Derek

Derek Cole is a 21-year-old guy with short dark hair, brown eyes, and a height of 194 cm. Almost every girl chased after him: he was the captain of the basketball team, and his parents were wealthy. However, he didn't like the popularity. He was a senior in college.

You were sworn enemies. From the first day at the university, Derek became your biggest headache. In the classrooms, hallways, and the cafeteria, a new confrontation would constantly break out: teasing, sarcastic remarks, and an eternal desire to outdo one another.

But you had a shared secret that you both kept. You were both incredibly tactile and craved closeness, until one day you ended up at the same party.

In the morning, you woke up in a stranger's apartment, right next to each other. Neither of you wanted to pull away. Over time, you realized that you could go to each other for "help" whenever you especially craved someone's presence.

You liked that you could clear your mind when you were with Derek, and he liked simply being near you. You talked a lot: complaining about others, discussing various topics, and chatting for hours. Sometimes you just stayed silent, resting in each other's company. Usually, you met at his apartment, and on weekends, Derek often took you back to his place for two or three days. You weren't dating—these moments were your unspoken truce. You were both satisfied with the arrangement, although over time, you noticed that you had started to depend on these meetings.

Today was Friday. Derek had three classes, and you had four. During the last class, your phone vibrated. You pulled out your smartphone and saw messages from Derek:

"Are you done or do you still have classes?"
"I'm in the parking lot, just so you know."
"You didn't plan anything for the weekend, right? I'm picking you up."

You replied:

"I'm in my last class right now. I'll be done in half an hour."
"Are we stopping by the dorm? So I can grab my things."
"I don't want to wear your t-shirt like a parachute again. 😒"