Chapter Text
Ruth was beyond tired. College wasn’t cutting him any slack, and he barely got in three hours of sleep before his phone started ringing. It was a distress call from Maxi, and he had to come to the rescue and pick up her and Agnes at four in the morning.
After that, Ruth had to drop Maxi and Agnes off at another friend’s dorm and didn’t even get to eat because he had to get ready to go to class which was Person Finance. For some reason, the class professor decided to schedule a class at five in the morning. The next two and a half hours were pure torture.
However, the day was starting to look up. Ruth had another class but this one he could actually eat in and maybe even sneak in a nap. Ruth arrived at class and made his way to the back.
“Hello to you too, Ruth.” The professor said with sarcasm dropping from his voice. Ruth waved at him dismissively and took a seat on the back.
History wasn’t hard for Ruth and he was the best in the class. That granted him a few privileges others didn’t have. Like sleeping and eating in class for example. Ruth started to unravel the aluminum foil off of his sandwich but a small vibration caught his attention. Ruth looked down at his desk where his phone rested.
Sidina’s name shined on his phone telling him that she was calling but Ruth didn’t dare answer. Ruth quickly silenced his phone and threw a glance at the professor who was already giving him a dirty look. He gave the professor a slight apology wave accompanied by a small nervous laugh. The professor accepted the apology silently and looked away. Ruth let out a sign of relief, his privileges almost got revoked.
Ruth sorrowfully placed his sandwich down and picked up his phone. His notifications tell him that about Sidina’s missed call and unread text messages from the same person.
This better be important. Ruth grumbled to himself before unlocking his phone and opening his messages. As he read the text messages, he watched the possibility of having a decent day pack up and leave. For how long? He doesn’t know.
Sidina: Omg, it’s Riftan! He's pissed!
Ruth stared at his phone with a deadpan expression on his face.
Shit. Things were not good when Riftan was pissed.
Sidina: He's looking high and low for you!
Double Shit.
Ruth was in deep shit and he knew why. It was because Ruth was Maxi’s getaway driver; because of Ruth, Riftan didn’t get to talk to Maximilian. Ruth didn’t need to see him to know that Riftan was beyond pissed.
Ruth ran his hand over his face and let out a wary sign before texting Sidina back.
Ruth: What did you tell him?
Sidina: I told him that you told me that you was spending the day with Maximilian.
Ruth choked on his spit.
Sidina: I threw him off your trail, thank me later ❤️.
Ruth: You told him what?!
Sidina: That you were spending the day with Maxi. Did you not see my text?
Ruth glazed at his phone with wide eyes, there was doubt now. His week- no days were numbered. Riftan’s fury rivaled the wrath of Bahamut and his jealousy fueled that anger.
Ruth: You just killed
Sidina : What? No, I just saved you!
Ruth: Have you forgotten who are we talking about?
Sidina: What stupid question is that? No I haven’t!
Ruth: Have you forgotten how jealous this man gets? Did you forget about the time he decked a poor bastard in the nose because he thought the guy was asking Maxi out???
Sidina: But he apologized
Yeah like that supposed to help the bastard
Ruth: To Maxi. Or did you also forget about the time he fought everyone in the boxing club he is in, just because they all agreed that she was cute? Did I mention that he won? With not even a single scratch.
Sidina took a few seconds to reply.
Sidina: I might have killed you
Ruth rolled his eyes.
“Alright everyone! Put away any distractions, class is about to start.” The professor stood up and started setting up his lesson. Ruth hurried and typed out his response but before he could hit ‘send’ he froze. Wait a second… Isn’t he-
The classroom door opened.
And His day’s suddenly turned into hours
“Ah, Riftan, I thought you weren't going to make it for a minute.”
Fuck. Ruth stared at Riftan with wide eyes. Shit.
Riftan replied to the professor with a blank expression on his face before his eyes shot towards his target. Even though they shared eye contact for a small amount of time, Ruth got Riftan’s message.
This is the last class you ever get to attend.
Fuck.
“Riftan?” The professor grasped his attention; “You didn’t answer my question?”
“What is it?”
“Are you going to play this season of football? Last year, you sat out for your studies.” Ruth resisted the urge to scoff. Riftan didn’t sit out for his studies. He sat out because it cut in the amount of time he spent with Maxi. Herbaron jokingly gave Riftan the idea and much to everyone's surprise, Riftan carried it out.
“I don’t know yet.”
“But your grades- you know what we’ll talk about later.” Riftan nodded and took an available seat not far from Ruth. He then proceeded to watch Ruth and wait, no different from a predator hunting a prey.
For the next hour Ruth glazed forward with wide panicked eyes as he felt the burning sensation of Riftan’s gaze on the back of his head, he didn’t dare to look back. Ruth wasn’t given any breaks. Even when he tried multiple times to unravel his sandwich, a loud noise erupted throughout the classroom. A textbook slamming, a cough, or a stomp. They all came from one person and it all held one warning, don’t get comfortable.
Eventually the professor noticed Ruth’s untouched sandwich and the ashen expression on his face.
“Ruth.” The professor called out to him. “You good? You look pale.”
Ruth laughed nervously, hyper aware of Riftan’s glare. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Alright.” The professor brought it. “We have an hour left. Keep soldiering.”
Ruth nodded. Ruth finally worked up the courage and he tired again. This time he was able to get the foil off his sandwich without any interruptions but before he could take a bite, Riftan spoke up. “Hey, I have a question.”
“This is new.” The professor was shocked, Riftan never had questions. Usually he just found out on his own. “Okay, Riftan, shoot.”
“Off topic but if you had to choose, what would you eat as your last meal?”
Silence. Ruth slowly put his unbitten sandwich down on the foil.
“W-why you asking that question?” The professor looked at Riftan with an alarmed expression.
“Curious.” Riftan gave an one word reply.
“Um okay. So I personally would eat lobster if I had the choice.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought you might want to eat a sandwich.”
The professor made a face; “Why would I want to eat a sandwich when I can eat that at home whenever I want to. Now lobster, you gotta prepare that.”
“Oh I thought you’ll eat a sandwich from the Panera that is in building B.” Ruth could feel his appetite slip through his fingers, Is he talking about-? “I thought that maybe you’ll get the Bacon Turkey sandwich but no it seems like you have pretty good taste buds. Personally I’ll have lobster instead of a sandwich for my final meal too.”
He talking about me . Ruth confirmed what he already knew. He is going to kill me. This time it’s official.
The professor finally caught on to the situation and threw wide eyed glances between Riftan, Ruth, and the sandwich Riftan described. After taking it all in, the professor made eye contact with Ruth and it was clear what he was saying in his head.
Oh shit.
“Well on that note open y’all text books to page 367. Y’all got a text coming up.” The professor recovered quickly and went behind his desk to take a seat. Appetite gone Ruth rewrapped his sandwich and was about to pull out his textbook until the professor called him.
“Hey, Ruth, come here.” Ruth stood up and took a step towards him. “Bring your stuff.”
Okay? Ruth grabbed his stuff slowly and approached. “What is it?”
The professor threw a quick glance at Riftan before slightly leaning in and whispering, “I’m saving your life.”
“Wha-?”
“I’m saving your life.” The professor whispered in a harsher tone, “Take this to the Library for me and run for your life.”
He raised a book that was borrowed from the library and offered it to Ruth as if it was a get out of jail card. Ruth saw it that way and gratefully took it. He grabbed the book with speed and was about to make a break for the door but was stopped.
“Wait hold up! This ain’t for free. For payment I want you to grade the test that are coming up for me.” Desperate to get out of there Ruth quickly agreed.
“Yep I got it.” Ruth rushed to the door without a single glance behind him. Finally out of Riftan’s sights Ruth broke off into a sprint, not putting it past Riftan to simply leave class to go after him. Ruth ran as fast as his legs would let him. His racing heart pounded in his ears making his ears useless. Ruth took rights and lefts, trying to shake off the purser that he didn’t even know if they were chasing him or not; But Ruth took no chances, he didn’t look back even once.
“Ruth!” A body practically threw itself on his back, sending them both to the ground. I’m going to die .
However Ruth wasn’t planning to go down without a fight. He tried to scramble up off the ground but the person had thrown themselves on him again sending them on the floor once again. His head banged roughly into the floor sending the person above them into an apologetic frenzy.
“Sorry! Ruth! I’m so sorry!!!” Thankfully that person was Sidina. She rushed off of him and offered her hand to help him up. “You didn’t stop when I called you the first time. I had to catch you somehow.”
Groaning in pain Ruth lifted himself and rubbed his head. Trying to ease the throbbing. “Pretty sure you could have come up with something better than that.”
“You were moving unusually fast and that was the only thing I could think of in time.” Sidina defended herself before shaking her hand as if to remind him that she was trying to help him. “Come on.”
Ruth glared at her before grasping her hand. Sidina continued speaking while helping him, “You stopped responding. So I assumed the worst, so I came to find you.”
“Well you assumed the right.” Standing up straight, Ruth brushed off his clothes.
“I did?!”
“Yeah, you did.” Ruth told in a nonchalant tone. “Did you know that I happened to share a history class with Riftan?”
“… You do?”
“Yeah. I do.”
“…”
“…”
“Damn, that’s crazy.”
Wha-
“That’s crazy!!!???” Ruth exclaimed, throwing his hands up. “I just got put through hell and the best you got for me is that crazy ?!
“What do you want me to say!? I didn’t know y’all was in the same class!”
“Even then, you shouldn’t have thrown me under the bus like that!”
“I didn’t mean to! I forgot the man got that jealous!”
“How did you forget?!”
“I don’t know. I just forgot.” Sidina struggled, pissing Ruth off even more.
“You forgot?! You forgot ?!”
“I know! I know ! I know! Okay!” Sidina placed her hands on her hips in defiance. “I’m human, I 'm allowed to forget sometimes.”
“Well, your lack of brain cells to remember-“
“ Hey!”
“Probably cost me my life.”
“Okay! I know! I fucked up! What do you want me to do? Fight the guy off myself!” Ruth opened his mouth to reply but his phone vibrated in his pocket, catching his attention. Pulling out his phone he turned it on.
“Hm, who is that?” Ruth paid her no mind. Luke . A guy from the class he just came from. Ruth didn’t really know Luke like that and the only reason why he had the guy number was because they worked on a project together.
Luke: um, I know this might be weird for me to be texting you since we don’t know each other like that but I thought I’ll warn you. Riftan just left the room and apparently he changed his mind and is going to practice. I thought you might want to know since you’re running from him and all.
Ruth stared at his phone in horror. Seeing the look on his face, Sidina got concerned. “What happened?”
He looked up slowly.
“He's free.”
The terror wasted no time sinking into Sidina’s heart.
Step .
In the fear inducing silence the heavy calculated steps echoed throughout the hallway. Neither of them had to guess who it was.
“… Run.”
They ran like the devil himself was chasing them.