The Man We Both Loved

“Babe.” I froze at the door, hand mid-knock. Something told me I should be here, but I tapped twice more, before slowly pushing the door open anyway. With slightly widened eyes, heat rushed down my cheeks. What the hell is going on? I turned back immediately, having my eyes fully shut. “Oh my days, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to. I thought you were alone.” “f**k, Caspain, who the f**k is she?” The guy sprang from the bed, scrambling for something to cover himself, panic in his eyes. I let out a sigh, hanging my head. This would have been awkward if it were just him on the bed naked. But surprisingly, both of them were naked, still half-wrapped in sheets, and the movie paused on the screen behind them. “Oh Frank, easy. It’s my girlfriend,” I heard Caspain mutter quietly. There was a shuffling of wardrobe and an exchange of quiet words before Caspain spoke again.“Okay, you can turn now, Elo.” I peeked to make sure they were fully in their boxers. The guy shot me angry daggers, and I wanted to tell him he was being rude to his friend’s girlfriend, but I held my tongue. My gaze snapped back to Caspain. His usual calm was replaced by something I hadn’t seen before. His eyes widened slightly, his mouth parting as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t. Stammering. “Um… Hey…good morning.” Caspain appeared in front of me, taking my attention away from the weird guy. I glared at him and gestured to my wristwatch. We were already running late for lectures. I lowered my head and whispered, “Who the hell is that, and why aren't you fully dressed yet? It's almost time for practicals.” He put on a pleading look. “He is my new roommate, Frank. We woke up late and decided to shower together… and we got a bit carried away watching a movie before you came in.” He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze. “Indeed,” I said, glancing at the roommate behind him. My gaze returned to Caspain. “I’ll be waiting outside for thirty more minutes, or I will leave alone.” “Thank you,” he smiled widely and tried to give me a peck, but I moved back, stopping him. “Just thirty more minutes. I repeat, I leave after that.” Caspain chuckled and kissed my lips instead. My heart skipped a beat, and even when his lips brushed the side of my head and he whispered into my ear, “Yes, ma’am,” I felt my pulse quicken. When he pulled back, a tiny smile rested on his face, and I gave him the middle finger before turning and leaving. Just when I was far enough to be out of hearing distance, I heard the roommate say, “Did you tell her about us?” Frank's voice was low, but firm. “Shush, easy, Frank. She is still around,” Caspain said, quieting him. “Us?” The word echoed in my head. My feet pressed against the cold tiles, and I could still smell the faint scent of Caspain's cologne in the air around me as the image of them together refused to leave. ~ “Hope you will be coming home early?” I stopped scrolling through my phone at the sound of that voice that I didn't want to hear, and Caspain was standing feet away from me with Frank, the annoying roommate. “I’m not sure that will be possible today. I need to go for dinner with Elo, remember?” “Um, Cas, dinner can wait. Can’t you both go some other time?” I really need you to help me with something at home.” I folded my arms glaring at Frank, wishing he’d stop inserting himself into our plans. “No, Frank,” he said firmly. “Fine. Do whatever you wish,” he mumbled, stepping back. There was silence as he backed away and met my eyes. His gaze was cold: I couldn't figure out why he seemed to hate me already. Caspain shrugged. “Maybe because he really wanted me to come listen to the song he composed.” “Oh, I’m sorry about that, though. But he shouldn’t descend on me either,” I muttered under my breath. Frank didn’t take his eyes off mine. I lifted a brow as he turned back to Caspain, whispered in his ear, and playfully slapped his chest. Caspain smiled back and handed him the key to their lodge room. I wished I could look away, but instead I watched longer than I meant to. There was a chemistry between them that I couldn't explain yet. “See you later, Cas,” he said, walking away, not even acting as if I existed. “Oh, heaven, Frank is literally a crybaby,” Caspain said as he moved closer to me with that ridiculous, pretty smile. “Hey babe, hope I didn't waste much time?” “Don’t baby me,” I snapped, jerking my wrist away, but his hand caught mine. I glared, daring him to let go. He pulled me back, holding my hands, “You look pale. Seems you’ve been sitting under the sun too long.” Worry clouded his gorgeous black eyes, and I felt my resolve weaken. I was terrible at staying angry with him. Finally smiling, I said, “I’m fine. It hasn’t been long since I sat here.” Much to my surprise, he let his hand rest on my bare lap, making my heartbeat quicken. He lifted my backpack from where it shielded me from the sun and pulled me up to my feet. Why does he decide everything for me? The way he pulled me up, with quiet control, made me wonder how much of us was his choice, and how much was mine. He paused, tracing his finger along my neck, “Babe, I'm sorry you had to walk into that. Frank is just clingy. We were only watching a movie, please don't overthink it,” “He’s an only child,” he continued. “I’m just trying to make him feel relaxed. It's a friendly gesture.” “I hope he sees it as friendly,” I muttered. I wanted to believe him, but my gut whispered otherwise. “He knows I have a girlfriend,” Caspain said easily. “He’s just being himself.” He smiled again, reassuringly, and I hated how effective it was. His smile, those dimples, and the slight tilt of his lips, were impossible to ignore. “You’re lucky I accepted to date you,” I joked. He chuckled, sliding an arm over my shoulder. “I can imagine how miserable you’d be without me.” “Shut it before I knock you down there. Your balls wouldn't find it attractive.” He laughed, pulling me closer. “Everything is attractive with me around. Just admit it.” “You’re so cheeky.” “Oh, sweetheart, you would be too if you had a face like mine.” I poked his side, unable to stop smiling. We reached his black BMW in the school parking lot in silence. His phone lit up with a message from Frank, and he turned it off immediately. I clenched my fists. “I don’t like him. Why didn’t you even tell me he was moving in?” I asked, my hand frozen on the car door handle. “Who?” Caspain asked, leaning casually against the car, arms crossed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Your roommate,” I muttered, narrowing my eyes. He chuckled, almost too easily, before sliding into the driver’s seat. “Don’t look at me like that,” I said, fastening my seatbelt. “None of this makes sense from what you’ve told me.” “Elo, don't bring this up again. We’re done with it.” His words came out like a dismissal, light and smooth, but there was a flicker in his eyes I couldn’t place, a strange hesitation that made my stomach twist. I opened my mouth to argue, but his smile stopped me. That stupid, infuriating smile, like he believed he owed me nothing. “No,” I said firmly. “I'm stepping out of the car if you don't promise to handle this. Now.” He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. I’ll talk to him. I’ll tell him to stop being clingy, and if he doesn’t, I’ll get another lodge.” It should have reassured me, but it didn’t. My mind was buzzing. Why did Frank move in without telling me, and why did Caspain act as if it were nothing? That awkward glance when he realized I’d seen them… It felt like he was hiding something, and I didn’t like it one bit. The memory of both half-wrapped sheets, the paused movie, Frank’s smirk, Caspain’s brief stammer, it said more than words ever could. Something wasn’t right. I could feel it in my bones. Whatever was happening between those two, it wasn’t just friendship, and Caspain wasn’t telling me everything. I took a deep breath and opened the door. The air outside felt heavier, charged with questions I wasn’t ready to answer. My gut twisted with unease, a sinking feeling I knew would linger. Something was brewing, and I feared I wouldn’t like the fallout.