CHAPTER 238: ACTING LIKE STRANGERS

Chapter 238- Acting Like Strangers

Tyler’s POV

I blinked—once, twice—like I didn’t just hear what he said. I stood there frozen, staring at him like he was speaking another language.

What?

No. No, that can’t be right.

A new roommate?

What the hell is he talking about?

This has to be a mistake.

Maybe he came to the wrong room. That has to be it. He looks confused. Probably got the room number mixed up.

I looked up slowly, trying not to sound rude, even though my heart was pounding in my chest like a hammer.

"I’m sorry," I said, forcing a small awkward smile. "I think you’ve got the wrong room. This room isn’t available for a new roommate. I already have one."

I paused for a second.

"His name is Logan. We’re not switching. We didn’t ask for any change either, so maybe... you should talk to the principal again. Maybe they gave you the wrong room."

My chest was getting tight. I was still trying to stay calm, but everything inside me was shaking. This had to be some kind of misunderstanding.

But then he said it.

"Yes, Tyler. I know exactly where I’m supposed to be. This is the right room. And yeah, I’m your new roommate now."

He said it with confidence—like he rehearsed the line or something. I stared at him, trying to find a crack in his face, something that would tell me he was messing with me.

But he looked dead serious.

He didn’t stop there either.

"As for your old roommate... or should I say, ex-roommate—Logan—he’s no longer here. We switched. He’s in my room now. I’m in his."

I just stood there... stunned.

My jaw tightened. My fingers curled into my palms.

No. No, no, no.

He’s lying. He has to be.

Nobody switches rooms that fast. And Logan? He wouldn’t just leave. Right?

But then again... Logan’s stuff is gone.

The bed was empty this morning.

The duvet. The sheet. The pillow. His charger. His hoodie.

All of it... gone.

I swallowed hard, trying not to let it show on my face, but I knew I was losing it. I could feel my throat closing up.

Was this really happening?

Had Logan actually left?

I stared at the new guy—this so-called roommate—as he kept talking. His lips were moving, but I wasn’t hearing a word he said.

My mind was too busy spinning.

Logan really left?

Did he take what I said that seriously?

I told him we should be strangers... but I didn’t mean he should vanish.

We could’ve been strangers in the same room. We could’ve ignored each other, stayed in our corners. I didn’t mean he should switch out of my life completely.

God.

I felt like I was going to explode.

The new guy kept talking, still acting like we were going to be roommates and best buddies. I wasn’t having it.

I raised a hand and cut him off.

"Excuse me," I muttered.

"What?"

"I need to find someone."

I didn’t even wait for his response. I brushed past him, not caring if he stumbled back.

I heard him grumble something behind me.

"That’s so rude and mean."

I didn’t care.

I just rolled my eyes and kept walking.

Right now, all I cared about was finding Logan.

I needed to see him. I needed to look him in the eye and ask him why he left. Why he walked away without saying a word. Why he didn’t fight me on it.

He just... left.

I wasn’t even sure where I was going, but my legs wouldn’t stop moving. I checked every hallway, every open door, every corner.

Then, finally... I saw him.

Sitting on a quiet bench near the back of the dorms, away from everyone else.

His head was slightly tilted. His arms rested on his knees. He wasn’t looking at anything in particular—just staring at the ground like the whole world had disappeared.

He looked so... lost.

Like he wasn’t even here.

My chest tightened. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until I let it out.

I walked closer.

"Logan," I called gently.

No response.

"Logan," I said again, louder.

Still nothing.

I reached out and touched his shoulder.

He jerked when I touched him, but his face was still calm—blank, even. For a second, I thought maybe he didn’t realize it was me.

But the moment he turned around and saw my face... everything changed.

His eyes darkened. His whole expression twisted. It was like he just saw something disgusting—like I was the thing that made him sick.

"Hello, Logan," I said softly, trying to break the thick silence between us.

He didn’t answer.

He just stared at me with that same cold, disgusted loo.

I cleared my throat awkwardly, hoping maybe he just needed a second to breathe. I figured he didn’t want to talk, but honestly? I didn’t care. He needed to talk. He had to talk. Especially after what he pulled.

I crossed my arms and stood there.

"So... a classmate of ours came to the room with his bag today," I said, trying to keep my voice calm, even though my heart was racing. "He said it was his room now."

Logan’s lips curved into the faintest smirk.

"Yes. So?" he said. His tone was sharp and careless, like my words annoyed him more than surprised him. "Is that supposed to be a problem?"

My mouth parted slightly.

I blinked.

I wasn’t expecting that..

Why was he being this rude?

I opened my mouth to say something but I stopped myself. No. I couldn’t get angry. That wasn’t why I came here. I had to stay calm. I had to talk him down.

I took a slow, deep breath to stop myself from snapping back.

"So I told the guy that he must’ve made a mistake," I said, keeping my voice level. "That we weren’t looking for a new roommate. I told him you were already staying there and that the room wasn’t available. But he kept insisting that you switched with him. That you didn’t want to be in the room anymore."

Logan didn’t say anything, so I continued.

"I came here to ask if that’s true. If you really switched rooms. And if you did... I want to know why. Why’d you leave?"

He looked away from me and shook his head like I was some annoying fly buzzing in his ear.

I pushed forward anyway.

"Logan... we’re roommates. Don’t forget what the principal said—no one’s allowed to change rooms without permission. If anyone finds out, you could get punished for that. And honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it. So I think we should go back to the room. Send the guy back to his bed. Before someone finds out and reports you."

He finally looked at me again—and this time, he scoffed.

Like I was being dramatic.

"First of all," he said, leaning forward, "how is this your business? Why are you acting so pressed about something that doesn’t concern you?"

"And second," he continued, "did I ask for your help? Did I say I cared about the principal’s rules? Or that I needed you to come save me?"

My heart dropped.

"I never asked you to do anything, Tyler," he said. "You always run your mouth and do things nobody told you to do. Why?"

I stood there, frozen, confused.

He was angry.

But all I was trying to do... was help.

I let out a shaky breath and gave him a weak smile, hoping to soften the mood.

"Look, Logan... if it’s about what happened last night, then... I’m sorry," I said, trying to be honest. "But you didn’t have to leave the room. We could’ve stayed... you know, in the same space and just... acted like strangers. That’s what I meant."

He tilted his head at me slowly, his eyes narrowing.

"And that’s exactly what I’m doing," he said. "I’m being a stranger. Just like you said."

He stood up from the bench, staring straight at me.

"But since we’re strangers now, why are you so concerned about where I sleep? Or who I live with? Since we’re strangers... what a stranger does shouldn’t be your business."