The Bad Boy's Dirty Little Secret BL Chapter 15: Just Friends

Night’s P.O.V

I hadn't expected Kai to return to the dorm-room at all. I hadn't expected him to come back that night. In fact, I wouldn’t even be surprised if he decided to move out or even asked me to move out the dorm permanently.

That’s why when I heard the door unlocking around ten at night, I sat up in bed eagerly, waiting for Kai to come in. The relief I felt upon seeing his face after almost three days was not something I had expected.

He stopped mid-way, frowning as he looked at me. “Why are you in my bed?”

“I thought you weren’t coming back tonight.”

“Why? You thought I’d run off to sleep with a girl just to forget about everything?”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Well…that’s what usually happens when people can’t come to terms with a mis-”

“Yeah, well, I’m taking a break for hoeing around so...” He dropped his bag at the foot of the bed. “Maybe go back to your own bed then? I’m feeling tired.”

I got up from his bed slowly, not entirely sure what I’d say if he asked me why I was here in the first place. “So…” I asked a bit hesitantly. “Are you back for good or do you want to change dorms?”

Kai stopped midway as he was taking off his wristwatch and turned to face me. His expression was unreadable, his face closed off and distant…but I could tell that he had a lot going on in his mind. He seemed distracted, almost like he didn’t know himself why he was back here in the first place.

I didn’t like jumping to conclusions. I preferred to put myself in other people’s shoes instead. Maybe that’s why I understood how difficult this might be for Kai, standing in front of me like this. I made things awkward for the both of us…it shouldn’t have happened in the first place, especially since Kai was just trying his best to be friendly with me, his dorm-mate.

“Why do you need to do that?” Kai frowned. “It’s the start of the semester and all rooms are booked. At least in this dorm. And it’s too much of a hassle anyway.”

“So…we’re okay?” I asked, just so I could be clear on where we stood.

“Sure.” He nodded, taking off the watch and then unbuttoning the buttons of his shirt. “I’m okay if you are. Let’s not make it awkward, shall we? We got drunk and did something stupid. That’s all there is to it. We can go back to being just friends.”

Just friends?

Why did that feel like he was drawing a clear line in the sand? Without giving too much away, Kai had told me exactly what my position was; exactly where we stood and exactly what to expect from now on.

Just ‘friends’ was a term he was going to be using lightly. I don’t think there will be any way we can ever cross over or get past that line from now on…or at least I couldn’t.

Damnit, Night! Why were you expecting anything in the first place! I tried to remind myself. This was what I wanted right? That Kai didn’t have to be uncomfortable because of me?

He was in his third year, so he’s been in this dorm for two years before I arrived and that hadn't led to any incidents. I would’ve felt horrible if one incident with me had made him want to quit the dorm entirely and move out. However, now that he was back and almost acting like nothing had happened between us…why was I feeling down about it?

I watched him go into the bathroom and then the shower turned on soon after, and I took the opportunity to slip into my own bed and put in my earphones and turned the volume up so I wouldn’t be able to hear him shuffling around the room.

Even when he came out of the shower in shorts and a vest, I kept my eyes glued to my phone while blasting punk rock at max volume. It wasn’t until I saw him turn off the lights and climb into bed that I finally felt myself relax and turned down the volume.

The room once again felt a bit cold and empty, even though Kai was already back and sleeping in his own bed. But now, I had nothing to complain about. So I turned my phone on silent and decided to lay down in bed until sleep took over and I didn’t wake up until my alarm went off.

*                       

I had classes from eleven this morning, so I had woken up close to nine. However, Kai had been on his way out at that moment. I had pretended to stay asleep until he had left, shutting the door gently behind him.

I knew he had morning classes, but the disappointment I had felt from last night still lingered.

When I was finally able to meet everyone at the cafeteria for lunch that afternoon, the first thing I noticed was how Landon was sitting quietly off to the side, sipping his soda, looking like a depressed puppy.

Trey and Tanya were arguing about something that didn’t even need an argument, which was fine because apparently fighting seemed to be their love language. However, Landon was the last person I would expect to have that kind of an expression.

Leaving the lovey-dovey couple alone, I sat next to Landon, nudging him with my elbows when he failed to notice me.

“Huh?” He looked up at me like a lost puppy, his eyes seemingly hazed over.

“Why didn’t you pick up any of my calls this weekend?” I frowned. “You ghosted us on our BBQ date.”

“Oh…” he looked down at his soda glass before scratching the back of his head. “Sorry…I was a little preoccupied.”

“You look distracted as hell right now!” I snapped. “What’s up with you?”

“What’s up with you?” Trey’s voice sounded from across the table and I turned to find that the couple has actually stopped arguing to narrow their eyes at me. “What are you yelling at him for?”

“I’m not yelling.” I yelled. Which resulted in three pairs of raised eyebrows directed at me. “Fine! I’m just in a bad mood. Okay? Sue me!”

“Looks like we need to sue the seniors instead.” Tanya sighed heavily. “Both you and Landon appear to be in polar opposite moods since last Friday. What went down at the club anyway?”

Landon and I looked at each other once before having a secret communication that whatever happened in that club…should stay in that club.

“Nothing.” Both of us said at the same time, making the couple narrow their eyes suspiciously at us once again.

“Oh. Look!” Landon suddenly told me, pointing towards the elevator to the building. “Isn’t that Cole and Kai?”

Immediately, my mood seemed to darken even more.

“So?” Trey asked curiously, leaning forward on the table. “You guys went to the club together. What’s your status now? Besties? Or…”

“Just friends.” I replied sourly, feeling like some kind of dirty little secret that Kai didn’t want coming out.