"You like to roast but act otherwise."
...
"Get out," I tell Rudy as I push the door open against the tide of objects that littered the floor.
I pull my pillow and blanket closer to myself as I stare at the mess that he calls his room. His bedroom isn't just a mess, it is a disaster zone. It looks like a storm had blown over in his closet strewing the clothes across the floor. Several pairs of underpants, sweaty t-shirts, a pair of jeans, discarded wrappers, banana peels, partially drunken cups of coffee, a cheerio, empty cereal boxes, tissue papers; all of them lie littered on the bedroom carpet.
I pick my way across the room on tiptoe, trying not to stand on any of his dirty mess. I stumble over a misplaced shoe, stubbing my big toe on the end of the bed. Fuck, I grit my teeth in pain and glare at Rudy. He has been here for four days and already, his room looks like it hasn't been cleaned in ages.
"Did something die in here?" My nose immediately wrinkles in disgust because of the stench that's coming from his bedroom, a mix of stale coffee and unwashed clothes. I gag in disgust. I yearn to go back to Ayan's bedroom but that isn't going to happen anytime soon. I don't want to be alone with him.
I'm going to do what I do best. Avoid him like a plague until he begs me for forgiveness.
Rudy ignores my jibe as he says, shoving a handful of Cheetos in his mouth, "Trouble in paradise?"
He nods his head at my blanket and pillow as he smiles lazily at me. I roll my eyes as I groan, "It's going to take forever to clean your room. How will I sleep here?"
He shrugs and shoves a couple more Cheetos in his mouth. "You could kick out Zubair and Cole from their room. They'll share the room with Ayan and me."
Not a bad idea. I grin as I say, "Thanks for being useful for once."
My grin is replaced with a shriek when I trip on a banana peel. My hand touches something that leaves my fingers moist and sticky. I groan and wipe my hands off on my pyjamas.
I grit my teeth as Rudy bellows with laughter. I can see his stomach shaking as he fights a new gale of giggles.
"That... was... so..." he gasps in between his laughter. "So hilarious. Ah, I wish I had filmed it."
"Thanks for nothing!" I exclaim as I tiptoe out of his room successfully without hurting myself anymore. I hear him yell, "Always glad to help!"
I'd be lying if I said that I didn't imagine wiping off his cheeky grin by a straight punch to his face. It involved getting his teeth knocked out as well.
...
"...I'm sorry."
These are the words I hear from Zubair's room. Now this isn't such a big deal, right? Except only it is. Because Ayan hasn't apologised to me yet.
I swallow, turning around to pretend I heard nothing and carry myself away. I groan inwardly and pause mid-step. I glance at the door which looks really tempting right now. A little eavesdropping won't hurt, would it?
"I don't want you to be more..." the rest of the words get muffled as he whispers them. I place my ear close to the door, trying to hear more.
"No man, it's fine. Doesn't matter," Zubair says.
"When I see you pining for her, it hurts me because I'm the reason you're not with her. I messed up everything for you. I.." I hear Ayan's voice tremble, "If only I had been more careful, I... I spoiled her life, didn't I?
"I should have fucking known!" he yells, "Now Ku doesn't..."
I miss out the rest of the words when someone pats my shoulder. "Not now," I groan, "I'm trying to listen. Can't you see?"
Someone pats my shoulder again and my eyes widen when I realise what just happened. I turn around and give Cole a sheepish smile. He raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms.
Oh no. I got caught.
"I..." I stutter, "I lost my way." The words tumble out of my mouth and I groan inwardly. I couldn't have thought of a better excuse?
"Really?" he asks as he looks at me amused.
I nod my head. "You know how these houses are. Rooms after rooms. It's so hard to remember the way."
He rolls his eyes as he says, "You're a terrible liar."
I purse my lips in a thin line. "It wasn't even a little bit believable?"
He grins as he shakes his head. "Not even for a second."
"I see," I mutter. I glance at him and give him a pleading look. I start, "Cole-"
He cuts me off with a raise of his hand. "Don't worry, I won't spill anything. Your secret is safe with me."
I smile at him as I exclaim, "Thank you so much!"
Creakkkkk
The door creaks open and Ayan appears at the door. His gaze wanders over my face as he looks at me softly. He starts to say something but I scoff and turn to Cole, "Um, I'll go and sleep now." Cole nods his head.
Feeling confident, I mutter biting the inside of my cheek, "Can you tell him that he shouldn't dare to come in his room tonight? Tell him to sleep somewhere else. I don't want him anywhere around me."
Cole's eyes widen as he nods warily.
"I deserve that," I hear Ayan mumble under his breath.
I feel his hot piercing gaze all the way up the staircase. I shut the bedroom door behind me and lock it. I lean against the door as I release the breath I had been holding.
I run my fingers in my hair to calm myself down but there's one thought I can't seem to shake away.
What did Ayan mean by he's the reason Zubair isn't with Sara?
What the hell did he do?