MY RIVAL BECOME MY LOVER

Chapter 14:The Long Distance

Room 14 had never been so quiet.

Jay learned that 4600 kilometers is not just a number on Google Maps. It's the sound of an empty bed. It's eating one cup of noodles instead of two on the floor. It's waking up and not having someone steal your blanket.

Day 1 in Singapore: Brian video called at 11 PM Korea time, 10 PM Singapore time.

"Jay! I landed! My dorm here is big but it's so cold. Not warm like Room 14."

Jay smiled, showing his dinosaur socks. "Look, I kept my promise too. Wearing yours. I mean mine. Yours which are mine."

Brian laughed. "You look tired. Did you sleep?"

"No. Your side is too empty. I slept on your bed instead."

"Good. Keep it warm for me."

Day 7: Still good. They called every day. Jay showed Brian his econ notes, Brian showed Jay his view of Marina Bay. It was okay. Long distance was okay. Manageable.

Day 18: Harder. Time difference was only 1 hour but Brian's class schedule in Singapore was insane. He had networking parties until late. Jay would wait until 1 AM for a 5-minute call.

"Sorry, Jay, dad made me go to this dinner with his business partners. Boring."

"It's okay. Just... call when you can?"

"I promise."

Day 25: The first c***k.

Jay was in the cafeteria, alone. Sera sat down across from him with her cheerleader friends.

"Oh, Jay! How's long distance going? So brave of you to wait. I heard Singapore girls are very pretty. And very... forward," she said, sweet smile, poison words.

Jay didn't answer.

Sera showed her phone. i********:. Brian's i********: story from last night. A party. Lights. Brian in a white shirt, holding a drink, laughing with a pretty girl in a red dress. Her hand on his arm.

"Who is she?" Jay asked before he could stop himself.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe just a classmate? But she looks close, no?"

Jay stared at the photo. Brian had not told him about a party last night. Brian said he was studying last night.

His stomach dropped.

That night, Brian called at midnight.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late, we had—"

"Who is the girl in red dress?"

Silence on the other side.

"What girl?"

"i********:. Story. Last night. You said you were studying, Brian."

"Oh! That! That's... that's Linh, she's just—"

"You lied."

"I didn't lie! I was studying, then my roommate dragged me to a welcome party for like 30 minutes, I didn't think—"

"You didn't think to tell me? Rule 2, Bri! No lying! Especially bad things!"

"It wasn't bad! Nothing happened! Jay, please, don't be like this."

"Like what? Like a boyfriend who checks i********: because his boyfriend doesn't tell him anything anymore?"

"Jay, I was tired, I didn't want you to worry!"

"Well I am worrying now!"

Jay hung up. First time he hung up first.

He threw his phone on Brian's empty bed. He looked at the marker under his bed: *B + J = Room 14*. It felt stupid now.

Maya came in with two coffees. "Oof, fight?"

"He lied. He went to a party with a pretty girl and didn't tell me."

"Jay, that's... that's nothing. It's a welcome party. Brian is handsome, of course girls will talk to him."

"But he promised to tell me everything!"

"Maybe he didn't tell you because he knew you'd get jealous? Like last time?"

Jay stared at his noodles, not hungry. "Is long distance supposed to feel like this? Like I'm losing him slowly?"

Maya hugged him. "No. Long distance is supposed to feel like waiting. Not losing. Talk to him tomorrow. He loves you. That boy wore your dinosaur socks on a plane, remember?"

Day 26: No call from Brian. Jay didn't call either. Pride.

Day 27: Still no call. Jay kept checking his phone every 10 minutes. The anonymous campus page posted: "Is Room 14 breaking up? Brian Kim spotted with hot Singapore girl? #Sad"

Jay cried in the shower so no one would hear.

Day 28: 2 AM, Seoul time. Jay's phone rang.

Brian. Video call.

Jay answered, eyes red.

Brian looked terrible. Hair messy, eyes red too, wearing Jay's dinosaur socks and Jay's oversized hoodie he took to Singapore.

"Jay..."

"Why are you calling so late?"

"Because it's 1 AM here and I can't sleep in this big cold room that doesn't have you humming in the bathroom. Because I messed up. Because the girl in red dress is my cousin's friend Linh and I swear I only talked to her for 5 minutes about where to get good chicken rice. Because my roommate posted that story without asking me. Because I should have told you about the party. Because I'm an i***t who thought not telling you was better than making you worry."

Jay was quiet.

"Jay, please say something. Yell at me if you want. Just don't be quiet."

"You... you look like s**t," Jay said.

Brian laughed wetly. "You too."

"I'm sorry I hung up," Jay whispered.

"I'm sorry I lied. Or hid. Same thing."

They looked at each other through 4600km of phone screen.

"Rule 2 again," Jay said. "No hiding."

"No hiding. Ever. Even if it's stupid party with pretty girl who I don't even like."

"Do you like Singapore?"

"I hate it. It's too hot. And no one steals my wet towels. And the noodles are not as good as our floor noodles."

Jay smiled, first real smile in 3 days. "Come back soon? 152 days left?"

"152 days. I'm counting too. I have calendar like yours. With red hearts."

"You do not!"

"I do! Wanna see?"

Brian flipped his camera and showed his wall. A paper calendar, with hearts crossed out, just like Jay's. And in the middle, a Polaroid of them in Room 14.

Jay cried again, but happy tears this time.

"I miss you, Kim 14."

"I miss you too, Lee. So much it hurts here." Brian put hand on chest.

"Go sleep. You have class tomorrow."

"You too."

"Okay. Goodnight, Bri."

"Goodnight, Jay. Wear my jersey for me?"

"Already wearing."

They didn't hang up for another hour, just watching each other sleep through video, 4600km apart, but in Room 14 again somehow.

Outside Room 14, Maya took a photo of Jay smiling at his phone on Brian's bed and posted: "Update: Room 14 is NOT breaking up. They are just stupid and in love. #4600kmIsNothing.