Chapter 4: Roommate

I’m standing at the ledge again, the rain pelts down on me. Falling in smooth, diagonal sheets. The concrete beneath me begins to shake slowly, causing me to lose my footing. I cry out, hoping someone will hear me, someone will help. I want to die, but I'm too scared. There is silence. There is nothing around me but the falling rain and small blurs of cars driving by, of people walking around. I am invisible. I feel tears form in my eyes. Little droplets that fly to the sky as gravity pushes me down. My arms flailing pathetically in the air around me. I close my eyes, waiting for the hard concrete to hit my body and shatter my bones. 

I wake with a start. My palms sweating furiously, my heart pounding against my rib cage. My shaking hand automatically reaches for my side table, struggling to find my pocket knife even though morning sun is flooding through my window. My hand finds the steel object. A familiar and comforting feeling. I bring it closer to my arm when I feel a lump beneath my covers move. Squirming its way onto my lap. The face peers up at me, bewildered. I must have given her a fright when I woke up from that awful dream. I place my knife back down and pat her head instead. I gradually catch my breath as the cat purrs in my lap. It's been a while since I've had that all too familiar dream. 

I walk out of my room and am met with a delicious scent. Oh, right, I had completely forgotten about yesterday. I feel a wave of heaviness fall over me as I walk to the kitchen table. A meal has been set out. Mr Akira is in the kitchen, washing dishes. The pink apron my sister left here when she moved out hugs his body tightly. I feel a laugh escape my mouth as I take a seat. It looks funny, but weirdly… I hate to admit it…

 I look away, trying to expel the unholy image that sits in my head. He turns around. The rabbit ears that stuck up from the pockets bouncing slightly as he does. “This was the only apron I could find,” he says grimly. His hair still slightly ruffled. He must not have styled it yet. I attempt to hold back my laughter. “Umm.. yeah… my sister left that when she moved out.” 

“ I'm guessing you don't cook much.” 

“What makes you say that?!” I retorted defensively.

“Judging by the unused kitchen and the fact that we got takeout yesterday?” he says, indicating for me to eat the food. My mouth begins to water at the sight. I feel a slight stab as the words hit me. “ Ugh... Guess you caught me.”

“Why don't you use the kitchen much? It's perfectly fine.” he pries.

“Because I haven't got time, with studying and all.” I reply, like I said before. Even if he is attractive, I'm not telling this bastard anything! He already knows about my stupid failing grades. He dosen't need to know about my part time job or my family.

“There's something called time management. Is this just an excuse for you to deny the fact that you are lazy?” I feel another stab wound as he hurls even more hurtfully true words at me.  (Poor baby... T_T)

“Aren't you gonna eat?” I say, tucking in.

He rolls his eyes before bringing another bowl to the table. “Yes, I was going to eat later but since you've started, I suppose I'll just eat with you.” He knows I'm avoiding the question, but lets it slide. This is great! That would never happen at school. But still, it's weird to think that from now on, I'm actually living with my teacher. Not to mention a teacher that I hate! We continue to eat in silence, a little awkward but not uncomfortable. I glance up to see his stupidly long eyelashes and his full, wavey hair. Why was I getting along so well with him just now?! Just because he's been nice to me this morning, that doesn't change the fact that I hate him. He's going to regret living with me…