Imagine knowing Ryland in uni.
The guy is smart as fuck, but sometimes you wish he would just shut his trap. He was bit of an ass. What can you say? Sigh.
You only became friends because you were paired up for a group assignment. You would never voluntarily approach a guy who once pushed a beaker off the table in a lab out of frustration. Luckily, the beaker was empty and so was the room, but you caught the whole thing through the window while passing by. So yeah, his first impression wasn't exactly stellar.
But the more you saw him around, the more you realised he wasn’t all bad. He had two friends. It was a total shocker at first that he was even capable of keeping them, but you eventually saw that he was loyal. At least, from the distance you witnessed it. He made them laugh and always had their backs. Everyone has different sides, and that applies to him as well, you suppose.
When your group assignment first started, you two barely spoke. Then, another guy in the group expressed a slightly different opinion on a section of the topic, and Ryland went bonkers. He called the guy names and stated he’d rather work alone than with someone who lacks basic scientific knowledge. Before the argument could completely blow out of proportion, the rest of the group intervened.
Later, you found Ryland alone, shoving books into his backpack while his pens and papers kept scattering all over the floor. You silently started helping him pick them up. He suddenly muttered a soft, "Sorry". "You had to deal with a tense environment" he added, pausing, "but..."
And just like that, he dived right into a lecture on why the guy was wrong, going off about every single scientific fact related to the topic. He didn’t even give you a chance to breathe, let alone speak. Okayyyyy, you thought, this is brand new.
"People are allowed to have their own opinions, you know" you finally said after he had ranted for God knows how long.
"They are" he surprisingly agreed, before continuing, "only if their opinions aren’t absolute crap". There it was. But when you burst out laughing instead of calling him an asshole, you could see the tension drain out of his shoulders.
After that, everything changed. You started talking more, walking to class together while debating the daily lecture topics, and grabbing coffee between classes. You called each other whenever either of you got stuck on a formula, only to end up talking about completely random things later.
The more time you spent with him, the more you realised he is a genuinely good guy. He just comes with terms and conditions. He’s funny in his own dorky way and surprisingly understanding, except for the rare times you question something he considers fact. Even then, he has never snapped at you. You quickly realised he actually controls his temper when he cares about the person. He is helpful. No ifs, ands, or buts.
And he’s cute. Not that you would ever admit that to his face. His blue eyes crinkle behind his glasses when he smiles at you, and those dirty blonde strands he constantly pushes back are just as stubborn as he is, always falling right back over his forehead. Then there's his style. The guy is clearly always freezing, he wears a long-sleeved undershirt, a T-shirt over it, and a hoodie or jacket on top. Flannels over tees, oversized sweatshirts - you name it. Yet, when his nose isn't buried in a textbook, he's oddly relaxed.
Eventually, he dragged you along to a party his friend mentioned. You didn’t really know what to expect, but it sure as hell wasn't Ryland drinking like it was his last night on Earth. He looked like he was having the time of his life, so you just shrugged and grabbed another drink for yourself.
By the end of the night, you found yourself trapped against a wall. Ryland’s body pressed into yours as his lips dragged a wet trail up your neck to your mouth. When he kissed you, the lingering taste of his rum invaded your mouth, blending with the flavor of your own drink. It was a sloppy, messy, desperate kiss, fueled by the alcohol buzzing in your system. He was vocal, too, letting out low hums, groans, and quiet moans against your lips.
After that night, it became a regular, unspoken thing. You’d always end up all over each other post-party, only to go right back to being friends the next day. Neither of you dared to address the lingering feelings.
That is until his friend finally grilled him about how he really felt about you. Which leads to right now. Sitting in a crowded campus cafe, trying to enjoy your morning coffee while Ryland stares at you.
"I can’t focus" he groans, rubbing his temples.
You take a sip of your coffee, "That sounds like a you problem"
"It’s a you and I problem" he fires back instantly.
You just stare at him over the rim of your cup, raising an eyebrow.
"I-I like you" Ryland says, his face turning a shade of pink, "as more than a friend. I can’t focus because I keep thinking of you, and the thought of you being with someone else someday ruins my entire day"
You freeze, your cup held mid-air.
"If you’re gonna reject me, do it quickly" his knuckles turning white as he grips the edge of the table.
"Not so quickly!" he panics, his eyes widening behind his glasses.
You burst out laughing, the tension disappearing, "No, I’m not gonna reject you, Ry"
He blinks, taken aback for a few seconds, "Oh"
Anyway, uni boyfriend Ryland is an absolute experience.
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