HIS WILDFIRE

Cleared Closeups

"I miss you." He said. It was full of affection and genuity. Ted was rarely sentimental so I didn't know how to react. I just hugged him back.

He suddenly drew out, feigning nonchalance. "Erm... you're welcome." He let out. Confused, I replied; "thanks."

He returned to playing his game as I entered my room to take my bath and get changed. My room was very messy so I spent some time cleaning.
After a while I came out to get some juice. I looked around to find something to eat but I couldn't assemble enough ingredients. I usually went to the market nearby or the grocery store to get stuff but because I hadn't been around, everything was almost done.

The bell rang. Ted got out of his room quickly to get the door before I did. He turned back holding food packages. "I got you some just because I finished everything." He said with a smile. I smiled too. I was happy. I took the food. Everything was still warm so I didn't have to reheat anything. I took out two bowls and two plates. I dished out white rice into each plate and poured some of the seafood soup into each bowl. "Ted" I called out. He responded. I expected him to show up but he didn't so I went up to his room. He had changed his room lights from blue to white so his room looked different. He was seated before his desk studying. Ted was only ever locked in by exams if not, you'd never catch him behind a book yet he always aced his tests. A genius.
"You do not expect me to bring the food to you like some servant, do you?" I asked jokingly. "Silly." He replied as he got up and pushed me aside. I followed behind him closely to the kitchen and he picked up his food, grabbing one can drink from the fridge and walked away.

Before he was out of sight, he turned to look at me who had already started to eat in my spot. "Grande." He called out. "Want to study with me." He asked. "I'd love to!" I burst out. I was a bit surprised because this was new. I would've gone straight to bed if Ted hadn't asked me to study with him so I thought of it as something to keep me in check. 

I cleared the numerous books and dust from the long black table in the sitting area, near the window while Ted fetched the chairs before the desks in our respective rooms.
Ted went into the shower to freshen up so I set up my books on the table and arranged some few snacks at the center of the long table.
I sat and pulled the huge Thermodynamics text book before me. I opened the pages and realized how left behind I was. I had a whole lot to look through before the exams, not to talk about the numerous E-books I had to visit. What was reassuring was that I was confident in the other courses. I hadn't been so left behind ever so I was frustrated and started to regret venturing into Chemical Engineering.

Ted tapped my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts. He was smelling very fresh. He had on black shorts and a black compression tank top. I bit my lips shyly at the sight of his strong biceps and hot body. "Are you ready?" He asked. "I should be asking you this. This might be very new to you." I let out. Ted smirked as he took a seat beside me.

Everything was going smooth. Ted was composed and he attentively studied. Even though we had different majors, , we had same basics because he was in the biomedical field of engineering so we were successfully able to assess ourselves after each session.

It was past 1am and Ted was still going on hard. Maybe I shouldn't have judged him, not knowing his study routine and potential. "I am feeling very sleepy. I think I'll retire soon." I informed Ted. "Already?!" He exclaimed. I gasped. "We started not long after 9pm so it's been about four hours." I complained. "Chill chill." Ted closed the book before me and put off my iPad screen. "You can go to bed now." He said. I packed all my materials to one edge of the table. Before I got off the chair, Ted held my hand delicately, slightly shaking and probably fighting the urge to let go.

"Can I confide in you?" Ted asked
I nodded.

"What is it?" I asked indifferently as I grabbed my phone to put off do not disturb. Ted turned to face me. He took my phone from my hand and put it back on the table. The notification ringer sounded repeatedly and I knew Jaime would've tried to reach me so I was eager to check. I tried reaching out for the phone but Ted stopped me. He got up and grabbed me along by my hand to the window right before the table.
I looked up at him wondering what he had to say that was so important.

"I think this is the best time to speak to you about this." Ted said. "What?" I asked with unease. "When you left and I couldn't reach you, I thought I had missed all chances so I'll tell you now before it's too late." Ted continued. He looked so serious, weak and emotional which was out of the ordinary. I was trying to guess what he was going to say in my head. I got really nervous even though I had a hint.

"Break up with your boyfriend." He let out. I gasped. I was thinking maybe he didn't know how to go about telling me.

"You don't mean it." I asserted. "I do." He stated firmly.

"I loved you first." He started speaking on top of his voice like his mind was blowing. "You always told me to quit drugs, but you were the reason I was doing drugs." He started to tear up and I got confused. "I loved a boy while I had a girlfriend and that meant to a lot. I was going crazy so I had to do something about it, leading me into addiction." Tears started dripping down my eyes too. "When I finally came into terms with my love for you, I knew you'd never love me back. I managed to stop drugs and were still on the same page." He stopped to catch his breath, wiping his tears with his arms. "H-h-how was I supposed to know? You never opened up to me. You made jokes out of everything." I let out.
"My bad." He said with his hands in the air.

"But I kissed you and you kissed me back. What did that mean?" He asked. "I was drunk, silly." I lashed out.

Ted was overwhelmed. He dropped his weight on me in a hug. I felt sorry. I let him break down on my shoulder.
He said a lot that midnight. I figured out we being in the same apartment for two school years was not coincidental but his plan.
Well, I'd prefer Ted to any roommate I could possibly ever get except the time he was doing drugs.

I actually liked Ted too, a lot but not the romantic love. I couldn't dare love someone who was obviously straight with a girlfriend.

Like nothing happened, we went back to packing our books off the table. I was feeling the tension. Ted looked embarrassed because he had shown his weak side.

"Sleep well." That was the best I could say after what had transpired.
"Lay with me." It sounded more like a demand than a request. It wasn't my fault but I felt deeply sorry. Without thought, I agreed.

Ted rested his head on my belly and I couldn't even reach out for my phone. He slept very quickly and I did not want to disturb his sleep so I lay on that spot on his bed till sunrise.