6. MY BIGGEST PAIN

Lucas, my elder brother have not been at home for months because he was touring his favorite countries. The last time we talked was the day he left for his vacation. We never had any reasons to call each other because it would always end in bickering, fighting or some yelling.

We were never on the same page but the most shocking thing was that, this was not obvious to the other members of the pack. He would take care of me and pamper me like an egg whenever we were out of the palace.

“What a loving brother he is. I want to be have one like him,” I heard one of the boys remarked one day as we walked through the pack together with father but I only scoffed because they didn’t know that he was a viper underneath his façade.

When he left for his tour, I felt relieved. The fact that I didn’t have to pretend around others was refreshing. I would have been worked up now that he was back if I were at home but thankfully, I would be living in the school till further notice.

“So what are you doing here?” I lashed out as soon as I got to the car

“Come on! Be respectful. I am your older brother. I came to wish you well after hearing that you will be staying back at the dorm for the time being,” he chuckled

“Are you that jobless to come all the way here?” anger welling up in my voice

“Calm down smallie. You don’t have to be that defensive. We both know this is the best option for the both of us right now. Enjoy your dorm, I will take care of the house till you come back,” he mocked, and blew his gum loudly in my face before motioning for the driver to start the engine.

I just watched him go away in silence because I was not in for his dramatic ass. I was actually glad that I didn’t have to deal with him for the time being.

“This is actually for the better,” I mumbled and headed for the dormitory.

****

I went to fetch my suitcase from the security but I was told that an assigned potter had taken it to my room. The staff there gave me a spare key to the room for my own personal use and also gave me a card for the dormitory’s door passage.

On getting to my room, I found my roommate already settled in. His suitcase was opened on the floor with all his clothes littered everywhere. He already took the other side of the room so I just dragged my suitcase closer to the other side in order to arrange my clothes in the wardrobe, silently.

“Nice meeting you. I never knew we would be roommates,” he suddenly started

“Well, we are here now” I responded, not sparing him a glance.

“My name is Ali. I am the last son of the family of twelve sons and eight daughters. You can say we are pretty much a community with that number. I’m sure you must have figured out that I am an Indian, and yea what else?” he blabbered away, disturbing my thoughts

“Maybe you can take some break. I need to clear my head,” I almost shouted but managed to control my tone

“You need to clear your head? What could you possibly be thinking about? You are too young to think about complicated things,” he remarked, his mouth filled with the cream accompanying his bread

For goodness’ sake, what was my offense that I was got paired with a chatterbox? I couldn’t hold myself any longer. He should just shut up and stuff his face with his cream at this point.

“Do I need to explain things to you? Do I owe you any explanation? Uhn?” I growled, my wolf nature taking the best part of me already

He was slightly taken aback by the intensity of my voice but he shrugged it off quickly and smiled. His messy cheeks and mouth annoying me the more.

“Well, I just thought I could help you with it since we are now roommates but since you are getting worked up, I will just focus on my bread and cream,” he responded, raising his bread slightly with a painful smile before turning to his bed.

I felt bad for a second but I didn’t let myself get absorbed in the feeling. I didn’t have the tolerance to endure his chattering at that moment. I had a lot going on in my head and entertaining him was the last thing on my mind.

A loud silence filled the room afterwards, and by the time I was done, he was fast asleep. The cream on his face was still there on his huge cheeks as he snored away in his awkward position.

“He could have at least cleaned up after himself,” I mumbled and wiped his cheeks before correcting his posture

Even in his deep sleep, he muttered an inaudible “thank you” before turning to the side. I stared at him for a while, wondering what his world looked like for him to think so simply of life. He looked like he had no worries but I know that it was only a mask. People like them talk so much in order to hide their true self.

I was about turning back when a thought popped up in my head that I could actually get the information I wanted from him. Given his free spirit nature, he would probably have access to several information and secrets.

“I should move closer to him. Listening to him talk wouldn’t kill me at least,” I concluded before going to shower the day’s stress off.

I didn’t realize that I was that tired until I took the shower and slept off immediately without eating anything for the night.