Oh Brother (oneshot story) [GL]

“He’s just my brother, you know,” the not-so-apologetic-looking college student explains to her roommate for the second time. The latter is still in a bad mood after seeing a guy in boxers sleeping in their room an hour ago.

The said guy has already left, or to be exact, was kicked out by his sister amid his protest of not yet getting a proper sleep and a shower after partying hard last night in an alumni event.

“Well, we haven’t been introduced so how would I—? Plus, you can’t expect me to stay still and just watch him sleep partly exposed on your bed while you’re taking a shower.” The girl in a cross-legged position looks away, still annoyed by the memory, even though her whole frame is largely blocked by a pillow she is hugging.

Rianne tries not to laugh as she remembers catching her roommate on time before she managed to flee their room earlier; the huge pillow in one arm, a bag full of clothes or God knows what on her shoulder, and a bag of choco chip cookies the girl initially bought for their movie night, clutched by her other arm. “I’m sorry Emi. I should’ve told you earlier. I didn’t expect you would get the wrong idea… and that you’d be this upset,” Rianne says, trying to fish more evidence on why the other girl has been acting that way. Well it wasn’t so bad since I did get a good reaction from her though, she continues while laughing in silence; one could think she set up that scene on purpose.

“It’s ‘coz I thought he’s your boyfriend, dummy.” Emi frowns and continues without thinking, “And you’re acting as if you have no idea that I have a crush on you!”

Rianne’s eyes widen in amusement. “Oh you do?” Rianne smirks playfully while keeping herself from commenting ‘Bingo!’ or ‘Finally!’ out loud. “So… is that why you’re crying? You’re jealous?” She teases the now blushing roommate sitting on the bed across the room.

Annoyed Emi wipes her almost dried tears while still hiding behind the pillow. “What’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing.” Rianne tries to hold back her teasing. “Anyway, he’s not my boyfriend so please stop crying now.” She looks at her roommate as if she can see the girl’s expression behind the pillow she gave her last Christmas.

“But... are you going to get a boyfriend though? Um... in the future?” Emi peeks behind the fluffiness to see her roommate’s reaction.

Aware of her roommate’s stare, Rianne tries to hide her smirk. “Hm, it depends... if someone would stop me from getting one.” She bites her lower lip to fight a snicker.

Emi finally lowers the pillow, revealing an expression she usually wears when faced with a challenging problem in Sudoku. “If... if I ask you not to get one, would it be enough?” She says in a quiet voice, honestly hoping her answer is enough. She looks wearily at her roommate sitting on the bed across the room; a leg on top of the other, leaning backward with the support of her arms (like a boss, yeah).

Rianne pouts as if contemplating. “Hm... But I might get lonely, you know.”

Desperately running out of ideas, Emi blurts, “Then! Y-you could have me. W-would I be enough?” Even with her eyes shut out of embarrassment, she can feel her roommate stand and walk toward her. She opens her eyes, surprised by a sudden weight on the other side of her bed. Emi is welcomed by the sight of Rianne’s face, smiling before her like a cat (if cats can smile, that is.)

“It’s settled then!” The satisfied roommate beams to the blushing Emi. Geez, why didn’t she just say so from the beginning? This girl..., Rianne giddily mutters to herself without a hint of guilt in cornering her roommate into confessing (?)

Alriiiiight, as per Rianne’s definition of a confession, her roommate, Emi, actually did give her one.

(Extra)

The two girls just finished the movie on Emi’s bed, as planned. The choco chip cookies were shared by both as well. The now calm Emi is physically and emotionally preparing to sleep when she’s taken aback by an extra pillow thrown at her sacred space. She’s about to say something when her roommate readily gets to talk first.

“What? I can’t sleep with that guy (her brother) sleeping carefreely on my bed, heck even fully clothed! I told him to sleep on the extra foam, ON the FLOOR but clearly he failed to comprehend.” Rianne shakes her head like a mother who failed to discipline her son. “How shameless of him doing that behind my back,” she finishes her rant, clearly as an answer to her roommate’s anticipated question. Confused and nervous Emi again tries, yet fails to reply. “Oh, and don’t bother suggesting that I just change my sheets. You probably have known by now that it won’t work,” sneaky Rianne adds while comfortably settling beside her roommate who just blushes as an answer and now shuffles to give her more space in bed (while most likely taming the unnecessary panic in her head).

(Written: 07Jan2018)