Choosing The Roommate
1373 Words
～Lucyll's POV~
The energy in the room crackled like static before a storm.
Christian’s entrance definitely shifted the dynamic completely, and from the way his sharp gaze flicked across the contestants, I had a feeling he knew exactly what kind of chaos he’d just caused.
I forced myself to breathe evenly, though my mind was already spiraling.
The host, still beaming as if she thrived off the simmering tension, clapped her hands together again. “Alright, everyone! You know how this works. It’s time for introductions and our first round of selections. Each of you will get the chance to introduce yourselves and pick someone to have a private conversation with. Use this time wisely, because tonight, you’ll be sharing a room with whoever you choose.”
If things followed the same course as my last life, Harvery would be the only one to approach me today. And, inevitably, I’d end up sharing a room with him.
Back then, I hadn’t minded—hell, I’d been thrilled. I’d actually believed he was a gentleman, and who wouldn’t want a handsome, charming man as their companion?
But not this time.
I could still be here. I could still sign myself up for this ridiculous show. But there was no way in hell I was ending up in a room with Harvery again.
Just as I lost myself in thought, someone stepped in front of me.
Ava. Twenty-four, a law firm associate, very successful business woman and later in the show, one of Harvery’s admirers. We had even butted heads a few times.
She extended a hand. “Hey, I’m Ava.”
I gave her a polite smile. “Lucyll.”
Ava leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “So, have your eye on anyone? That burly guy or the handsome but quiet one?”
The latter had to be Christian. He’d been eerily silent since he arrived, though I’d noticed his lingering glances.
I shrugged. “Haven’t decided yet. What about you?”
Ava’s eyes flicked across the room before landing on her target. “Maybe the guy in the suit.”
Harvery.
Perfect.
If Ava was already interested in him now, maybe she’d pick him. And as long as I didn’t choose him back, he’d be stuck with her instead of me.
Thank God.
Now, all I needed was a male contestant to pick me, and I’d be free of him for the night.
“You should go talk to him, then,” I said, nudging her forward.
She took a hesitant step, but before she could move any further, Harvery turned his head—directly toward me.
Shit.
His sharp gaze locked onto mine, his expression unreadable. My pulse jumped. Was he coming over?
Before I could panic, someone else stepped into my space.
“Lucyll?”
Christian’s voice was smooth, quiet, yet commanding. He stood too close, his presence sucking all the air from the room. “Care to talk for a second?”
Behind him, Harvery’s expression darkened.
I forced myself to keep my cool. This was exactly what I needed—a distraction.
I lifted my chin, schooling my expression into one of polite interest. “Sure.”
Christian didn’t wait for me to say anything more. He simply turned and walked away, fully expecting me to follow.
And I did.
As we moved across the room, I could feel the weight of Harvery’s stare on my back.
It burned, but I refused to look.
I let myself focused solely on Christian—his broad shoulders, the way his dark brown hair was just a little too messy for someone so put-together, and the effortless confidence in his stride.
We stopped in a quiet corner near the bar, and he turned to face me, arms crossed. Up close, Christian was even more intense, his dark eyes scanning my face like he was trying to unravel a puzzle.
“So,” I started, trying to sound casual, “what made you pick me?”
He arched a brow. “You looked like you needed saving.”
My stomach dipped. “Saving?”
His gaze flicked toward the main group, where Ava was now eagerly chatting with Harvery. “You tell me. Weren’t you the one who suggested I ditch that guy who kept hovering around you that day?”
“Right,” I said carefully. “Thanks for that day.”
“You are more than welcome.” His voice was smooth, almost amused. “But there’s indeed something else we need to talk about.” He held up a tiny pen between his fingers. “Does this belong to you?”
I stiffened ever so slightly, but he caught it. His lips curled into a knowing smirk. “I thought so. I picked it up when a girl running away toward that fire exit. She looked so familiar from the back. And I realized it was you when I saw you today.”
“Oh… Thanks. I thought I lost it.” I forced a smile and reached for the pen.
But Christian pulled his hand back, his grip tightening around it. “Uhh. Not so fast,” he murmured, eyes sharp. “Care to explain why you've been carrying a recording pen—and using it on Harvery Everest?”
Shit.
My stomach dropped.
I certainly cannot tell him about I wanting to record Harvery and his mother on tap, so that I can have evidence against them when I needed to.
So I chose to play dumb, “What do you mean?”
Christian’s piercing blue eyes never left mine, his grip tightening around the pen. “I listened to it,” he said, his voice unreadable. “It recorded a conversation between Harvery and his mother.”
I forced my expression into one of indifference. “Must’ve been a coincidence. I usually use it for lectures.”
A ghost of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Does it?”
I couldn’t tell if he was testing me or simply amused.
Instead of answering, I slowly reached out again and took the pen from his palm, my fingers grazing his. “Thanks,” I said lightly, as if it meant nothing.
Christian finally let go of the pen, though his expression remained unreadable. “Just curious,” he said after a pause. “First, you looked like you couldn’t get away from Harvery fast enough. Then, you signed with his company and joined this show.”
My heart pounded against my ribs. He knew. Maybe not everything, but enough to be dangerous.
I exhaled slowly through my nose, forcing a casual shrug as I slipped the pen into my pocket. “Only a fool would turn down Everest, right?”
“Is that so?” he echoed, as if testing the word. “Alright.”
The way he said it told me he didn’t buy my excuse for a second.
“Is there a reason you’re so interested in my pen?” I asked, tilting my head slightly. “Or did you just want an excuse to get me alone?”
His smirk returned, sharp as a blade. “Would it be so bad if I did?”
Damn him. We both chuckled.
And then, “Time’s up! Contestants, make your selections!”
Christian’s gaze flicked past me, scanning the room, and I instinctively followed his line of sight. Across the floor, Harvery was watching us, his jaw tight, his posture stiff.
I turned back to Christian. “Well?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Well what?”
“Are you picking me or not?”
His smile deepened. “I think you already know the answer to that.”
A ripple of unease and anticipation curled in my heart.
Harvery was too preoccupied with another contestant, failing the mission his mother had set for him.
While Christian, he was even more unreadable than before—an enigma I couldn’t quite crack.
Friend or foe, I still wasn’t sure. And if I chose him tonight, I had no idea what I’d be stepping into.
But one thing was certain—I wasn’t planning on following the same path, choosing Harvery as before.
- Writer
