MY RIVAL BECOME MY LOVER

Chapter 11:The First Fight

They lasted exactly 4 days as the perfect secret-not-secret boyfriends.

4 days of holding hands under the desk in Econ.

4 days of sharing one umbrella even when it wasn't raining.

4 days of Brian wearing Jay's dinosaur socks and Jay wearing Brian's shirts.

And 4 days of everyone on campus staring at Room 14 like they were a free drama show.

It was Wednesday. Jay should have known it was going to be a bad day because he woke up alone.

Brian's bed was empty. Cold.

Jay sat up, his heart pounding. Brian never woke up before him. Ever. Brian was the one who needed 3 alarms and still slept through them.

"Bri?" Jay called out.

The bathroom was empty. The desk was empty. But Brian's basketball bag was gone. And his phone was gone. Which meant he left early.

Jay checked his phone. No message.

That was weird.

He went to class alone. Prof. Davis gave them back their assignment. A+ with a little note: "Room 14 works well together. Keep it up." Jay smiled at that, but the seat next to him stayed empty all morning.

Where was Brian?

At lunch, Maya slid into the seat across from him with a face that said "I have gossip and it's bad."

"Have you seen the announcements?" she asked.

"What announcements?"

She showed him her phone. The Business Department official page.

*ANNOUNCEMENT: Congratulations to our student Brian Kim for being selected as the Business Department representative for the Inter-University Exchange Program in Singapore! 1 Semester abroad starting next month! We are proud of you!*

Jay's blood went cold.

Singapore. Next month. One semester. That's 6 months.

6 months away.

"Jay... did you know?" Maya asked softly.

Jay shook his head. He couldn't speak. The cafeteria noise faded.

Why didn't Brian tell him? They were boyfriends. They kissed this morning. Well, last night. They slept in the same bed. And Brian didn't tell him he was leaving the country?

He stood up. "I have to go."

"Jay, wait—"

Jay ran back to Room 14. Brian's bag was back. Brian was there, packing his books.

"You didn't tell me," Jay said from the doorway.

Brian flinched. He turned around. "Jay. You're back early."

"Singapore? You're going to Singapore? Next month? For 6 months?"

Brian put his books down. "I was going to tell you tonight. I just got the email yesterday. I got selected—"

"Yesterday? Yesterday we were together all day! We ate lunch together! We studied together! You kissed me goodnight and you didn't think to tell me you're leaving?"

"I didn't know how to tell you," Brian said, his voice getting tight. "It's a big opportunity. It's full scholarship. It's—"

"It's 6 months! Bri, we just... we just started! 4 days ago!"

"I know! That's why I didn't want to tell you! I knew you would react like this!"

"Like what? Like a boyfriend who deserves to know his boyfriend is leaving the country?"

Brian ran his hand through his hair, frustrated. "You don't understand. My dad—my dad arranged this. He wants me to take over his business in Singapore. This exchange is step one. If I say no, he cuts my tuition. I have to go."

The room felt cold again. Like it did in Chapter 1.

"So you have to go," Jay repeated. His voice was small.

"Yes."

"For 6 months."

"Yes."

"And you didn't tell me because...?"

"Because I was scared you'd tell me to break up!" Brian shouted. Then immediately regretted it. "Because long distance never works, Jay! And I just got you! I don't want to lose you before we even—"

"So you decided for me? You decided I would break up with you, so you just didn't tell me at all?"

Jay's eyes were wet now. He hated crying in front of Brian. He hated that Brian made him feel this much.

"That's not fair, Brian. You said 'Let them look.' You said you didn't care what people thought. But you care what I think so you just hide it?"

Brian stepped closer. "Jay, please. Don't cry."

"Don't tell me not to cry! You are leaving!"

"I'm not leaving yet! It's next month!"

"But you ARE leaving!"

They were both shouting now. The first real fight. The couple next door probably heard them.

Jay grabbed his backpack. "I need air."

"Jay, don't walk out. Let's talk about this."

"Talk about what? There's nothing to talk about! You already decided! You always decide everything!"

Jay slammed the door of Room 14 and left.

He didn't go far. He went to the roof. The same roof where he used to go when Room 14 felt too small.

It was windy up there. He sat on the edge and cried quietly, wearing Brian's shirt which now felt too big and stupid.

How could 4 perfect days end so fast?

Down in Room 14, Brian sat on Jay's bed - the empty bed - and put his head in his hands.

His phone buzzed. Dad: "Call me about Singapore flights."

He threw his phone on the wall. It didn't break. Nothing broke except his chest.

He had ruined everything.

At 7 PM, the door to Room 14 opened.

Jay came back. His eyes were red. His nose was red. He was holding two cups of instant noodles. The expensive ones Brian liked.

Brian stood up immediately. "Jay..."

Jay put the noodles on the desk. "I bought dinner. Because even if you're leaving in a month, you still have to eat tonight."

Brian's heart broke into a million pieces. He walked over and hugged Jay from behind. Tight.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into Jay's hair. "I'm so sorry. I should have told you the second I got the email. I was just... I was selfish. I wanted 4 more perfect days where it was just us, without goodbye hanging over us."

Jay turned around in his arms. "Are you breaking up with me before Singapore?"

"No! Never! Are you crazy?"

"Then why did you think I would break up with you?"

"Because who would wait 6 months for me? You can have anyone, Jay. You're... you're you."

Jay hit his chest weakly. "I don't want anyone. I want my annoying roommate who steals my socks. Even if he goes to Singapore."

Brian cupped his face. "Really?"

"But you have to promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me you will tell me everything from now on. Even bad things. Especially bad things. No more hiding."

"I promise. Everything. Even if my dad calls."

"And promise me you'll video call me every day in Singapore. And you'll wear the dinosaur socks I give you so you remember me."

Brian laughed, tears in his own eyes now. "I promise. Every day. And I'll bring you back a souvenir."

"What souvenir?"

Brian kissed him, soft and apologetic and full of all the things he couldn't say.

"You'll see."

They ate the noodles on the floor again, like they did on their first night, but now with Jay sitting in Brian's lap because Brian refused to let him go.

The fight wasn't fully fixed. Singapore was still there, next month, like a ticking clock.

But Room 14 was warm again.

And for tonight, that was enough.

Outside, Maya was hiding behind the hallway plant, texting the campus anonymous page: "UPDATE: Room 14 fought and made up in 3 hours. They are eating noodles on the floor again. I think they kissed. I'm crying. #Room14Forever"

It got 1,200 likes in 10 minutes.