Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven: Cigarettes
The two entered the apartment, locked the door, but didn't retire to their rooms for the night. They sat on the couch, right next to each other, silent. They wanted to speak about what happened, but all words had left them. Whether it to be fear or awkwardness, it didn't matter. Ja'far got up to warm up his cold coffee, and (Name) started to speak. "All jokes aside.. Were you scared?"
"You will have to be more specific than that."
"That I was kidnapped or attacked or something. When you're not being tsundere, it's hard to tell what you're really thinking," (Name) spoke so honestly that it almost made Ja'far freeze in place. "Err, that was a bad starter. Forget what I said."
Ja'far soon came back with his hot coffee and sat down next to (Name). He took a sip and thought about it. "No, it's okay." He turned his head to make direct eye contact with his roommate and gave a small smile. (Name) admired his facial features. His freckles complimented his face like the stars complimented the night sky, how easy it was to get lost in his beautiful eyes, and his smile.. oh god, his smile. (Name) could stare at him all day long. "Hello? (Name), are you listening to me?"
"W-What?"
"I said, are you listening to me?" Ja'far repeated, his voice smooth as usual. What would it be like to hold his hands in mine? (Name) nodded absentmindedly, and he continued to speak. "To answer your question.." He sighed. "I really don't know. I guess the thought of never seeing your smi- never seeing you again, I started to freak out. Don't t-take it the wrong way, okay?!"
(Name) raised a hand to her mouth to try to muffle her laughter. Although he comes off aloof, he really is kind at heart. "Whatever you say, Ja'far."
Their voices fell prey to silence, and they almost drowned in each other's eyes. Time stood still for them for a few minutes. "How long have we known each other? I can't seem to remember," Ja'far barely spoke above a whisper.
"A week, I guess." (Name) turned away, her face hot. A quiet mumble snuck their way into her ears, and she glanced at the source. "Did you say something?"
Ja'far mumbled something else and then shook his head to clear his thoughts. "I said we should go to bed." (Name) reached up her hand to grab his arm, but he walked a few steps forward and narrowly escaped. "Don't ever go out at night again."
Why do you even care about me? (Name) didn't reply, and they made their way into their respective bedrooms.
<___>
"Hey (Name)!" Alibaba cheered, practically bouncing over to the girl sitting at her desk. Morgiana soon followed. "I got a good score on my math test, how cool is that?"
(Name) tried to muster up a smile. "That's awesome! Did you study for it this time?"
Without missing a beat, Morgiana answered, "He cheated."
"I did not!"
"Yes, you did."
The protagonist watched her friends argue over something trivial, and it made her sigh. The encounter she had with Ja'far seemed so distant now. A week, they had known each other for about a week or so, and yet it felt like longer. Ja'far was a popular guy at school, and a popular guy on TV.
Getting to know Ja'far like this, on a more personal level, should make a girl feel very lucky. For (Name), it should've been the same, but all it felt like was that her life had disasters popping up one after another because of the tsundere. She wanted more of a roommate relationship, anything would be better than that. It was selfish, and (Name) knew that, but she couldn't help but feel like that. Ja'far was way out of her league, but she wanted him anyways.
Class soon started, and it was over before (Name) could blink. Lunch came around, and she barely noticed. Alibaba and Morgiana moved their desks to make a table with (Name)'s, and started to get their lunch out. "Are you okay?" Alibaba pointed his chopsticks at (Name). "You've been spacing out all day."
"The day isn't over," Morgiana commented. Alibaba shushed her by stuffing some rice into her mouth.
"Just thinking," (Name) responded, poking her food with a clouded mind. "Hey.. Am I annoying?"
Her friends glanced at each other before answering. "No. Why do you ask?" Alibaba reached over and stole some of the protagonist's food, causing his hand to be slapped by Morgiana. "Hey! That hurt!"
"You are suffering the pains of your sins," Morgiana whispered so only Alibaba could hear her. He glared, rubbing his injured hand.
"No particular reason." (Name) suddenly stood up, and started to leave.
"Where are you going?" Morgiana called after her.
(Name) paused, thinking about Ja'far. "I'm taking a walk."
"What about your food?" Alibaba reached over again.
"I'm not hungry."
"Sweet!" Morgiana hit Alibaba's hand again for his answer to (Name) and for trying to steal food. "She said she wasn't hungry!"
Their voices faded as (Name) walked away, getting more distance between her and the classroom she resided in for the school day. The scenery blurred as she walked outside, to a isolated area in the back of the school.
As (Name) walked by, she felt herself being shoved against the wall. Her eyes shut on instinct, and she could feel breathing on her face. The breath contained the smell of cigarettes. "You're the girl who's rumored to be dating that prick Ja'far, right?"
She didn't reply out of fear of being hit. On today of all days..! A hand gripped he front of her shirt, and lifted her up the ground an inch or two, and then being shook. "Answer me."
Again, (Name) didn't reply. Her eyes slowly opened to meet her attacker's. It was Sharrkan, the school's local bad boy. The protagonist glanced around, hoping to see anyone other than him, but no one was there except a slightly ajar door nearby. Then, (Name) made eye contact with him. His green eyes reminded her of emeralds.
The door nearby creaked open, and both Sharrkan and (Name) turned their heads to see who it was. "Ja'far," she breathed out, tearing up. The hand gripping her shirt disappeared. He seemed to be panting slightly, and a fire seemed to be lit in his eyes.
"What are you doing with (Name), Sharrkan?"
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