The School Idol's Roommate

Some days, when Liam did not have work, he would often be found in the kitchen, exercising his cooking prowess either by making his or Aki's favorite foods or experimenting with a new dish. Sometimes he would practice baking too and Aki would be his taste-tester. Aki suspected that Liam made it his life's purpose to stuff Aki with foods ranging from homemade ramen to delectable desserts. But Aki's not complaining. He would welcome desserts any time.

Some days, when Liam did cook, Aki would stare at Liam's back and watch in fascination as his shoulder blades moved and rolled while preparing their foods. Meanwhile, Aki's stomach grumbled in anticipation.

Today was one of those days.

As soon as they arrived home, Liam prepared the ingredients they bought from the supermarket. Aki sat on one of the barstools, propped his elbows on the kitchen counter and became the spectator in Liam's cooking.

As if feeling the eyes on his back, Liam turned to Aki and smiled. "Hungry?"

Aki grinned and nodded.

Liam's smile turned to a grin and went back to his dish. Aki thought that it would probably take some time before they eat, so he studied while waiting.

Midterm exams were important for most students. It was the exam that makes or breaks their chance for an exemption for the finals. For Aki, midterms were a deciding exam, not because he was aiming for the exemption, but for a chance to do things right this time, a way to salvage his grades.

He grabbed his notes and pored over them on the kitchen counter, creating new index cards, and reviewing the ones that he had done the previous day. All he had been doing as of late was study, study, and more studying.

Then his phone vibrated on the counter.

All of his movements ceased as his eyes flickered in the still vibrating mobile. It was not a call but a series of texts, judging from its intermittent buzz. Most of Aki's handful of friends knew how much he preferred texting than calling. But there was only one person among those friends who would send him long strings of messages.

Aki gulped and pushed his phone away from him using his pen, bringing back his attention to his notes. But his eyes would find a way back to his mobile so he pushed it further away.

'Ignore it.'

While going over his cards, his eyes accidentally wandered back to his phone and stayed there. When he realized what he was doing, he turned away. But as if magnetized, his eyes kept on returning to his phone with each stolen glance longer than the last.

'Ignore it.'

Liam hummed as he did his finishing touches and Aki knew that they were about to eat. He was comforted by the thought of it - he needed a distraction and he needed it fast. Food would surely distract him. Liam, just the mere presence of him giving his undivided attention to Aki, would distract him too.

His phone vibrated again.

Aki bit his lip. 'Ignore him.'

He reached out to his phone and shut it off. But when he did, his eyes caught the preview of the message.

'Akiiiii haven't seen you in a while'

'Where are youuuu T_T'