Day 3: A Thief In My Dorm

"Hello, Mum!" Gracie smiles at her mother before awkwardly shifting herself inside the room. Weekends with her family have always been the worst. She wouldn't have realized how much liberal and freedom people need until she moved out. Her family environment, constant discipline and gatherings are too suffocating for her. Every weekend, when she comes to visit her family to attend dinner, she feels like throwing up under the tensed and compressed environment.

Her so-called mother silently approves of her arrival as Gracie quietly sits at the dinner table, already counting seconds. This can't get any more boring than it already is!

The usually bubbly girl, yawns secretly at the business talks that have been happening for two hours. And suddenly she realized her cousin Ellen wasn't here today. How luckier can Ellen be than this!

"So, Gracie, how's your studies going?" The oldest uncle of hers spoke with a low grunt, clearly not interested to know the answer but asked out of formality.

"Good. Everything's going very smoothly." Gracie answered with her same-as-always expression. She swallowed the unsalted steak, although she would much rather puke on their faces and stuff her face with some real food that taste!

"Have you decided on which Business University you will apply for?" Gracie's mother said straightforwardly, without beating around the bush anymore.

The curly haired girl dared to roll her eyes which did not go unnoticed by her family as they immediately called her out on it and her biological mother told her to 'Behave'. If Ellen would have been present there today, she would have probably choked at the scene where the most responsible and humble kid of the family apparently threw her first tantrum.

Usually when Gracie gets asked this question, she politely avoids it, thinking she can discuss her future plans with her parents at a crucial time and privately.

However, today she felt the sudden frustration invading her. Everyone in her school including the school guard, for God's sake knows that Gracie wants to be a microbiologist. But no, how can her family let her breathe on her own will.

"Mum, I have told you a million times that I don't want to be a part of our family business. I want to follow my own path. Not by some nepotism dirt."

Gracie was fed up at this point. Honestly, she was done being polite. Every single weekend of hers was wasted by them asking her the same question.

Haven't they ever wondered or cared if I'm comfortable at my new dorm? Do they not care if I am happy or not? She thought.

But one thing's for sure. She did not care at this moment. Jason's words from yesterday were still fresh in her ear. "Liberty comes from within. You need to free yourself first so others can free you. You cannot be the one obeying their bullshit, you have to speak up for yourself. And that will be the moment, they'll get discouraged to control you. They can only control you, if you let them."

Gracie's eyes welled up at the thought.

"GRACIE, I'M TELLING YOU TO TAKE A SEAT!" She might have spaced out as her mother had to increase her tone to snap her back to the real world.

"You're getting out of hand, young lady. I shouldn't have let you move out. It's those bad friends influencing you. It's Sira isn't..."

"Leave Sira out of your mouth!" Gracie commented, not knowing where she got this sudden courage from. "I'm not applying for those stupid Business courses."

"Business courses aren't stupid!" Her mother shrieked, "You are going to apply for Business Universities and that's final. You may leave now, I don't wish to ruin the positive family environment. Let's have a word about this late-"

"Forget it! Since when did my mom start having a real conversation with her daughter? Have a great dinner Mrs. Rose." Gracie was a sobbing mess at this point. All of the relatives were gawking at her with such shock that their stares almost made her feel naked. They had never seen this girl disrespecting or even speaking in a remotely louder tone than her 'I am good.'

She clicks her heels the next moment, exiting from the scenario.

As soon as she found a bench on the road, her body dropped on it. She could feel her knees weak as she cried out loud under the street light. It's not very usual for her to cry in front of anyone let alone crying in the middle of the streets, but the nineteen year old couldn't help it. She just felt the urgency to let it all out, hoping no one passes by.

Although it is unlikely for anyone to pass by since her family house had a long driveway before reaching any public area. The area they resided in is part of the high society where only rich and powerful people can live and afford.

Gracie didn't know how many minutes had rolled by, when she heard her phone ringing. She checked it tiredly and it was none other than Sira. Gracie didn't want to bother her friend and cry in front of her. So she decided to leave a single text of 'Hey, I'm at a family dinner rn. TTYL.'

Defeated by her body, she tiredly entered her dorm room. Kicking off the heels and her bag, she didn't even bother to put them on a surface as she barged into her bedroom with a long weary sigh. Undoubtedly, she had the worst day. As it was the weekend, neither she had her roommate to chat to or watch a movie nor she had seen the face of Jason or even talked to him.

And from evening onwards, she was tangled in this family drama. The girl walked to the small kitchen, grabbing the water bottle as she chugged it in, at one go. God, she was so thirsty after all the crying.

She heard her phone buzzing. Assuming it might be one of her friends, she walked to it only to realize it was her mother reminding her to be early for the company's success party this Sunday. But that's not what pissed her off the most, it was the second thing she said that made her feel outrageous. That she has someone she would like Gracie to meet.

Now, someone for a nineteen year old girl, basically 'a young lady', refers to a guy. A guy, which her mother would like her to meet. Exactly. Gracie was well aware of the tactics of her family and their business.

"Ugh!" Gracie felt like ripping her hair off, as she took out the clips from her curly hair and ran her fingers through them. She threw her phone, after switching it off, at a corner of the bed. With a low grunt, she absentmindedly stripped her clothes before throwing over a big T-shirt over her not-so-skinny body.

After finished washing up, she took some time reflecting on how she had acted earlier since after a warm shower she was finally in a calmer state. Jason is really getting to her. Speaking of him, she really didn't hear from him the entire day today. Gracie wondered what he'd been doing all of a sudden.

Her thoughts were cut short when she heard a loud thump. Her heart momentarily jolted up at the thought of an intruder.

Managing to come out of the bathroom, she eyed her window when she realized but the clear night sky was visible through it. She bravely took more steps towards the window. The closer she stepped, the faster her heartbeats got. Shecwas about to turn the curtain close when-

"Hey!"

"JESUS CHRIST!" A head, Jason's head, to be specific pops up. Her body immediately jerks up at the sudden heart-clenching jumpscare of his.

As she holds her heart tightly, she feels like passing out with the sudden adrenaline while the dandy man before her keeps on cackling as if it was his life goal to scare her.

"I'm so sorry-"

"JASON!" She cried out as she sat herself on the edge of her bed still shivering, "Why would you do that!"

Jason's eyes wandered to her body, she wasn't wearing anything but a T-shirt. As she sat, his heart thumped at the flash of her thighs that he was running his palms around just the day before.

Stabilizing her breath, Gracie stood up, eyebrows furrowed at the silver haired boy, "Why are you here?" She placed her palms against her hips.

Jason only smirks and walks forward. As a confident stare pierce a hole through her soul, she felt her annoyance disappearing.

Jason halted when he came closer to her body, allowing her to see his full face under the light that was coming from the window. His notorious smug gets replaced with a hearty chuckle. "I called you but your phone was switched off, so it's your fault if I'm invading your room like a thief."

She nods in understanding. Wait, no! She rolled her eyes and folded her arms as she realized what he just uttered. "Idiot! You could've just asked for me at the reception like a normal person!"

"Well, what's fun about that?" Jason shrugs before walking past her in order to switch on the light. He confidently walked around her room like he owned this place. Meanwhile, Gracie was still stuck near the window, puzzled.

"I'm so confused, what's happening..." Gracie spoke to herself. "So, you're telling me that you climbed up the wall of the building and stayed by the window waiting for me to come, so you could scare me?" She was baffled.

Jason took a seat against her bed. "Nice room." Curving his lips downward, his hand brushes through a silk nightwear. He lifts it up by commenting, "But a bit messy... " And smirks as he finally looks at Gracie.

Blushing dangerously, she ran to him and grabbed the clothing as well as sweeping the underwear and bralette that she left to dry up on her chair. In her defense, it was her own personal space and she didn't see any harm in casually leaving her garments to dry.

"Stop with that look, Jason!" Avoiding any eye contact, she threw the pieces in her cupboard before shutting it furiously.

Jason simply lets out another playful laugh seeing the girl so flustered. "Don't act like your room isn't messy!" She scolds. However, he ignores her statement before bursting a bit more. "Stop!" Gracie throws a pillow at him, she found on the chair.

He swiftly catches it, before placing it on her bed where it originally belongs. She is still not pleased with his attitude, stands still, not even trying to make eye contact.

On an honest note, she was too embarrassed to utter a word. She never wanted to invite him to her dorm when it was upside down like this. Not to mention, she wasn't particularly happy about how unpresentable she appeared, while he looked perfect as usual. It's really not fair, how this guy always caught her in a position where no other male could dare to see her in.

"It's okay, princess. Don't be upset." He spoke, teasingly.

"I hate you!" She said, her nostrils flaring up at this point.

"That's not how you talk to your guests! Didn't momma teach you some manners?" His comment turned her mood to salty. He noticed the change in her posture. Regardless, he continued, "Let's go!"

"Huh?"

He stood up, stepping closer to her, as his knees peaked out through the distressed part of his blue ripped jeans. The girl could see his muscles through the tightening fitting of his black turtleneck.

"We're going out." He answered, before opening her cupboard and picking up the first jacket he saw, casually.

Making her wear the leather jacket, he held her hand and moved towards the window as if he had planned to go out like that too. Buffering at what's happening, Gracie snaps back to reality, "Hold on! Time out, mister! Where are you taking me?"

"You suddenly come to my room through a window like some kinda thief and then insult my room and suddenly you want to jump out of this window too? The window situated at the third floor of the building? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Gracie lets it all out finally.

"Perfect!" Jason exclaims.

"Huh?"

"Stop opening your mouth this big. I can stuff it if you want." He winks at her.

Choking on the dirty remark, she cocks an eyebrow at him. An unpleasant expression painted on her round, natural face.

"Okay, I promised you that I'm going to make you experience a lot of things. So have you ever gone on a motorbike ride and seen the city lights at night?" Jason asks, pointing out the reason.

"No?" Gracie blurts out, unconsciously as she blinks twice.

"You're missing out. Let's go!" He says, interlocking his fingers with hers, absentmindedly.

"Wait! Wait!" Gracie halts again, "Lemme wear pants at least!"

He instantly stops. Gracie could see him gulping, as his Adam's apple bopped up and down at her bold statement.

"You aren't wearing anything underneath?" His eyes went dark, as dark as a new moon sky.

Flustered at his question, she slaps his hands off, "Calm your dick, gentleman. Wait here, I'll be back!" She almost squeaked as she turned around and ran to the bathroom, grabbing the first pair of denim shorts her hands found.

She gets indulged in her own trail of thoughts. Unquestionably, the nineteen year old had never stayed late at night to observe anything nightlife had to offer. Although she was always fond of stars, she could only see them through her balcony from her family's house or the window of the dorm. Well, there do exist some nights with Ellen and school friends in clubs but that is just limited to clubs and a timestamp of 10 pm.

Now that she thinks of it, she had never actually gone on a drive at night or viewed a sky full of stars, and only stars. How enchanting it would feel to be underneath a starry sky. How beautiful the city gets at night. She never received an opportunity to know. Not to mention, she had never ever in her nineteen years rode a motorbike in the daylight, forget about night.

Gracie came out after eternity, as Jason liked to say. Grabbing a scarf, she picked her keys along.

"How old are you, lady? You don't need keys. You're coming in through your window and now leaving through your window as well. Besides, the warden will not allow you to leave at this hour." Jason states, taking the keys off her hand.

"Oh my god, right! I can't leave at this hour. Neither can I sneak out. What if we get caught, Jason?" Gracie panics, as she realizes the rules of the dormitory.

"When Jason's here. No worry and no fear!" Jason says, trying to grab her attention.

"So, have you ever sneaked out and left through your window?" He asked, holding both of her hands.

"No?"

"Perfect!"