PART ONE

It has been approximately two weeks since the incident at EDEN. Two weeks since Roy could take his mind of regular stress and focus on his hobby─in other words making cocktails. 

Fourteen days of unwanted break really ruins one's mood. After all, this break kept Roy away from his hobby.

The ear stinging sound of the blow dryer irritated Roy to his bones but he needed to dry his hair. Nobody will willingly try to catch a cold in this weather. 

"Oi man! I am off. Bring in some dinner boxes tonight. Cannot cook. Have to submit a report tomorrow." Ken's loud voice echoed through the apartment before the door shut with a thud.

Roy ran a hand through his half dried-half wet hair and turned the dryer off. A freshly washed jeans lay on his bed as Roy did the buttons of his teal coloured shirt, standing in front of his clothing drawers.

Those pants might be over worn but still goes with anything.

Dressing up for the day, Roy saved a reminder to bring home packed dinner.

Ken is the cook of the household and Roy cannot be thankful enough for lucking on such a roommate. Without Ken, Roy would have burnt the whole apartment the very day he moved in. Cooking and Roy don't go together.

Spraying some deodorant on his arms and neck, Roy also applied a hefty amount of lip balm to his chapped lips, thinking about his roommate luck.

Roy checked himself for the last time in the mirror and scrunched up his face. Leaving his overgrown raven curls free, may not be the best choice. In the end he gave in to conscious argument and snatched a black rubber band hanging on the doorknob of his room-putting his hair high up in a bun.

Roy walked out of his room with his backpack and snatched a random pair of socks from his drawer on the way. 

The apartment smelled of fabric softener and detergent and Roy inhaled greedily. People usually hide away such guilty pleasures but Roy doesn't hide the fact he is very open about his fetish.

Searching for his iPhone, Roy looked around the couches and tea table in the living space-and dug out his phone from between the couch seat and back. Seems like he left it back there yesterday night. Thankfully some charge was still left.

Roy scrolled down his Reindeer notifications on his iPhone-pausing to like the new post by a celebrity trainer, named Romeo Merriweather. He watched the forty-seven seconds clip of his favorite trainer, eyes zeroing at Romeo's perfectly maintained body. 

Roy has been a fan of Romeo Merriweather, secretly, for two years now. Although he never works out, not a single day, but watching other men workout in some way makes Roy feel fit.

Still scrolling through his SNS notifications, Roy expertly tied the laces of his sneakers with one hand.

Suddenly Roy's feet felt cramped. Looking at the shoes, Roy realised that he might have delayed the time to buy a new pair for too long.

Well buying shoes kind of makes Roy mad. For the one's bought online, they never match his expectations and when he goes to the shop, the sales lady just chews his head out.

Locking the apartment, Roy rushed down the stairs, keys dangling from his index finger. Roy mentally thought about asking Ken to accompany him to buy shoes. At least with Ken being the popular guy, the sales lady will put all her attention in Ken.

"Are you done Bear?" Roy's phone vibrated with the usual morning text from Monroe.

A cold breeze swept across Roy's face as he walked out of the complex. Perhaps bringing a jacket along would've been good.

Outside the gates of Evergreen Apartment Complex─just like everyday awaited a tiny female, caramel dyed hair tousled messily by the wind, feet bouncing probably to keep herself warm.

Roy brisked up to the figure, their height difference obvious.

Monroe grinned, spotting Roy and quickly linked their arms together, dragging him along with her─to the campus.

"You know, people might think you own only a pair of jeans." She stated, making a distressed expression.

Roy gazed at her from his peripheral vision. Her weird get up crossed Roy. The style she opted today didn't suit her personality. It was evident that she had another purpose behind this sudden new style.

"Are you going on a date today?" Roy asked.

"Can I ever escape you Roy?" Her slick eyebrows tilted. 

"So are you?"

"Not really. You can say just meeting up to work on something." Monroe sighed leaning on his bicep.

Rather than continuing, Roy decided to keep quiet. It's not like he wants to know more about this arrangement. If Monroe feels like this much is what she wants Roy to know then so it is.

The campus' main gate flooded with students having morning classes. A regular scene for final years like them. 

"I need to meet with someone for a second. You go ahead ha? See you in the class!" Before Roy could answer Monroe unlatched herself and disappeared in the crowd.

Sighing Roy began pushing through the hurrying horde of some hyperactive, lazy and wailing students. 

Another harsh wind went past him, making nearby people comment about the off period weather change. And along with came a scent. Scent of after-rain. The intoxicating perfume that left Roy dizzy.

Because it is the same as the scent of that handkerchief owner. 

The one with eyes so beautiful that once you look into them you can never look away. The one with the aura so pure and gentle.

The one that left Roy speechless and frozen. 

Roy snapped his head in various directions right there─standing in the middle of rushing students, in search of that scent. The one that he wants to smell again. Those eyes that he wants to stare back at─once again!

But no matter how far, how quick Roy snapped in all directions, he couldn't make out. 

A sinking feeling gripped his heart. Roy wants to see that stranger again. The stranger that left his heart pounding and wanting to not let go. The owner of that precious piece of cloth Roy has very safely stored in his bed-desk drawer.

And then.

Just like being fated, Roy saw the stranger. The stranger huddled to one side, avoiding the crowd with an uneasy face.

The same eyes. The same aura.

Roy's heart thundered in his chest.

It's the guy. That stranger.