It happened again. The rhythmic creaking of the old wooden bunk above me, groan-crying under the weight of two people, made it impossible for me to sleep. Staring wide-eyed at the dark ceiling, I grabbed my phone. [Harry]: These damn roommates. Do they ever plan on letting anyone sleep? A faint vibration came from the bed next to mine. A second later, a message from Kevin popped up. [Kevin]: Right? [Kevin]: Hey, you want to crash over here, Harry? That was exactly what I was waiting for. I hopped down, shuffled into my slippers, and climbed onto his bed. The dorm visibly quieted down. A few seconds later, the rustling sounds from the top bunk started up again. Kevin’s bed smelled like fresh laundry, and the mattress was actually firm. I let out a satisfied sigh and turned to face him. I whispered: “Those damn guys. Do they think we’re made of stone?” Kevin’s eyes were bright in the dark, and he was staring right at me. His gaze dropped to my lips, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. In the dim light from the streetlamp outside, I noticed his ears were bright red. In a room with the AC blasting, why was he flushing? “Hey, are you coming down with that thing again?” Kevin nodded obediently. “Yeah.” “Harry, can I keep holding you tonight?” His voice was soft and polite, with a slight vulnerability that made my chest feel weird. He was doing that pouting thing again. I sighed, sat up to pull my shirt off, and burrowed back under the covers. “Fine, fine. Just hug.” He tucked his head into my chest, smelling like clean shampoo. He was nearly 6'3", yet he curled into my arms like a kid, his body radiating an abnormal heat. He looked so pathetic I couldn't help but feel bad for him. “This condition is brutal, man,” I muttered. “Yeah…” Kevin’s voice was tight and raspy, as if he were holding back a groan. Poor guy. I patted his back. “Go to sleep.” Late that night, in a half-dreaming state, I felt something wet on my chest. “Kevin!” I whispered. “Stop licking.” “Oh.” A muffled voice came from under the blankets. “Sorry, Harry. I couldn't help it.” 01 My two other roommates were gay. I’d known that since day one. When I first shoved the door open with my bags, ready to give a big "Hello," I found two guys locked in a passionate kiss at the desk, completely oblivious to the world. Holy crap, they’re boyfriends. I instinctively slammed the door shut, checked the room number—404—and opened it again. One of the guys, Andy, pushed the other away, looking embarrassed. “Hey, I’m Andy,” he said shyly. The other one, a tall, intense-looking guy named Chris, just rolled his eyes and went back to his laptop. That night, I called my best friend, Jay, feeling like my world was ending. “Dude, two of them! Both of them!” Jay laughed so hard I could hear him hitting his desk. “Harry, I told you not to move to a liberal arts college in the city! You called me close-minded. How’s that boomerang taste?” So, when Kevin arrived a day late, I could have cried with relief. Look at that height! Look at those sharp, masculine features! Look at that reserved, polite demeanor! Finally. A normal, straight guy. I immediately declared him my best friend. Kevin was perfect—he let me copy his psych notes, he brought me takeout, and he even helped me with my fitness credits. The only thing was... he had that weird medical condition. 02 One day, I walked back from the campus gym, humming a tune. I found Kevin sitting on his bed, hugging a giant blue shark plushie. He was so buried in the white fluff that his black hair was a mess. He looked up, startled, a faint blush creeping across his face. “Uh, hey,” I stammered. Kevin tossed the shark aside. I finally managed to ask, “Dude, isn’t that thing huge? How do you even fit on the bed with it?” He looked at me, his pretty eyes blinking. “It’s fine.” He paused, then added quietly, “Have you ever heard of tactile hunger? Or ‘skin hunger’?” “What’s that?” “It’s a condition where someone needs constant, soft physical contact. If I don’t get it, my skin reacts. It’s like an allergy.” “You’re sick?” I asked, genuinely concerned. “…Yes,” he admitted. That was a new one for me. But hey, compared to having roommates who turned the dorm into a make-out session, this was fine. Suddenly, I thought of the chest workout I’d just finished. Since Jay wasn't here, I hadn't shown off to anyone in weeks. “You like warm, elastic things, right?” I grinned, walking over. “What?” Kevin looked confused, but he nodded. “Yeah.” I grabbed his hand and pressed it directly onto my chest. “Check it out. Solid, right?” Kevin’s face went beet-red. “This is… unusual. But yeah, it’s soft.” “Better than the shark?” “Yeah.” He sounded much more certain about that. I flexed, making my pecs jump. “Boom! Reflex!” His long fingers were bounced off by the muscle. Kevin was stunned. He looked at me with a complicated expression. “Harry, you’ve really been working out.” Ha! Impressed, aren't you? I felt great. I stripped off my shirt to change and flexed a few more times. “If you want to get big, Kev, I’ll show you the ropes.” Kevin sighed. “Thanks, Harry.” 03 I didn't really believe in his "condition" at first. But I was a good guy, so I didn't call him out on it. Everyone has their weird little comfort habits. It wasn't until one night that I realized he might be telling the truth. The top bunk was squeaking again. I stared at the ceiling, trying to manifest a silent dorm with my mind. It was 2 AM and I was wide awake. Then, I heard a tiny, pained sigh from the bed next to mine. We’re both suffering. “Kevin?” I whispered. “Kev? You still up?” No answer. I leaned over and saw him curled in a ball, clutching his blanket. His pale arms were covered in tiny red bumps, like a severe rash. “What’s wrong?” I poked his shoulder. He opened his eyes, looking dazed. “Harry?” “Dude, your arms. What is that?” “Sharkie… is in the wash,” he rasped. I looked at the balcony. The giant blue shark was hanging out to dry. He didn't have his plushie, and now his skin was freaking out. The "skin hunger" was real. “Does holding something help?” “Yeah.” I looked at my own shaky bed and then back at him. “...Hey, you want me to stay over there tonight?” “What?” Kevin’s eyes widened. “Is that okay? Isn't it too crowded?” Man, he’s so polite. “I can’t sleep anyway. And you need a pillow. It’s a win-win.” I didn't wait for him to argue. I climbed in. “Move over. I shower every day, I promise I don’t smell.” Kevin’s entire body went rigid. “Relax, dude,” I said, pulling him into a hug. “If you need a hug, just ask.” Slowly, he relaxed. In the dark, I couldn't see his eyes, but I saw the red rash on his arms start to fade. “It’s like magic!” I whispered. “Harry, it’s still itchy,” he groaned, burrowing his face into my stomach. “What do you want me to do?” He looked up shyly. “Can we… have skin-to-skin contact?” “Oh, sure.” I pulled my shirt off. “No big deal.” “You’re so warm, Harry.” He wrapped his arms around my waist. He was being so cautious it actually tickled. I finally just yanked him close. “Stop overthinking it.” “Your chest is so big, I can’t breathe…” he mumbled. I loosened my grip. He seemed happy then, his eyes shining. “This is the first time I’ve been this close to someone.” It’s just two guys sleeping, I thought. We did this at sleepovers as kids. “I’m used to it,” I said. “I’ve slept with plenty of people.” Kevin’s mood plummeted instantly. “Oh.” “What?” “Nothing. I’m tired. Let’s sleep.” 04 “You’re telling me,” Jay yelled into the phone, “that to avoid your gay roommates, you started sleeping in the same bed as your other male roommate?” “Yeah, his bed is way better.” “He brings you food? He does your laundry?” “So what?” I said. “I even let him touch my muscles.” “Harry, listen to yourself. You’re becoming the exact character you were afraid of.” “What? I’m not gay.” “Harry, you’re literally cuddling a dude.” Whatever. I looked at myself in the mirror. There was no way a six-foot-tall gym rat like me was gay. “It’s just a medical thing,” I muttered. Besides, I needed to get a girlfriend to prove it. 05 The Student Union was hosting a mixer. I signed up in secret, planning to find a girlfriend and shock everyone in the dorm. That night, while I was picking out a shirt, Andy looked up from his desk. “Harry, you’re going to the mixer?” “How’d you know?” “I’m volunteering for the check-in desk. I saw your name.” Andy hesitated. “If you’re having a fight with Kevin, you should just talk to him.” “What does this have to do with Kevin? We’re fine.” “Is he going?” “No. Why would he? He’d take all the girls.” “You guys have a very… interesting relationship,” Andy muttered. “Who said I’m not going?” Kevin walked out of the bathroom, drying his hair. His face was like stone. “Kev, come on. You don’t need a mixer. Let me have one night of peace.” “Girlfriend?” Kevin frowned. “I’ll go with you.” “What?” Kevin gave a cold smile. “I’ll make sure you get some… contact info.” That night, I tried to climb into his bed, but the shark was back. It was sitting right in my spot. “Sharkie is dry,” Kevin said coldly. “I’ll hug him tonight. You don’t need to worry about me.” Wait, did he just dump me for a toy? “Fine.” I went back to my own bed, feeling strangely hurt.
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