Female Dorm
Room G5AB
Elise returned to her room, the echoes of her argument with Trent still resounding in her mind. The emotional whirlwind had left her drained, and she flopped onto her bed without realizing that her roommate, Max, was sitting at her desk, engrossed in her books.
Max, her hazel eyes behind glasses giving her an intellectual air, glanced up from her reading, noticing Elise's haggard appearance. "Rough day?" she asked, her perceptive nature shining through.
Elise sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yeah, you could say that."
Max's lips curled slightly in understanding. "Trent?"
Elise's gaze flickered to her roommate, surprised by Max's insight. "Yeah, we had another argument."
Max shrugged, as if accustomed to such occurrences. "Alright. You know where to find me if you want to talk."
Elise offered a weak smile, appreciating Max's unspoken support. "Thanks, Max."
*****************
Dining Hall
Dinner
As dinner time arrived, the dining hall buzzed with chatter and clinking utensils. The aftermath of the prom ball was still a hot topic, and everyone shared stories of their experiences. Elise, her silver hair cascading gently, joined the lively conversation, forcing a smile as she recounted the bits she remembered from the night.
Trent, his platinum white hair catching the light, approached the table, flanked by Awesome and Senza. His tray of food in hand, he paused before reaching the table, his gaze glanced from Elise on to the empty seat beside her and back. Max, always perceptive, sensed the tension in the air and narrowed her hazel eyes, watching the unspoken interaction.
Elise's gaze briefly met Trent's, and a silent exchange seemed to pass between them. She quickly looked down, pushing her food around her plate without much interest. Max exchanged a knowing look with Bri, her friend's curiosity mirroring her own.
Suddenly, a presence approached from behind Trent, and Samuel, with his sky blue eyes reflecting his calm demeanor, walking towards the seat beside Elise. Their smiles met, but Elise's was strained, a forced attempt to hide her inner turmoil. Max glanced between the two, her eidetic memory capturing every detail of the scene.
A flicker of realization crossed Max's face, and she decided that she needed to have a private conversation with Elise later. Bri, with her natural curiosity and sharp observation skills, shot her a quizzical look, but Max simply raised an eyebrow in response, silently conveying that there was more to the situation.
At the head of the table, Fancy called out to Trent, beckoning him over to their group. Trent's gaze remained fixed on the empty seat beside Elise. With a subtle shake of his head, he turned away from Fancy and headed to another table, his expression one of quiet frustration.
Arms crossed and eyes shut, Trent fumed quietly. Max continued to watch the interactions unfold, her thoughts racing as she attempted to piece together the puzzle of emotions and unspoken sentiments.
As the dinner continued, the atmosphere remained charged with unspoken tension, a resonance of emotions that hung in the air.
As Samuel took his seat, he reached into a bag and pulled out a container of banana-flavored yogurt. "Eli, I got this for you. I remember that it was your favorite."
Bri chimed in, "Isn't Elise allergic to bananas?"
Elise quickly interjected, offering a polite smile. "It's not a problem, really."
Samuel's expression turned apologetic. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
In the midst of the group's conversation, Samuel attempted to brush a strand of Elise's hair away from her face, but she did it herself with an awkward smile. Max observed the interaction, her suspicions growing.
Unbeknownst to Elise, Max was determined to uncover the truth behind the arguments, the strained smiles, and the fleeting glances.
As the conversation continued, Max decided to leave early with Bri to return a book to the library.
Samuel volunteered to walk Elise to her dorm, and she agreed. He walked her to the door of her room, a lingering tension in the air. Samuel hesitated for a moment before attempting to poke around, asking about Elise's encounter with Trent and their relationship. But there was a flicker of possessiveness in his eyes, a hint of jealousy beneath his calm exterior.
Elise sighed softly. "Samuel, it's been a confusing day, and I'm still trying to sort things out with Trent. Let's just take things one step at a time, okay?"
Samuel's eyes softened with understanding, but a trace of frustration lingered. He nodded gently. "You're right, Eli. I'm here for you, as a friend."
Elise's guarded expression didn't provide the answers Samuel was looking for.
Sensing her reluctance, he switched tactics, reassuring her that he only wanted to be friends and nothing more. They exchanged goodbyes, and Elise entered her room. To her surprise, Max was waiting for her with an expectant look.
Max wasted no time. "Spill. What happened?"
Elise sighed, briefly recounting how Trent had shut the door in her face and how Samuel had comforted her and walked her back to the dorm. Max's expression grew more serious as she listened.
Max's fingers tapped impatiently against her book, her frustration evident. "Honestly, I don't understand him. He's acting like a complete enigma. One minute he's shutting the door in your face, the next he's leaving you hanging."
Elise bit her lip, feeling a pang of frustration herself. "I know, Max. It's like he's deliberately keeping me in the dark."
Max shook her head, her glasses catching the light as she looked at Elise. "I don't get why he's being so cryptic. And Samuel, suddenly showing up like he's your knight in shining armor. It's all too convenient."
"Elise, be careful around Samuel. I don't trust him," Max warned.
Elise shook her head, her expression determined. "He just wants to be friends, Max. That's all."
Max's gaze held a mixture of concern and skepticism. "I hope you're right, but I have a feeling there's more to him than meets the eye."
Elise nodded, her brows furrowing. "You think there's more to it?"
Max's gaze turned determined. "I'm going to find out. This whole situation doesn't sit right with me."
Elise gave her friend a grateful smile. "Thanks, Max. I appreciate it."
Max's lips curled in a small smile. "You're welcome. Now, take a deep breath. We'll figure this out together."
**************
Hello Chingus,
I just realized that this book will be ending soon😭... (or not 😉)
As I was writing a rough sketch of this chapter, the idea for the reconciliation chapter came to mind and I quickly wrote it down. This book is focused on the main leads up and down love story, so when they finally have their feeling mutually accepted, the book ends and that time is coming very soon.
Oh well!
Stay healthy and hydrated...
Annyeong
"Love Rain - Love rain ost."