CHAPTER 9: Not Done Talking To You

The night was still young, frogs croaking so loud outside it almost felt like a chorus. Alicia had just finished her bath, she’d spent far too long in the bathroom, but she didn’t notice. Dressed in her pajamas, she stepped into the room, her face unreadable, and sank onto the reading table with her phone in hand. She didn’t want to think about what she had seen. Instead, she texted her mum, claiming she was adapting well to campus life and eating properly. A harmless little lie.

For a few minutes, she scrolled through social media, letting the random feed distract her. When it stopped working, she sighed, tossed her phone aside, and stretched out on the bed she unfortunately shared with Raymond. The porter had promised “adjustments” soon, but for now, she was stuck. Lying on her back, staring at the ceiling, it hit her that she hadn’t eaten dinner. Not that she had the appetite anyway, Raymond had already killed that earlier. Turning to the side where he usually slept, her chest tightened. The memory she had been trying so hard to bury came rushing back, and the thought of sharing a bed with him disgusted her. But there was no way she was sleeping on the floor because of him.

She was drifting on the edge of sleep when the door creaked open. Her eyes snapped open instantly, she never trusted Raymond not to give one of his girls the passcode. But it was him who entered the room. And damn, she wouldn’t lie, he looked more handsome than ever.

Still, she didn’t spare him a second glance. She rolled over, her back to him. He walked straight into the bathroom, probably needing a shower after his shameless escapades.

Sleep abandoned her completely. She wanted to say something, but why bother? He’d only twist her words anyway.

Raymond soon came out, moving around the room like he owned the place. At the dressing table, he searched for a bottle. He swore he left it there two nights ago. His gaze shot to Alicia. Of course.

“Alicia, where’s the bottle that was on this table?” His tone was sharp.

Without turning, she muttered, “Don’t know,” giving him a sly side eye.

“Where is my bottle, A-L-I-C-I-A?” he asked again, dragging her name out slow, like a threat wrapped in silk.

She ignored him, refusing to meet his eyes. She knew she was poking the bear, but she couldn’t stop herself.

Raymond’s patience snapped. He strode to the bed, yanked her wrist, and pulled her upright from her lying position. Alicia froze not just from the grip, but because he was shirtless, his towel hanging dangerously low.

Her eyes betrayed her before she snapped them shut. Damn him. He was hot, and she hated it.

“The heck, Raymond!” she barked, glaring up at him.

“Answer my question, girl,” he growled, his voice strained, temper spiraling.

“Shhh, Raymond!” she shot back, raising her voice. “I took it, okay? It looked like hairspray and I needed it. Why are you bugging me over a silly bottle, huh? Huh? Huh?” She smirked, watching his eyes burn holes into her.

“Don’t touch my stuff again, Alicia. Ever. Everything I own is important,” he said flatly, walking off toward the closet.

She scoffed. “Manwhore.”

The word sliced through him. He spun, his head snapping so fast it looked unnatural, his eyes locking on hers with deadly silence. His gaze was dark, too dark like he could swallow her whole. And then she saw it again: his eyes flickered from blue to red.

Her chest tightened, but she held her ground, staring back with a defiant look that screamed, you can’t scare me.

“You’d better get that bottle now if you don’t want to sleep outside, ALICIA.” His tone dripped with threat, her name stressed like a curse.

Her heart skipped. Raymond heard it. He could even smell her fear.

Slowly, she pulled the bottle from the drawer by her bed and held it out. “This is it.”

“Why did you move it?” His suspicion lingered, but his voice softened slightly now that he had it back.

“Well… I thought it was hairspray. I used it for my hair.” She looked away, unwilling to see those dangerous eyes again.

“You used what’s in this bottle for your hair?” His eyes widened, nearly bulging.

That was it. Alicia grabbed her phone and shot up from the bed, marching toward the door. I am not dealing with this overbearing roommate, she thought.

As she pushed the door open, Raymond’s head snapped toward her. His voice cracked with restraint, “I’m not done talking to you.”

She shut the door behind her without a word.

Raymond stood frozen, confusion replacing his rage. That bottle wasn’t just a bottle, it regulated his body temperature, a side effect of being born to an Alpha father and an Omega mother. To humans, it should’ve burned like fire. If Alicia felt nothing… what the hell was she?

“She confuses me, no doubt,” he muttered, retreating to the closet for a change of clothes.

---

Alicia walked down the stairs from the third floor, her mind still simmering. By the time she reached the first floor, a crowd had gathered. The hallway buzzed, and a long line stretched outside Room 120.

What’s going on here? she wondered.

Her nosy self refused to walk past. She drifted toward the line, almost ready to tap the guy at the end of the queue when a warm hand landed gently on her shoulder. She froze, then turned, it was Kevin.

“Kevin, it’s you,” she said with a small smile, her eyes darting past him to make sure Raymond hadn’t followed. Relief washed over her when she didn’t see him.

Kevin noticed. “My eyes are here, Alicia.”

She looked back at him quickly, embarrassed and instantly noticed how effortlessly good he looked, his hair still perfectly styled.

“Someone remembers my name,” she teased lightly.

“Do you know what’s going on here?” she asked before he could reply, curiosity spilling from her eyes.

“No idea. Probably a party,” he said casually, glancing at Room 120.

“Then why are you here?” she pressed.

“I stay on this floor.” He pointed to Room 113.

“Oh, right, you do” she muttered awkwardly, scratching her head.

“What about you? Why are you here?” he asked.

“Well…” She hesitated.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” he offered.

“It’s not that,” she said quickly. “I just… had a fight with my roommate. I needed some space.”

“I see.” His voice softened.

“So where are you planning to go now?” he asked.

“I don’t know, Kevin.” She shrugged, eyes back on the endless queue.

“Then come to my room for a while. You can calm down there.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? That’d be so nice.” She struck a playful pose. “Lead the way, my kind mister.”

Kevin chuckled, his eyes lighting up as they walked together toward Room 113.

“We can finally discuss our project tonight since we didn’t have time earlier,” he said.

“Oh yeah,” she replied shortly, her mind briefly flashing back to Raymond.

Kevin unlocked his door, and Alicia stepped in behind him, shutting it firmly. Relief washed over her, at least for for some hours before she go back to her room, she was free from her maddening roommate.