January 18th. Thursday, 7:36 PM.
The smell of garlic and onions sizzling in oil filled the kitchen, clinging to the air and drifting into the living space. William stood by the stove in a plain t-shirt with the sleeves pushed up, focused, stirring a deep pan of simmering tomato sauce.
"Mally, get lost, dude", William said, trying to swat him away.
"Bro, I wanna help", Malakai replied, standing close by, trying to see over William's shoulder.
"You're not helping. You're making everything worse", William said.
"Yeah, Mally, you can't join. You'll ruin the flow of things", David added, besides William helping him cut and chop.
"I ain't even done shit", Malakai said, hands out. "Bro, I realised that I need to learn how to cook cuz when I was here alone, I was struggling. It was actually bad, like cooking is really important".
All the boys were over at Malakai and William's dorm for dinner. They all agreed that they'd have dinner that William would cook. They did this a couple of times last semester, but this semester they said that this would happen at least once a week.
"Then sit over there and watch", William told him, pointing across the kitchen table to the empty side.
"I see how it is, Willy. You replaced me with David.", Malakai said, betrayed, nodding and walking away. "Normally, you don't mind me helping you, but now David's here, you snaked me".
"You never help me! You've helped me like three times!" William fired back. "And obviously I'm going to replace you. David knows how to cook. You don't!".
"I thought you helped Will when he cooked", Ray said to Malakai, already sitting on the empty side of the kitchen table.
"I can't lie, the thought of cooking is fun, but when I'm in the kitchen with him, I can't be arsed", Malakai replied, taking a seat next to Ray. "He's too bossy. I don't wanna cook with him".
"Learn to cook by yourself then", Benjamin said, standing near the table.
"Bro, that's long", Malakai replied. "Cooking takes ages. Why am I gonna cook for 30 minutes to an hour then finish the food in 10 minutes? The math ain't mathing. I'm making a loss in time".
"How are you going to survive then?" Lucas asked from the couch, twisting his body around.
"William's cooking, innit", Malakai shamelessly shrugged.
"He isn't going to cook for you your entire life", Ray said.
"He could. I can just buy him", Malakai smiled.
"With what money?" Benjamin laughed.
"I can't lie, I don't think I'd have to pay him. He'd do it for free", Malakai laughed.
"I'm not gonna be your chef", William snapped at him, turning around and pointing the spoon in his hand at him.
"Who said anything about chef?" Malakai asked, grinning. "I was thinking more of a slave".
"Pfffft", Benjamin laughed and turned around.
"Woaah ha ha", Lucas laughed, putting down his phone.
"Nah, Mally, c'mon", Ray giggled, shaking his head and covering his smile.
William had a little smirk on his face, but he was about to charge at Malakai. He had a weapon in hand (a wooden spoon) that was begging to be used.
"Will, chill. You can get him later", David said, holding his shoulder with a little smile on his face from the joke.
"Wait, you said I should learn how to cook. Who cooks for you two?" Malakai asked Benjamin and Lucas. "Willy cooks for our dorm. David knows how to cook, and Ray cooks a little, but you two can't cook".
"We can bro", Benjamin replied, chin up.
"Bro, I've seen you ask for food from all of us", Malakai said.
"We know how to cook, but we don't like cooking", Benjamin replied, stubbornly.
"Sounds like an excuse, I can't lie", Malakai said.
"You're the worst cook out of all of us. That's guaranteed", Lucas said, getting up from the couch to be closer to the group.
Malakai smirked and shook his head, "You lot don't know, bro. They call me Gordon Ramsay for a reason".
"No one calls you that", Benjamin said, shutting him down.
"That's what I mean! You lot don't know!" Malakai smiled, taking the piss.
Benjamin gave up. He knew responding would only get him a stupid response. He walked straight into that one.
"I'm surprised Lu hasn't gone to the club yet", David said, changing the topic. "The week's nearly over".
"It's only been four days. He ain't addicted", Malakai said.
"Lu, let's go tomorrow!" William suggested, already buoyed by the idea.
"I can't. I got a girlfriend now. I'll only go with her", Lucas said, casually.
Everyone's head slowly turned and looked at Lucas.
"You've got a girlfriend?" Ray asked.
"Yeah", Lucas replied, unfazed by all the eyes on him.
"Did you know this?" Malakai asked, turning to Benjamin.
"Nah", Benjamin shook his head, looking clueless. "When did you get a girl?" he asked, turning to Lucas.
"Over the break", Lucas said simply.
"Oh shit, that's why you've been on your phone a lot", Benjamin said, the realisation dawning on him.
"What's her name?" Ray asked, more curious than nosy.
"Jessica".
None of the boys knew a Jessica, so they had no idea who she was.
"Which one is it?" David asked, being vague but clear enough for Lucas and Benjamin.
"The brunette".
"At least you ain't two-timing no more", Malakai said.
"Huh?! How'd you know?" Lucas whipped his head to Malakai, shocked. "Did you guys tell him?" he asked, looking at Benjamin and David, betrayed.
"No", they both quickly denied.
"They didn't tell me anything", Malakai clarified. "I saw you on a date with a brunette girl ages ago, and before that, you told me about going on a date with a blonde girl".
"You saw me? When?" Lucas asked, thinking back to previous dates.
"I don't know. Ages ago", Malakai shrugged. "At the start of November, I think".
"That long! Why didn't you tell me about this?" William asked, moving away from the stove.
"I forgot innit", Malakai said. "...Actually, it's your fault", he pointed at William, suddenly remembering.
"Me? Why me?" William asked, baffled.
"I remember now. You were ill, so I went to get groceries. Oh my days, so much shit happened that day!" Malakai smiled, playing back that day in his head. "I got chased, so I went to hide in Delilah's dorm. Then me and Delilah were forced to go on a double date with Akari and Jason, but me and Delilah escaped and went to a convenience store before we went into the restaurant. Then I was gonna go get groceries, but I saw Lu with a girl, so I followed him".
"Why is it my fault then?" William asked, not seeing his connection.
"Because Maria called me, saying you went to her dorm to get sugar. So I had to get your groceries quick time and come back home to make sure you didn't die", Malakai replied.
"Why the fuck did you follow me?" Lucas asked, properly offended now.
"What else am I gonna do?" Malakai asked. "I'm not gonna come up to you when you're with the girl".
"At least tell me you saw me", Lucas frowned.
"Bro, I forgot", Malakai shrugged again.
"I'm so lost right now", Ray said. "I feel left out".
"Same. This isn't fair", William added. "And you two knew", he pointed at Benjamin and David. "How did you two know?".
"Lu told us about it. He was having problems", Benjamin said.
"He couldn't tell us?" William asked, now feeling betrayed.
"Lu, I think you should explain everything", David said.
Lucas sighed heavily. He walked closer to the kitchen table and sat on the remaining chair available.
"There's not much to explain", he said. "There were two girls I liked, and I didn't know who to choose".
William and Ray looked at each other.
"If that was it, why didn't you tell us?" William asked.
"Asking you three for advice about this stuff wouldn't help", Lucas replied.
Malakai smirked and looked away because he knew it was true. Ray managed a tiny, wounded smile. He knew he probably wouldn't have help much, but he still wanted to be involved.
"Okay, you might be right", William accepted with a smile. "But you could've still told us".
"Yeah, sorry", Lucas replied. "At the time I really needed advice. And everything was going well, so I held off telling anyone anything. Even Ben didn't know, and I live with him".
"I see how it is", William said. "When I get a girl, I'm not telling any of you".
"Bro, that's never gonna happen", Benjamin joked.
"Fuck you", William quickly shot back, expecting that response.
"How did you choose?" Ray asked, genuinely curious.
"He probably had sex with one of them before the other, innit", Malakai said.
"What the fuck?" Lucas scowled.
"Am I wrong?" Malakai asked. "You confessed after you did it, innit".
Lucas turned his head away, jaw tight, annoyed.
"Dude, how did you know that?" William asked, suspicious.
"Bro, that's how most relationships start", Malakai replied.
"My last relationship didn't start like that", David quietly said.
"You were in high school, that's different", Malakai replied.
"Aye, man, you never know. High school kids these days are wild", Benjamin said.
"Mally, I'm surprised you think like that", William said. "I thought you watched too much anime and thought every confession was wholesome".
"This is real life, bro. No confession is wholesome here", Malakai replied, smirked.
"Lu's confession could've still been wholesome", Benjamin argued. "They could've been cuddling in bed or some shit, and Lu started confe-".
"Okay, okay", Lucus cut in. "Can we stop talking about my confession?" he said with a hand on his forehead, a little embarrassed.
"What class is your girlfriend in?" William asked, busy on the stove.
"1-D".
The place got quiet for a second.
"What class was the other girl in?" Ray asked.
"1-A".
Malakai hid his smirk with his left hand and turned away from Lucas.
Lucas was sitting beside Malakai so he could see Malakai turning away from the corner of his eye.
"Mally, why are you looking away?" Lucas asked.
"I'm not", Malakai replied, turning back his way, but still had a hand over his mouth.
"Why are you smiling like that?" Lucas asked, looking serious.
"I'm always smiling, bro", Malakai replied, taking his hand off his mouth and showing his grin.
"No. As soon as I mention the girls' classes, your body language changed", Lucas said.
The rest of the boys felt the shift in Lucas's voice. It got sharper. They all exchanged glances to see if they caught it.
"Yo, relax, bro. I didn't do nothing", Malakai replied, with his hands up.
"This is what pisses me off about you, bro", Lucas harshly said. "You think you know everything".
"The fuck did I do?" Malakai asked, his smile slowly fading, feeling how serious Lucas was now.
"Let's calm down. It's not that deep", David intervened, feeling the tension.
"What do you mean it's not that deep?!" Lucas snapped, surprising himself with the sharpness of his voice. "He's tryna treat me like an idea because my girl is from 1-D and I didn't go for the girl in 1-A".
Benjamin's eyes widened a little. He looked between Lucas and Malakai, silently agreeing with David but not knowing whether to step in yet.
"How am I treating you like an idiot?" Malakai asked with his arms out.
"You pulled a face and hid your face", Lucas said, pointing his finger at him. "I know when you fuck around".
Malakai exhaled through his nose, rolled his eyes and turnt his head as though Lucas was making something out of nothing.
"Aryt fair enough", Malakai admitted. "But that's natural though innit. Like hearing you could've gotten a girl from 1-A".
"Natural? Why are you judging my girl based on her class?" Lucas sharply asked, bringing his face close to Malakai. "You can't rate girls based on their classes, that's fucked up".
The whole kitchen shifted. William was half turnt from the stove, David was on the other side of the table watching over Lucas and Malakai, Ray leaned forward on his seat beside Malakai, and Benjamin was standing close by.
"I wasn't doing that, but you know what, my bad, innit. I should've done that", Malakai half-heartedly apologised. "But why you getting so vexed for? It's not that deep".
"It is that deep", Lucas firmly said. "She's my girl. I love her".
The drop of the L word caused a few eyes to bulge out.
"Love!?" Malakai questioned, stunned. "What you on about love? You've known her for a couple of months. Are you deluded?".
Benjamin was totally caught off guard. Literally frozen on the spot. William was now fully turnt away from the stove. Ray's face was the definition of stunned. David was also stunned, but he kept his composure.
"Bro, shut the fuck up!" Lucas said, getting up from his seat and towering over Malakai. His chair toppled over and clanged on the floor.
Ray's leg bounced nervously under the table, "Hey, chill, chill", he tried to calmly say.
"I don't want to hear anything from you! You don't know shit about love!", Lucas harshly said to Malakai.
"Yooo. Don't do anything you're gonna regret, yeah", Benjamin said, pulling Lucas back and away from Malakai before he did anything.
Malakai stayed seated and looked at Lucas, annoyed, "Whatever, man. I'm just looking out for you".
"Look out for me?! Why are you thinking the worst of my girl?" Lucas asked, breathing heavier. "You don't know her. You're judging her based on her class. Just because Dillon and those other guys are there, you don't trust her. Not everything has to be about the academy".
"Bro! I would've said the same thing for any other girl", Malakai frustratedly replied.
"This is what you don't understand!" Lucas fired back. "You've never been in love! So you can't fathom what I'm feeling. You can't fathom the thought of loving a girl and trusting them like this".
"Tch. Aye you lot. I can't be the only guy thinking this guy is being an idiot right now", Malakai said, looking at the other guys. "Listen to him, bro".
The silence that followed wasn't the support Malakai wanted. None of the guys wanted to pick sides.
"Mally, you don't understand!" Lucas reiterated.
"Okay, that's enough. You two are friends. Stop acting like this", David firmly said. "I'm getting tired of this conversation".
"But bro-" Malakai started.
"Mally, leave it", Ray told him, putting a hand over his shoulder.
"Tch". Malakai shook his head and gave up. He pulled out his phone, leaning back with a straight face.
Benjamin pulled Lucas to another side of the room, away from everyone, to calm him down.
"You know Mally's a little immature. You didn't have to go off on him like that", Benjamin quietly told Lucas.
"That was disrespectful, though. He's my friend, but I can't let him disrespect my girl like that", Lucas replied. "You understand me, right? I'm not the crazy one here?".
"Nah. None of you are crazy", Benjamin said. "It's like you said, Mally doesn't know anything about love. So when he says something and you don't agree with it, try to help him understand. Don't insult him and argue with him, cuz you know how Mally is in arguments".
"Yeah, I hear it", Lucas said, exhaling. "I admit I went over the top. But Ben, this girl is different. I haven't felt like this in a long time... When I say I love her, I mean it".
"Yeah…" Benjamin got stuck on his words. He didn't know what to say to that. It was a lot to take in. "I'm happy for you, but remember we're still at this academy. Stay focused".
"Don't worry. I've got you guys here with me", Lucas said.
"Dinner will be ready in a bit!" William announced from the stove, trying to kill the awkwardness.
"Let's chill on the couch until it's ready", Benjamin said with an arm over his shoulder "Make sure you apologise to Mally later, yeah".
"Yeah".
Back at the kitchen table.
"Mally, you good?" Ray asked.
"Yeah, man", Malakai replied, glancing up from his phone.
"You're gonna apologise, right?" Ray asked to make sure.
"Yeah. It's my fault, innit", Malakai said, not dodging it. "I ain't gonna deny that".
"Were you lying about what you said earlier?" Ray asked softly. "If it were any other girl, you would've said the same thing".
"Yeah".
"Why?".
"I'm DTB for life", Malakai said with a little smile.
"What's DTB?" Ray cluelessly asked.
"Don't trust bitches", Malakai fully smirked.
"You've got serious trust issues", Ray joked, shaking his head, knowing he should've seen it coming.
"I think you should be DTB for life as well", Malakai suggested. "It'll keep you safe".
"Nah, I'm good", Ray replied.
"Don't worry, I don't think Maria's a bitch", Malakai teased.
Ray smiled and glanced away, "Does that mean you trust Maria?".
"Not as much as you do", Malakai wittily yet truthfully replied.
Ray small smiled turned to a toothy grin, "I don't know what you're talking about".
"Lu got his girl. Next is you", Malakai said, putting a hand on his shoulder and shaking him.
Ray laughed under his breath, "We'll see".