Tainted Souls

Chapter Nineteen

"I can't believe you got my grandmother into K-Pop," Maverick smirked the following day. "I thought that she was becoming ancient with her classical music obsession. She hates listening to me performing on my electric guitar, saying that it's a ruined version of the violin."

"That's because the music I showed her wasn't people screeching their lungs out. There are regular K-Pop songs that involve that as well with the incorporation of rock and other musical elements. It was BTS," I snickered. "Also, Dimash Kudaibergen is sort of a part of that category, but isn't at the same time. He's Kazakh pop instead of Korean pop. She seemed to like his opera singing and his vocal range."

"I like rock singers and rappers from all genres. I think I'd prefer Jay Park if we're referring to Korean artists incorporating EDM. My favorite song by him is GANG. You already know that my favorite Italian artist is Irama. My favorite song by him is Arrogante," Maverick told me. "E sono arrogante..."

"You sing that song all the time, Medici," I laughed, shaking my head.

"It's been a month and a half since you've met my grandmother, yet you're already great at the violin. But I think that it is about time that you challenge yourself and do the unexpected," he told me. "I challenged myself by opening up to two people I never expected that I would and becoming allies with them with a common goal. It was ironic for me since I considered the two of you my enemies. But now, it feels right to have...what do people call it? A squad. That's the right word for it."

"Keisha and I actually met in college, which is sort of similar to you and Taj reuniting again in college. We were used to doing everything together and when it was just the two of us. But the two of you being an addition to our group has also been unexpected, but awesome. I mean, you exposed Hunter for cheating on Sasha again and saved Keisha's ass. I know Keisha, and she wouldn't want to actually make her sex life public. No matter how open she is about her sex life to me, that is. It's just because I'm her best friend."

"TMI, piccola cagna," Maverick rolled his eyes. "I've had to hear nonstop from Taj about how great his sex life is with Keisha. Do you know how annoying it is to feel like you have a roommate when you don't actually have a roommate?"

"I thought that you decided not to ban Taj from your dorm room anymore," I chuckled.

"That's not funny, Aera. He phone calls me like I'm his own parents since he has mommy and daddy issues," Maverick sighed. "There is nothing wrong with him being more happy and open lately. He claims that he found this "light" in his life after he began to date Keisha for real. But whenever he calls me, all he does is talk about...that. I don't want to fucking hear about it anymore. It's not like I don't know everything I have to know about sex, despite what Hunter and Sasha assume about virgins. But hell, my ears need bleach after Taj keeps on telling me too much about his sex life with Keisha."

"Says the guy that gossips with his grandmother more than anyone else," I teased him.

"Says the girl that gossips with someone else's grandmother as much as Keisha," Maverick shot back.

"It seems as if Taj is being more TMI than Keisha is," I snickered. "That's really saying something, Maverick. Because Keisha is very open with me."

"Taj claims that they are tips for me in the future since he thinks that I won't be able to survive graduating college without sleeping with anyone. Give me a break. He doesn't know that it's already enough how I've opened up to people, which is considered an accomplishment of a lifetime for someone like me." Maverick's shoulders slumped, his expression becoming grim.

"Why do you sound ashamed about finding it difficult to open up to people? It has always been like that for me too," I comforted him.

"Don't pity me. I don't need your pity," Maverick glared at me.