THE ROOMMATES WE BECAME

He Cheated On You

"God, I'm late for class"

I mumbled, my mouth stuffed with burritos as I sprang to my feet. I shoved the money at the food vendor and dashed off, completely forgetting my change.

Mr. Collins will eat me raw if I don’t get to maths on time.

My hands swung wildly in the air as I hurried across the hallway… and then my foot caught my other leg and I stumbled forward.

"Hey, careful."

A firm pair of muscular arms caught me before I could kiss the floor, steadying my body against his.

"Thank you..."

My voice died instantly.

It was him

Senior Ethan

~~~~~~

"Aria!?... s**t!"

Zade shot up from the bed, reaching for his pants, while I stood frozen in the doorway. The strap of my leather bag slipped from my hand and hit the marble with a heavy thud.

I wanted to say something...anything, but my throat locked up. My legs trembled, and before my brain caught up, I was already running out of his house, my breath uneven, heart ricocheting inside my chest.

I turned on the engine, ignoring the way he shouted my name from behind, and zoomed off into the night.

Why… why did his face pop up in my head?

I hit the steering, gripping the little turtle keychain so tight it almost snapped.

When I finally reached home, I parked and yanked my seat belt off with shaky hands.

"Xup, Doc" Matilda muttered without glancing away from the TV.

I didn’t reply. I tossed my bag at her, too exhausted to say a word, and headed upstairs.

Sighing, I collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

You are with Zade now… not him.

My phone pinged. I grabbed it.

10 missed calls from Zade.

Why was he calling—

Wait.

My brain slammed on the brakes.

Zade… cheated on me.

My hands flew to my mouth, my chest tightening as the reality sank in.

I shot upright. How did that even slip my mind?

Matilda walked in, tying her hair up as she set her skincare products down.

"Any problem?" she asked casually.

"Er… a man died back in the hospital" I said quickly, gently pushing past Zade’s name hanging in the air.

"Ouch…" Matilda paused, remote still in her hand as she turned to face me fully.

"Why aren’t you picking up?" She raised a brow and started walking toward me.

"Er…" I laughed nervously, my voice cracking like a broken speaker. "I didn’t even know." I forced a chuckle, staring at my buzzing phone.

Before I could blink, she snatched my phone out of my hand. My heart jumped into my throat.

Her eyes grew wide at the millions of missed calls from Zade.

"What’s going on?" Her tone sharpened immediately; Matilda never played when something felt off.

"No, Matt… it’s nothing." I grabbed my phone back, my palms sweating like the room wasn't freezing

"Aria, don’t tell me he..."

"No! What are you saying?" I laughed too loudly. "It’s fine. Just… couple stuff."

She shot me a long stare—the type that strips your soul, before sighing and walking into the bathroom.

"Huff." I let out a breath I’d been holding since the beginning of time and collapsed on the bed, drifting to sleep.

~~~~~~~

"God… what’s wrong with me?" I muttered. "Why do I keep bumping into him? And two weeks ago, he saw me eating… how full my cheeks were."

"Look… it’s Senior Ethan" people whispered in the library as I yawned. My eyes were heavy; I’d been studying all day.

"Erm..." Someone cleared their throat.

"Yo."

The voice came right after a finger flicked my forehead.

"Who is–" I froze, hiccuping mid-sentence.

"Sleepyhead."

"S–S–Senior Ethan" my lips barely formed the words. A tiny smile tugged at his mouth.

"Woah, look at her… gross” someone muttered behind me.

I blinked, confused; then yawned again. I threw my hand over my mouth but instantly felt something warm.

Oh no…

Oh no no no…

I drooled.

My eyes widened in horror. Ethan let out a soft chuckle before turning to leave with his friends.

Noooooooooooo—

~~~~~~~~

"Noooooo!"

I shot up from the bed, slapping my hands over my mouth.

"Hey! What’s that?" Matilda rushed in, already dressed for work, eyes wide with concern.

I stared at her, still half-dreaming, half-dead.

I yawned. "Good morning," I mumbled, chewing the air as if something was still in my mouth.

"Don't be a goat. Why’d you scream?" Matilda rolled her eyes.

"Oh wow… see who's talking to me anyhow just because I don’t have anywhere else to go?" I pouted, checking the time.

"Hehehe," she laughed, picking up her stethoscope. "That’s what you get when you mess with the Doctor."

I rolled my eyes, yawning.

"See ya later. And oh..." she paused at the door, "learn how to fold your clothes, Aria. One day I’ll just throw you out." She winked teasingly.

"OHHHH, I’ll get my job back, you’ll see" I fired back as we both burst into laughter and she left for work.

I’ve always had a problem with tidying up. I leave things everywhere, which is exactly why I stayed with Matt. Cleaning stresses me out. I tied my hair into a bun and headed to the washroom.

Ding dong.

The doorbell rang. I froze. I wasn’t expecting anyone.

Who on earth…?

I paused the TV and got up slowly, walking to the door.

"Hey, babe."

Zade rushed inside immediately, dropping to his knees like he was in a Nollywood drama.

"Look… I was drunk. I know I..."

"Close the door" I yawned, walking back to the couch.

He hesitated. Shock spread across his face. He expected shouting, tears, flying slippers… honestly? I expected that too.

But I didn’t have the strength. And despite everything, despite the mess… I still loved him.

"Babe… look at me." He held my hands carefully, almost pleading.

"Zade… I’m really mad at you" I said quietly. "How can you keep chasing anything wearing a skirt? It’s… ugh. Look, it’s fine. But one more time, and that’s it."

But Ethan never cheated on you.

The thought echoed in my head, sharp enough to make me hiccup.

"I promise, Aria. I’m sorry." He pulled me into his arms.

"Those soft lips of yours…" he murmured, brushing his thumb lightly over my lower lip.

"Here." Zade reached into his pocket and pulled out a Cartier wristwatch.

"For my baby. I’m sorry, Aria." He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

I smiled, hugging him tightly.

Buying gifts every time he messed up… this wasn’t exactly healthy, but my heart didn’t care in that moment.

"Come here..." he said, lifting me slightly and dropping me onto the couch playfully as he started tickling my sides.

"Zade! Stop!" I giggled, trying to squirm away.

"I love you, baby" he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

"I love you more" I whispered back, settling beneath him.

"Let's take this off..." he murmured, removing my hair tie as his hands traced the shape of my waist

A moan escaped my lips as his wet lips planted kisses on my neck, his fingers roaming freely beneath my dress.

"Let me have a taste, Aria” he mumbled excitedly, parting my legs as he settled his head between my thighs.

I gripped the couch as my moans filled the room.

"You are so...” he groaned, pulling back and taking off his shirt.

His hand slipped beneath my shirt, cupping and pinching my breasts, while the other hand pinned my hand to the couch.

I screamed, feeling his tongue tease me. I bit my lower lip, moaning profusely.

"Let's take this off" he said, pulling off my shirt and staring at my bra-covered chest. He grinned, kissed my lips, and unbuckled his belt.

"Zade..." I muttered.

"Not again Aria, Don't stop me" He placed a kiss on my mouth, silencing me.

"What's going on here?"

Matilda’s voice sliced through the room like a knife.

Zade and I froze instantly.

"You’re back, Matt" I forced a smile, rising from the couch as I snatched my shirt from the floor.

"Yeah, I am…" Her eyes shifted sharply to Zade. "And you… have some decency. The room is upstairs."

I fluttered my eyelashes at her in silent warning, but of course she ignored me.

"Babe, I have a meeting to attend" Zade said, brushing a quick peck on my forehead.

"Yeah, meetings indeed… just like how you slept with your PA last night" Matilda fired back, folding her arms. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Matt!" I gasped, stepping forward.

How did she know?

Zade clenched his jaw, giving me an accusing hard glare, as though I’d snitched. He stormed out without a word.

"Matilda, what was that!?" I hissed, spinning toward her.

"What was that?" she scoffed. "Aria, what has gotten into you? How could you hide something like this from me?"

Her voice cracked slightly, and my heart softened.

"And you call me your..., you know what?" She grabbed her bag, "It’s high time you found yourself another best friend."

She stormed off to the room.

~~~

"Hey…" I whispered, sitting beside her on the bed.

"Matt, look...I’m sorry."

I held her arm gently, but she didn’t even look at me.

"I just thought it wasn’t rele—"

"Are you freaking kidding me, Aria?" she exploded, sitting upright in a flash.

"Zade cheating on you God knows how many times is not relevant!?... Are you normal? How did you change so quickly!?"

I pressed my lips together, my throat tight.

"Zade slept with a lady, Aria. He literally cheated on you last night, and what were you doing with him today?"

She slapped her palm against her forehead like she couldn’t believe she was even saying the words out loud.

"But he apologised…" I whispered weakly.

"Don’t be crazy, Aria!" Matilda shot to her feet. "What is blinding you from seeing that Zade isn’t the one for you!?"

"Matt, no… don’t—"

"Yes!" she snapped. "Yes Aria, this guy doesn’t love you. He cheats on you with every single rat he sees, and you still want to spend your forever with him?"

My breath uneven

"Matt, stop it" my voice finally sharpening.

"I won't hear another word against my boyfriend!" I snapped.

"Boyfriend?" She scoffed.

"He didn’t know he was your boyfriend when he cheated on you thrice in one month?, or No—he was definitely your boyfriend when he was basically screwing his secretary..."

"Matilda!!!"

Her name tore out of my throat like a scream.

She froze, her jaw dropping in disbelief.

"Matt, please… just stop it." I stepped back, my voice trembled.

"Zade is my boyfriend. Not just that, he’s… he’s soon to be my fiancé."

My breath hitched.

"I won’t tolerate any word against him, Matt. Not even from you."

A sob tore out of my throat before I could swallow it back, and I turned, storming out of the room.

She was right.

Every single word she said was true.

And it stung, because admitting it would shatter me again—

Just like He Did.