Guess who I am

"So, do you like Star Wars?"

Jim sat across from him, fingering the pizza menu.Hearing this, she stopped, then raised her head to look at him. "What the hell is that? Everyone loves Star Wars. Well, at least the original trilogy. Don't tell me you don't. If you don't, I don't think we'll be able to share."

Jacob smiled and took a sip of his drink. "What if I've never actually seen it?"

Jim shifted back and forth in his chair, shaking his head and blinking, and could tell he was both shocked and amused. "Then I can handle it, Jacob. Don't worry, my friend will join me to guide you to the bright side." He stared back at the menu. "Do you like cranberries?"

"like."

"Well."

The waitress came over and took their order. "Kids, what do you want?"

"I want cranberry grilled chicken."

Jacob ordered a Coke.

"Aren't you hungry?" Jim asked him.

"Hungry. But I guess you didn't mean to be kidding when you asked me if I liked cranberries."

Jim laughed, louder and more confident than Jacob expected.He felt himself laughing too.

"I can't-no-no whole pizza."

Jacob couldn't eat three dollars.

Indie rock music playing in the background turned up the volume.Not too big to be too loud, but still attracts a lot of attention.They both listened for a while, Jacob beating the beat with his feet.Jim leaned back in his chair, the T-shirt pressed against his back so that the front fabric was pressed against his strong chest.It was enough for Jacob to notice that he was wearing a nipple ring.He didn't notice anything when the man was soaking wet in his own home, but then he was slightly hunched over from the cold—and later turned his back on him when he put on the T-shirt he had lent him.

Jacob looked up to find Jim looking at him, and blushed.

"Do you like- like this?"

his nipple ring? "Ah, uh, this..." Please don't call it sexy. "Interesting. Does it hurt?"

Jim gave him an odd look. "I think the rhythm of this song is good. What do you mean it hurts?"

Jacob blinked. "Huh? No, did I say this song is red?"

"I hadn't heard of it before. Maybe." But Jim still looked weird—a mix of frowning and mischievous grinning.

"By the way," Jacob said after taking a sip of his drink, "Where are we talking?"

"Forgot, is it the No.30 question of your questionnaire?" Jim said playfully. "What is question No. 30? No, let me guess-guess...you want to know about my stutter?"

Jacob relaxed and leaned back in his chair. "I'm a little too prudish, aren't I?"

"It's all right. I get it. You want to- want to know who you might live with."

"Yes, almost."

"So, what do you think?"

"What am I thinking?"

"Want to learn about my stutter?"

Jacob thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Not really, unless you want to say it yourself."

"Aren't you - won't you be bothered?"

He shook his head. "My brother stuttered and I grew up dealing with him. It's hardly noticeable anymore."

"Great. I mean, I'm relieved then. Can I ask you a few more questions? To be fair- say, it's my turn to ask."

"Ha! Yes. Of course, just ask."

"You like body-[1]" There was a long pause on the word, reminding Jacob of X, but Jim went on, "Physical exercise? I noticed your surfing last time I was there plate……"

***

"Daniel, do you like Star Wars?

"The Force should be a branch of philosophy. If it is, I've already chosen a field to focus on."

The waitress delivered Daniel's Veggie Supreme Pizza.Daniel thanked her and went to work on the refried beans. "I love this place."

"It's okay," Jacob said, "too bad it's not Fila del Fiore." He watched Daniel's reaction, but Daniel was too busy picking and picking at the falafel to take another bite. respond to him.

"Ah, yes," he said, chewing. "The ingredients here are the best. It suits my taste."

Jacob sat up a little more.He may have thought too much, but just now Daniel seemed to pause in the middle of his last sentence, it sounded like he was saying: I am X[2].

Or is this just Jacob overinterpreting?He became suspicious of everything.

He has a terrible headache.

"Hi," Daniel said, "so I was wondering what type of board games do you like? The last time you showed me around your house, I noticed that you don't seem to have much in stock. Anyway, where I live now I have several Shelf game. Would have liked to put together a few boxes and put them back at my mom and just take some of them with me - I mean, if I could get your room to rent. Everything is built on that premise. But if you like it, I Can I bring some games with you?"

Jacob was about to shake his head fiercely, but suddenly remembered something. "You don't happen to have Worker Story, do you?"

"Are you kidding me? I have two versions of that game—but one of them is a kid's version."

"X?"

"What? No, the other one isn't X-rated. But now I'd like to know what the X-rated version would be like..."

***

"...Like Star Wars?"

Zane downed his whiskey and coke. "Star Wars. Saw it. Loved it."

Jacob put down the greasy slice of meat eater pizza he had just picked up.One bite is enough for him.He's stuffed to the brim with pizza and disappointment.He was so eager to find out who his Mr. X really was.

He has always held the hope that Zane is X.That way his last interview would have been a lucky turnaround - but it didn't.

Well done, Mr. X.You win another round.

Zane pushed back his chair and stood up.He tilted his head to the back of the room and said, "Come on, play a few rounds of darts. You can keep asking me questions from there." He blinked. "I promise."

Zane was good at darts, but only slightly better than Jacob.He won the first two rounds, but Jacob was even with him until the end of the third round.

"Damn it, you're so strong," Jacob said. "Are you sure to win every game?"

"Not really. But if I am serious, it will be very difficult to be defeated."

Jacob took the darts from Zane and practiced a few rounds.Zane was leaning against the wall to his left, one foot crossed over the other ankle, watching. "So when can you tell me if I can have that room?"

Jacob's dart hit the edge of the dartboard. "Ah, soon, I think."

Zane nodded. "I've been looking for a good place to live for the past few months. Your place is very good. The location is good, and the distance from the school is just right..." He shrugged. "Anywhere is fine."

Jacob took the darts off the dartboard and walked up to him. "I'll get back to you as soon as I can." He handed the metal darts over, and Zane took them, flicking his fingers.

Jacob hurriedly raised his head, just in time to face the smiling Zane.This smiling Zane was staring at him intently, approaching him as if—

Jacob backed away sharply, letting go of the dart in his hand.

Zane also took a step back. "I'm sorry," he said, frowning.

"It's ok."

"I just thought... so does that mean you're meant to belong?"

Jacob paused. "Maybe, I suppose." Kissing Zane just didn't feel right—or rather, being obsessed with any of the three of them, weird.He sighed. "Probably not."

Zane stood up from the wall laughing. "Why am I so unbelievable?"

***

Mr. X,

I can't believe you are a vegetarian!

***

J,

I do love vegetables.

***

Mr. X,

So you're a vegetarian?

***

J,

Did you have a great roommate inspection day?Tell me about them.What do you like or dislike about the three of them?

***

Mr. X,

The following descriptions are in the order of roommate inspection days, because there is no better way to sort them:

Mr. Shy: I'm thinking of changing his code name to something else... well, he's so... warm, and the best part is, we never feel awkward even when we don't talk sometimes.

Mr. Philosophy (the vegan!): He has a smile that lights up a room.There was a moment at the end when I wanted to hit him on the back of the head and tell him to shut up for a while, but then he leaned forward and said, "I understand that look. You're about to hit someone. I'll shut up for a second, okay?" Is it?" Then we all laughed.

Mr. Hunk: He's even more emotional than I thought.Not only is he good-looking, but he is also kind and caring, and very easy-going, which made me think he would be a good roommate.

I imagined the three of them wearing that scarf separately.But until I knew who Mr. X was, it didn't look right on anyone's neck.

how do you feel tonight

***

J,

You're getting better at it, Jacob.Almost out of my words.I had to throw away the last note and start over.

Please control yourself and don't go to the trash can to find evidence.I've taken the crumpled piece of paper with me.

Now that you know I had to throw away my first response, can you deduce that I'm the one who showed up "today" night?Possibly oh.

Or am I just kidding you and I didn't write another note at all?

***

Mr. X,

You're just kidding me, right from the start.You have had too much fun with me, my friend.

Let me say a few things:

1) I'm now pretty sure you're not Mr. Shy.If you were, I'm pretty sure you'd ask me what other code name I gave him.

2) I do know a few things.Either you're stalking me, or you know Mr. Shy/Mr. Philosopher/Mr. Hunk - or how can you get out of my way?One of them must have told you that I meet them at noon/afternoon/evening! ! !

Or, wait, you know both of them?Was this thing designed from the start?

You owe me a clue, so tell me, who do you know?

(I hope you're a stalker though. If you are, I can probably catch you sooner.)

***

J,

Well, I do like to play tricks on people.

Also: 1) I am indeed Mr. Shy.I didn't ask you about your code name because, you know, I don't want you to know I'm him.

Also: 2) I love stalking.I really, really enjoy following you.After our date, I searched your name at home and happily turned Google upside down.I think I'm going to "stalk" you again tonight.

***

Mr. X,

Whoa, I didn't mean it when I said I wanted you to follow me.

But I'm serious now!

Damn, I want to say something else.Now my mind is blank...

Oh wait, right.clue!clue!clue!

***

J,

I'd rather you keep your mind blank.

Words for a clue.sure.

***

Mr. X,

Are you serious?You want me to beg you, don't you?

***

J,

Hahaha.No.It's just... I suddenly don't want to talk about it.

***

Mr. X,

I am now officially resorting to threats.Tell me, or your scarf will be history.

***

J,

Don't be mad, but yes, I know both of them.

***

Mr. X,

angry?This is great news!That means you're three times more likely to show up.Anyway, one of you will.

Wait, I'm actually a little pissed off.Does this mean that out of the three of you, only one wants to rent?

***

J,

I suddenly feel like this whole thing is going a little too far.Now I dare not speak out.But honestly, really, only one of us needs to rent.

***

Mr. X,

I got it.I mean, if you think about it, there aren't that many people who would agree to go on a date just to rent a room or something.All three of you are totally on board... I actually doubted it.

I wanted to be mad at you for playing me around, Mr. X - I would have been annoyed if I had found out sooner - but now...

It's not just a prank, is it?

***

J,

No!Not a prank, not at all.I'm really sorry for making you feel that way.

Should I tell you who your Mr. X is?Who Wants to Rent?Can this be remedied?

But if I told you... what would you do next?Can you completely forgive me?

I hope it's possible.

-TBC-

[1]? Here Jim stuttered on exercising and only said ex, which sounds like X.

[2] Daniel said "ThisisexactlywhatIwant", and Jacob thought of X when he heard the first syllable of exactly.