Chapter Text
Jabber stepped out of the taxi, breathing in the dewy grass as the campus stretched before him, and the wind pushed back his dreadlocks. Even after attending Giver University for 2 years, he still wasn’t used to how grand it felt. He thanked the taxi driver, grabbing his luggage from the trunk. He tugged the straps of his backpack as he entered through the pristine white gates, setting foot on the beige brick flooring.
Giver University was one of the most prestigious schools in the vast city of Gachi. It offered thousands of courses, all taught by amazing professors, and it was many people's dream to attend the school.
The building had perfect symmetry, making it hard to believe human beings had made the place. A clock tower was planted right in the middle of the building, tall and mighty as it towered over the students. Hundreds of arched windows covered the umber red brick walls, all of them being classrooms.
His luggage rolled on the rough pavement as he hauled it around. There was a fountain with a statue sitting on top showing off its glory, right in the heart of the campus. The statue was a male angel, with a beautiful vase carved with a detailed design in his hands, as he poured the water elegantly down the fountain, the water cascading down like a domino effect. He stopped in his tracks. The statue hypnotized him, like a siren pulling him closer in the deep sea. The water splashed down, crashing against the salt rock. Nostalgia washed over him, though he couldn’t explain why. It had been like this ever since he was a freshman. He could remember the first day he came to Giver University.
He was eighteen and too noisy for the campus gates. He earned a scholarship to attend the school, proving just how capable he was. He skipped to the front of the school once he first arrived and set his eyes on the magnificent fountain. An odd feeling had come over him, enchanting him, and soon, sitting on the benches beside the fountain had become his favorite spot to chill and loiter around on campus as the months and years flew by.
He snapped out of his trance, returning to reality as he pulled out his phone from his pockets, checking what room number he had this year for his shared dorm. Right, he had priorities that didn’t involve spacing out. Room 212. He hummed, rubbing his lip with his thumb, other fingers resting on his chin. 212. That sounded familiar, but he couldn’t quite place his finger on it just yet. He shrugged, his mind already off in another place as he rushed to the office of the university. He opened the door, smirking as he hopped into the building. He could feel everyone's eyes on him. Their stares.
He couldn’t decipher if it was because of his dramatic entrance or because his luggage was enormous. On top of that, he was carrying a backpack with posters sticking out of the pockets due to them not fitting properly. Either way, he was excited for one thing and one thing only at this moment.
He was ecstatic to find out who his roommate was. Maybe his roommate is a really nice, friendly guy. Or, maybe his roommate is the type of guy to lock himself up in his room all day and play games. Maybe this time, his roommate is interesting and not as bland as cardboard. So many possibilities could happen!
He picked up his feet and skipped over to the office worker, clacking being heard on the glossy stone floor. Of course. Semiu was working the desk. He began doing all the check-ins and going through the boring process of actually receiving the keycard to the room. He tapped his fingers on the wooden desk, the rings he had on each of his fingers clashing together, patiently waiting.
“Here’s your key to the room, Jabber. Remember, your room number is 212. Your roommate has already arrived, so he probably has settled in already.” Semiu spoke, pushing her glasses up her nosebridge.
“Thanks, Semiu,” Jabber snagged the keycard, flashing a smile at her, as he ran off to the dormitories. The front of his feet propelled him forward, letting him zoom past wandering students. The faces of recognizable seniors and new freshmen he saw on his way came and went. Cheers and chatter filled Jabber’s ears.
The sun shone down brightly onto the campus, causing him to squint his eyes as he quickly navigated his way through the hectic crowd. It was as if he was moving on autopilot. He let his brain and his body guide him to the unforgettable dormitories, the place imprinted in his brain. Home. He hurried, eager to meet his roommate, coming to a sudden stop as his jaw dropped.
The dormitories, once a designed place that was just a box with rooms in it, transformed. It was just as fancy as the main campus. The roof was made of blackstone tiles, and the walls were made of the same red bricks as the main building.
Where the hell was this luxury when he was here these past two years, and when had they done renovations?! He was astonished by the drastic change. He panted, trying to catch his breath from all the running he had done. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and made his way to the entry. Entering the building, he spotted elevators and stairs. Just exactly how much money did they fund for the renovations…
He strode around the floors, confused and feeling disoriented by this new place. He had no clue what floor Room 212 was on, and after searching for a map of the new layout and failing, he knew he was doomed. So, Jabber, being Jabber, inspected every single floor, every single nook and cranny, just to find his room.
After what felt like decades, he had finally found his room on the third floor. He huffed and puffed, dying from exhaustion. He swallowed, throat dry, as he swiped the keycard he had received at the front desk, unlocking the dorm room. A fresh, clean aroma surrounded the entire room. He glanced around, taking it all in as he dragged his luggage inside and kicked off his shoes, landing right next to another pair.
He set down his luggage and backpack right beside the couch, his back finally relaxing after all the weight that was being put on it. He plopped onto the couch, feeling the soft fabric under the pads of his fingers. It even felt expensive. Jabber sat up, remembering the words Semiu stated.
“Your roommate has already arrived, so he probably has settled in already.”
He perked up immediately, standing up abruptly as he spotted the hallway, assuming it was where the bedrooms were. He walked through the lit hallway, noticing two closed doors, a room on the left, and a room on the right. He went with his instincts, swinging the door open to the room on the right, making another dramatic entrance yet again.
“Hey, dude! I’m Jabber, your roommateee!” He yelled in a singsong voice, taking a peek at the inside of his roommate's room.
Fairy lights were hung up on the walls with photos dangling down attached to the clips as they intertwined with the warm colored bulbs. There was a light plugged in the corner, creating seagreen blue waves on the roof as it moved constantly in a cycle. Shelves were nailed onto the wall, with books and books filling up the space on top. There were a lot of novel books, textbooks, books related to music, and some other ones titled in a language he couldn’t read. In the left corner of the room, a keyboard stood high and mighty, with a microphone stand beside it. The desk had a neat setup, a laptop in the middle, and a study light shining down onto it.
He looked up again, startled by seeing his roommate's face so suddenly. He stared at the slightly shorter man in front of him, studying his facial features. Smooth, pale skin. Defined jaw and a narrow chin that gave him an elegant, almost fragile look. Large, slightly almond-shaped icy azure blue eyes. Unique thin brows and thin lips. He had medium-length layered split-toned hair—a muted, saturated brown underneath a cool, ashy silvery blond. A beautiful guy indeed. He was dressed in a baggy hoodie and sweatpants. The two made eye contact, and the blonde eyebrows knit together as he frowned.
“Are ya this loud every day?” He sighed, shaking his head as he grumbled, grabbing onto the door handle, forcing Jabber to back up and move away from the room.
“Welllll maybe I am. Why don’t you tell me your name, pretty boy?” Jabber sneered, leaning against the doorframe, slightly towering over his roommate.
“Don’t call me that. And the name's Zanka. Now will you please stop leaning on my doorframe and go to your own room?” Zanka snapped.
“Woah woah woah there, Mr.Bad Attitude! Can you blame me for wanting to see who my roommate is? C'mon, man, we just met! Loosen up a bit, huh?”
Zanka messed around with his hair aggressively. “I don’t have time for this. Go to your room… and unpack… and do… whatever. Just please, don't bother me right now, I’m doing something important and-”
“Zanka, your room is sick as hell!! You got all those cool lights and shit!! Nice man!!” He ignored Zanka’s words and stumbled in himself, pushing Zanka aside lightly as he walked inside the room. “What’s all the stuff you got in your room anyway?”
“Please, roommate or whatever your name is, get out of my room! I’m trying to study!” Zanka protested.
“I’m Jabber! And what are you studying for? Classes haven’t even started yet-”
Zanka shoved him hard, removing him from the premises of his room and slammed the door in Jabber’s face.
Well okay. That was an amazing start to their friendship.
Jabber sighed, retreating back to the couch and gathered his belongings. He set his backpack down on the bed, unzipping it as he pulled out the posters sticking out, revealing his hidden secret. The secret, you may ask?
Jabber was a huge fanboy. Specifically for the well-known band growing popular each day in the city of Gachi, Akuta. Jabber giggled, staring at the images of the band members on the poster. Akuta had 4 band members. Zento, Ryou, Rikin, and Eita. The special thing about this particular band? They wear special, cool-designed masks on stage when they perform, a faceless group. No one knows the Akuta band members' true identities. The Akuta band always has so many diverse tracks and concepts, which is one of the reasons he became fascinated with the group. The other reason?
After hearing his magnificent voice and keyboard playing one day, Jabber was obsessed with one member, Zento, his bias. He began to idolize him, adore him, praise him, just like a true fanboy would. Something about Zento’s voice cast a spell on him that one day he stumbled upon the group on a whim. He hummed one of the songs the band produced, All in, as he began to tape his posters on the wall, focused on his work.
Ryou was one of the main singers of Akuta and the bassist. Her fashion was immaculate, and her hairstyles at every concert or appearance she made amazed the crowd.
Rikin, the drummer of Akuta, played the drums with such emotion that it intoxicated the crowd, hyping everyone up.
Eita, the guitarist of Akuta, strummed the strings of the instrument like it was second nature. He held the band together.
And Zento? He was something else. The other main singer of Akuta and the one who played the keyboard, was like a reincarnated angel. His voice was like silk, smooth and graceful, effortlessly slipping between airy highs and steady low notes. It filled the silence he didn’t like sitting with. It brought him a sense of comfort, carrying him through more than he’d ever admit out loud. His keyboard skills? On a whole other level. The way he layered synth over classic piano made every song brighter, fuller. He paused. Was he being a little dramatic? Probably. Did he really care at this moment? Nope, not at all! When he performed, he owned every ounce of his attention. He was lucky to be born in the same century. Lucky enough to hear that voice live. He had no idea how close it already was.
Tape was plastered onto the wall, as the pile of posters began to slowly disintegrate while Jabber put them up. The walls were all filled up now with posters of the band. He began to finally unpack his luggage, his Akuta merch shirts he had bought sitting there in the suitcase like a gourmet meal. He couldn’t help but snicker to himself again as he fully began to settle into his new dorm, hanging up all of his clothes and working hard to make the place feel even more cozy.
After hours had passed, he collapsed onto his bed, taking in all of his efforts and time being put into this room. Numerous posters of Akuta, a warm light stand in the corner, and shelves to display more of his Akuta merch. Perfect. He checked the time, looking at the digital clock he set up in his room. Soon, in a few days, classes would begin. He pulled out his phone, scrolling on TikTok in an attempt to entertain himself. He’d try again later to talk to his roommate, not wanting to ruin his chances of befriending him.
He received a notification from his phone as it let him know his food delivery had arrived. He stepped out of the room, opening up the door, and retrieving the meal. He unwrapped it, sitting on the counter as he feasted on his food. As he made his way back to his room, his eyes gazed upon the closed door to Zanka’s room. It was too quiet for his liking. Too... calm. Should he have gotten Zanka food? He hesitated, not wanting to overstep, eventually shutting the door as he watched more videos of Akuta’s performances as he lay on his bed, playing Zento’s voice in his ears. But it turned out Zanka wasn’t home at all when Jabber sneaked back into his room.
Over the course of the next few days, he had done a lot of mundane tasks, having nothing better to do until classes had begun. He cleaned up after himself and even bought groceries and cooked meals. One thought was gnawing at his mind. Talking to Zanka and trying to win him over. Classes started in a week, and he couldn’t help but be nosy and ponder on what Zanka’s major was, what classes he was taking, his schedule, what he did in his free time, everything. He was determined to talk to Zanka even after all of the times he was rejected and brushed aside like a fly.
He prepared himself to approach Zanka. Maybe today was his lucky day. He knocked on Zanka’s door, opening it as he revealed the plate of vanilla sugar cookies, smelling way too good to be resisted.
“Hey, Mr. Bad Attitude! I got you some cookies! I don’t really know what you like exactly, but I bet I’ll find out soon.” Jabber treaded toward Zanka, his voice having the slightest tinge of mischief. Zanka spun around on his chair, staring up at him, confusion written all over his face.
“Oh.. uhm.. Thanks, I guess?” Zanka took the plate of cookies from his hands, unsure how to react or what to say.
“Soooooo, are you going to tell me more about yourself without snapping at me this time?” He questioned, putting his arm over Zanka’s shoulder, observing what he was doing and what he was up to. Zanka had a textbook open on his desk, and from the looks of it, it seemed like he was studying something related to chemistry.
“Yeah, no. Now get out of my room.” Zanka pushed Jabber off of him and scoffed.
“Hey, what did I even do?!” Jabber frowned.
Suddenly, Jabber was given the cold shoulder, standing there as Zanka continued doing his work, ignoring him. Zanka won again. 0-2. Guess he’d try some other time…
Jabber had been keeping track of his wins and losses against Zanka, making this game of cat and mouse more enjoyable and entertaining. He brainstormed more ways to bother Zanka and for him to finally cave in once he returned to his humble abode. But, alas, he couldn’t come up with any ideas. Trying to use bribery turned out to be a failed mission, and even now, he didn’t even know what Zanka liked. In fact, he didn’t know a single thing about him. Deep down, he knew that he’d eventually find something out one way or another.
A week flew by, and Jabber was now dressed in one of his favorite pairs of jeans, the black, dark-washed, baggy ones he wore quite often. He layered it with a purple hoodie that almost perfectly matched his eye color, and of course, wore his backpack full of materials necessary for classes.
He wandered out the dorm, wishing he had asked Zanka what classes he was taking or what major he was, but he missed the opportunity to do so. He made his way to the campus, trekking onto the grounds as students hustled around. Navigating through the halls like a pro, he swiftly arrived at his class. His hands turned clammy, the nerves rushing back to him. Snap out of it, Jabber. He grabbed the door handle, pulling it, the door creaking as it opened. He popped his head out, eyes landing on his favorite professor.
“Professor Zodyl!!”
He ran toward him, hugging him tightly.
“Jabber, cut it out. Class is about to start, so take your seat. And people are staring. You're embarrassing yourself.” Professor Zodyl spoke in a cold, low voice.
“Awww, come on, Professor Zodyl! You know I’m your favorite student. I am always top of the class after all, and I’m more-“
“Shut your trap and go sit.”
He sighed, letting go of the professor, and turned to the rows of seats. His eyes scanned the rows, trying to find a good seat. In the midst of crowded seats with all sorts of students, he spotted a familiar pair of blue eyes. He couldn’t help but smile to himself.
He hauled himself up the steps of the stairs and pulled out the chair underneath the table, sitting beside the blue-eyed guy.
“Hey, Zanka! I wasn’t aware you were taking this class! What’s your schedule and major?”
Zanka’s face was seemingly filled with dread, looking like he was being put in a torture chamber.
“If I tell you, will you stop bothering me?”
“Hmmmmm…. Maybe?” Jabber gave him a sly leer, tapping the desk with his fingers,
Zanka crossed his arms. “Then I’m not saying anything.”
“Wait, wait! I’ll stop bothering you in class today. That sounds like a deal?”
Zanka went still for a few minutes, having an internal debate in his head.
“Fine. My major is environmental engineering, and all of my classes are on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. That’s all you're getting out of me.”
He beamed, earning a point against Zanka. 1-2.
Shortly, Professor Zodyl had begun teaching the class, going over core units of Chemistry and other key details. Jabber wrote down his notes meticulously, concentrating. He peeked at Zanka’s paper a few times, curious on what his handwriting looked like. Neat and readable, like a machine had written it, and he was left-handed as well.
Class continued, and once it had ended, he collected his things and turned to Zanka.
“See you later at the dorm!” Jabber waved goodbye to him, skipping along to go listen to another lecture.
After spending half of the day going to lectures and classes and fooling around on campus, he finally made his way back to the dorm, using his keycard to unlock it. He slowly began to adjust to school life again after classes had started, falling back into a steady routine. He made more efforts to win Zanka over, most of which ended terribly.
“Hey, Zanka!-”
“I’m trying to lock in on my homework!” Zanka hurled a pillow at Jabber’s head. 1-3.
“Zanka, look at what I got!-”
“How many times will I have to tell you…” Zanka glared at Jabber like he was already plotting his death. 1-4.
“Zanka! What’s your music taste, eh?”
Zanka continued to press the keys of his laptop. “Anything with restraint."
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You never heard of restraint in music?” Zanka turned to face him as the chair spun.
Jabber pouted. “Nah, not really. Can’t you just tell me one of your favorite artists or something?”
“I like Laufey’s music. Is that a good enough answer?”
“Yeah! I’ll find out more about you later.”
“Don’t get too cocky.” 2-4.
Yeah… He hadn’t been making much progress at all. Though he had started to notice that Zanka wasn’t home that often. Having trouble with his insomnia, he would hear the door creak open late at night, and he was unsure what Zanka was up to. Perhaps it was just a few coincidences. He shouldn’t put too much thought into it, right?
Coming back home from his mathematics class, he took off his shoes as he entered, noticing there wasn’t another pair right beside his. He checked the time on his phone. It was 4:30 PM. He staggered to the hallway, noticing the door to Zanka’s room was wide open. Huh. That was odd. Zanka probably still had classes; it was a Wednesday after all. He didn’t know what classes Zanka was taking and how many. I mean, some professors have really long lectures, so he shouldn’t fret.
He blasted Akuta's latest single, Rock That Body, in his ears, drowning himself in the sensations as he sat in his room. This way, he didn’t have to think about how still the room was. He was never fond of serene places. His personality didn’t clash well with an environment like that.
The days passed, turning into weeks, and Zanka was barely ever seen at the dorm. He assumed that this was maybe a one time thing, that Zanka was busy doing who knows what. Then it happened again. And it kept happening, the disappearances going on and on and on. He couldn’t come up with any other reasons Zanka would be out of the dorm this often. He was always so closed off and cold, so difficult to figure out.
The sun began to set, and dusk arose. Hours had passed since he had returned to the dorm, and Zanka was nowhere in sight. He fiddled around with his Zento plushie as he rewatched all of Akuta’s performances. He could see through the corner of his eye the digital clock he set up in his room. 3 AM. He straightened up as soon as he heard the door swing open. He contemplated whether or not he should ask Zanka where he had been. Rustling noises were made outside the door, and ultimately, he had made the decision to stay put. A sense of regret pounded in his chest, and that was all he could focus on while trying to sleep.
***
Jabber’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
He answered the phone, holding it up to his ear. “Hello?”
“Jabber, would you let me style your hair?” Noerde spoke through the line.
“Eh.. I mean, it depends on the style. I don't mind if you redo my dreadlocks, though. Why, you wanna get in some practice or something?” Jabber scratched the back of his neck.
“Yeah. I can redo them for you. I’ll call you whenever I need you.”
“Alright then. Have fun with your cosmetology classes.”
The phone call ended, and he resumed working on organizing a meet-up where Akuta fans could gather and chat. He was working with other diehard Akuta fans, who were ironically his own close friends, Cthoni, Fu, Noerde, and Semiu.
His eyes were still wide open even at such an absurd time of the night, staying up to finish organizing the meet and mainly because his insomnia wouldn’t let him have one sliver of sleep. The digital clock in his room read 2:48 AM, and Zanka still wasn’t home yet. He started to spot recurring patterns involving Zanka’s mysterious vanishings. He’d mainly leave the dorm at around 7:20 PM and come back at 3 AM. The door clicked open again unexpectedly, which forced him to face a complicated situation. Talk to Zanka, or act like he never noticed a thing? He remembered the regret he had felt the night he pretended he wasn’t awake. He pushed himself off the bed before he could second-guess himself, coming face to face with Zanka.
“What… why are you awake?...” Zanka blinked, speechless.
Jabber fidgeted with his rings. “I should be asking you that. You leave at 7:20 every night.”
“Oh. You’ve been watching.”
“Not on purpose.”
A beat passed.
“You just don’t look like someone who wants to be here. Just noticing.”
“Well, you shouldn’t.”
“You vanish all the time,” Jabber added. “I’m allowed to notice.”
“It’s just-”
Zanka paused.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
“Forget it. You know, not everything needs commentary.”
“What? It’s not commentary.”
“Then what is it?” Zanka tensed, eyes drifting past Jabber, into his room. His gaze landed on the Akuta posters. His expression tightened. The tension in the air began to stir.
“You’re my roommate. Can’t I worry?”
“You don’t need to do that,” He muttered.
“Do what, exactly?“
But Zanka had already slipped into his room and closed the door, leaving the room to be enveloped in silence.
For the first time, Jabber realized it wasn't the irritation Zanka was feeling. It was something else.
And for the first time, Zanka had locked his doors.