"Smells good. Tsk! But I still can't believe I forgot to buy a cutting board."
Since Rai finally settled his things in, he moved to the kitchen, filling the fridge. In case the guy, Zade, wouldn't like it, he kept his things on one side of the fridge.
After all, he didn't want to look invasive or something, so he had to be careful about everything.
He did the same with his shampoo and soap too, placing them in a corner, away from the doctor's things.
So he was sure he had done nothing to offend him.
But he was unhappy with himself because even after writing everything down before he went to buy things, he still missed the cutting board. Now he had to cut everything on a plate, which he hated, because he liked everything perfect in his kitchen.
Well, now he could do nothing. Maybe he would make another run to the store tomorrow.
Rai cooked himself some dinner and cleaned everything up after eating so the kitchen looked exactly like it had in the morning.
At first, he had planned to cook for the doctor too, but it felt like it might be pushing his way in when they hadn't even met yet. After all, who knew what he liked to eat or what he couldn't? What if he didn't eat what others cooked?
So he decided to talk about it later and avoid any future awkwardness from his way-too-early kindness.
"10:30."
Rai felt kind of nervous as the time got closer. He was an introvert and hated meeting new people, but life had its way of forcing him out of his comfort zone, so now he had to bear with it.
Still, it made him anxious and nervous.
Rai didn't want to look way too friendly either, because he actually wasn't. So he stayed in his room, planning to come out when the doctor came home, maybe after he was done with his bath and had relaxed.
He organized files and study plans for students, checking the time again and again, wishing he would just come already so this misery would end.
And just then, he heard the sound of a car entering, followed by the gate closing.
'He is here.'
Rai felt his hands tremble as he suddenly felt cold too. He was seriously nervous now.
'Fuck!'
Rai calmed himself and stayed silent inside his locked room, listening as the heavy footsteps slowly disappeared, followed by the sound of the shower, then the fridge opening, and then-
A knock...
Rai jumped, startled, standing up instinctively and pacing around as the other person didn't even speak.
He kind of felt that the other person was maybe… indeed aloof.
'Is he mad about something? Is that why he's just knocking? Have I pissed him off?'
Rai took long sighs, jumping again at the next knock. He put on a professional-looking face, opened the door quickly, and acted casual...or he tried.
His eyes immediately landed on a bare chest, full-on, abs and all.
Rai felt embarrassed and cleared his throat as he looked up, but then suddenly coughed when he saw the person's face, his eyes going wide and red.
"Welcome home, darling. It's been so long, hasn't it? "
A very familiar tone, yet an unfamiliar voice…
Sound so sweet yet it's deadly...
The very kind he knew...
Rai felt his nervousness getting replaced by some very old feelings, also oddly familiar as everything clicked in the next second.
But...
This was…still unbelievable...
How?!
How did he end up here?
Why?!
Why the fuck is this crazy bastard here?!
It's him.
Definetely him!
No mistake...
Maybe some changes, both in looks and voice...
Of course, they are seeing each other for the first time in 15 years, so they both had aged lot...
But it was the same asshole.
He was sure!
It's Zade Grey...
Zade fucking Grey!
Rai stared at Zade, the very Zade he knew, hated with passion back then, and still did at the moment, but right now, he is so shocked about this to process anything.
And,
This motherfucker dared to fucking smile?!
Rai immediately took a swing without thinking, with absolutely no hesitation.
Already prepared and familiar with the usual welcome between the two, Zade moved out of the way, grabbing Rai's hand and holding his wrist tightly.
"I hoped you'd have the decency to smile back. You obviously don't. I should've expected that. But well, I'm not like you anyway."
Rai kicked Zade in the knee, freeing his wrist in the process, staring at him as if he was wondering whether he was dreaming...or well, having a nightmare, obviously.
"All girls stare at me like that. Don't tell me after being single for so long, you find this face handsome too?"
Rai rolled his eyes at Zade's comments, now somehow relaxed even though he shouldn't be. This felt familiar. So…it was comfortable?
"No. That scar on your jaw... That looks good."
Rai smirked.
"Heh! Damn fucker! I should've broken that goddamn nose of yours when I had the chance."
Zade muttered, teeth gritting.
"Well, why didn't you? Did you get hypnotized by my handsome face back then?"
Rai provoked, finally having fully recovered from his shock before.
"No. I felt sorry for you. If I broke the only good thing about you, you'd have nothing worthy left."
"Really? So generous? That's not like you."
"Well, since we're living together now, you'll see how generous I really am."
Zade smirked as he said so.
"…Asshole."
That was Rai's only response as the thought of living with this bastard finally sank in.
'We're going to be living together?'
Rai stared at Zade's cocky grin, rolled his eyes, and sighed.
"It doesn't seem like you're happy to see your old friend. How cold."
Zade began again.
"…Bastard, we are not friends. You're still annoying as ever. Do you still find it enjoyable to break laws? I heard you're a doctor. How are you still outside and not in jail?"
"Heh! Don't underestimate me. I'm serious about my job. But when I see an asshole, I want to be one too so we have something in common and can be friends later. Though I still can't match your energy of nerdiness, boredom, annoyingness, and pure assholeness."
"You're worse than before actually. Guess… nice to meet you too, asshole. It's been so long I almost forgot about your existence."
"Don't worry, darling. It's fate."
"Stop 'darling'-ing me, motherfucker."
Rai protested but ended up entertaining the other instead with his anger.
"Yes, darling."
Zade looked far too pleased with himself, and Rai couldn't deny that it still felt like facing the same annoying boy from years ago. Refreshing, actually.
This motherfucker had brought so much chaos into his boring life back then.
Maybe that was why he had been obsessed with fighting back, keeping the hate alive between them.
And now, feeling the same thrill again, Rai could confirm that he still loved fighting with Zade, whether with words or punches.
And it seemed this bastard did too.
They were both probably crazy and had nothing better to do with their lives.
"The scar healed into a smaller one, didn't it? Maybe we can redo it again?"
Rai watched Zade lean close, his eyes wandering to the scar on Rai's forehead, now visible after he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"Yeah, sure. I want to make yours bigger too. Maybe then you can actually pull a girl because I heard they like men with scars on jawlines?"
"Are you sure you should be worrying about me? Look at that head! Still big, like a wild bird's nest."
"Would you look at yourself? Maybe your asshole looks better than your face."
"Oh? You're curious? Let me show you so you can confirm."
Rai was startled when Zade grabbed his pants, looking serious enough to pull them down.
Annoyed and knowing Zade a little too well, Rai quickly slammed the door shut, maybe too aggressively in the process which earned an evil laugh from the other side.
"Were you scared, darling? Or afraid you'd fall in love with my asshole instead of my face?"
Rai rolled his eyes, curses ready on his tongue. What kind of unmannered talk was that?
"Shut up and go away, bastard. I bet that asshole's as ugly as your face!"
"Sure, sure. Delusions are supposed to be the solutions anyway. Sweet nightmares, darling!"
"Yeah, nightmares to you too, fucker!"
Rai screamed.
"How sweet. Thanks, darling."
Rai stood frozen, listening to the footsteps of Zade fade away after that bastard's insulting low chuckles.
Bastard was really having fun, huh?
That was one reason Rai always felt he wasn't aggressive enough to fight back against Zade.
Zade never seemed fazed by anything. He laughed everything off, turned insults into jokes.
Rai, on the other hand, always felt attacked, seriously angry, but somehow unable to throw it back properly.
He was still the same.
Maybe… less annoyed now, since they weren't in school nor was he a prefect who had to annoy and fight with Zade everyday to get him to follow the rules for ten minutes...
"Motherfucker… I hope you sweat at night, wake up thirsty, and have no water in your room!"
Rai gathered the papers scattered on his table and lay down on his bed, checking the time and inwardly cursing when he realized it was almost midnight.
Hopefully, he'd wake up on time.
Or at least the alarm would be loud enough to disturb his peaceful sleep.
"Absolute worst nightmares for you, motherfucker! Damn it!"
Rai wished Zade the worst night possible and quickly fell asleep, hugging his new body pillow, keeping the questions and worries about his housemate for tomorrow.
...
Zade sat on the sofa, phone in hand, scrolling idly while glancing at Rai's closed door, smirking.
'Have to admit, the bastard doesn't look so much like an asshole anymore. Well, his mouth still hasn't toned down…This is going to be fun!'
It definitely is...
And, Zade is even more excited now...
'It's time for some payback, Mr. Perfect...'