My Twisted Heart

Chapter Eleven

"Hmm... What should I buy first?" I muttered under my breath as I glanced at the list of things I wanted to buy. "Maybe I should get some snacks since I'm already here." 

It was evening. A few hours had passed since school ended, and with nothing urgent demanding my attention, I'd decided to make a quick trip to the on-campus supermarket.

The original reason for this trip was to grab some cleaning supplies. Even though the school cleaners were scheduled to clean the dorms every two weeks, the thought of waiting that long didn't sit right with me. 

I wouldn't call myself obsessive, but I liked my space to be neat. 

Just as I was reaching for a pack of tea bags, a familiar voice caught my attention.

"Oh, hey! I know you... Aren't we in the same class?"

I turned my head and saw Robert standing behind me. He held a tub of protein powder in one hand and a carton of milk in the other.

"Oh, hey..." I said, doing my best to mask the shock that threatened to creep into my voice.

Robert smiled warmly. "If I recall correctly, you said your name was James, right?"

I was speechless. I couldn't believe the most popular guy in the class remembered my name. When I didn't reply immediately, Robert's expression darkened slightly.

"Wait... Don't tell me that I... Did I get your name wrong?"

"No, no, you got it right. My name is James. I'm just surprised you remember."

Robert chuckled. "Believe it or not, I've memorized the names of everyone in our class."

"Oh, wow! I'm impressed... Learning names is something I struggle with," I admitted.

"Well, to be honest, I've had a few weeks to learn the names of our classmates."

A few weeks?!

Robert glanced at my cart and cleared his throat. "So, what are you buying?"

"Just some cleaning materials and tea bags," I replied.

"Huh... It's great that you want to keep your room clean. Maybe I should follow your example."

His words sounded casual and sincere. It caught me off guard. People didn't usually talk to me like that. Maybe he was just a nice guy.

If that was the case, maybe this was a chance—a chance to make a connection. Perhaps even a friend.

"What about you?" I asked to keep the conversation going. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, me? I came to buy some protein powder," Robert said, lifting the tub in his hand. "With my workout schedule, I have to eat plenty of protein every day."

That checked out. One glance at his build, and it was obvious he wasn't just casually into fitness. He moved like someone who was used to pushing his body to its limits.

"What's your workout schedule like?" I asked, more out of curiosity than politeness.

"Hmm... Well, it varies from week to week. Lately, I've been working out six times a week. My sessions are about three hours each. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are body workouts. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are conditioning."

Three hours. Six times a week. That wasn't just dedication—that was discipline. It reminded me of my old training, though mine had been less about personal growth and more about survival. His routine was structured, and purposeful, but there was something else to it. People didn't train like that unless they were chasing something.