Comfort --RWRB College AU

2. Friends

By the time he comes back to reality, Alex finds himself already on the floor, covered with cream and cake, soaked in icy alcohol. "Damn..." Alex grunts, wiping the cream that is all over his face.

When he catches another figure beside him with the corner of his eye, the whole thing flashes back into his mind. Oh great, Alex thinks to himself, he's actually quite surprised that he's still alive. Carefully, he turns his head a little to glance at Henry and finds him already looking this way.

He is not much better than Alex: cream clinging to his hair and collar, cake spilling here and there on his body. He still seems confused and shocked with a blank face. Sensing Alex's gaze, he finally comes back to reality: He, raised up as a gentleman, never lets any dirt contact with him for more than seven seconds, is now bathed in cream and beer, together with, and because of this American barbarian beside him. With that, he finally mutters.

"Oh my fucking Christ."

As if being paralyzed for a few moments, June and Nora get to their sense as they hear Henry curse.

"OH MY GOD!" June covers her face with a palm while Nora may or may not snap a photo for the two.

Alex sits up, head pounding a little due to his nervousness, or even fear. He looks at Henry, carefully choosing his words. "emmm I-I'm really really sorry I'll pay for the clothes oh god I'm so sorry..."

Henry interrupts his ramble. "It's fine." Alex doesn't need to look at him to figure out his expression: clenched jaw, knitted brows, an even faker smile.

Without another word, Henry gets up and adjusts his shirt. "Sorry for ruining your birthday, Nora."

"Oh, 's okay." Nora smiles, handing him some tissues. "We'll fight with those creams anyways. Actually, June and I are just about to join you guys, wanna continue?"

Heny shakes his head, smiling politely. "I'll skip this. Happy birthday."

He then turns, without sparing a second look to Alex. Girls' laughter and Alex's grunts echo in the house, Henry wipes the cream on his shirt, not aware that his thought has already drifted to that curly-haired boy. When they were lying on the floor, Alex looked at him, his gaze so intense that pierces through Henry. He's got stunning eyes, Henry's brain says, and Henry does not protest. And his eyelashes, long and curly, like sunflowers. When covered with the white cream-

Henry shakes his head almost furiously, as if he can shake Alex and his fucking eyelashes out of his mind. Ridiculous, Henry thinks, that barbarian ruined my shirt.

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The next day...

Henry comes back after his classes, thinking about all the forms he needs to fill out. A female's voice comes out of the speaker, Alex is probably on the phone with her. Henry walks straight to the fridge to grab some water.

"Hey... That's Henry, right?"

Henry freezes for a second, then turns around, Alex is video calling his mum. "Oh hi, Ms Claremont." He takes a step forward, smiling politely. But not sparing a single glance at Alex.

"So... How're you guys doing? Aww you guys look like mates just standing together." Ellen coos, clearly unaware of the incident yesterday.

Henry turns to Alex, his gaze makes Alex shiver: embarrassed and most prominently, hatred.

Alex mentally facepalms himself, whatever. He throws an arm around Henry, hitting Henry with his fist, laughing, kind of fake. "Ah I love hanging out with this guy!"

Henry frowns his brows, what the hell is this? Alex moves a little bit, subtly making his face out of the screen. He mouths to Henry: Pretend that we're good friends, please. His eyes pleading, Alex crosses his fingers in his heart hoping that Henry will cooperate.

Henry tilts his head, facing Ellen again. He is still smiling, fake of course, but Alex can see his knitted brows, he must be cursing in his mind right now. "Yes, yes. We- hit it off instantly..." Henry's gaze fixes on somewhere on the counter, avoiding Ellen's beam.

Alex looks at him, giving his iconic charming laugh. "Yep, like we've known each other all our lives."

Ellen smiles fondly seeing the boys getting along well with each other. "That's so sweet. I just saw June's post, were you playing cake fights? Seems like you're having a lot of fun!"

Henry nods, rigidly, secretly sending Alex a death glare. "It was a great lot of fun."

When Ellen finally hangs up, Henry feels like his face is going stiff after smiling for so long. He shoves Alex instantly, getting rid of his arm. "Perhaps I own an explanation!" It is about the same time that Alex mutters. "Sorry."

"I am really really sorry. I don't want my mum-er-feels that she brings burden to my life. I mean, she's busy, but she still wants to make sure everything is great for me, and my sister. Emm ever since their divorce, we are everything in her life. Not that she's lonely or what! 'S just she's a strong woman but she also wants the best for us. If she knows that there's conflict between us, she would feel guilty for bringing up the idea of letting you be my roommate and I-I just don't wanna distract her... I'm sorry." Alex takes a deep breath after finishing the rambles.

He looks up at Henry, nervously fumbling his fingers, waiting for Henry's reaction.

"Oh-" Henry is not prepared for that, he swallows all the complaints that have been circling in his mind since last night. "I didn't know... Sorry?"

"For what? You mean my parents? That's years ago..." Alex lets out a breath that he doesn't know he was holding. "My mum runs her own company. She's really busy but provides a good life for me and June. My dad was paying our tuition and stuff, we often meet up. Sometimes I just don't know what I am worrying about-"

"I feel you." Henry suddenly says.

"Wha-" Alex is surprised and looks at Henry. Henry is looking somewhere else, hands holding together in front of his body.

"I said, I feel you. I know what you're talking about. My dad passed away three years ago... and from then on, my life... changed a lot. Sometimes I don't want to tell my mum, afraid that I may distract her from work..." His gaze still fixed on that particular spot, Henry says rather quietly.

"Oh. Well now I feel like I need to apologize. Sorry to mention this topic, I-"

"It's alright." Henry finally looks up, smiling a little, which Alex finds a surprising possibility that it may be genuine.

A small silence falls between the two and Henry finds it a cue for him to leave now. He turns around and mentally facepalms himself, why the hell did I tell all those stuff to Alex?! Those are way too personal for people like us! We're not even friends for God's sake! It is the most stupid-

"Hey Henry!"

Oh God, what now? "Yeah?"

"You had dinner yet? I'm about to order some Chinese, you want some?"

Guess we are friends now? "Oh sure, thanks."

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A notification pops out on the side of the screen as Alex is writing some essay. He chuckles.

Henry roommate: Thanks for the food.

Henry roommate: Your pants are awful btw.

Alex rolls his eyes and huffs, changing Henry's name into "Dickhead💩".

How do we feel about this!

Different stories, same cakegate ;)

Vote and comment pls!!!