Prequel- Chapter 3: Nonstop Flirting
Alena Fleur
"Phew," I heaved a sigh of relief, giving an impressed look at my side of the shared room.
I had just finished unpacking my luggage after getting back from vacation in Georgia with my family over the winter break. I generally loved unpacking, but the dread of classes and my part-time job starting tomorrow was eating away at me. I wish vacations never came to an end.
I slumped on my bed and looked around at the other two single beds, which were shared by my roommates. I cringed at their disorganized state. God, they made me want to strangle myself or them.
Even if I could overlook my roommates' messiness, one of them talked and giggled till late at night with her boyfriend and the other one smoked cigarettes and pot; the smell was absolutely suffocating.
How I managed sixteen months, only God knew. Maybe I was too relaxed and overjoyed to leave behind my parents' strict rules and regulations and finally had a life of my own.
Better late than never, I was going to have none of my roommates' shit starting next month. I had been saving up for a new apartment deposit for a while now by working part-time jobs. I even shortlisted a few affordable apartments. Sure, they were small and cramped, but it would be mine and I really could use some privacy to study better.
Until then, I had to live through the torture of my roommates.
Now, what to doâ
The small vibration of my phone made a smile appear on my face. I picked it up and looked at the notification from Elian. It made my smile wider.
After we bumped again at the ski resort, I was the first to send him a friend request, but he was the one to initiate a conversation by replying to a story of mine where I was going to eat a brownie.
Ever since then, we started to text each other regularly. More like, flirting with each other. Unlike back at the ski resort where he got flustered by my direct hits on him, I learned that he was actually good at flirting tooânever too cringy and never too standoffish. I liked that. I couldn't resist talking to him.
Elian:
"Are you done doing the favorite part of your trip?"
Alena:
"Yes. Everything is unpacked ;)"
I don't remember the context, but I ended up telling him that I honestly loved unpacking or anything related to organizing and it was absolutely comical how shocked he was because he also shared my love of organizing but disliked unpacking.
Elian:
"I'll never understand how one can like unpacking. It's so annoying."
Alena:
"I never questioned your love for packing. So why are you questioning mine, mister?"
Elian:
"Fair enough. But I guess in a way we would complement each other, don't you think?"
My smile widened, little heat rushing to my cheeks at the imagination of both of us going on a trip where we would each require to do one part. Despite understanding what he meant, I innocently replied,
Alena:
"What way?"
Elian:
"I know that you know."
My smile turned into a grin as I remembered one of my favorite shows.
Alena:
"This reminds me. Have you watched 'Friends'?"
Elian:
"My mom loves the show to death. So I have watched a few eps back at home and basically know the entire story."
That was a pleasant surprise. I hadn't expected him to even know about it because he had told me he rarely sat down to watch anything on Netflix.
Alena:
"Your mom and I would be besties."
Elian:
"Yeah, pretty sure my mom would love you too."
Suddenly, I didn't know why I actually pictured myself meeting his mom, and the imagination was more vivid due to the fact of him sharing a story with his mom on her birthday two days ago.
Alena:
"So who's your favorite character from Friends?"
I asked him in order to divert from that topic. Thankfully, he took the cue and eased into a conversation of me fangirling about 'Friends' to other shows.
"Who's got you smiling like that?" my roommate Maya asked.
I sat up in my bed and lied bluntly, "Nothing. Just some relatable memes."
She arched a suspicious eyebrow. "Is that so?"
I shrugged. "That is so."
A sympathetic look covered her face. "Aww, you poor thing. You really need to find a boyfriend. Simple memes are making you blush these days," she tutted her lips, shaking her head in disappointment.
On the other hand, my eyes widened at her claim and my neck instantly snapped toward the mirror. I saw a faint hue of red adorning my cheeks, and realizing the cause, the color darkened.
Blush? I am blushing because of Elian?
I am the one who makes boys blush, not the other way around! What's happening to me?
It was true that other boys had flirted with me before, and I often flirted back just for fun. But Elian by far was the hottest one. He caught onto my sense of humor pretty quickly and I barely managed to throw him off with my double-meaning jokes. In fact, he played along with them. Plus, he was so smart and not obnoxious about it as wellâ
My hand buzzed with a vibration.
"Shit," I let out as I left Elian's inbox open when Maya came into the room, so I hurriedly looked at my phone screen.
Elian:
"If you are that bored to start rewatching an old series, would you like to accompany me to tonight's party?"
I blinked a few times at his latest text, trying to absorb it. Did he justâ Oh, my God.
Elian had told me that the third years' had a house party tonight at his friend's place to enjoy the last day of winter break to the fullest. And he had conveniently let me know that he was single and available as he hadn't found a plus one for the party yet. One of his best friends was bringing his girlfriend and the other one was sick in bed. So he was left with no one he was comfortable with.
Since I had left him on seen, he texted me again, and I could sense the nervousness behind it.
Elian:
"It's okay if you would rather spend the night relaxing. You have had a long journey."
My heartbeat accelerated as I imagined spending the night at a party with Elian, and I cringed as I thought of the opposite scenario of me laying in bed in pajamas watching an old series.
No, Alena. Think rationally like you always do, the smart part of my brain warned me.
Even if I accepted the invitation, it would still be a party full of seniors where I wouldn't fit in since I wouldn't know anyone except Elianâ
Elian:
"But think of the connections you could make with the seniors. You could land a job at a good company with their recommendations.
Also, you are not afraid of meeting new people, are you?"
Okay, that's tempting. This guy really knew where to hit the nail.
Alena:
"Of course not.
But are 2nd years allowed to come?"
Elian:
"Not really? :/"
Alena:
"Then???"
He sent a few laughing emojis and replied,
Elian:
"Don't worry. No one will question you if you are my plus-one."
My heart fluttered at that text.
It was true that Elian had such a powerful aura that even the fourth years were afraid of crossing him. Contributing to that fear was the fact that his dad was the CEO of the Storm Dynamics, a renowned armaments company, and the Berserkers, the biggest casino chain in Vegas. It was a well-spread gossip around the campus that Elian was going to take over Storm Dynamics after his post-graduation.
Still, think rationally, Alena!
What's there to think about? I needed a logical reason to meet him, and he gave me that.
Elian:
"So?"
The corner of my lips twitched in a mischievous manner.
Alena:
"What if I say no?"
Elian:
"I will still wait for you all night."
Gosh, he needs to stop making my heart race.
Alena:
"Fine. Since I don't want to picture you sitting like a mood-kill all night, I will do you a favor and come."
Elian:
"Well, thank you for doing such a great favor, The Great Epitome of Kindness. How can I ever repay you?"
Even though I knew he was being sarcastic, I didn't hesitate to respond with,
Alena:
"Valentine's week is coming next month. You know what you can do to repay me then ;)"
Elian:
"Have you ever considered extortion as a profession?"
I laughed.
Alena:
"Why? Did I extort your heart?"
Elian:
"Yes."
What?
I gaped at my phone at his reply, my heart launched in my mouth. I didn't expect him to straight-up say yes. Now I didn't know what to say, and that rarely happened to me.
In a panic, I closed my phone and buried my hot face in my knees. "Shit, Alena. Stop acting like this. You are not a stupid teenager," I muttered to myself in frustration at my immature action.
It was okay for now. I would reply to him half an hour later and lie that my roommate did something and completely avoid the earlier topic.
"Hey, Alena. There's a party tonight at Miguel's place. You wanna come?" Maya asked, coming out of the washroom.
"No," I let out meekly.
"Why not? Don't tell me it's 'cause your nerd-ass wants to study."
"No..." I mumbled, "I'm going to another party."
I knew the funny wide-eyed surprised reaction on Maya's face, but I just couldn't care to look up as I was still trying to process my feelings.
What's happening to meâ
No, I knew what was happening to me; I wasn't dumb. But was I ready for it to happen?