My Brother's Roommate Thinks He's The Other Man

Start Reading

[I think Im in love with my roommates girlfriend. I think she likes me too. What do I do? Im losing my mind!]

My brothers roommate is weird. Sometimes he walks past me shirtless, like it's completely normal. Other times, he dodges me for days, acting like a thief whos just stolen something.

I thought I was imagining it. I thought I was projecting.

Until I found the burner account.

[Im so confused. Im a wreck. How did I how did I become the other man?]

[I cant keep sinking like this. Checking in. Day 0 of not liking her.]

[Today doesnt count. Day 0 of not liking her.]

[Didnt sleep last night. Doesnt count. Day 0.]

[I have a cold. Doesnt count. Day 0.]

Chapter 1

I stood outside the dorm room, fingers losing circulation under the weight of four massive shopping bags. I kicked the door. "Hunter! Open up! My arms are about to snap!"

"Coming!"

The lock clicked. The door swung open. I didn't wait for an invite. I stumbled inside and collapsed into the nearest chair. "Moms braised beef. Your clothes. And well, look for yourself."

Hunter shouted toward the bathroom without looking up. "Adrian! Hadleys here. Put some clothes on before you come out, man."

Silence from the bathroom.

Hunter shrugged. He turned back to the bags and started tearing them open. He pulled out a large bag filled with charred, unidentifiable lumps. His hand trembled. He looked at me with pure terror. "Is this"

"What do you think?" I groaned.

Rosalind. My mother. A corporate shark. A titan of industry. But she has one terrifying hobby: baking. Put a spatula in her hand, and she becomes an agent of chaos. Her cupcakes on New Years Eve sent the entire family to the ER for stomach pumping.

Hunter squeezed his eyes shut. "Why didn't you stop her? This stuff is lethal! It could actually kill someone."

Ha. "You think I didn't try? We have a loyalty card at the hospital for a reason."

The bathroom door creaked. I glanced over.

Then I stopped breathing.

Adrian stood in the doorway. He was wearing nothing but a towel. A low, precariously hung towel. He looked at me with lazy, half-lidded eyes as he raised a hand, raking it through his soaking wet hair.

Water droplets clung to the sharp edge of his jaw. They slid down the thick cords of his neck, trailing over the hard, defined ridges of his abs. I watched a single drop trace the deep groove of his V-line, disappearing into the white terrycloth.

My mouth went dry.

Hunter spun around and jumped back. "Holy sh*t Adrian! I literally just told you to put clothes on!"

Adrian turned his face away, the movement stiff and unnatural. "Sorry. Didn't hear you."

"The walls are paper-thin. How did you not hear me?" Hunter muttered, waving his hand. "Whatever. Go get dressed."

Adrian nodded. He grabbed a T-shirt from his wardrobe and retreated into the bathroom. When he came back out, he was decent. Technically.

But there was a large, dark wet patch soaking through the front of his shirt. The fabric became translucent, clinging to his skin like a second layer. The outlines of his chest muscles pressed against the damp cotton, snagging my gaze every time he moved.

Chapter 2

Hunter disappeared into the bathroom. Apparently, he couldn't step outside for a casual meal without a full outfit change and a hair blowout.

I sat in the chair. The dorm room felt too small. Too quiet. I didn't know where to look. The memory of water dripping down abs was still burned into my retinas.

I grabbed my phone. The only safe place to look. Refresh. Refresh.

A headline snagged my thumb mid-scroll.

[Help. Im in love with my roommates girlfriend. What do I do?]

Trashy? Yes. Explosive? Absolutely. It was exactly the kind of melodramatic train wreck I needed to distract myself from well, reality. I tapped the screen with giddy anticipation.

[Not a bot. Not clickbait. Im desperate here. Please be nice.]

[Heres the deal. My roommate has a girlfriend. Shes gorgeous. Two years younger than me. Top of her class. And when she smiles God, shes cute.]

[Sorry. Getting sidetracked. I saw her and my heart just stopped.]

[I thought I was crazy. But every time I see her, it gets worse.]

[Today literally ten minutes ago I did something terrible. Im trash. But seriously, does the roommate who brings his girlfriend to the dorm bear zero responsibility here?]

[Sorry. That was out of line. Hes innocent. Im just a jealous wreck. This is on me.]

[Ill make it up to him. Ill pay him off. Ill do whatever he wants. Just as long as he gives her to me.]

[Does anyone here have experience being the "Other Man"? Im not saying I am one. Yet. Just asking for a friend. Hypothetically. Better to be prepared, right?]

The post was fresh, but the comments were already piling up in the thousands.

[User123: Wow. The internet really lets anyone post. Even scum eyeing their bros girl.]

OP: [Don't call me that. Im not a homewrecker. At least, not yet.]

[User123: NOT YET?? Dude, seek help.]

[User89: Get a grip. Stop trying to ruin peoples relationships.]

[User56: Bro, you wrote a whole essay. Just control yourself. Its not that hard.]

OP: [You dont get it. Shes really cute. If you were me, youd be spiraling too. Im walking a fine line between "Roommate" and "Male Mistress."]

[User_Slay: Stop. Rewind. You said you did something terrible. Spill the tea.]

OP: [I just got out of the shower. I wasnt thinking straight. I I intentionally walked out shirtless in front of her. Its shameful. Im using my body to ensnare her. Where are my morals? Where is my dignity?]

The internet went wild.

[User_Gossip: So let me get this straight. Youre having a full-blown moral breakdown online, but IRL youre throwing thirst traps at her without blinking?]

[User_Tea: So what did she do?? Dont leave us hanging!]

OP: [Thats the thing. She stared. For a long time. She didn't look away once. Do you think maybe she likes me too?]

[User_Snark: She probably just likes the view, bro.]

[User_Thirsty: Are you hot? Do you have an eight-pack? If yes, Id stare too. Its free real estate.]

OP: [Yes.]

The comments section exploded.

[User_Visuals: Prove it. Send pics. For science. I can tell whos wrong if I see the abs.]

[User_Realist: Don't fall for it. He's baiting.]

Within minutes, thousands of replies formed a towering request for ab photos.

OP: [Please stop DMing me for nudes. Im a traditional man. I dont just show my body to strangers.]

The thread collectively lost its mind.

[User_Roast: Oh, NOW youre traditional? You stripped for your roommates girl faster than you could type this post!]

Chapter 3

It was pure gold. I laughed so hard my shoulders shook. I tapped on the OPs profile.

Definitely a burner account. No posts except that one. The username was a random string of gibberish. The profile picture was a close-up of an orange tabby cat.

I zoomed in. There was a hand resting loosely on the cats back. Slender fingers. A prominent wrist bone. And right on the wrist, a tiny, dark mole.

It looked familiar. Weirdly familiar.

Before I could place it, the bathroom door opened. Hunter finally emerged, his hair styled into an air-dried, messy-on-purpose masterpiece. He draped an arm around my shoulder. "Let's go. I'm starving. I could eat a horse."

He paused at the door, glancing back. "By the way, Adrian. You eaten yet? Wanna hit the cafeteria with us?"

Adrian turned slowly. His eyes were rimmed with red, and he held my gaze for a heavy, silent three seconds before looking away. "Okay."

Hunter scratched his head, clearly caught off guard. "Oh. You're actually coming? I was just being polite. But alright, my treat today!"

At the cafeteria, Hunter was feeling generous. He splurged on the premium Spicy Crawfish and Lobster Boil.

Free food tastes better. Its a scientific fact.

I pulled on a pair of plastic gloves and worked fast, shelling a dozen crayfish with surgical precision before sliding the plate over to Hunter. "The rich and generous big bro eats first!" I chirped.

Snap.

Across the table, a sharp sound cut through the noise. Adrian had frozen mid-motion, pulling his plastic glove so hard it tore right down the middle. His voice was low, dangerous. "Hunter. How can you let a girl peel shrimp for you?"

Hunter blinked, a crayfish halfway to his mouth. "I can't?"

Adrian stared at him. It was a cold, withering glare that screamed: You are a failure of a man. "Disappointing," his eyes seemed to say.

Hunter opened his mouth, closed it, and then, thoroughly cowed, slid the plate back to me. "Here. Hadley. You eat."

I didn't fully understand the weird tension, but I understood the code of the cafeteria: Never turn down free food. I kept my head down and chewed, demolishing the mountain of shrimp meat.

Suddenly, a new plate slid into my field of vision. It was piled high with perfectly peeled, pristine crayfish tails.

Adrian cleared his throat, speaking with the gravity of a man defusing a bomb. "The shrimp here is fresh. If you like it we can come back and eat this again."

I looked up. For a guy who looked like an ice sculpture, my brother's roommate was surprisingly sweet. I smiled, eyes curving into crescents. "Thanks, Adrian."

Scrape.

Adrian stood up so fast his chair screeched against the floor. His expression was stoic, but his ears were blazing, violent red. His eyes darted everywhere except my face. "I I'm hot," he stammered. "You guys eat. I need air."

He turned and marched out. It looked less like an exit and more like a tactical retreat.

Hunter frowned, looking like he'd bitten into a lemon. "What is his deal? Does he seem weird to you today?"

I shook my head. "I don't know."

Every time I saw Adrian, he seemed weird.

"You think he panicked because he thought I'd make him pay?" Hunter scoffed, peeling another crayfish. "Seriously? I can afford a lobster boil." He pushed another plate toward me. "Eat, Hadley! Don't hold back. Your brother is loaded."

I stared at the shrimp. ""

Chapter 4

Back in my dorm, I lay on my bed, scrolling through my phone while reluctantly accepting a FaceTime request from Hunter. Sigh. Ever since his ex dumped him, hes been acting erratic.

He calls me for no reason, forces me to stay on the line, and then screenshots our "late-night talks" to post on his Instagram Story. He captions them things like "She keeps me up all night" just to soft launch a fake girlfriend.

Pathetic.

I stifled a yawn. Suddenly, a notification popped up at the top of my screen.

[Update from user @lost_soul_x.]

Oh? Mr. Homewrecker is back? I tapped the banner. Reaction time: 0.0 seconds.

[I went to dinner with them today. She peeled his shrimp. She treated him like a king. She called him "Big Bro"which, okay, weird pet name, but she made it sound so sweet. I wish shed say my name like that]

[But my roommate? Hes ungrateful. He sat there and let his girlfriend do all the work. I know Im trash. I have no morals. But is he any better?]

[No, I shouldn't judge. Who am I to talk? Im just the jealousy-ridden third wheel trying to break them up. I have no right.]

[Its pathetic. I just sat there, watching them be happy, while I died inside. Does anyone get it? My heart literally stopped beating at that table.]

The comments were already rolling in.

[User_Thirsty: Your heart is dead, but your abs are creating life. Youd still strip for her. Scary stuff.]

[User_Visuals: Stop yapping. Send the ab pics or were leaving.]

[User_Psych: Im a psych major. Youre spiraling.]

[User_Slay: Bro, look at the bright side. Maybe the happy couple likes peeling shrimp? Don't project.]

The OP replied immediately.

OP: [You dont understand! Today, she gave him homemade cookies. She baked them herself! And you know what my roommate said? He said, and I quote, "This stuff will kill people."]

OP: [Is he joking? She made them with her own hands! Who cares if theyre poisonous? Even if eating them guarantees death, shouldn't you eat them with a smile? Shouldn't you prioritize romantic submission over biological survival?]

I blinked.

[User_Realist: Okay, I cant even hate on that. That is Terminal Simp Syndrome. Everyone roast him and leave.]

[User_Nice: The roommate is a jerk though. Who says that about homemade food? Even if it tastes like charcoal, you choke it down.]

[User_Hungry: So where are the cookies now? Did he toss them?]

OP: [No. Theyre still on his desk.]

[User_Genius: Simple solution. Go ask for them.]

OP: [I cant. I dont dare. My roommate isn't exactly warm and fuzzy, but his instincts are sharp. If I show too much interest, hell smell my dirty intentions.]

OP: [Maybe I gave you guys the wrong idea. Im not trying to wreck their home. I cantI wontbe the bad guy. I just want to watch over her. Silently. From the shadows. Just that.]

The internet, naturally, began to enable his chaotic behavior.

[User_Chaos: Youre already obsessing, Mr. Mistress. Just take the cookies. Tell him youre hungry!]

[User_Logic: Exactly. If your roommate hates them, theyre going in the trash. If you rescue the cookies, youre basically a hero. Youre saving her hard work from the garbage!]

Chapter 5

The OP hadn't replied yet. I stared at the screen, a weird feeling crawling up my spine. Why did this plot feel so familiar? Could the universe really be this lazy with its writing?

Suddenly, Adrians voice came through my earbuds. "Hunter. Did she bake these cookies for you?"

"Huh? Who?" Hunter sounded confused.

"Nothing. Its just Im a little hungry."

"Oh. You want them? Knock yourself out." Hunters voice carried a note of casual indifference, but then he paused. "Actually, be careful. If your stomach starts hurting, get to the ER fast. We need to beat the traffic for the stomach pump. Uh, Maybe you shouldn't eat them? Honestly, theyre basically weapons-grade biohazards."

Adrian didn't reply.

Crinkle. Rustle.

The sound of a plastic bag being aggressively emptied. Hunter gasped. "Wait. You you took all of them? You're that hungry? We literally just ate a mountain of crayfish."

Pause.

"Okay, look, if you want to die, that's on you. But let me ask one thingdo you have a will drafted? Is your life insurance up to date?"

The line went dead silent. It was a heavy, weird silence.

Finally, Adrian spoke, his voice calm and resigned. "No. Why?"

"Nothing," Hunter laughed nervously. "Just, you know, life is unpredictable. Better safe than sorry. Anyway, do not leave my line of sight today. If you feel pain anywhere, tell me immediately. Okay?"

Hunter kept lecturing, only relaxing once he got a confirmation from Adrian. I listened to the feed, my heart hammering. The answer was becoming crystal clear. Adrian. My brother's hot, weird roommate. Was he the poster?

Buzz.

My phone vibrated.

[Update from user @lost_soul_x.]

I clicked it so fast I almost cracked my screen.

[Hello everyone. I got the cookies.]

[But, just like I feared, my roommate is sharp. He knows. He definitely knows about my dark, dirty thoughts.]

[He just asked me if I had a last will and testament. Then he told me to stay within his line of sight all day. What do I do?]

[I dont know how to fight. No, actually I dont want to fight. I betrayed him first. If he wants to beat me to death, thats my punishment. I deserve it. I won't run.]

The update hit the forum like a bomb. The internet trolls arrived instantly to add fuel to the fire.

[User_Doggo: Ask the dog. The dog always knows.]

[User_PsychMajor: As a psychology student, I can professionally say: You should be panicking.]

[User_Pharma: Headache from the stress? Buy Ibuprofen.]

[User_Reader: Stop trolling! If the roommate actually murders OP, what am I going to read during my lunch break?]

[User_Foodie: Am I the only one who cares about the taste? What do the "lethal" cookies actually taste like?]

OP: [I haven't tasted them yet. I can't bear to.]

[User_Begging: Please. Just one bite. Do it for us. We've been following this drama for hours.]

A few minutes passed. Then, a notification.

OP: [I ate them.]

[They are delicious. Okay, yes, they are a bit bitter. And astringent. And dry. And the flavor is unique. But isn't that a style? Its avant-garde baking. Ordinary people might not get it, but I do. Im not exaggeratingI felt a tremor in my very soul. Does this mean we are truly soulmates?]

[Also, update: I feel fine. No discomfort. In fact, I don't feel like I'm going to die at all. I feel POWER coursing through my veins!]

The poetic bravado on the screen was inspiring. It was romantic. It was delusional.

Then, chaos erupted in my earbuds.

"Adrian? Hey! Adrian!" Hunters voice pitched up an octave. "Why are your lips turning white? Why are your eyes rolling back? Stay with me, man! Don't go into the light! HELLO?!"

The stark juxtaposition between his online poetry and his physical collapse was instantaneous. He prioritized romantic submission over biological survival instincts, and now, he was paying the price.

Chapter 6

I killed the call.

In the silence of my room, three facts clicked into place like the tumblers of a lock. One: Adrian is the poster. Two: Adrian is fully convinced I am dating my own brother. Three: My brothers roommate is significantly more entertaining than I initially gave him credit for.

A slow smile spread across my face. I was actually looking forward to seeing him again.

By the weekend, I had the trap set. I snapped a photo of three movie tickets and texted Hunter.

[Hadley: A friend gave me three tickets to that new blockbuster. You in?]

[Hunter: In. Absolutely in.]

[Hadley: Ugh. But I have this extra ticket. Who should we bring?]

I let the ellipses hang there, feigning distress. Hunter took the bait immediately.

[Hunter: Why don't we ask Adrian? I honestly feel bad. He spent all night in the ER getting his stomach pumped because of Moms cookies. I owe him one.]

Gotcha.

Hunter had no idea he was a pawn in my game. He thought he was being a benevolent friend. I sent back a casual [OK] sticker.

Minutes later, my phone buzzed.

[Update from user @lost_soul_x.]

[My roommate just invited me to the movies. I refused immediately. My situational awareness is at an all-time high. What is the statistical probability that he is taking me to a secluded location to murder me and bury the body?]

What? He refused? I scrolled down. The comments were piling up.

[User_Alive: Wait, OP is still breathing? We thought the cookies took you out.]

OP: [Let me clarify. The cookies were fine. I just had urgent business and couldn't check my phone. Sorry for the misunderstanding.]

[User_Nurse: I don't believe you. You definitely got your stomach pumped, didn't you?]

[User_Logic: Why refuse the movie? If the roommate is inviting you, youre safe. If he wanted to kill you, hed do it in the dorm.]

[User_Safety: You refused? Good. Stay away. Wear layers. Do not give yourself an opportunity to take your clothes off.]

OP: [I did refuse. However he just mentioned that SHE is going too.]

OP: [Disregard my previous refusal. Im going. I need tactical advice. Which loadout is best for this mission?]

[User_Confused: So you just agreed?? Where is your "high situational awareness"? Did it vanish along with your shame?]

OP: [Here are my options. 1. All black. 2. Light colors. 3. That silk shirt I bought.]

[User_Strategist: Option 2. Light colors make you look fragile. If he beats you up, you'll look pathetic. Maybe she'll pity you.]

[User_Chaos: No, Option 3. The silk is thin. If a fight breaks out, it'll tear. Strategic partial nudity. Shell be forced to stare at your abs while you bleed.]

I grabbed my purse and hailed a ride to the theater. The anticipation was killing me. I really, really needed to see which shirt he picked.

Chapter 7

Inside the theater lobby, Hunter stared at the poster. His face had drained of all color, settling on a sickly shade of green. "Hadley. Why is it a horror movie?"

"What's wrong with horror? It's thrilling! Its art! Now, march." I dug my heels in, pushing against his back. It was like trying to move a marble statue.

"Sorry. I'm late."

The voice came from behind us. Low. Smooth. I turned around, and I almost stopped pushing.

Adrian had chosen Option 3.

He was wearing a silk shirt. The fabric was a dark, liquid charcoal that shimmered under the lobby lights. It was dangerously thin, semi-translucent, and unbuttoned at the top just enough to hint at the collarbones beneath. He had paired it with dress pants that tailored his legs into long, elegant lines.

I swallowed. I didn't know when he planned to "accidentally" tear it, but I promised myself I wouldn't blink when it happened.

"Perfect timing," I said, my voice only shaking a little. "Help me get him inside."

I gestured for Adrian to grab Hunters other side.

Hunter looked at his roommate with pleading eyes. "Adrian, bro, you know I hate"

Adrian betrayed him in 0.0 seconds. He grabbed Hunters arm and ruthlessly dragged him toward the screening room. We finally wrangled my brother into the dark corridor, and he accepted his fate, trudging ahead with the enthusiasm of a man walking to the gallows.

Adrian walked beside me. In the dim light, he looked composed. Cool. Unbreachable. There was no trace of the neurotic mess who had been hyperventilating on the internet five minutes ago.

I glanced at him. I decided to let the intrusive thoughts win. I took a step, feigned a stumble, and pitched sideways, my hand shooting out to wrap tight around his wrist to "steady" myself. "Whoops. Sorry. Tripped."

The sound of his breathing cut off instantly. "It's fine," he choked out. His voice was tight and strained.

The light from a passing phone screen flared for a second. I looked down at his wrist.

There it was. A single, small mole, resting against the sharp protrusion of his wrist bone.

Gotcha. Adrian. I have you now.

The movie hadn't started yet. The seating arrangement was a disaster waiting to happen. Hunter sat on my left, vibrating with the urge to bolt. Adrian sat on my right, furiously typing on his phone under the cover of his jacket.

[Shes actually here. Shes sitting right next to me. Im hyperventilating. What do I do?]

[Shes wearing a short skirt. Shes so tiny. So cute. I just want to put her in my pocket and keep her.]

[My roommate said the tickets were from a friend. She chose to share the extra one with me. Does this increase the statistical probability that she likes me?]

[User_RealityCheck: Is there a risk you're delusional?]

OP: [Am I? But when we walked in, she stumbled. She grabbed my wrist. She held on for 1.5 seconds longer than necessary.]

[User_Physics: That just proves gravity exists, bro.]

OP: [Wait. I forgot a critical data point. I ran our birth charts. Our zodiac compatibility is 100%. Explain that.]

[User_Sigh: It means literally nothing.]

OP: [You guys are being negative. I need objective advice, not bias. Im not reading comments anymore.]

Adrian stiffened. He slammed his phone face down on his thigh and stared aggressively at the blank screen.

The movie began. A jump scare hit within the first thirty seconds.

Thump.

Hunter threw himself to the right, burying his face into my shoulder. "Hadley, I'm not scared! I swear! It's just the AC is really aggressive in here. Let me warm up."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adrian turn. He glared at Hunters head resting on my shoulder. If looks could kill, my brother would be a pile of ash.

I ruthlessly shoved Hunters head away. "If you're cold, wear a jacket."

I might have imagined it, but I swear the corner of Adrians mouth ticked up.

We had exchanged maybe ten sentences in real life. According to the internet, he didn't even rank as a "mistress" yet. But here he was, acting like a possessive husband. It was adorable.

I smiled into the darkness. Slowly, deliberately, I lowered my hand to the armrest between us. My fingers brushed against his.

He didn't move.

I slid my hand over his palm, feeling the damp heat of his skin. Then, I interlaced our fingers.

Adrian went rigid. It wasn't a casual freeze; it was a total system lock-up. Every muscle in his forearm turned to steel under the silk sleeve. I kept my eyes on the screen, pretending to be engrossed in the slasher flick.

For thirty minutes, he didn't move a millimeter. He sat in paralyzed silence, looking calm, but his soul had clearly left his body ten minutes ago.

His thumb twitched against mine. Once. Twice. Body betrayal.

When the credits rolled, I leaned in close. I used my index finger to trace letters against the sweaty palm of his hand: A location.

I pulled back, stood up, and dragged my shell-shocked brother out of the theater. At the exit, Hunter looked like he had seen a ghost. Adrian looked like he was having a spiritual crisis.

And me? I was the only one smiling. Game on.

Chapter 8