fun in that?" He tilted his head to the side.
"Why should I give you such satisfaction after you decided to make my life miserable you worthless piece of shit?"
"So I decided to stay." He stated firmly, like he wanted me to believe it.
"If my presence infuriates you so much to the point of making your life utterly miserable then it's only fitting that I remain here so buckle up Captain, we're stuck with each other. Consider this, your karma."