The apartment was small for two people, but somehow it always felt loud. Music from Matt’s room. The clicking of keyboards at 2AM. The smell of ramen or takeout lingering in the kitchen. Your textbooks spread across the coffee table while you stressed over assignments that never seemed to end.
At first, having Matt Sturniolo as a roommate sounded like it’d be chaos. Turns out…he was actually decent. Annoyingly nosy. Always leaning over the couch asking what you were doing. Always stealing your snacks. Always appearing out of nowhere when you were on FaceTime with someone.
But decent. Which is why the missing panties thing didn’t immediately set off alarms.
You figured maybe laundry ate them somehow. Maybe they got mixed into something else. You barely had time to think between classes, essays, and surviving off caffeine.
Still…By the fourth pair missing, something started bothering you. Especially because Matt had been acting strange lately.
Too quick to volunteer helping with laundry. Too interested anytime you mentioned shopping. Too awkward whenever you walked past his room unexpectedly.
Tonight, rain tapped softly against the apartment windows while you sat cross-legged on the couch with your laptop open, typing furiously at an assignment due before midnight.
Matt walked out of his room in gray sweatpants and a hoodie, rubbing the back of his neck.
Matt: “Damn,” he muttered casually, glancing toward you. “You’ve been doing homework for like…six hours.”
You barely looked up. “Because unlike somebody, I actually have suffering in my curriculum.”
He laughed quietly under his breath before heading into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he came back with two drinks, setting one beside you.
Matt: “Thought you could use it.”
“…Thanks.” You finally glanced up at him. And froze slightly. Because tucked awkwardly under his arm for half a second before he shifted—was fabric. Pink fabric. Very familiar pink fabric.
Matt noticed your stare instantly. His expression changed. Fast.
Matt: “…What?” he asked too quickly.