My Crazy Housemate: What Makes You Happy

Mia checked her reflection on the mirror as she prepared to leave for school. She had decided to put away everything that had happened the past day behind her. This was a gift Leo had given to her, to leave freely. And she was going to do just that. 

She smiled a bit, looking at her reflection. The bags under her eyes had been covered with powder but her eyes still looked tired. She wore a white turtle neck which was tucked neatly inside a grey pencil skirt which ended by her knees, with a slit at the back, and a pair of black loafers. Since she was bad at using make up, she only wore a lipstick and packed her hair neatly at the centre of her head. 

"Mia Lucas... never look back." She said to her reflection before picking up her bag. 

When she opened the door, she saw Leo coming out of his room with a phone in his ear. They both paused when they saw each other.

He smiled at her a bit and returned his attention to the phone call.

"Yes. I'll think about it." He said before disconnecting the call. 

Mia narrowed her eyes to look at him as he raised his phone slightly. "My grandmother." He informed her.

"Oh..."

Leo looked at her for a bit, he didn't know how to break the news to her but he did eventually. 

"She is inviting us to her home this weekend."

"Oh.... what!?" Mia's eyes slowly widened when her brain registered he had said 'US'.

"Like... me and you?" She asked with wide eyes. 

"Yea." He nodded.

"W..hy?" She stammered in surprise. 

"She wants to meet you and asked if you could come over this weekend." He explained.

Mia opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out so she simply bit her lower lip. 

"Do... I have to?" She asked hesitantly. 

The mere thought of it was making her feel very nervous. She had never met a boyfriend's parents before, since she had never had a boyfriend and didn't know how she was supposed to act.

But now she was going to meet his grandparents? 

"It all depends on you Mia. If you do not want to go there, It's also find." He said quietly as he looked at her. He could see how nervous she was.

"Are... your parents going to be there?" She asked as her hand gripped her bag tightly.

She wasn't sure she wanted to meet his mother especially after their clash that day at the park. 

If only she had known... 

She used her hands to cover her face as she remembered the words "Your temper will drag you down if you do not control it."

Maybe the Shaman had been right. And he had also mentioned that more bad luck may come her way if she didn'tpurge herself of it. There was always one problem after another.

Now, all she could pray for was for Mrs King to never recognize her. But there was a huge possibility of that happening. 

"The whole family is going to be there." He replied.

He would have kept it away from her but he wanted her to know what she was getting into. 

"Can.. I think about this?" Mia asked nervously. 

Leo thought she was probably only nervous because she was meeting his family. 

"Yea.. sure." He nodded.

After Mia left, Leo sat down and began to think deeply. It was probably the time to ask her to become his girlfriend right? 

But he had to travel soon. Did it make sense that he could just ask her to be his girlfriend and travel for two years, leaving her here? 

Since he knew how his job was and what he was getting himself into, he was certain there would be a lot of days where he wouldn't be free to give her a call especially with the time difference.

Could he do it? What about her, would she want something like this?

This was something else they both needed to talk about. 

He began to feel very nervous merely thinking about leaving Mia here. 

He remembered how he had been in the same country, the same city, the same town with Cherry, yet she had cheated. Could he take this risk?

''Mia isn't Cherry."  He reminded himself and felt a little bit relaxed but for some reason, something still bothered him deep down but he tried not to think about it.

*******

Mia arrived at school early and on her way to class, she bumped into Benjamin.

She had been avoiding him, his calls, ignoring his texts, trying not to bump into him but here she was, standing right in front of him. 

It wasn't like she thought this day was never going to come but this was the last thing she needed at the moment.

He wore a dark blue shirt, completely buttoned, a black trousers with his hair styled to the back.

He looked handsome. Really handsome. But something kept telling her to stay away from him. 

She would have to speak with Mr B again. She wasn't sure she could dance with him.

"Hi!' He said with a small smile. He held some of his campaign fliers in his hand and Mia was a bit surprised to see him alone without his usual campaign entourage.

"Hi!" She greeted back awkwardly. 

His eyes moved from her head down to her feet and he smiled. 

"You look beautiful."

"I need to go to class now. I don't want to be late." She said and was hurrying past him when he called her name gently. 

"I figured you have a two hours break before the next class..  can we meet later?" He asked politely.

"Aren't you busy with your campaigns?" She asked.

"Yea, but a five minutes talk wouldn't hurt... right?" He asked and flashed her another smile. 

"Uh.. okay." She agreed with a curt nod. She couldn't keep avoiding him anyway. She would just hear what he had to say and tell her what she had to say also. 

"Alright. See you later. Enjoy your class."

Mia nodded again before she hurried away from him and into her class.

As usual, she went to where Jeremy was seated and sat beside him.

Jeremy kept smiling at her from the moment she entered until she sat beside him. 

"I'm happy you are in school. I was really worried yesterday." 

"I'm sorry. Something came up. How are—" 

The presence of the lecturer interrupted her and she took her book out of her bag. 

She looked at Chloe's direction and as usual, she focused on her book.

"There is something I need to tell you after this class." Jeremy whispered to Mia. 

"Really? What's it about?" Mia asked curiously when she noted the urgency in his voice. 

"It's about Ben—"

"Mr Williams you do not want to cause trouble again, do you?" The lecturer asked. 

"I'm sorry Mrs—"

"Then keep it low and pay attention." She interrupted harshly before facing the board.

Immediately they were done with the class, her phone rang with a call from Benjamin and she stood up immediately. 

"Uhm.. I have to take this, I'll meet you later." She told Jeremy and began to head out with her bag. 

"But I haven't told you...." 

"I'll be back soon." Mia said and hurried out. 

Jeremy sat back down on his seat with a heavy sigh and was again surprised when Katie approached him. 

********

"I'm glad I get to finally meet you like this." Benjamin said when Mia entered the classroom he had asked them to meet at. 

The class was rarely used so it was empty and the hallway was quiet. 

Mia seemed very uncomfortable as she stood by the door, waiting for him to say what he wanted to say. 

"I wanted to apologize. I guess what I said during the party made you uncomfortable..." He started and stood up since Mia was also standing. 

"We just became friends. I wouldn't want anything to ruin our friendship." 

"Yea." She answered dryly. 

Benjamin looked at her with interest before asking a question that had been eating him up "I thought you liked me?" 

Mia was caught offguard and almost gasped but kept her mouth closed. 

Seeing that he was waiting for her to say something, she cleared her throat and spoke. "I like those I do not hate. And I do not have any reason to hate you." She answered logically. 

"I guess you did like me more than that. Mia, I meant it when I said I liked you." Benjamin confessed as he walked closer to her. 

"I like someone else." She answered immediately which made him stop walking. 

"Leo right?"

"Yes.".She didn't see any reason in delaying when she knew it was best to put him in his place. 

"I noticed." He nodded before taking out his phone which was vibrating inside his pocket.

"I need to leave now."  He informed her when he saw who the caller was before placing his phone back inside his pocket. 

Mia wanted to leave as she saw him approaching the door beside her, but there was still one question she wanted to ask him.

"Did you come to the dance studio on purpose?" She asked curiously. 

There was something really weird and creepy about him that she couldn't seem to place her hand on. 

He stood in front of her with a straight face and just stared at her while she stared back. 

She looked at his face in confusion and wondered what he was thinking just staring at her like that but to her utmost shock, she felt him grab her by the waist. 

Before she could push him away, he used a hand to hold the back of her neck and lowered his lips until it met hers. At that very moment, the door opened.