Chasing My Enemy

a cup of coffee of revenge

Chase’s POV

I greeted Taylor from the moment he entered the room but paused when he looked like he saw a ghost. What did I do this time?

“What are you doing here? You still have class.” He disappointedly said as he frowns.  I told him that I got a perfect score but I guess that triggers his anger more. Does he hate it every time someone achieves something? Man, he is really cold and self-centered. I bet he will get depressed if someone beats him in academics.

Wait a minute.

Perhaps if I try to defeat him, he would learn that he is not always at the top and that some people who are underneath him are also suffering. That ends my debate. But I don't believe that will work.

Taylor seems to me as the type of man who is unconcerned about everything other than his studies. Is it even possible that he had a heart? Is he concerned about other people's feelings? What occurred to him to cause him to become so cold?

He climbed into his bed and began staring at the ceiling. It's too late. I'd like to be friends with him because we both live in the same room and never speak to each other. This is uncomfortable.

Or maybe he just hates my guts?

I try to examine his movements, but he seems to have slept off. I, too, became bored and retired to my bed. I hid behind a sheet and closed my eyes, pushing myself to sleep. I didn't even realize I'd slept for so long. It is already dark when I open my eyes, and the only source of light in our room is the lamp from Taylor's study table. After he awoke, he studied? What time is it, exactly?

I took a glance at my nightstand and it is 6:15 in the evening. Wow, I slept that long?

I got up from bed and walked to the mini kitchen to find something to eat. Taylor didn’t even bother to take a look, well, as if. Did he eat already?

Opening the small fridge, I only find my leftover last night. Well, I guess he never ate though. Maybe downstairs they still have food if not, I’ll just go to the nearest convenience store and buy some.

“Uhm, I’m going to buy some food. Anything you want to eat?” I asked him. He stopped writing and looked my way.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Obviously yes. Only the both of us are in the room.” Damn this stubborn kid.

He smirked and crossed his legs, “What’s the catch? Why so nice?”

What the. I'm being polite here, and now he thinks my generosity is tainted with evil?

“Hey! I’m being nice here!” I snapped.

“It doesn’t suit you.” He expressed his boredom.

I clenched my fist as I glared at him, “What’s your problem?”

“Do you really want to know my problem?” He returned my stare as he rose from his seat and approached me. I could sense the tension between us even though we were just inches apart.

“I hate you.” He whispered, “I really hate you.” After those words, he bumped into me and left the room with a loud thud.

Why does he really like closing the door so loud?

I just let out a long sigh as I reflected on what had happened. What exactly did I do? I'm not sure what he's talking about. Instead, I ate my leftovers and got to work on my homework. At first, I don't want to study because my study table is next to Taylor's, and I don't like studying in my bed. Doing so makes me tired.

I discovered a piece of paper on the floor as I was writing my reaction paper. Actually, I don't mind, but I'm betting it's not mine. I kneel down to get to it, and it's ripped cream-colored paper. I started reading the remaining sentences on it, and I'm guessing it's from Taylor's diary. I'm not sure what's in there save for terms like trust and grief. Was he intending to rip this?

I didn't have time to return it because it seemed like someone was approaching the door. I quickly tuck the paper into the center of my back and return to my job. I'm hoping he won't notice anything. Even if he is here now, I don't want him to get furious with me.

I seemed to be thinking about my homework, but the truth was that I was watching his every move. I know, it's as creepy as it sounds. But what if he discovers the missing journal page?

Oh no, wait. Damn it. Now I forgot to eat my dinner what the hell.

♡

I plopped down on my bed, panting, as soon as I opened my eyes. I'm running late. I took a look at my roommate's bed, which is neat and tidy. But what can you expect from the ice prince? I slept late last night since I was busy working on my assignments, which I was fortunate to complete. I took a short shower and changed into my uniform as quickly as I could before grabbing my books from my table. I only had time to grab a protein bar from the little pantry before rushing out the door.

I dashed down the corridors, praying that my professor wouldn't be irritated because I was ten minutes late for his lesson. I entered the classroom with a faint knock. Everyone is staring at me. My lecturer simply stared at me when I apologized for being late. My gaze wanders throughout the room, only to notice Taylor smirking at me.

Now, what is his problem?

I was gathering my book to put it in my bag after a long lecture when Riley grabbed something from the piece of paper that was hanging into it.

And it makes me think of something. Last night, I saw a piece of paper!

“You still write your diary about trust and pain? What are you a kid?” Riley bluntly said. Everybody could hear it. Some guys let out a small chuckle and shake their heads.

I locked my focus on Taylor, who gave me a deathly glare, and Trevor, who seemed puzzled. s**t. He now knew I had a piece of his diary paper in my hands. I snatched the paper from his hands and slid it back into my bag. I'm completely dead.

Today is Friday, and I'll be dealing with this devil for the rest of the weekend. I was going to explain everything to him when I realized he wasn't there. I'm guessing he went with Trevor. Lunch was finished, and I hadn't seen them since. Do they miss class or do they get flawless grades once more?

During the lesson, I took notes, but I didn't listen to any of them. Riley continued to speak, but my mind was racing with ideas for how I would explain to Taylor why he had dropped his diary. Is he still going to believe me? Or will he become further angrier at me?

After class, Riley bid his goodbye to me since he will run some errands (he had a slip permission to get out of the academy) while I, was walking towards my dorm room.

As I opened the door, Taylor surprised me with a smile while having his coffee at… my study table.

“Hi.” He smiled. I know that devilish smile.

“Hey, I want to explain---“

“Save it.”

When he stood up, still clutching his dark coffee, I came to a halt. He just flashed me a beautiful smile before glaring at me. I watch as he moves his hand, pouring coffee on the reaction paper I made the night before. He smiled back at me as he poured the coffee to the last drop. I was taken aback by what he did. I stayed up late drafting them, and now they're worthless since he damaged them. He not only wrecked my work, but he also made a complete mess of my study table. Even the coffee spills on the floor.

“This is what you get for interfering with my things.” He said.

I was still frozen as I clenched my fist. I usually don’t get into fights but this is too much. I didn’t do wrong! Maybe if I snatch my paper from drowning in the coffee, I could still save it. I ran into my table, pushing this little devil from the side, and tried to save my work but failed.

I turned around to look at him but he just smiled again.

“What did I do for you to treat me like this?” I simply ask.

He stopped and shrugged. By the second, he had pushed me aggressively and I had fallen to the ground. Because it happened so quickly, I didn't come prepared. It's a good thing I didn't knock my head on the table's edge. He then jumped on me and was ready to beat me with the cup he was holding when he suddenly stopped. Perhaps he'll come to his senses. He dropped the cup and stepped back from me. He sat on the floor, his gaze fixed on the ground.

“Just f*****g stay away from me.” He softly said and got up walking to the bathroom.

What in the world? Is he okay? First, he attacked me like I’m some of the prey and now he acted like he didn’t know what he just did. He is really something. Did something happen to him? Like did it triggers him?

Taylor Lockwood, you sparked my curiosity.

I don’t want to wait any longer and ran outside the room. I know who’s I’m going to talk to. I knocked hard on his door like my life depends on it and he opened it in no time. Panic runs in his face.

“What the hell?”

“Trevor, I have to ask you something,” I said.

“About what? I’m studying right now.” He said and steps aside inviting me in.

When I realized Trevor was just staring at me, waiting for my inquiries, I knew I was overreacting. If I ask Trevor about Taylor, I'm quite sure he'll just say something along the lines of "You should ask him." Maybe I should be the one to figure things out.

“So?” Trevor cleared his throat.

Uhm...

“Uhm, right. The professor said earlier that there is an upcoming competition. You’re aware of that, right? When you won the competition, you have a free trip to Europe for 2 weeks and to New York and the school will pay for the expenses. Everything. Also, you will be on the top and a scholarship to any universities that you like here in the US.” I started.

“So, what is it to me?” Trevor asks again.

“Uh… I want to win it.” I bluntly said and Trevor just stared at me and started to laugh.

“Dude, are you freaking serious? You? Do you want to win it? You can’t beat Taylor. Bro, he is like the king of all academics. That’s why nobody had an interest in those kinds of competition because it is obvious that it will be given to Taylor. And here you are, planning to beat him. Are you killing yourself? This is social suicide.”

I just looked at him in defeat, “I like Taylor. I fell in love with him since day one that I saw him. I may sound so stupid for falling in love with the ice prince but what can I do? For once, I want him to look into my way too.”