Chapter 4.1 "Love Or War" (part 1)

Ryan’s POV

My new room is… a princess-like room. It’s big and I also have my own bathroom.

“I won’t doubt why the tuition fee is so big,” I whispered while shaking my head.

Before I enrolled at Champese University, I was aware of the rules that only students who will agree to stay at the school’s given boarding house will enter the university. For that, I felt guilty for using my parent’s money for my own.

‘It seems I need to study harder.’

But before worrying about my studies, I had to take note first and foremost about the five men with whom I will live together under the same roof.

Knock, knock~

Someone is knocking. I could feel my knees slightly tremor as I set my eyes on the door. Staring at it, the images of the five men I met a moment ago flashed back inside my head.

First, the man holding the guitar. Second, the man reading a book. Third, the bastard I met in the bar. Fourth, the guy who saved me from the fountain. And last, the jerk who freaked out over a dot of ice cream on his polo shirt.

Although I am an emotional person, I have never been a fan of destiny. I believed that people don’t have a string of fates that decided one’s ending. However, meeting those men, my belief wavered for a moment.

‘Should I be happy that I encountered them before coming here as their new board-mate?’

After taking a deep breath, I stood up from sitting on the bed and approached the door, then opened it. What welcomed me is the satisfying view of the handsome brokenhearted guy I met in the rain.

‘Okay. Seeing a handsome guy like this is truly good for my heart.’

“Hi,” he greeted me with a smile.

Rounded sleepy eyes, pointed nose, and heart-shaped lips; even in my dream, I could vividly see his face as he knelt on the ground in the middle of the rain. The memory I had with him wasn’t good, especially when I recalled the craziness I did before.

‘Didn’t I give him the umbrella, saying that it is for free?!’

Damn it!

Forget handsome face! My reputation comes first!

“Bonjour~ Comment vais-je vous aider?” I spoke in French, pretending that I can’t hold a proper conversation with him. Although, it will be hard to believe because my face does not say I am someone from France.

“Oh? You know how to speak French?” he responded. “Je suos venu ici pour vous demander si vous vous souvenez encore de moi.”

Darn. He can speak very well that I could not understand everything he said. Thankfully, he translated his words before I could ask him what the hell did he just say.

“I came here to ask if you can still remember me.”

Do I have a choice to deny it? Hell no.

“You gave me a free umbrella before,” he already introduced himself. However, he did not laugh and displayed contempt. Therefore, I think he looks cool about our bizarre encounter.

I laughed sheepishly, covering my mouth and then twinkling my eyes. Then, I answered, “Ahh, right. I remembered.” I bit my lower lip then caressed my arms as I looked away.

‘Please. Just go away and leave me alone!’

“My name is Kyle,” he continued, so my eyes went back to him again. “Your name is Ryan, right? When Vincent and I saw your name on the list, we thought you were a guy.”

A sweet smile was like a honeydew painted on his lips.

‘This guy sounds very friendly.’

It only took him a minute to make me at ease.

“Because of my name, the management put me on the wrong list. My parent paid for the tuition fee and there is no vacant room available at the girls’ boarding house. So, I would like to apologize if you all feel uncomfortable with this setup.”

He hastily waved his hand mid-air.

“Oh no no no!” he said in a needy tone. “It’s fine with me, actually. I guess, Slyvester is also okay. I am not sure if Vincent is fine with this but…” He stopped for a moment, then continued,” The two guys who came here with you. There are also new.”

‘Is he talking about the guy with heart disease and the one who was smacked with a brief on his face?’

“But if you ever need something, don’t hesitate to ask me,” he changed the topic.

We smiled and nodded at each other right after.

“Okay. Thank you,” I showed my gratitude.

“Ahhhmm, yeah. Then, I will go now,” he said.

Finally!

“You need to arrange your thing so I won’t dist…”

“Kyle!”

I was wrong to think that he’ll be leaving right away after saying goodbye because another visitor came. He put his arm around Kyle’s shoulder and dropped:

“You’re hitting on a girl that fast?”

This gentle guy named Kyle had his face painted in red. “W-What are you saying?! You crazy bastard. I was just welcoming the newcomer!”

I looked at the blue-haired man and our gaze met. Among the five, it was him that I wanted to avoid as much as possible.

The blue-haired man with a happy-go-lucky attitude grinned at me. Then he said, “Hey. Don’t be too close to Kyle. This man is so so weak to cute women. If you are too kind to him, he will fall in love very easily.”

Kyle’s face turned from sulky to someone ready to kill the man standing beside him.

“Shut up, Slyv. This is not funny anymore.” I saw Kyle pinch Slyvester’s waist.

“Ouch!” The silly guy winced in pain.

Thinking he succeeded in hiding what he did to Sylvester, Kyle smiled at me as if nothing happened.

“Don’t care about him. He is crazy,” Kyle explained then let out an excessive fake laugh.

That was really my plan. I don’t want to meet this blue-haired guy the most, not because I hate him, but because we had the most embarrassing encounter together.

For that, I made my final cue to leave.

“Ahhmmm, okay. I need to arrange my things so…”

This Sylvester placed his feet between the closing door.

“Stop! Stop! Stop!”

Both Kyle and I were surprised at his sudden action.

“You greeted Kyle in a very nice way. But what about me? You closed the door even though I haven’t properly introduced myself. This is unfair,” he protested, squinting his eyes at me.

I couldn’t find the right words to defend myself. Luckily, Kyle is too kind to be my knight in shining armor for a moment.

“We know each other because we already met before,” he said.

‘Wait. If he said it like that, then Sylvester would likely say that…’

“Huh. We also know each other,” Sylvester proudly uttered while sweeping his bangs.

‘I knew it! He will bring that up!’

“You remembered me, right?” Sylvester directed the question to me.

On the other side, Kyle looked alternatively at the two of us.

“You know each other too?” he inquired.

Sylvester gave his answer most annoyingly. He laughed so hard, holding his intense belly that he almost sat on the floor.

“Every time I remember your dance step,” he murmured, wiping his teary eyes. “You never fail on making me laugh,” he added then gave me a thumbs up.

‘Oh god. I just wanted to disappear right now.’

“What dance step?” Kyle curiously asked again.

Before this Sylvester would tell him in detail how I danced that day, I opened my mouth and changed the topic.

“I w-would like to…!”

Their gazes went back to me. Thankfully.

“I m-mean,” I stuttered, “I would like to thank you for helping me that day. And also, sorry for suddenly leaving you.”

“Just really what happened?” Kyle murmured, tilting his head.

Sylvester, as if he could read my intention for changing the subject, shook his head and tapped Kyle’s shoulder.

“You don’t need to know, because it’s a long story,” Sylvester said.

Phew~

Breathing for a second, Sylvester continued while looking back at me.

“No worries. I really came here to say that I am happy to see you again. Who will though that we will meet as board mates? That’s pretty amazing~”

I guess… he’s a green flag too, just like the kind Kyle.

“Me too,” I answered, chuckling. “I was also surprised.”

“Ahh, I haven’t introduced myself,” he gasped then put his hand together. “My name is Sylvester. I am… Ah!” He suddenly winced and cupped his cheek. “It’s aching again. Geez~”

“Your tooth?” Kyle noticed. “You’ve been complaining about that last week. Then you still dared eat cotton candies? Tsk tsk.” He shook his head and continued, “You need to go to the dentist, Slyv.”

“Argh,” Sylvester growled as if he did not like the suggestion he heard from Kyle.

“Ahhh,” Kyle uttered, nodding. “I almost forgot that you have a trauma in a dentist.”

Before I came here, I decided to stay low. But if these guys will be my friend, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. They look kind, gentlemanly, and somewhat… crazy like me.

Kyle and Sylvester left after bickering in front of my room. Then I continued arranging my stuff until I finished at 4 pm.

The first place that I considered visiting is the kitchen, mainly because I could feel the growing monster inside my tummy.

On my way, I passed by a room. The door was opened so I could not avoid peeking inside due to my silly curiosity. It took me seconds to realize the mistake I have done.

“Oh my god!” I gasped when a man appeared in front of me, there inside the room I was looking at.

“Who gave you permission to peek inside my room?” he asked me in a cold tone.

Aha! He was that guy before!

‘The handsome man who parked beside the ‘No Parking’ sign.’

“What are you waiting for? Get lost,” he shooed me away.

I stepped away, per his request.

‘Wait a minute. What is his right to shoo me away like this? I should not let him treat me this way.’

I threw a sharp gaze back at him and dropped a rude remark.

“Hey, you.”