Pretty Boy

Chapter 4

I got into the university and spent the next week figuring out my schedules and dorm situation. When I actually packed my shit and walked into the room, my roommate caught my eye rather than the bunk bed. He was blaring rock music and piercing his lip, using the camera of his phone for a mirror.

It's the same green haired boy from the gym.

"Wow." I glanced around and set my suitcases down on the bottom bunk. He was a bit messy but he had green lights strung around the ceiling and black curtains that blocked out the sun. His bedsheets were black too.

"Kitchen's in the other room and bathroom is....oh. It's you."

"Yup. It's me." I started to make the bed with my own sheets and blankets. "Didn't think I'd know my roommate already."

He shoved a piercing through his lip and hopped down from the top bunk, leaning against the ladder. "Neither did I. I didn't even know you were in uni."

"I am now." I groaned, laying down and shoving a pillow under my head. "And I want a nap so just don't talk to me."

"What's your name?"

"....Hachiro. Hachiro Shuji."

"I'm Adam Bennet."

"Well Adam, do you always talk this much? If so this is gonna be a long day."

"Well I'd like to get to know you since we'll be staying together during the week." He began to fidget with his fingers, which were painted black and green. "You got a favorite color?"

"Yeah. Beige."

"Wow haven't heard someone say they like beige before."

"I like pastel shades of brown or cream colored things. Clothes mainly."

I usually wear casual clothes in those colors. I find that light brown goes well with my skin tone and it's pleasing to look at as well. I actually wore an almond colored sweater and white collared shirt beneath it in that moment, matched with white skinny jeans and pale brown shoes. "You like fashion?"

"Yeah."

"Doesn't surprise me. You seem well put together."

I'm really not, but I like that he sees me that way. "Thanks. You don't."

"Is that bad?"

"No." I sat up and looked at his clothing. He wore ripped black jeans and a graphic t-shirt with some kind of band on it. "You're kinda grunge. I like it."

"Your shoes look expensive. You make a lot of money or something?"

"Yeah. Something like that."

"Drink black coffee?"

"I strictly prefer black tea. Sweetened too. If I'm drinking coffee, it'll be at least 70% milk."

"Do you like sweets?"

"Not particularly. But I like strawberry flavored sweets if I do eat them."

I know how I come off to people. They think I'm a pretty rich boy that smells like cinnamon and apple pie, wakes up early and his parents probably own a small business.

But I'm none of those things. Sure my looks had changed but I was still the same insecure boy I used to be. I still take care of my siblings and work to pay my own way. I come from humble roots so when people think that of me, I'm not sure if I should be offended or flattered.

"I wonder what it's like to be like you." He cocked his head. "Do people ask you out often? Do you go out to eat?"

"I usually just cook at home and...people ask me out sometimes. But I usually say no. What do you mean ' be like me? '"

"Well you certainly don't look like you live off of soda and packaged ramen."

"You think I'm privileged" I sighed and crossed my arms.

"No i-"

"No it's okay, a lot of people do. But I wasn't always. Trust me, I know what it's like to be considered low class."

"Well if you made it up from the bottom, I guess that means there's hope for the rest of us."

I could get used to his optimism. He's actually rather nice to be around. Oddly enough, I liked the scent of freshly dug up flowers and upcoming rain that seemed to follow in his wake.

I let him take me out for tea that night, in the light of the city buildings and nightclub signs. He skipped down the pavement, holding a plastic cup of tea in his hand and his hair glowing in the blue light of the signs around us.

"Adam." I walked with a long stride to keep up with him, tossing him my jacket when he shivered in the wind. "Slow down a bit, will you?"

"It's so pretty here, I'm so glad we moved!" He smiled brightly up a the starry night sky. "I like the sounds of the city."

"Yeah like the late night traffic and constant barking."

"Don't be so uptight." He tugged at my sleeve after pulling my jacket over his arms. "This is like....every dream I've ever had."

I adjusted the circular glasses on my nose and sighed. "I'm glad you like it."

His joy was pretty contagious so I couldn't help but feel rather happy in his presence.

"You're so gloomy, Shuji."

"Hachiro." I corrected him. "I don't know you well enough for you to call me by my given name."