My roommate dragged me until we were a distance away from the restaurant. She stopped close to an alleyway and let go of my hand.
I suddenly missed her touch.
"Did they always do that to you?! Were you seriously going to eat that shit?! How could you just sit back and let them treat you like shit?! The fuck!" She ran a hand through her hair looking anxious, and I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the action. "Why didn't you fight back? Why didn't you say no?!"
I looked down at my feet. I was getting anxious because she was yelling. I hated being yelled at.
"I_ I'm sorry. If I fought back they are only going to make it ten times worse for me at school tomorrow. The best way to get through it is to be quiet. That's how I've survived so far." I looked up at her to find her expression still filled with anger, but I was hoping her anger wasn't directed at me.
"You shouldn't have gotten hit instead of me. I can handle myself!" She gritted glaring at my bruising face.
"You got in that situation because of me. I couldn't let you get hurt." I managed a smile despite the fact that my face was burning in pain.
"It looks bad!"
"It does?" I touched my cheek gently and flinch at the pain. "It doesn't hurt that much though."
She closed her eyes and groaned underneath her breath. "You really are a pussy you know?" She sighed after a short pause, "come with me."
I didn't get a chance to protest, I wouldn't even if given the chance, and once again, I let her drag me away from there.
I really like her touch. She was the only one who would voluntarily touch me without shuddering in disgust. I couldn't be more glad.
We stopped by a clinic and she asked the nurse to treat my face. With her face scrunched up in disgust, the nurse did as told. She made it quite obvious that my face disturbed her mental state.
After she was done, my roommate paid for her services and we left.
We walked side by side along the sidewalk, and I can proudly say that I enjoyed her presence. She towered over me, and that comforts me for a reason. I felt protected.
I didn't want to just stay quiet. Ever since she moved into the corridors with me, we never had a decent conversation. I have to grab this opportunity.
"S_ so, what is your name?"
"That should be the least of your problems kiddo. Just because I helped you doesn't make us friends."
I really hated when she said that.
"Uh, I just want to know the name of the person I sleep next to." I mumbled out my pathetic excuse. It's pretty obvious that I just really want to know her name.
She raised a well sculptured brow at me, and it was all it took for me to blush and look away flustered. "You didn't worry about my name for the past five months. Why now?"
I figetted some more. "W_ well I... I'm just really curious now."
She rolled her eyes and stuffed her hands into her pocket. "We won't stay together forever, so I think it's better for you not to know my name. I don't want to get attached, and I don't want you to get attached either."
The way she said it made me sad and also curious. Why does she hold herself away from me so much. All I really want is to get to know her better. I like her a lot. If possible, I want us to be together for the rest of our lives.
Maybe I'm going a little too fast, but that's just how I feel. That's what my heart wants the most.
I wanted to ask her, the temptation was too great, but I held back because I didn't want to overstep. I don't want her to hate me and think of me as someone clingy and bothersome.
Maybe I'll summon the courage one day and ask her why she doesn't want to live with me forever. Does she not like me? Not even as a friend?
"It gets fucking cold at this time of the year. You should start wearing a jacket." She broke the silence with a disapproving tone.
I looked down at my flimsy blue shirt. Yeah, it is cold. "Well, I _ I don't have a jacket."
"Well you should get one!" She almost snapped.
"I don't have the money for that. The welfare feeds me, and I depend on my scholarship for my school stuff. No one buys me any clothing."
"Then get a job. You're old enough right?"
"Yeah, but no one wants to hire me with this face. I've tried." I didn't want to think about those days I tried looking for a job. They all ended in disaster, and I wouldn't want to reminisce it.
My roommate was suddenly silent. All of a sudden, she pulled off her jacket and draped it over me.
A blissful warmth immediately engulf me and her enchanting scent threatened to drown my senses. I would have hugged it closer to my body and smelt it if she wasn't right in front of me. I don't want her thinking I'm a freak or something.
She wore a plain white shirt that was pretty transparent. I saw a hint of her black bra underneath it, and it made me blush as I quickly looked away.
My eyes fell on her arms. Dark ink tattoos coated every inch of her skin. I felt the sudden urge to trace them, but I held back with all my strength.
"Go on home. I have to go back to work." She said simply staring into my eyes.
I was lost in her grey eyes. It looks just as dark as a brewing storm. My eyes trail lower to her lips, and I felt the sudden urge to kiss her, but I was quick to banish those thoughts from my head and look away.
"O_okay, I'll see you later tonight then!"
She nodded stiffly, and without another word, she turned to go.
"Hey, what should I call you since you won't tell me your name?" I asked with my last ounce of courage. I need a way to address her even though it isn't by her name.
She glanced over her shoulder at me with bored eyes. "You can call me whatever you want." She walked away without waiting for a reply.
I frowned at that. Whatever I want? Will she really be okay with me calling her whatever I want?
Well, since she gave me permission to do that, I'm going to find a nice name for her.
I blushed as so many ideas started to fill my head.
I should get home quickly and decide on a name for her.
***
I have never waited so anxiously for my corridor mate to come home. During the first and second month, I would be up waiting for her, but the minute I find her dark stiletto strolling down the corridor, I would immediately lay down and pretended I was asleep.
On the third month, I got tired of pretending, and when she would arrive, I would mumble a small hi to her, and she would respond with a small nod, and around the fourth month until now, she have been the one waking me up every morning.
It has always been like that between us. We don't talk much, but we acknowledge each other.
My previous roommate's never acknowledge me. They usually moved out within a week to look for a better shelter. My face must really scare them.
But it's been five months, and my present one is still here with me, caring and protecting me in her own way, and that's why I like her so much.
Today I waited for her and busied myself with reading a book, and when she came home, I flashed her my biggest smile.
"Hi Teddy!"
She stopped in her tracks and stared at me with wide surprised eyes. "Teddy?!"
I blushed and looked down at my feet, "w_ well, you said I could call you anything." I fidgeting with my hands, anxious that she might hate the name.
After a moment of silence, she asked. "Why Teddy though?"
I smiled to myself, "when I was a kid, I've always wanted my own Teddy bear. I have no parent to get me one, and I was left with the feeling of longing for it."
A short pause followed and she asked again, "so, something about me reminded you of that Teddy you wanted so much?"
My blush deepened again. Why can't she just accept the name? She's the one who said I can call her anything!
Of course everything about her reminded me of the Teddy. I wanted her as bad as I wanted that Teddy, if not more.
"Oh... Um... I.... I just..."
"Whatever," she grumbled. "Teddy is fine. I guess it's better than other things." She started to remove her sneakers and I sat on my bed and watched her.
Why is every move she make so attractive? And her tattoos makes it ten times better.
She settled crossed leg on her bed and only then did I notice she brought a medium sized paper bag with her.
"I brought dinner," she placed two plastic plates that she took from her bed side table and dished out the meal on them from the paper bag.
The scent of delicious spaghetti assaulted my nostril, and my empty stomach growled loudly and I was shamelessly salivating.
I was quick to notice how she handed me the fuller plate, "thank you."
I dug in without wasting a second, and I groaned at how delicious it tasted. "Woah, this is good!" I exclaimed. It's being long since I tasted something this good.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," she scolded. She was eating a lot more gently than I was.
I smiled at her and went on stuffing my face. When half of mine was gone, she pushed hers towards mine and I looked up at her confused.
"I already ate at my work place." She explained, "you can have it."
I gulped down the food in my mouth. "Are you sure? This is enough for me"
"Eat, don't worry about me."
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, and I didn't have to be told twice before digging in.
As I ate, I could feel her eyes on me. I have no idea why she was looking at me, but I was too shy to meet her eyes.
"How's your face? Does it still hurt?"
I paused in my eating and looked at her. I was enjoying the food too much and forgot about my bruises. "Yeah, it's fine. Thanks again for today Teddy." I smiled at her.
She rolled her eyes with a groan, "just don't get used to it."
Too late!
DEADLY REVENGE.