Silly Day

Kevin's mouth felt gritty as he began to brush his teeth, the minty toothpaste tingling his gums. The faint scent of his stale morning breath, like sour milk and old bread, wafted up to his nose, making him wrinkle it in disgust. As he scrubbed back and forth, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror - his bleary eyes, the stubble on his chin, and his tousled bedhead.

Across the room, Sam exited the bathroom, the damp towel in his hands still warm from the shower. He padded over to his dresser, the soft fabric of his socks muffling his footsteps on the worn hardwood floor. Rummaging through his drawers, he pulled out a clean shirt and pair of pants, the fibers whispering against his skin as he got dressed.

From outside their dorm room, they could hear the muffled voices of other students - the giggles of girls and the occasional groan of frustration from the boys, all busy preparing for the day's classes and training exercises at the academy.

Kevin's jaw ached as he vigorously brushed, determined to rid his mouth of the unpleasant taste. He caught sight of himself in the mirror again, watching as his hips swayed back and forth in an almost rhythmic motion. Finishing up, he spit into the sink, the foamy paste sliding down the drain with a gurgle.

Sam glanced over at Kevin, one eyebrow raised, as if unsure of what he had just witnessed. Shrugging it off, he bent down to slip on his shoes, the soft leather conforming to the shape of his feet. With a flick of his foot, he sent one of the slippers sailing across the room, the soft thud as it hit the wall barely audible over the muffled sounds from the hallway.

Kevin's mouth filled with a rush of cool, refreshing water as he rinsed away the last traces of toothpaste. He leaned over the sink, cheeks puffed out, swishing the liquid back and forth for a full sixty seconds before finally letting it all spill out in a controlled stream. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the unpleasant taste of morning breath dissipated.

Sticking out his tongue, Kevin began making exaggerated faces in the mirror, tugging and stretching at the corners of his mouth. He squinted his eyes, watching intently as his teeth were exposed, examining each one for any lingering specks of debris. Satisfied with his dental inspection, he gave his cheeks a playful poke, giggling at the silly distortion it caused to his reflection.

Across the room, Sam slung his backpack over his shoulder, the worn fabric rasping against the material of his shirt. He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head in amusement at Kevin's antics. "What the hell are you even doing, bro?" he asked, the words muffled slightly by the fabric of his sleeve as he brought it up to cover his mouth.

Releasing his face, Kevin shot Sam a smug grin. "None of your business," he retorted, sidestepping past his friend. As he reached the doorway, he gave the light switch a firm flick, plunging the room into darkness save for the faint glow filtering in from the hallway. Sam rolled his eyes and sauntered after him, the soles of his shoes squeaking softly against the hardwood floor.