Chapter Two

Jason got to his dorm feeling sad and he slumped right on the sofa. He was restless and kept fidgeting till he walked to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. The room he shared with his roommate, Ryan had two beds with two desks at the foot of it. At the head of the bedside they had a mini fridge then two wardrobes at each side. The sofa was in between their desks.

His roommates desk was littered with A4 papers and sketch books and pencil clippings. From the scene he was able to conclude that Ryan was at it again,rushing to finish a project the night before when he'd been given weeks to complete it.

He sat on the sofa with the bottle in hand. He uncapped it and swallowed every last drop then trashed the can. His phone pinged from a random text and his wallpaper came in view. It was a picture of her he'd taken one dinner night. He reminisced the time he'd spent with Vanya. Most Sundays they'd go out to the movies after which they grabbed dinner at a not so fancy restaurant. Other times they'd eat ice cream and go on walks with hands linked and talking about random stuff.

Once he had snuck her in disguised as a boy into the dorm. Ryan had been away for something so they'd binged watch movie on Netflix with his laptop , falling asleep in each other's arm. He could clearly remember how comfortable they were with each other, like two parts of a puzzle that only made sense when put together.

He wondered how long she was dating Alex cause he was too busy and stressed to have notice any change. The semester had been really stressful for him. It had just started a week ago and came with a package of projects, assignments as well as reading to do. It was understandable as it was their final year in school. Then there was also his partime job.

His parents weren't the rich type but they were quite comfortable, they sent him monthly allowance. His mother was still working as a nurse in Nebraska and his dad stayed home receiving his pension monthly. He needed to save up and buy a house when he graduated.

They had dinner last week and she was the same or was he too tired to notice. She had been uninterested in what he had to say and just ate while on her phone.

"Let's have ice cream after this?" He said, distracting her from her phone for a bit.

"I have plans with Mariam" she responded. Mariam was her roommate. She rang the bell on the table and a waitress came by.

"Get me the bill"

"I can pay for our meal" he had objected.

"It's fine baby" she pat his cheek "Let me treat you". The waitress came back and she paid.

Her phone rang so she stood up and kissed his cheek, pointing her phone as an excuse and leaving him behind. He watched her leave and when she reached the exit door she turned back and waved at him with her smile. It eased his heart and he didn't think much of her earlier action.

Jason was still lost in thought when his roommate Ryan came in with a plastic bag. He revealed a sketch book as he trashed the bag. He was wearing Short knickers and a jersey with flip flops. Jason stared up at him and from the sight of his hair coupled with the hastiness he used in entering the room , he had been running.

"Hey man you look wasted " Ryan said rushing to his desk.

Jason zoned back out without greeting or responding to Ryan. He remembered when he and Vanya had a picnic on campus ground one lovely weather. The sun was warm and they read books after eating underneath the fine shade of a tree. His head on her lap while her back rested on the tree....he was reading his book unawares that she'd been staring till she just kissed him and he smiled and held her cheek....

"Jason...what's up man" he asked after he had slid into his desk and Jason had not responded.

"Huh?" Jason asked.

"You're scaring me.. what's up"

"it's nothing"

Ryan turned his chair and was staring at him.

"Don't you have work to do?" he asked.

"Your sulking mood Is killing my spirit"

"Vanya is seeing some other man"He shared.

"Shit...she's cheating?"

"No she isn't actually cheating... she just couldn't find time to tell me or us... about it"

"Can you hear yourself Jason....your girlfriend is seeing another man and for all I know that's cheating...why are you defending her ?" He queried.

"She loves us both...equally" Jason said, words that he didn't believe himself. Who would love him and a guy like Alex equally? he wondered.

Ryan stood up. He walked to where Jason was and stared at him though Jason avoided eye contact. He eventually gave in and looked up.

"What?" Jason asked.

"I'm trying to understand you my friend. We've been roommates for like two years now and I can say we're best buds but I never imagined you were into that"

"Into what?"

"Sharing bro...that's fucked up"

"im not sharing her with no one... I'm just thinking okay, trying to organize my thoughts.... you know how much I love her"

"I know you love her and all but.... what are you gonna do ?"

"I don't know... she wants us to talk tomorrow over coffee "

"What's there to talk about.. just forget her man"

"I can't. That stupid rich guy will hurt her and then she'll be broken...I have to be there...this must be a phase for her... she'll snap out of it soon"

"Really Jason do you think you can take it..."

"Yeah...I'll try"

"Okay so if that rich guy takes her on trips abroad and buys her a car, what can you do to match with that?"

"Don't rub it in Ryan" Jason said feeling hurt." It's the heart that matters... that's how it's always been between us"

"I'm being realistic Jason....You've got a heart of gold yeah but this could damage you psychologically... I'm just looking out for you" he pat his shoulder.

"i know"

"Think this through and if you really want it you have my support "

"Thanks man"

"I'll go back to work" Ryan said and went back to his seat. Bringing out his pencils and hinging two at the top of his ear. "I'm so not sleeping tonight"

"You saw it coming" Jason said climbing into his bed.

"yeah... I sure did"

Jason couldn't sleep that night he was restless and anxious and his heart was heavy. He tried to find in his memory where he'd gone wrong with her...he knew what he lacked but the three years he'd known her she'd never been materialistic.... what changed.

"Those party freaks are at it again" He heard Ryan mutter as he dozed off.