Back Story: One

CHARLES was wondering why his parents let him live in a dorm now that he's a second-year college student. At least they let me...

Charles always wanted to experience being in a dorm. He wanted to be somehow independent. I just wish that my roommate will be as quiet as a mute, so he won’t mind my business.

"Hey, I'm Angelo Gabrielle Cortez. Second-year, IT Student." The guy in front of him offered his hand.

Charles stared at the guy's face then his hand then at his face again. So much for wishing for a quiet roommate.

"Williams," Charles said before he turned his back and fixed his things again.

"So much for the first meeting." Angelo chuckled before he went to his bed and started unboxing. Minutes passed and lunch came. "Yow, I have packed lunch and I can't finish it all by myself."

Who packs lunch for two if only one person is eating it? Charles thought to himself.

"Yeah yeah, I get ya. It was my little sister who prepared my lunch. She actually told me to get along with my roommate and have a good first impression for a much better bond. So, she wanted me to share this with you." Angelo smiling shook his head sideways.

Charles was staring at him and definitely asking himself if there was something wrong with the guy. What is wrong with him? With me?

Charles continued to shamelessly stare at the person. He’s still puzzled at how he finds something weird and complicated with the guy in front of him.

Okay fine, he gotta admit, the guy looks effing hot and gorgeous, from head to toe and he bets he got abs under that blue shirt he's wearing. Charles always had a thing for Mestizos, and this guy in front of him reminds him of how he adored Spanish people. Not to mention the eyeglasses he's wearing, making him look like a hot nerd.

I don't know why I'm feeling hot right now. Charles shook his head. Snap out of it, Charles.

"Oh, you're rejecting my offer?" Angelo playfully put his hand on his chest. "Ouch, my heart. It hurts." Somehow, Angelo's positive energy infected Charles, earning a smile from him. "Ha! I saw you smile! And because of that, you'll be eating half of my food." Angelo was the first one to sit down and prepare his lunch box. Once done, he looked back at Charles. "Here you go. Come on." Angelo also served what Charles was going to eat. "So, the second step is done. Let's go back to the first step, which is to introduce ourselves." 

They started eating, Charles was silent while Angelo kept on blabbering. There really is something familiar with him that I couldn’t quite figure out yet. Charles thought to himself.

"So, I’ll start from the top, I'm Angelo Gabrielle Cortez. Second-year, IT Student. I’m twenty years old. I’m Spanish, but my sisters are half-Spanish and half-Filipina.” Charles’ forehead furrowed, which made Angelo chuckle. “Well, a guy impregnated my mom but didn’t take responsibility until two years ago.” Angelo continued smiling but Charles knew that it wasn’t genuine. “If it wasn’t for my sister, if she didn’t know anything about me, I would’ve been staying in Spain all alone.” 

Why? Charles asked in his thoughts since he still couldn’t make himself speak. 

“Anyways, ah! My sister. Well, I have two amazing sisters, and in fact, they really are the reason why somehow I am still feeling welcomed into their family." He let out a humorless laugh "Now, how about you? Maybe you want to tell a story, we're close to finishing the food, and yet I’m the only one sharing." Angelo laughed.

Charles isn’t the type of person to easily open up to others. He only talks about his life to his best friend, Wynter. Even with his two other friends, Anurak and Narae, he is still somewhat adjusting.

But he realized, this guy has a point. They're going to be roommates for a year or so, so might as well be comfortable with him.

"The need-to-know info, well... My full name is Charles Dominique Williams, but my friends call me Dom, and I'm on the same level and course as you."

"That's just great then, other than being roommates, we might also end up being classmates," the excited Angelo said. “But tell me, since I'm a bit intimidated by you, how old are you?”

What is being intimidated have to do with my age? “I'm twenty, as well,” Charles answered otherwise.

“Really? You look older than me.” Angelo chuckled but immediately stopped after realizing his words. “I mean, don't get me wrong. You look more mature than me,” he cleared out.

Charles simply nodded. “I got it from my dad… The mature look.”

It was Angelo's turn to nod. “Ah… Cool. So what are your plans after college?”

“We haven't finished college yet, what's the use of predicting the future?”

“‘It’s not about predicting. It's just like, what do you wanna do after college.” Angelo smiled.

Charles let out a sigh. “I don't know. I don't wanna know. Let's just—”

“‘Cross the bridge when we get there?” Angelo finished Charles' sentence. The latter nodded. “I see… You have the same thinking as my sister. One time I asked her, what did she plan to do after she finished eight or ten years of college, and guess what? She answered the same thing.” Anurak chuckled as if he found it amusing.

“My best friend used to say that line to me too, that's where I got it,” Charles pointed out.

“Seems awesome.”

Silence finally surrounded them but then, Charles found himself asking the guy not to let the conversation die. “How about you? What’s your plan after college?”

Angelo stared at Charles for a second before smiling. And here I thought he wouldn't wanna talk. “Hmm… Bartending. I have always found it fascinating to mix drinks and show off.” 

Charles nodded. He couldn't think of any topic, so he stayed silent. But somehow, and weirdly for Charles, he's getting comfortable with Angelo. His attitudes are somehow similar to Wynter's, so maybe that’s the reason why he was comfortable.

“By the way, after class, wanna roam around the city? As you said, your parents let you go for the first time. Let's celebrate that,” Angelo suggested.

Charles still had a lot of things to fix and finish inside the dormitory. Also, he wanted to study ahead of class so he planned to stay inside and talk with his books.

“Sure,” Charles responded. 

I'll just do everything else after this.