The Painting

Chapter 2

The guys I made friends with were advising me not to miss out on the boys' hostel lifestyle, I don't know whatever the fuck that meant. But I ended up getting invited to their dorm room for a room-warming party. I was helping Canis, a classmate who's also on the college football team-the type who doesn't take life too seriously-unpack his stuff in his new room with the rest of the boys. "

Bro, you read? I didn't know you could read," I said, glancing at the stacks of books in his room.

"The hell do you think I am?" he replied annoyed by me.

"Greek mythology? You read this kind of stuff?" I asked, picking up a book titled Greek Mythology. "Oh, that reminds me-do you know what 'lamenting' means? I read it on a painting I saw recently in an art museum."

He laughed. "How the hell did you end up in an art museum?"

Not gonna lie, that stung a bit. "You gonna answer my question or keep being an asshole?" I said, tossing a pillow at his head.

"Lamenting means grieving over something or someone," he explained. "You probably saw a painting of a war or something. What was it about?"

"It said something like 'Achilles lamenting something, something, someone.' I don't really remember."

"Ohhhhhhh 'Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus'??"

"yahh I think so, What is it about?"

"Well, the artwork portrays the Greek hero Achilles mourning the death of his 'closest friend,' Patroclus-or at least, that's what historians call them. Close friends, roommates, comrades-in-arms, partners. Achilles and Patroclus spent their entire lives together. It's said that Achilles lost his mind when Patroclus died. They were soul mates, buried together. Some say they loved each other too deeply and too much that it destroyed them both."

"They died loving each other? What a waste!"

"If that's what you think, then maybe you should read the history. Go ahead, borrow the book you're holding." I stared at the book in my hands, not gonna lie I am scared to read it. They both died loving each other? Why does this story make my chest ache? It feels as though I already know it by heart. Well, I had a choice to read it or not though.

"Okay, I'll borrow it."

"Let's have lunch together? Oh my god he is such a cutie, he clearly wants to be friends with you asshole, what is your deal, you scared of him or something?" Lily said with a giggling voice that got on my fucking nerves.

North was it, his name? the guy I met in the museum, running around and catching his breath, my eyes took me directly to him as soon as he entered the art room, he looked enchanted by the art and specially the same painting as me, as soon as his eyes laid of the painting of Achilles and Patroclus he went straight into confusion mode, it was so obvious I could literally see all the big question marks dancing around on top of his head.

I could feel his eyes on me as soon as he realised there was someone else looking at the same painting as him, I couldn't look at him that time, my gut won't let me turn my head and look straight into his eyes. He was like a museum ghost.

When he walked into the classroom the other day, I almost thought I was hallucinating. I had just seen him in my dreams last night, and now here he was, standing right in front of me. What the hell is wrong with me? Dreaming about a guy like him-he seriously gives me the ick. I don't want to make friends with anyone here, except Leo and Lily. So why won't he just leave me the fuck alone?

"So, what are you gonna do?" Lily asked as soon as she was done fangirling over that guy.

"The hell do you mean, what am I gonna do? He's just playing around. When he gets bored, he'll leave me alone. You get well soon and come back to class-I can't stand being alone," I replied.

"Can't stand being alone, or are you afraid North will get too close without Lily around; to act as your shield?" she teased, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. Yup, she's getting on my nerves now, too.

"Is Leo dead? Where the hell is he?" I asked, quickly changing the topic.

"Hey, don't change the subject! Leo's probably off goofing around with his uni friends. Let him rot-I don't care."

"You two fought again? What kind of twins are you?"

"I said, don't change the topic! What happened with that interview you had for the part-time job?"

"Huh? Oh, right, that. They said they'd call me back," I muttered. I had recently interviewed for a job at a restaurant. I needed the part-time pay check to cover my living expenses far from my family. My parents could only afford my college fees; everything else was on me.

The restaurant I interviewed for is owned by one of the biggest businessmen in the country. Who knows? If I catch his eye and make some connections, he might actually offer me a real job. But that's probably just me being delusional. He owns all kinds of businesses in this country-hotels, restaurants, resorts, cruise ships, even casinos. He's some shady businessman, which is probably why he's so insanely rich. Honestly, I don't want to get mixed up in any of that, so I'll keep my distance and stick to my job as a waiter, well if I get accepted that is.

"What do we have tomorrow?" lily asked me

"No idea I have to check the time table, why you asking? Like you gonna come?"

"Well the fever is far from gone I have to come, I don't want to fail because of shortage of attendance" Right she missed 1 day and she is worried about shortage of attendance god damn.

"Hey, Lily! Welcome back. You're feeling better already? Back so soon?" I heard a voice say. It was North, heading straight for my seat, but this time his attention was on Lily. He bent down to her level since she was sitting, one hand in his pocket and the other holding his bag's shoulder strap.

"Oh, I was already recovering from my fever over the weekend. Monday was just an excuse," Lily replied, smiling. Are they seriously flirting right in front of me? What the hell?

"Oh, and to the ghost sitting next to Lily-good morning to you as well," he said with a smirk. HE IS SO GOOD AT GETTING ON MY LAST DAMN NERVE. OH MY GOD, SHOULD I JUST KILL HIM OR SOMETHING? And then he walked off with that smirk still on his face.

"Come on, Night, cut him some slack and give the guy a chance. Or should I just steal him from you?" Lily smirked, What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

"Do whatever the hell you want," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"Aww, are you jealous?" she teased, bursting into laughter.

I felt a buzz in my pocket-it was an unknown number. Unknown numbers always give me anxiety, but since I'd interviewed for a job, I have to pick up every single call that comes to this phone.

"Hello? Is this Night speaking," I heard on the other side of the phone.

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"Yes, you recently interviewed for a part-time waiter position at Chamiers Restaurant?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I'm happy to inform you that you've been shortlisted for the weekend position, as indicated on your application form. You'll need to start work this week-will that be alright? We'll discuss your pay check when you arrive, but don't worry; it won't be a low-paying job, given our reputation in the industry."

I got the job? I thought I gave a half-assed interview!

"Yes, that is perfectly fine, I will see you on the weekend"

"Yes, I will email you the conformation with address and dress code and all the other information"

"Yes, thank you so much"

"Thank you, Mr. Night have a great day,"

"You too"

Lily had her eyes on me during the whole conversation, she had a serious expression on her face "You got the job? Is it, like, really confirmed?" she asked me as soon as I end the call.

"Wait for me to get FUCKING RICHHHHHH I got the job" I said with both my hands in the air and then she hugged me out of joy.