As usual, Chaz will leave the class he shares with the trio. He cannot wait to meet Aven. His step became faster by the second. It's been days since his last encounter with Aven. He arrived at the main building.
Ding!
The notification from his phone. He takes off his helmet and looks at his phone to see the content of the notification. It's the class group chat; the lecturer announced that the class was canceled due to her being abroad attending a conference. Chaz then thought he might as well just go find Aven. He wanted to take this chance to have a lengthy conversation with Aven.
However, to his surprise, he saw Aven talking comfortably with someone. What's more, the back figure he sees is very familiar and not foreign to him at all. The person is none other than his roommate, Archie. Chaz, from wanting to approach Aven, canceled his step. He stops at where his stand and slowly observes the interaction between the two.
Chaz started to overthink any possible scenario from just that interaction. 'Do they know each other? Why do they talk for so long? Are they a thing?'
Side note, Archie and chaz share a similar figure because they are athletic. Chaz is known as cold, Archie, however, is known as a much more social but private athlete, contrary to each other. Seeing Archie and Aven side by side, it makes them look so good together. Those facts are weighing on his head.
He waited and observed for a while. He thought that he wanted to wait until they finished, but instead Aven and Archie started to walk away side by side. This made Chaz's heart sink even more.
As they disappeared from his sight, he also, with a heavy heart and steps, walked away. He hops on his bike with a messed-up mind, wearing his helmet. He drives away toward his faculty, waiting for his next class.
He does not know what to do. He was surprised by the coincidence that his roommate knew Aven. What's more, seeing how bright and cheerful Aven and Archie together make him feel threatened for some reason.
The whole day, he feels so down. He knows something is wrong, but does not know what it is. He thought there might be something between the two. However, living with Archie, he had never seen Archie talk on the phone for long, like the common trait of having a lover.
So, he then deduce to the fact maybe they are from the same school before and close to each other. With that, Chaz feels much better.
Well, maybe not. That night, Archie, with his usual routine, was watching anime on his bed. Chaz feels restless and then sits on the corner of his own bed facing Archie's bed. Archie feels someone looking at him and realizes Chaz is sitting facing his bed.
Archie directly asks, "Why?"
Chaz look hesitated but still braved himself. He himself does not know why his mind and body react like that.
"Do you know Aven?"
"Aven? Which one?"
Chaz was annoyed by that answer. "The one you met earlier at the main building"
"Ooh, yeah. He is my junior at school. Why ask?"
"Nothing."
"Huh, that's it?"
"Yeah"
They then continue to do whatever they want after that. Chaz feels much more lightened up after hearing that. Archie, on the other hand, feel confuses by that reaction. Maybe because it's been a while since they lived together, but Archie can feel the bright atmosphere surrounding Chaz.
After a while, Chaz kinda get curious and asked Archie about Aven from his desk. He hesitated but decided to say it anyway since now there is a chance for him to learn more about Aven.
"So.. how did you get to know Aven?" cautiously, he asked.
Archie faced Chaz and side-eyed him before answering, "You said, you done?"
"Just answer, already," Chaz was frustrated because his question was not being answered right away.
"Well... his boyfriend is my friend, so naturally we know each other. It's been a while since we last met. So, yeah, like that"
Chaz was shocked by that answer. "What do you mean by 'his boyfriend" Chaz almost jumped out of his seat because of it.
"Boyfriend as in lover. They became a couple for a long time since we were in 12th grade, while Aven was in 10th grade. Sadly, though, right before attending the University, my friend got into a coma due to an accident. We visited him together just now," explained Archie.
Chaz cannot accept that fact. It's just too sudden for him to even process. He hasn't even tried much in courting yet, but the huge obstacle has come face-to-face with him. He cannot believe what he heard. He did not even thought of Aven might have a lover already. Maybe that's the reason Aven does not feel his intention.
"If not for the accidents, I might actually share this room with him till now. Coincidentally, you do not have a roommate that we end up becoming ones instead. What a fate, right?" added Archie.
That's an unnecessary addition of information.
Hearing that, Chaz kinda become more annoyed instead. He feels uncomfortable with it without knowing. Maybe it was because he was treated as a substitute by Archie that it got on his nerves.
"Then, what? wanted to change if he woke up?" total annoyance can be heard in his words.
"Well, not really, since Aven started attending the University this year, I might actually still need to find another roommate to open the way for them."
Chaz, now much more surprised by Archie, answered. His mind actually turned into deep disbelief, which temporarily altered his mind from thinking about Aven's boyfriend situation. Unbeknownst to him, that fact gets on his nerves more than when he hears about Aven's.
Archie, on the other hand, just peeks at Chaz. he confused by this conversation as they never really talked much. At the same time, Archie kinda guess as to why Chaz was asking about Aven. It's been the talk on the University Community page that Chaz is trying to court a freshman. Archie feigns ignorance, as it's not his place to advise Chaz.
Chaz then stayed silent for the rest of the night.