Real Madrid and Arsenal are playing the first match of the champion leagues in a couple hours. My two favorite teams going head to head and I have to watch it in my tiny 15' TV. Being a poor college kid has its perks I believe. Graduating with journalism won't probably help my case. Then again, Dylan seems to be doing pretty good with his job at Right Now channel. I'm trying to get an internship there but no luck till now. I'll be in my 3rd year and still no real life experience as a reporter or even as a personal assistant who takes the coffee orders. Not that I'm dying to take coffee orders from a bunch of stressed out people trying to get the most interesting piece of information but still. Anyways, the point is, Dylan has a 52' TV in his living room and I preferably need to see the match there instead of my TV.
It did not occur to me that he might not be at home. Being a hot-shot reporter and all, he's probably digging up some dirt about the Chadda case that made the news. Just thinking about that lowlife builder makes me shiver. Just seconds after I hit the doorbell again, I hear the door creak open. Thank the lord he's home. He's wearing a casual black v neck and a pair of grey sweat pants. From the looks of it, I woke him up from a nap. Dylan is the kind of guy who is effortlessly good looking. His hair is always spiky. Right now, it's a bit disheveled but still more on the spiky side. I honestly don't remember the last time he wore it flat. What is flat is his stomach. I know that sounds weird but I've seen my neighbor shirtless plenty of times to know that he has abs. First time I got to know this little information was when he came knocking at my door with fizzy head and puppy dog eyes asking me if he could use my bathroom. Apparently his hot water stopped mid shower.
"Hey Debjani", Dylan greeted with an obvious grogginess to his voice.
"I brought popcorn and vodka!" Just the way to slap the sleep out of your neighbor. Dylan didn't look surprised which ironically surprised me. For some reason, it felt like he was expecting me. Dylan is definitely not a bad looking guy. His suits should probably get the credit for that. But then again, a V Neck and sweats are making him look particularly attractive so I could be mistaken. "I need to borrow your TV", I said as I walked through the open door.
"It's that time of the year again?" I heard the door slam shut and then Dylan's footsteps behind me. He didn't follow me into his living room though. He walked to his bedroom instead.
"I've only been here once Dylan," I yelled my reply so he could hear half the apartment away. "Besides Real Madrid and Arsenal are playing so I had to come see it on your TV."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?? Real Madrid AND Arsenal?? Why didn't you open with that instead?" Leave it to Dylan to be a sarcastic asshole. I rolled my eyes at him and gave out a little chuckle. "Football is so boring Deb."
"Then let's make it unboring", I said dangling the vodka in front him like I was dangling a candy in front of a baby.
"Fine, let me hit the shower first," Dylan replied. He went back into his room. I heard rustling for a minute or two and he was out with the towel over his shoulder.
"Can I pop the popcorn while you do that?" I asked.
"Yeah sure. Just go into the kitchen and you'll see the microwave" Dylan said with a half-smile and entered the bathroom.
I was almost halfway done with the popcorn when Dylan opened the bathroom door. Almost as a reflex, I shot a look at his direction. Shirtless. And abs.
When he came out of his room after changing into an appropriate attire, I made sure not to look his way. Even when I felt the couch go down a little bit from him sitting down few inches from me, I didn't divert my eyes from the TV.
"You're gonna hog all the popcorn?" Dylan asked. I had to look at him now. When I did, my eyes widened with shock. He was wearing a Real Madrid jersey with the Fly Emirates banner on his torso.
"Why do you even own a Real Madrid jersey?" I asked, a little annoyed. I had no reason to be annoyed but who even needs a reason when you're a tad bit jealous. Mainly because I would never be afford to buy it.
"My grandpa gave it to me when I was little. Guess it still fits me". He had a huge grin plastered across his face and suddenly I wasn't annoyed anymore. I replied with a smile. He cleared his throat a little and his focus returned to the TV. "I thought you said the game was gonna start soon...?" Dylan asked.
"Yeah, it did. They start with a half an hour commentary." I replied.
"Oh right, forgot about that."
It was cute seeing Dylan make faces or get annoyed at the game. He was too loud when his team, our team, made a mistake. And he was even louder when Real Madrid scored a goal. He would give me a look every time, and I do mean every single time, we snatched the ball from Arsenal. And honestly, I had never seen such a huge grin plastered on anyone's face. He was giddy with excitement when the game ended with 3-2 favoring Real Madrid. He acted like a hyper-active child with every shot he downed. On his 5th shot, he finally put aside his glass. Maybe I was finding him cute because I was less than sober.
"I used to watch the matches with my grandpa all the time," Dylan said after the post-game commentary. "I literally bawled my eye out while I asked for a jersey. And finally on my 12th birthday, he gave it to me as a gift."
"Awh that's cute," I said.
"Yeahhh. So how's school going?" Small talk. Yay.
"It's fine. Two more years. I am trying to get an internship though. I'm trying to get an interview for Right Now but it's not working out too well." Real smooth Dabbu. I really do need an internship and if I get to see my neighbor a little more frequently, it might not be the worst thing.
"Debjani, are you trying to tell me that I should hook you up with an internship?" I smiled coyly at his rightful accusation. "I don't know if I can help you with that though."
"It's fine. I wasn't expecting anything." I said with a nervous laugh. I knew from both my change in expression and his that he knew I was lying. I mean he's my neighbor and we were decent friends so what I expected wasn't so farfetched. But we weren't the type of friends to hangout unless there was a football match going on and he brought out his 12 year old self. Or unless his shower didn't provide him with hot water. Or just other casual neighbor-y stuff.
"How about a job?" My jaw literally dropped.
"Wait you're not pranking me are you?" I asked with a bit of curiosity and confusion.
"I'm not. Someone just quit the other day. I mean I guess it is kind of an internship. A paid internship if you will." He wasn't joking. I was actually going to get some real experience with journalism. "Essentially, your job would need you to write up features on what you get from the reporters. More or less." He finished as he stood up from the couch. I jumped up from my seat and hugged him. Tight. I was probably making him a little uncomfortable but at that moment I didn't even care. I was so happy. I felt him hugging me back after a few moments. It was a soft careful touch but it gave a boost to my happiness.
"Oh my god thank you so much Dylan!" I said, in a rather loud voice, letting him go.
"You're welcome Debjani. But there is a catch though." Dylan said with his eyebrows raised and a smug smile.
"And that would be..." I did not like the sound of this.
"If you promise to get a coffee with me," my eyes widened with shock again. How many times was Dylan going to surprise me in one day? It took me a few seconds to process what he had asked. It wasn't a wild idea that I could have never seen coming but I guess I was just mostly shocked that he felt that way about me. I didn't think about him in a romantic way but it doesn't mean I couldn't. I always acknowledged that he was more than a decent looking guy. And he also came with a charming personality.
"Yeah sure. Why not", I said meeting his eyes. He smiled at me, squinting his eyes a little. I swear I saw him blushing a little. How cute.
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