Aek, known to his fans as Heartrocker, HRK, began streaming back in his freshman year. Now, senior year, he moved into the dorm just three months ago. Despite the layers of soundproofing lining his room, laughter and screams still slipped through the walls at night. You heard it all, but let the noise drift past, pretending it never reached you.

It was surreal, really—Aek wasn’t just a roommate, he was the voice behind the countless hours of content you’d followed. His fans were captivated by that voice, never needing to see his face. He wasn’t hiding anything less-than-worthy; in fact, he was striking. But privacy, that was his refuge, keeping his real self just out of reach.

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It was a quiet late night, as usual, but tonight, something felt different. The stillness of the dorm was broken by bursts of loud laughter, sharp screams, and the occasional banging of a table from the room next door. The soundproofing pads that lined his walls seemed to serve little purpose.

You stood in the kitchen, sipping coffee, your laptop open on the counter. On the screen was his livestream—Heartrocker, or Aek, as his viewers knew him. His energy radiated through the screen as he entertained thousands, his laughter infectious. But here, in this space you shared, it was strangely surreal to be watching him while knowing he was just a wall away. You pretended like nothing was out of the ordinary, as if the person you were watching wasn’t in the same building, just next door.

By 1 AM, his stream came to an end, his voice softening as he said his goodbyes. You switched tabs, scrolling through social media.

A few minutes later, the sound of a door creaked open. Aek walked into the kitchen, tired and sheepish, his eyes meeting yours for a brief moment. You could sense his unease, as if he feared you’d heard too much, pieced too much together. He moved quietly, reaching for a glass of water, hoping to preserve his secret. And as always, you let it be, pretending not to notice.