nailedbatâ:
âOkay fine, itâs more the aftertaste if you know what I mean. When you get those coffee burps. AnywayâŚâ he trails off, train of thought lost as he shoves the couch back into its usual spot and grabs his keys and wallet from the kitchen counter.
Where Chai goes and who he spends his time with when heâs not home isnât something Steve has been made privy to, nor has he cared to ask about. Itâs a bit much to expect from a roommate he hadnât grown up knowing, because as nosy as Steve can be at times, he also isnât one to ask question unless it pertains to him and his own life.
âYou think Iâd pretend to be friends with your brother? For what, internet clout?â he asks as he approaches the front door. Steve thinks of his newly unlocked Instagram account with its climbing following count. Okay, so maybe he has Chai to thank for that but what will followers ever amount to? Extra likes on his selfies and random posts about the weather or what heâs watching on TV?
âI donât really know what Chaiâs up to most of the time, ya know. Not unless heâs asking for help with a video or making dinner. Kinda none of my business otherwise⌠cherry, by the way.â He gestures for Sana to follow him as he steps out into the hallway, only one place on his mind for his slushie fix: the convenience store at the nearest corner.
       Coffee burps? Ew. Her expression was all he needed to see to know her feelings about that comment. Sana rifles through her bag for a moment, removing whatever items she needs and stuffing them into her pleather jacket. With her current outfit, it was hard to miss her resemblance to her missing older brother.Â
            âSo, is it, like, just a girl thing to let your roommate know where youâre going. You know, just to make sure someone knows where youâre at?â Sana gives him a look. If anyone needed to be kept tabs on, it was Chai. At least that was her opinion, considering how much of an idiot he could be on occasion. And with all of his issues? Sana swipes a hand down her face.Â
       She probably knows where everything is around the neighborhood better than Steve does, so sheâs hardly following. 7-11 sits on the corner across the street and down the block. Her wallet feels like a bulging rock in her pocket.
           âOkay, fine, thatâs fair, I guess. I just fuckin worry? Heâs like-- Chai pretends heâs okay. Like, a lot. And then I get a call from the fucking VA hospital and...â Sana frowns, snaps her mouth shut as she takes the lead toward the store. âI shouldnât be telling you this if he hasnât said anything so... anyway.â
      She fills up a large cup full of red sugar flavored icee water even though she knows full well he could do it himself. Her frown seems to be a permanent fixture on her brows. Sana regards him as she shoves the drink, capped and with straw at him.Â
            âDid you say internet clout, before?â Sana arches a brow. âLook, I manage Chaiâs stuff. Heâs not really even that popular anymore.â













