The next day, Troye acted as though nothing has happened. He kept quiet and to himself, and he never mentioned last night.
And Jacob understands. He understands that he needs a few days to recover before opening up to him, so he didn't pry him open.
And he knew that Mark was a bad roommate and treated him badly. Badly enough to kick him out at least.
Then one day Troye threw a tantrum. Jacob has just got home from work and is so tired.
He accidentally stepped on Troye's toe, who gave a huge yelp. Jacob immediately apologized but the effect was already done. Troye was so mad, madder than Jacob had ever seen him, and his whole face was red.
He kept blabbering about Jacob not watching where he's stepping and kept throwing curse words here and there.
But the truth was, he wasn't angry at Jacob. Not entirely. He just had to rant his own anger for Mark out at somebody. And Jacob knew that, so he let Troye yell at him.
"... JUST STANDING THERE? DID YOU HEAR ME? I SAID TO WATCH YOUR FUCKING FEET...." Troye continued to yell at him, his face redder than ever.
Then suddenly Jacob pulled Troye to him, engulfing him in a bear hug.
"Get off me, get off...." Troye struggled to get out, but Jacob's grip was too tight.
But then Troye went limp and started crying into Jacob's chest. He kept mumbling apologizes for his outbreak and told Jacob not to leave him.
They stayed like that for at least half an hour.
Finally, Troye calmed down and Jacob let go of him, both plopping down onto the couch. Jacob tired from work and Troye tired from all the crying.
"You know, you can trust me..." Jacob started, hoping that Troye would spill out his troubles to him. He stared at him.
Troye nodded, blushing and looking away.
"No, look at me," Jacob said, and gently tilted his chin to guide his face to him.
He saw Troye's bloodshot eyes and a bruise forming on his cheekbone, which he probably got from Mark. Jacob could have kissed every skin on his eyes to his bruise.
"Tell me everything," Jacob said.
Troye's pupils were still refusing to look into Jacob's directly. He gave a sad shrug. "What do you wanna know?" his voice was so broken from the crying that Jacob almost cant bear it.
"When did he start?" Jacob asked.
Troye shrugged a sad shrug and kept quiet.
"Hey, come on now, talk to me ok? You can trust me."
Troye looked at Jacob. "I know I can trust you, I-I just can't say it without feeling anything."
"What did Mark do to you?" Jacob asked sternly, mostly to himself. He has no idea how his roommate could rip somebody's soul into so many pieces, oh so many pieces.
Upon these words, Troye broke down again. He sobbed and sobbed into Jacob's lap, Jacob running his hair through Troye's hair.
Jacob's heart broke for Troye.
"Shhhh, shhh it's ok..." Jacob soothed him.
"He... he'd rape me...."
♡
