7 [Chapter 7]: Independency

"So what's your plan?"

"Nothing."

"Dude! We are going to be busy this semester and you will just be a happy-go-lucky person?!"

"Chill, it's not your business."

"Oh ho! I'm your friend, of course your business is my business too!"

I looked at Sean's concerned face as he look at me. I was laughing so hard I couldn't stand him. "How about you, do you have any plans?" I asked. He smiled and boastfully, he placed his arms on his chin, "Of course, getting myself a dorm and finding hot girls." he said. I smacked his head. "Ladies again huh." I said as we both laugh. After the bell chime, classes ended and I went straight home.

As I enter (mom is cooking dinner while dad is watching television), they both looked at me. "Well that's unexpected." dad said. I wondered what they were talking about. "What do you mean?" I asked. "You're home quite early" mom said. Come to think of it, they're both right. Since the busy week, I've been coming home late and this is actually the first time I went home early. "Yeah, got no stuff to do so I decided to go home instead." I said, mom and dad nodded. "Well you see, me and your father were thinking that you should actually get your own dorm. Now that it's 2nd semester, you will be more busy and you'll be obligated to go home more late than you already did during the 1st semester." Mom had some point though. 2nd semester is where researches start. "I... I think I can handle going home instead." I said. "Stop insisting now son, we want you to be independent too you know. And at least, this time, you'll have more free time to do what you need to do rather than staying at home and just sleep." he said. It was quite harsh though, it sounded like I am too lazy. "A— alright then if you want to." I said. "You'll be moving our the day after tomorrow." dad said. My eyes widened from shock. "That early?!" I said from shock and dad nodded. I took a deep sigh and carried myself to my room because I'm really tired. I opened my phone and texted Sean, "I'll be having my own dorm mom said. Looks like I'll be moving in by friday, can you help me out?" then later on, I found myself getting sleepy so I placed my phone beside me and took my sleep.

—Morning—

"Shit!" I shouted as I was shocked on what I saw on my phone. I saw James replied with, "Alright then. I'll meet you after class on friday." I thought I texted Sean, but it turned out, as I were tired, I accidentally texted James instead. Shit what do I do?! Some things are still awkward between us. But... I guess somehow we're already close. Somehow though because we've been running into each other often these past few days. Imagine, the other day as me and Sean were buying lunch, I was talking to Sean and laughing too much when I accidentally bumped into him. My milk almost fell over him luckily he was able to balance it. Then, yesterday, during the physical class, when Sean asked to play tag you're it, I accidentally tagged him when he's not actually a part of the game so he ended up playing with us.

It was akward though. Maybe not for him, but for me it is! So instead of panicking out, I braced myself up and replied, "Thanks!" to go with the flow. I packed my stuffs and ate breakfast then dad delivered me to school. I kissed him on the forehead and walked towards the entrance.

I saw James walking along with is friends. I tried looking away but Arthur saw me.

"Oh hey, Mint!" he said as he waved at me. I couldn't ignore him though. How could I possibly ignore.l my crush?! I waved at him and smiled then James saw me. He gave a simple wave and I waved back too. He looked happy though. His day looks like it was perfect.

As I enter the classroom, I saw Sean already sitting, scrolling through his phone. I am doubting if I should tell him about my idiocy but I ended up being quiet. He'll definitely tease me to the fullest. The professor went in and started with the discussion, and on perfect timing, he told us about the science fair. All of us are required to do a discovery project with a partner, and by forsaken bad luck, James became my partner. I can't do anything about it though so I judt went with the flow.

—Friday—

As the bell chime and classes ended, "I'll go home with you today, I have nothing to do and it's friday either way so I'll spend my 2-day vacation there. I nodded without remembering that I was gonna move into my dorm today. We both went down, and as we reach the entrance door, I saw James. "You ready?" he said. I panicked all inside myself. Crap how could I possibly forget this day? Sean looked at me and asked, "What does he mean?" then James looked at me, "Didn't your friend tell you that he's having his own dorm and he asked for my help to move in?" James spoiled. Damn, my life is ruined. "Oh is that so James? Well it looks like you two will be busy right now. Also! I forgot about the research, perhaps I'll stay at the dorm." Sean said as he slowly walked past behind me. "Looks like I'll be nosy over some stuffs." he whispered and I smacked his head. James laughed, "Shall we?" he asked and I gave him my bag as he asked for it. "So what room did you got?" he asked. "It's... 172" I said and James coughed from shock. "You alright?" I asked then I saw James somehow pale. "Y— you're my roommate?!" he asked and I my eyes widened as I was shocked too. Shit, will this get any worse? "Didn't know about this, but when dad told me about having a roommate I didn't knew it was you." he said.

—James—

Well obviously, I was lying. Dad totally knew about Mint moving in a dorm so he asked Mint's mom and dad to have the same room with me. Maybe, this is an opportunity too to make Mint remember me again. I really want him to remember me, then we'll go back to before, where I make a promise, but this time, I must fufill it.

I carried his bag all the way to our room and helped him arrange his stuffs. "You go take your rest, I'll judt go out for something." I said.

—END OF JAMES'S VIEW—

—Mint—

Well basiclly, I am tired from this moving stuff. Somehow, I feel at ease being with James, and this awkward boundary between us, went gone. I lay myself down as I slowly close my eyes and take some rest as he told me. My hands feel numb after carrying stuffs.

—Next Day—

"Mint? Mint, wake up."

I've heard these words early in the morning. I slowly opened my eyes and everything is quite blurred. I saw James' face on top of mine and after he blushed, he removed his face, "Let's go take a walk and eat breakfast." he told me. I prepared myself up, took my morning wash, dressed casually and went outside the school. James is on a short with this sleeveless vermillion hoodie of his and looking at him makes me blush. He took me on a certain restaurant to eat breakfast and he paid for me. "I— it's not necessary for you to do that." I said. "I want to, take this as a treat from your roommate." he said. I smiled and we both started eating.

"Si why did you decide to take a dorm?" he asked.

"I didnt. My parents asked me."

"They must be worried about you, after all, you were coming home late these past few days."

"How did you know?"

"Hey, I see you getting home late sometimes you know. Plus I'm Arthur's friend remember?" he smiled as hr said those words. I looked st him and cheered up, finished my food and went to the bathroom.

'This... this feeling is so hard to understand. What exactly am I feeling about James?" I asked myself. I'm getting confused.