Chapter Text
As flat mates living together, they were obligated to help each other out, but the more they lived together, the less willing they were to do so.
*
Benjamin White opened his eyes at 7 a.m. first. Contrary to how he looked, his daily routines are always spot on. As soon as he wake up, he make his bed, ventilate the house, wash up, and start a refreshing day. Then he drink tea, which was usually around 8 o'clock. Of course, his flat mate doesn't wake up. Benjamin usually wakes his friend up. But there are a couple of days a week when he never gets up. On those days, he goes to school alone to take classes or study, stops at the grocery store on the way home, and otherwise follows his daily schedule. On the day he was slapped across the face when he insisted on waking up, Declan Rice held his bruised face and yelled at him.
On their first day together, Benjamin walked into Declan‘s room after airing out the house as he always did. It was for ventilation. When Declan complained about the cold, Benjamin thought to himself, "Why are Londoners are so weak?" It's him, after all, from warm Bournemouth. So he decided that he didn't care if Declan's room was stinking up the place or if he had invisible ticks. Instead, he vowed to wash his own duvet more often. It's common knowledge, even from the BBC and the Guardian. Ticks should be killed by the sun. There are more ticks on futons than you might think, apparently, London doesn't get much sun. Declan's father, unlike his own gardener father, hadn't taught him that.
"Wake up. You've got morning class."
"Ah, ugh, Ben, ugh..."
"Don't be a Londoner."
Today is the day. Even in his sleep, Declan's fists are clenched tightly, as if he would punch him if he woke him up one more time. His fists are as big as he is strong. Benjamin gave him up and went to wash up first. He advised him not to have morning classes if he wasn't sure he could attend, but Declan didn't even pretend to listen, saying Ben was ignoring him. In Benjamin's opinion, Declan had a tendency to be blindly trusting of himself.
SHIT. Today is another shitty day. Benjamin crumpled his face. He has a jinx: if he didn't like the way the toothpaste squeezed when he brushed his teeth, it was a bad day. Declan always laughed at it. "Who care about that jinx? You're the perfect candidate to be culled from the modern world!" he thought, remembering Declan's chuckle. That's wrong.
He's just a reasonable guy who loves modern science and jinxes are just that, and Declan Rice is just an asshole who doesn't respect that small but deadly part of Benjamin. And when Declan's wronged, he defends himself by saying that he's just the cute youngest kid at home and that he's a delicate guy.
"Hey, London bloke. I'm waking you up just one more time, wake up."
"Yeah, I'm a Londoner... Fu..."
Benjamin got cussed out for being nice. It's all because of the toothpaste. Declan ignored the advice to squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom. So Benjamin left him alone and left the house.
The morning class is 'Culture with Architecture'. Benjamin don't like the class, which consisted of a PPT showing pictures of architecture the whole time. He is in it with Declan. Declan had already ruined that class. In the quiz they took the other day, Benjamin saw Declan name Emirates Stadium for a question about telling them about the beautiful old London architecture. He didn't mean to look, but the answer was so ridiculous that Benjamin couldn't help but giggle. The professor always asks similar questions, and Benjamin advised him to just answer St. Paul's Cathedral or the Tower of London because it was a given, but Declan wouldn't listen. If he'd answered Highbury, the word 'old' would have been appropriate, but Emirates Stadium wouldn't have gotten the right marks.
"Um..."
Benjamin was walking diligently to lecture room when he suddenly stopped. He hasn't eaten breakfast because he's been arguing since morning. He don't mind starving, but the class is long. He grabbed a chicken wrap and ate it, thinking to himself. Declan is really screwed. Come to think of it, the professor is a Tottenham fan.
Benjamin White is from Bournemouth. Declan Rice, who lives with him, is a Londoner. When he decided to go to London instead of Bournemouth University, his father, who was usually a man of few words, advised him: "Beware of the Londoners. You have to watch out for the Londoners. And London is cold and rainy. There are no beaches, no seagulls."
His father is mostly right. London is gray, cold, and rainy, and there are no beaches, but seagulls live along the Thames.
But that is the most important thing. His father had told him to watch out for the Londoners, and Declan Rice, the London Boy, is his boyfriend.
*
They love football. Of course, most European men love dogs and football. Declan is convinced that all good, real men love football. Benjamin White disagree. Declan would be appalled if he knew, but he should have known that there are some Brits who don't watch local football, big club games, or even the national team. His dad don't watch football, but he is a pretty cool guy, and Declan's long-winded rant about football and cool guys annoyed Benjamin a little. He felt like his dad is being criticized by someone he don't care about.
In fact, they have very little in common. It is like... would you never introduce me to someone even if you had a common acquaintance? Declan hates housekeeping, keeps dancing while listening to ridiculous music, and hangs tissues upside down on the toilet paper rack. Once Benjamin had done the dishes, Declan would come up behind him and turn all the mugs with the handles backwards. He insisted that the pattern looked better that way. Thanks to this, more than a few times, Benjamin almost broke the cup as he took it out. Of course, Declan was the one who broke more cups, so they've been using plastic cups for cold water lately.
Declan's room air freshener smells like woods, and Benjamin's smells like soap. Naturally, neither of them used air fresheners at first, because they were cool. Declan was the first to start using air fresheners, and Benjamin was convinced it was because he didn't ventilate well. They have different favorite colors, different ways of socializing, different styles of dressing, and different hobbies. The only things they have in common are dogs and football. Football, Football, and Arsenal.
- So, Ben, hit me up on Instagram!
- I don't do Instagram. and Benjamin.
- What? You're not on Instagram? You're on WhatsApp?
I do that. In fact, I also do Instagram. But Benjamin didn't want to teach his account to this dumbass in front of him.
They met in a group project for a class. Due to his tall height, Benjamin was sitting in the back. He didn't expect a bigger guy to come and sit next to him. Doesn't this guy even know personal space? In front of Declan (“You can call me Dec!, Ben!), who rolled his eyes and boldly asking for phone number and Instagram account, Benjamin missed his friend Aaron, who had chosen a different class.
*
And then they bumped into each other at Aaron Ramsdale's house. In the living room of a house with about five hundred people in it for his party.
- Oh, Ben!
- ...Benjamin.
People you have in common but would never introduce you to. Benjamin was right. Aaron, who probably wouldn't have introduced them for Benjamin's sake, smiled vaguely. "I don't know you guys knew each other."
Benjamin always wanted them to be strangers, but now they are. Declan's Instagram buzzed incessantly as he posted photos of the ridiculous party.
In any case, the stalling process moved at an alarming pace. Benjamin White's account, which had few followers and was never allowed to be tagged, was quickly robbed. Declan's blue eyes sparkled at the feed, which had grown by just one person.
*
In any case, London is too big and complicated. Even though it is only two hours away from home and he'd been visiting since he was a kid, Benjamin still often got lost in the city. But he is British, after all, and finding his way back to college or home is as easy as the flip of a palm. It isn't the directions that are difficult, it is the immediate situation.
His mother called often, and she always ended by saying that Benjamin is doing well. This is not surprising, because Benjamin White is indeed a good son who did well in school and studied hard. Because of his tall stature and many accessories and tattoos, people who met him for the first time often avoided him. This prejudice was soon broken brilliantly, but that didn't make people any nicer to him.
Except Declan Rice. Maybe that bloke is a little off.
After hung up the phone, Benjamin felt guilty for a moment, realizing that he hadn't told his mother what is really important: that the fish and chips here are still terrible, that he was sorry he couldn't be with her when he got new tattoo, that dad's saying that there are no seagulls in London isn't true. Seagulls from the Thames steal fish and chips that are worse than Bournemouth.
Now Declan Rice fell asleep during the movie. Benjamin told him it would be boring for you, but Declan insisted he could watch it all the way through. Benjamin was a little depressed when he realized that his boyfriend hadn't even seen the passionate love scene. What Benjamin White got from London: big-city experience, a degree, and a Londoner boyfriend.
If someone ask him when he started dating a guy, he can't answer. There are some things in life that are inevitable. It is like Declan always falling asleep while watching a classic movie.
*
Benjamin White firmly believes that Declan Rice's popularity with men and women of all ages isn't just because of his looks. Sure, He's very handsome.
"You go over there. I'll go this way."
"Why? Why should? We're going to the library anyway."
"All roads lead to Rome, so let's go separately."
In about 10 minutes of walking out of the lecture hall, Declan Rice has greeted about 20 people and Benjamin next to him is completely lost. So here's what happens. Declan says hello to about a hundred people and they're happy to see him. In fact, not everyone is going to like him. Statistically, probably half of them don't. But half of a hundred is fifty, so that's already about five times the number of relationships Benjamin wants to have. He's constantly trying to tag him on Instagram and introduce him to everyone he thinks he knows, but Benjamin doesn't like any of it... so... if you had to recall the not-so-pleasant past, it went something like this.
- Ben, you lost one follower.
- Benjamin. Why are you counting them?
- There are only a few, so I can see them. I wasn't trying to count.
Brag. Declan was taking Benjamin for a beer after finishing the assignment. Benjamin didn't understand what the hell he was doing with this guy. But he figured if he gave it a few more days, he'd never have to see that bloke again. Benjamin will block RICE's phone number, he will block RICE's Instagram, so Declan Rice will be basically erased from Ben White's life. (Not completely. Their mutual acquaintances had grown in the meantime, and Benjamin was prepared to block everyone if necessary. Sorry, Aaron.)
- Uh, I broke up with... someone. Common sense would tell you to unfollow, right?
- Oh.
Oh, that look, Benjamin thought for a moment, was stupid. That handsome face is no match for that expression. Even more silly was that he was spouting nonsense to Declan Rice, the number one person he wanted to avoid in his life, the type of person he didn't have the slightest inclination to befriend. The moment Declan gave hom that oh look, Benjamin quickly covered his mouth, but the water had already been spilled. Unless Benjamin grab him and throw him into the Thames, half the college will soon know Benjamin White's broken heart.
- It's okay, I broke up with my girlfriend, too.
- ...When?
- A few months ago. Didn't I tell you? I think I told you.
- I didn't know. I'm not interested in you.
Benjamin was silent for a moment. The pub was noisy and the beer was tasteless. On the TV on the wall, Arsenal players were repeating their passes. Hurry up and hit the goal with the set piece! He tried to turn his attention back to the football, but for some reason he couldn't think of anything to say. In fact, Benjamin's head had been hurting all semester from a love affair. Not that it was Declan's fault, of course, but he is angry with Declan.
- Yeah, you broke up. You broke up, too. But who cares? I'll just make a better one. Someone smart, sexy, who doesn't live in Manchester, and hopefully no blood or tears.
Why the hell are you talking about Manchester? Kalvin Phillips going back to Manchester is the reason for all of this, but Declan Rice doesn't need to know that.
- Me.
- What.
Declan Rice replied without blinking.
- I'm handsome.
What the hell is this he talking about? Does he know what he's talking about? Is this crazy guy telling him that he's handsome? It was an undeniable truth, but he had to be out of his mind to say it to himself. And Benjamin made the same, oh, face he'd thought funny earlier, and Declan chuckled.
- And I live in London.
- Someone told me not to meet the Londoner.
- Who?
My father. But Benjamin managed to hold it. Anyway, no one in the White family knows that Benjamin White has been dating a man. He suddenly wanted to know what this guy in front of him was talking about. Threatening me? Teasing me? Benjamin squinted and looked him up and down, but Declan doesn't get drunk after a few beers.
- I have a good personality, I'm handsome, you should meet me.
And even though Arsenal finally scored, Benjamin didn't say anything. Instead, he frowned, stared at Declan's face before answering.
- No. You have a bad personality.
Benjamin couldn't call Declan ugly.
That's the story.
Benjamin glanced at Declan's back for a moment. He looked helpless, his pleas rejected. But Declan is soon caught by someone, chatting away. They don't really fit together.
Maybe they both seemed fine that day, but they were really drunk. Declan swears by his dog Raffa, that he was never drunk and didn't know Benjamin was gay. Raffa, a brown poodle, was incredibly cute, so Benjamin had no choice but to believe him. When someone swears by their dog, you have to believe them. No one wants to lose such a cute dog.
It wasn't a ticklish ritual, but when he woke up, this is what happened. Declan Rice's daringness, his ridiculousness, his blindness to a situation that could have been horrible if Benjamin had been straight or worse. Declan is very, very different from Benjamin. He is very much different from Benjamin, who has yet to tell his mother. There's a distance between him and Benjamin that's far greater than the distance between London and Bournemouth. But there's something reassuring about his confidence.
*
Declan Rice actually had to give a third of Raffa to Benjamin White. He was a little drunk that day. But he had a good reason for not giving the whole dog away. He didn't really know Benjamin is gay, and it wasn't an impulsive joke that he didn't think through because he was drunk.
He was just deathly embarrassed that he'd admitted he was handsome. But even that wasn't a lie.