Cassian's father had told him, "Just be yourself." But Cassian wondered if he had ever truly been anyone else. His mind wandered through a maze of questions, but he knew he had to focus on his work for now. What if his roommate walked in before he could properly hide his hair? Cassian found himself stuck on this worry yet again.
Frustration welled up inside him. He wanted to shout at the heavens for the unfair treatment he felt he received. What had he done in a past life to deserve this striking orange hair that made him a target for ridicule? Had he mocked others before, only to be mocked now in turn? Even if this were his fate, couldn't God have chosen a different punishment? He wouldn't have minded a shorter lifespan, but this hair was unbearable. He was convinced he wouldn't live long with such a glaringly odd appearance.
Cassian sighed heavily and organized his desk, hoping to distract himself with his study materials.
"I have to study! I came here to study! Without studying, I won't achieve anything in life! I'll end up rotting on the roadside if I don't. So, study! Your future is more important than your saffron hair! Cassian, do it! What does this hair have to do with life, with making friends, with everything?"
But deep down, he knew his hair affected everything. "This is exactly why I avoid meeting new people," Cassian thought to himself.
Just as he was about to pull his hair out in frustration, the dormitory door opened slowly. It was Dylan Reid, but he has his head down.
Cassian glanced at the newcomer, who seemed to exude loneliness with his head bowed. He moved fast to grab his usual cap from the side, but after looking at who he is, he forgot about his orange hair and was silent for a long time.
Cassian couldn't help but wonder why someone so popular was assigned to be his roommate. Dylan was admired by the entire school. What would Cassian do if those adoring girls started asking for Dylan's phone number or other details? And what if, in the midst of all this, his own unusual hair color was accidentally exposed?
He sighed internally at his bad luck. There was nothing he could do now but accept this punishment handed down by the heavens.
Dylan moved his suitcase to the bed left vacant for him and started unpacking.
Cassian returned back to reality, stunned for a moment, before resuming his previous posture. He thought, 'Is talking really necessary right now?'
To his surprise, the seemingly aloof newcomer introduced himself, "I'm Dylan Reid. I hope we get along."
Dylan's voice was low and gentle. Cassian turned back again and replied in his usual soft voice, "En, I'm Cassian Hart. Please take care of me in the future. I'm not very social, so I apologize in advance if I cause any inconvenience."
Dylan nodded and continued his unpacking. The room remained peaceful and silent, much to the relief of both.
Dylan, who had always wished for such tranquility, felt a surge of happiness. His contentment was at an all-time high. Cassian also felt fortunate that his new roommate, though unexpected, didn't seem too conscious of his saffron hair.
Cassian looked around at the unfolding situation, feeling a mix of anxiety and resignation. He thought to himself, "Dylan will handle his own work and study, and I'll do mine. There's no need to complicate things further. If people ask me about Dylan, I'll just stay silent. Or, if they keep pressing, I'll just find a way to shut them down. I'm not obligated to answer every question they throw at me. Besides, who knows? Maybe I'll make a friend or two in the meantime."
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that having Dylan as a roommate didn't fundamentally change anything about his life. It was simply an unexpected twist, an extraordinary addition to his otherwise ordinary routine. Sure, Dylan's popularity might draw some unwanted attention, but Cassian was determined not to let it affect him. This new setup was just another challenge to face, and he was ready to handle it.
Dylan, on the other hand, noticed the thoughtful expression on his new roommate's face. He silently prayed that this one wouldn't turn out like his previous roommate.
Cassian looked impeccable. His clothes were decent and not covered in garish stripes like his last roommate's, which had made Dylan's eyes sting with disgust. Everything about Cassian seemed clean and orderly, from his neatly organized desk to the perfectly arranged blankets on his bed. Although Dylan didn't know much about Cassian's character yet, he was relieved so far.
Cassian was also pleasing to the eye. His unusual hair color, which clearly troubled him, seemed beautiful to Dylan. It had a warm, inviting quality.
Realizing his thoughts were drifting, Dylan shook his head, chastising himself for being hypocritical. This guy was just another random roommate, nothing special. But deep down, Dylan couldn't entirely dismiss the voice in his heart.
Determined to maintain his composure, Dylan focused on unpacking. As long as this peaceful atmosphere persisted, he believed everything would be fine. Satisfied with the current situation, Dylan felt a sense of cautious optimism.
Both were happy in their own way.
As Cassian bathed that night, a sinking realization washed over him—he had completely forgotten about his hair.
He cursed inwardly, feeling a surge of frustration. There was no way to change it, no matter how much he wished otherwise. The thought of altering its color crossed his mind again, but he quickly dismissed it. In reality he isn't hateful to change his hair color instead, he was allergic to hair dyes, and any attempt to change his hair color could trigger a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.
Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic response, was a constant threat. It started with mild symptoms but quickly escalated in his case, requiring immediate medical attention. The risk of anaphylaxis loomed over him like a shadow, a reminder of his body's intolerant defiance against even the slightest alteration.
As he dried off and dressed, Cassian couldn't shake the feeling of overwhelming pressure of his hair. Dylan is studying and he started his night routine too. He forgot about other things soon.