2- PRESENT AND PAST

~Collin~

I barely move! Their turning heads give me all the instructions I need.

The wind tugs at my hair.

Empty chip bags, banana peels, and crumpled papers litter everywhere.

I measure every step, carrying a bag in my left hand and rolling the heavy suitcase in the other.

I stare at their faces, mesmerized by their consistency.

My heart stops, and I force myself not to turn around.

"Hey, you!"

Now I slowly turn.

Who is that?

Have I done something to draw attention?

An olive-skinned, chestnut-colored-haired guy with striking almond eyes is heading in my direction. I'm forced to lift my chin to meet his face; that's how tall he is.

A round-neck t-shirt hugs the bulging muscles on his arms. I would say he is into sports; his physique and height hit on it.

He's intimidating and hot, enough to make me forget how to function. But I quickly maintain my composure.

I swallow hard as he draws closer and ranks me with his eyes from head to toe.

What is he thinking?

"Are you a girl?"

What!

Who the hell walks up to someone to ask this?

"Why are you wiggling your ass?"

Words can't find my lips to answer, but his stare becomes intense.

"I'm… Sorry...?" I manage to ask.

He narrows his eyes. "Speak up!" his voice is firm.

I gulp.

This is no joke. Bro is hell-serious.

He is a bully!

"A-Ass?" I stammer. "I'm-m no–"

One of the boys chirps in. "Jax, you should leave this Daddy's boy before he shivers to death."

All of them burst into laughter, excluding the giant in front of me.

I'm close to fainting. My heart is racing fast. Damn, too scared of him.

Tears prickle behind my eyes.

The scary guy leans closer. He seems to be checking my eyes, and I hold my breath. Is he going to hurt me?

"Bro!" Suddenly, he lets out a loud laugh. "Relax! Just testing you."

He does this thing with his huge hands, patting them on my shoulder. "Making sure you're not part of them?"

Not part of them?

Who the hell is this guy?

I finally catch my breath as he takes a step back. "Continue to your room," he says, still laughing and looking so pleased.

Nigga just made a caricature of me.

Is this a joke for him?

I want to give him a piece of my mind. I'm sure he's insane. But it's better not to do anything.

He's so big and can easily hurt me. I should shut my mouth because one jack from him and I'm dead.

My cheeks flush with the straight-out laughter and finger-pointing from the other boys.

I quickly grab the bags I kept aside when I wasted time listening to the fool, thinking he came to offer a helping hand.

I hurry to catch up in the hallway so I can avoid any further drama but mistakenly kick a stone and trip. There's a hard blow on my toe, and I gasp. I expect to hear laughter erupt again, but instead, there's none.

I slowly lift my eyes, finally feeling like I have control, just to see the same 'Heaven knows what he's named' staring at me.

His thick arms are wrapping around my waist.

He saved me.

"Are you hurt?"

Seriously?

A minute ago, you made me a laughing stock, and now fake concerns?

Wow! Just Wow!

He helps me stand, and I retract from his grip in haste. "Yes, thanks."

He doesn't smile when he says, "No problem."

Not like I meant the 'thanks'. He's no man for my magic words.

I continue up the stairs, my head held high but my insides fluttering.

He's stupid, and he's also ridiculously attractive.

My room is supposed to be on the first floor, the third on the right after the turn.

After climbing the narrow staircase with my heavy luggage and walking for about ten minutes, I'm finally in front of Room 36. I'm pretty late because there's a pair of shoes outside.

I take a deep breath before placing three knocks and turning the knob to enter, only to stop at the sight of a familiar back profile in front of me.

His presence fills the room and his curly black hair stands on end. Turning around, I come face-to-face with his glaring eyes.

"You again! Wow!" His words slip out cold and hard. "Indeed, it's a small world."

I swallow hard. "Long time, no see, Mr. Arrogant." I force a smile. "Last time I checked, you were a badass. Are you still in school?"

He narrows his eyes, and I maintain my subtle smile.

"The guts!" This time, I am inside the room when he starts ranting. "How dare you crawl back here?"

Not like I gave the room to myself.

Who does he even think he is?

"You sharp-mouthed! devil incarnate! Pretentious bastard!" He continues.

Each of his words doesn't seem to move me. I still maintain my beautiful smile.

"Hey," I say, tilting my head to his side and chuckling softly. "Get a life. We're still strangers."

"Oh, really, after all you did?"

"Sadly, we're roommates, but..."

I don't get to finish. Mr. Arrogant closes in on me, tightening his hold as he slams my back against the wall to keep me in place.

He lets out his fury, and his voice echoes in the room. "I dare you to talk again!"

His face is too close, causing our breaths to mix. The boys in this hall fancy this shit.

My heart beats against my chest, and I swallow hard.

"Talk again. I promise I'll shred you into pieces."

"Respect yourself!" I place both arms on his well-sculpted chest to push him away. "I believe I don't have to tell you the consequences of harming a defenseless twink."

The deep cologne hung onto his body, toils with my nose making my stomach churn.

His hands press the bracelet on my wrist tightly. "You suddenly grew mute? Are you scared?"

"I'll shout so loud. I'll alert the other students. Let me go!"

"The others," he utters sarcastically. "And what do you think they can do? Have you forgotten we're both alone, locked in this room?"

I try to turn my neck to the door, but he holds my chin, making me look into his eyes.

"You have just dug your grave, Collin."