Chapter 12: A Cute Couple

Max was still unpacking when he started getting notifications from YouTube and several other sites he's been following. Those sites share information about his only drug.  Austin Grant.

He watched the exclusive interview of him but that show was airing live and there were no subtitles included. He later googled and found out what the fuss was really about.

He was very proud of what Austin did but he didn't know what else was happening since he was on the plane almost the whole day and also not to forget about spending the night in the wrong place.

He was so busy rewatching the series that he didn't pay any attention to the notifications he received earlier. Max has no idea about AWAN or TOMA BEAUTY. He just knows his Austin is right and everyone else is wrong. When he found out that Austin was filming an ad for AWAN he thought Austin maybe he is wrong sometimes too. After all, he's only human.

So many things happened in one day and he was unaware. He stopped unpacking and started checking the news. Josh  Walsh is now the brand ambassador of AWAN'S new sportswear. Since Josh is also working with AWAN, Max wasn't worried about Austin. But one thing he found really unsettling. Austin was confident about that video clip otherwise he wouldn't show it to the public like that. He's not an idiot, is he? But no matter what Max will always support Austin.

He's so busy checking out the news that he barely noticed that someone in the room is talking to him.

"Why are you so into your phone? Found yourself a girlfriend, did you?" Arman asks.

"No....I..uh. I'm checking the updates on the recent matter with a Thai actor and some business company. Austin showed a video clip of them and...."

"Let me stop you right there" Arman breaks him off before he could tell him the whole story.

"First of all, I don't know any Thai actor nor do I know some business company. I'm not interested"

"But you have to know! Austin can't be wrong!" Max tries to make Arman understand how restless he is now.

"Who's Austin again?"

"My favorite actor. I love him"

"I don't know him. I haven't watched movies for a long time. Plus I'm not into movies anyway"

Arman says. Even though he looks normal but his voice sounds sad.

"Are you kidding? Who isn't into movies? Everyone loves watching movies"

Max is so surprised to know that someone could not be into movies. When you love something, it's natural to think that everyone else loves it too.

"Well. It's more like I didn't have much time to watch them. I was busy with my studies and all. I'm more of a person who loves only music"

Max loves music and there were times when he didn't watch any series but listened to music all night. But he can not imagine his day without at least watching an episode of his favorite or any new series or movie.

"Don't worry. Since I'm your roommate now, you'll get to watch plenty of great movies" Max says.

Max is so enthusiastic about it that it makes Arman feel sad for him. I can't watch movies if I don't have time to watch them.

"I'm done unpacking. Are you?" Max says.

"You call that unpacking? You just put your "favorite books" on the floor. The way you've arranged them they look like Christmas tree"

Max looks at his pile of books and feels embarrassed. Arman is right. But he's also glad that his books are looking so beautiful and he still needs to unpack. He can't concentrate on anything else right now. He's busy thinking about Austin.

An hour later both are done with unpacking. Max sighs as he puts his bags aside and lies flat on the bed. Arman doesn't know how to react to this. How can anyone look so tired just unpacking?

Arman goes to shower first. Max is sure lucky to have Arman as a roommate because Arman is hotter than anyone he's known so far. He feels guilty for having a crush on someone else other than Austin and Ayan. But he's not bothered at all because Arman is now like his friend who is annoyed by him most often.

Max showers and puts on some fresh clothes. He's bored right now. The orientation class is tomorrow he's free the whole day today.

"Now that we're real roommates," Arman says "We should have some ground rules"

"Yess!! Tell me"

Arman looks shocked. How can anyone be so excited about having rules? He thought Max is the type of guy who doesn't pay any attention to rules. Maybe he's wrong. He thought it's actually good that Max is his roommate. His expression changed when Max opens his big fat mouth

"I can't wait to break them"

Arman quickly regrets thinking Max would be any different than he thought he would be.

"Rule number one. You can not walk into the room wearing any shoes"

"OK. Next?"

"Rule two. Put a sock on the doorknob..you know..when you're banging someone"

Arman laughs as he says so. Max feels shy because in his mind he already banged Arman. He looks mischievous and tries to maintain a calm face.

"OK. Sure. Next?"

"These are pretty much it. I'll probably be busy the whole day so I might not be here most of the time. But you are not allowed to disturb me when I'm sleeping. I love my sleep. OK? Follow these two rules and do whatever the hell you want"

Max stands up and says, "I'm not sure about taking off shoes but the rest I can do"

Arman doesn't say anything to him. He knows Max would definitely not wear shoes inside because he obediently listened to him last night. It'll not be a big deal.

"I'm bored," he says to Arman who is now going through his playlist.

"Let's roam around the campus. We're here! We should be out there! Having fun" He sounds so excited that Arman feels like going too.

"Fine. Let's go"

Max was surprised at Arman's response. He thought Arman would refuse to go out. Arman doesn't look like the type of guy who's energetic about anything. On the other hand, Max is always energetic about everything.

"We haven't had breakfast yet," Arman says "Let's go grab something. This one's on me. I owe you"

"You sure do"

Max is super excited to have Thai food. Sure he has been to Thai restaurants back home but the feeling of eating Thai food in Thailand is very different. Arman locks the door and leads the way. Max simply just follows him.

The campus cafeteria is not far away from their dorm. In fact, it's just behind the building. Max is stunned when he sees the cafeteria. He only saw it's picture on the internet but he didn't know it was this big. He stops to look around but Arman just keeps walking. He realizes that Max is not behind him he then looks behind and sees Max's mouth is wide open. He's looking like a kid at the carnival. He's short so he's definitely looking like a kid. Arman can't help but laugh a little bit. He goes to Max who is still looking around.

"Come on. Let's go" he says.

"This place is so big! And look so many people are here. I wonder where are they actually all from. And also I can't wait to have Thai food.

Arman simply just giggles and doesn't say anything. He tells Max to get in the line. Both are holding the tray as they walk in line and the Man hands them packets of food and Max looks at it with so much joy.

They both find an empty seat and Arman looks at Max like he's some kind of a demonstration of a science project.

"Here we go," Max says making a face like he's not opening the packet but some sort of secret treasure.

Max's face becomes so little that he looks like he's about to cry. He looks surprisingly at Arman with a sad expression and Arman starts laughing hard.

"This is not Thai food," Max says looking at the plastic tray.

"Of course it's not," Arman says still laughing, trying to control himself.

"What did you think? People here come from around the world. Not everyone can digest Thai foods"

Max's face is still sad. But then suddenly he smiles.

"Oh, well. The steak is good too. Let's eat it"

***

Both come out of the cafeteria together and out of nowhere Max burps. Arman makes a disgusted face but after a second he burps too. He looks embarrassed. He tries to avoid Max's eye contact who is constantly trying to do the opposite of what Arman is doing. Trying to avoid Max, Arman bumps into someone and quickly says,

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry" he looks down as he says and doesn't even know who's he saying sorry to. He looks up and pauses.

"It's OK," the beautiful senior says. "I was busy checking out my social media accounts that I didn't know where I was going"

Her eyes fall on Max who is just looking at the big cafeteria.

"Oh, you," Raven says "boyfriends having breakfast together" she exclaims "how cute!"

Max feels shy and Arman's face is also red. He told her earlier that they're not boyfriends. Why does she think we're a couple all the time? Arman wants to tell her that they're just roommates and nothing else but Raven stands in the middle of them and says "smile" she takes a selfie and quickly posts it all over her accounts.

And immediately after that both Arman's and Max's phones started chiming from all the messages from their WhatsApp group chat. Someone sent a picture of them holding hands.

It's no doubt that Raven is the one who took it and uploaded it. Max doesn't know how to react to this. It's not that bad that people think they're a couple and they also look good together but Arman is totally straight. It can ruin his chances of getting a new girlfriend here and also Max's. No guy would approach him if he thinks he's already in a relationship. Max isn't worried about all that he's worried that his roommate who is supposed to be his best friend will no longer hang out with him. Because every time people see them together they're going to think they are a couple. A Cute Couple