“Wait… you’re not planning to get married or have children?”

Milo narrowed his eyes at Nina, a flicker of disapproval crossing his face. He leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table as he studied her. "That's...unusual. Most women these days can't wait to get married and start a family."

His tone was laced with a subtle condescension, as if he couldn't quite comprehend Nina's lack of interest in such traditional expectations. An uncomfortable silence settled between them, the air thick with Milo's unspoken judgement.

After a moment, he cleared his throat and changed the subject, steering the conversation towards their shared classes and living arrangement. But the undercurrent of his dismissive attitude towards Nina's choices lingered, hinting at potential conflicts to come.

“I heard that we’re going to be roomies because they don’t have a girl dorm to put me in,” Nina nodded in acknowledgement, trying to move the conversation in a more positive direction. "I see. Well, I'm sure we'll make the best of the situation. I may not be the typical roommate you're used to, but I hope we can still get along and make the most of living together."

She offered Milo a faint smile, attempting to diffuse the lingering tension. Deep down, Nina couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease at Milo's dismissive attitude towards her life choices. Still, she was determined to make the most of this arrangement and hopefully find some common ground with her new roommate.

As they finished their coffee and prepared to leave, the air between them remained slightly strained, hinting at the potential for future conflicts and misunderstandings. Nina couldn't shake the feeling that living with Milo was going to be more challenging than she had anticipated.

It began pouring and Nina plastered on a bright calming smile. “I like the rain, it’s always nice and chilly!”

Milo raised an eyebrow at Nina's comment, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. "Really? The rain is usually associated with gloomy, dark days."

He watched as the rain began to come down harder outside, the sound of the drops hitting the window creating a soothing rhythm. Despite himself, Milo couldn't help but feel a bit of relaxation wash over him as he listened to the rain.

"I suppose there's something calming about it," he admitted, his tone softening slightly. "It's a nice break from the constant hustle and bustle of everyday life. But still, I prefer the sunshine."

Nina smiled at Milo's response, feeling a small sense of victory that they shared a moment of understanding. "That's true. But sometimes, the rain can be a nice reminder of the beauty that can come from darkness. It's all about finding the silver lining."

As they headed up to their room, the rain continued to pour outside, creating a cozy atmosphere inside as they settled in for the night. Despite their differences, Nina couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that she and Milo might be able to find some common ground after all.

The next morning dawned grey and dreary, the patter of rain still audible against the window panes. As Nina stirred awake, she could hear Milo moving about in the small dorm room they shared.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she sat up, exited her room and watched as Milo meticulously went about his morning routine - showering, shaving, and dressing with the precision of a seasoned soldier. There was an almost clinical detachment to his movements, a sense of control and discipline that set him apart from Nina's more relaxed approach to life.

After a brief exchange of polite "good morning", the two students headed out into the rain, hurrying across campus to reach their first class of the day. The dreariness of the weather seemed to suit Milo's serious demeanor, while Nina couldn't help but feel a spark of joy at the sight of the rain-soaked greenery around them.

As they walked, Nina broke the silence between them, her voice raised slightly above the sound of the rain. "Isn't it just wonderful?" she exclaimed, throwing her arms open in delight. "The rain cleanses everything, washes away the old to make way for the new. It's a fresh start, you know?"

For a moment, her enthusiasm seemed to catch Milo off guard. Despite his initial skepticism, he found himself nodding along with her words, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I suppose you're right," he finally conceded, his voice tinged with reluctant admiration. "It's not all bad, this rain."

Their brief moment of understanding faded as they entered their classroom, the familiar rhythm of lectures and assignments quickly pulling them back into their respective worlds. Yet, amidst the chaos of college life, there was a small glimmer of hope that perhaps Nina and Milo could find common ground after all.

...----------------...

Nina was in a conversation with a mutual friend talking about different topics as girls do, “You know, I hate kids.” Overhearing Nina's comment, a shadow passed over Milo's face, his expression darkening for a moment. "Are you saying you don't like having children?" he asked, voice edged with a hint of accusation.

Nina flinched at his tone, realizing too late that her comment had landed her in trouble. She took a deep breath, attempting to explain herself. "No, not like that. It's just the noise they make, the mess they create, it drives me crazy," she said, hoping to soften the blow.

But Milo was not easily placated. "Well, I have always wondered what kind of person wouldn't want children," he said, his voice hardening. "It's a natural instinct."

The tension between them escalated quickly, each word like a barb piercing the calm facade they had briefly managed to maintain. As they left the classroom, the familiar thud of raindrops on the pavement echoed in the silence between them, serving as a stark reminder of how far they still had to go to find common ground.

The rain continued to fall as Nina trailed behind Milo, a sense of unease settling in her stomach. She couldn't help but feel like she had failed somehow, that the thin thread of understanding they had managed to weave had been irreparably damaged.

Clearing her throat, she turned to face him, mustering up the courage to broach the subject. "Look, I'm sorry if my comments about kids offended you. It was insensitive of me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just a personal thing, you know?"

For a moment, Milo paused, seeming to consider her words. Then, with a deep sigh, he relented. "It's fine," he said, though there was a note of unconvincing in his voice. "Just...be more careful with what you say in the future, okay?"

Nina nodded gratefully, a sense of relief washing over her. Despite their differences, she knew they could still find common ground if they tried. And maybe, just maybe, this unlikely pair of roommates could learn to live together in some sort of harmony, rain or shine.

Later that evening, as the rain pitter-pattered against their windowpane, Nina could be seen busily preparing dinner in the shared kitchen. She hummed softly to herself, lost in thought as she chopped vegetables and stirred pasta.

As Milo entered the room, he watched her for a moment, a conflicted look on his face. On one hand, he was annoyed by her presence, feeling a prickle of discomfort as he shared living space with a woman. On the other hand, he couldn't deny the comfort he found in the familiar rhythm of cooking.

Deciding against commenting, Milo leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest, watching Nina with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Despite their earlier tension, there was an underlying current of curiosity about each other, a spark of interest that couldn't be entirely extinguished by their differences.

As dinner was served and they sat down to eat, neither of them spoke much, lost in their own thoughts and feelings. Yet, amidst the silence, there was a sense of uneasy truce, a recognition that they were in this together - for better or worse.

Only time would tell if they could truly overcome their differences and learn to live harmoniously under the same roof, but for now, they would savor the solace that only a shared meal could provide.

“D-Do you liked it?”

Milo took a small bite of the pasta Nina had made, his brow furrowed in concentration as he chewed. It was surprisingly good, the taste exploding on his tongue with a mix of flavors that caught him off guard.

Pushing his skepticism aside, he swallowed his mouthful and nodded approvingly. "It's...not bad," he admitted, a hint of surprise coloring his tone. "You're not half-bad at cooking, I'll give you that."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Nina's mouth as she watched him eat. She couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment at his words, despite the rocky start to their relationship.

"Thanks," she replied, her voice soft. "I've always enjoyed cooking, even if it's just for myself. It's nice to know someone else appreciates it."

There was silence for a moment, the sound of earnest honesty hanging in the air between them. Then, with a shrug, Milo broke the silence once again. "Well, dinner was good," he said, his tone neutral. "But that doesn't mean we're going to be best friends or anything."

Even as the words left his mouth, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at their lack of connection. But maybe, just maybe, with time and patience, he and Nina could find a way to bridge the gap that separated them.

For now, however, they would continue to tread carefully around each other, each heart guarded and cautious. But amidst the uncertainty and tension, there was a small glimmer of hope - a shared appreciation for a simple, satisfying meal.

“Do you have a girlfriend or fiancé?” The question caught Milo off guard, causing him to pause before answering. "No," he said simply, his tone revealing nothing of the complicated mix of emotions that lurked beneath the surface. "I don't."

There was an unspoken accusation in Nina's tone, a hint of disbelief that stung him deeper than the words themselves. "Why does it matter?" he asked, his voice cold and defensive. "What, are you hoping to find a good stud to marry or something?"

Instantly, he regretted his harsh words, the flash of anger and resentment darkening the already tense atmosphere between them. But it was too late to take them back now.

Nina recoiled at his words, hurt flickering across her features briefly before she masked it with a carefully blank expression. "I...I wasn't asking for me," she stammered, her voice little more than a whisper. "I was just curious, that's all."

The hurt in her eyes cut him to the quick, a pang of guilt twisting his gut. He'd done it again - lashed out without thinking, causing unintentional harm to someone who meant him no ill will.

With a sigh, he forced himself to soften his tone, to try and smooth over the rough edges of their conversation. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low and contrite. "I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

Hesitantly, he reached out a hand to her, an offering of peace. Whether she would accept it or not remained to be seen.

“I’m sorry…”

As Nina fled the table, leaving her half-eaten meal behind, Milo sat there for a moment, contemplating his actions. His hand hung in the air, suspended between offering comfort and pushing her away.

With a sigh, he let it fall to his side, abandoning any attempts at reconciliation. He had a pattern of pushing people away, of lashing out when he felt threatened or vulnerable. And yet, despite the pain he caused others, he couldn't seem to break free from it.

He rose from his seat, grabbing his tray and disposing of the slight leftovers before returning it to the kitchen. As he walked back to his room, he knew deep down that things weren't going to get any easier between him and Nina. But maybe, just maybe, if he could learn to control his temper and his insecurities, he could start to build bridges instead of burning them.

It wouldn't be easy, he admitted to himself. There would be missteps and mistakes, hurt feelings and heated arguments. But if he was going to survive living with Nina, he needed to find a way to make it work. And so, with a heavy heart and a determination that bordered on desperation, he began the slow, painful process of trying to be a better roommate - and a better person.

Days turned into weeks, and the tension between Nina and Milo remained the same. She continued to make dinner for both of them, even though they barely spoke beyond the occasional polite exchanges about the weather or their classes.

In the moments when their paths crossed in the shared spaces of their apartment - the kitchen, the living room, the hallway - there was an undercurrent of unease that lingered in the air.

Neither of them wanted to be the first to break the silence, to risk further hurt or rejection.

But beneath the surface, there were moments of curiosity and even longing. They both recognized the potential for connection that lay dormant between them, even if they didn't know quite how to reach it. And so, they continued to circle each other warily, like two wary animals trying to determine if they were predator or prey.

Despite their efforts to maintain a distance, the walls of their apartment couldn't contain the growing complexity of their relationship. It was a messy, uncomfortable dance of emotion and misunderstanding, hurt and hope. And neither of them knew quite how it was going to end - or if they even wanted it to.

...----------------...

“Aren’t you going to try and apologize? Do I have to ignore you?!”

The anger and frustration in Nina's voice cut through Milo's thoughts, jolting him back to reality. He had been lost in his own head, trying to make sense of his feelings and his behavior

towards her.

With a sigh, he pushed himself away from his desk and walked towards her. She was standing in the living room, her back turned to him as she stared out the window.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I shouldn't have snapped like that. It wasn't fair to you."

Slowly, she turned to face him, her eyes narrowed in skepticism. "It's always about fairness with you, isn't it?" she replied, her words tinged with bitterness. "Well, life isn't fair, Milo. And neither are people."

Her words stung, but he couldn't deny the truth in them. He had spent so much of his life trying to control situations and people, trying to make sure that everyone played fair. But in the real world, that wasn't always possible.

With a deep breath, he reached out a hand to her once more, hoping against hope that this time, she would accept his gesture of peace. "I know it's not always going to be easy," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "But can we try, at least? For both of us?"

Nina hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest as she wrestled with her insecurities and her desire for connection. Finally, she reached out and took his hand in hers, squeezing it gently.

"Okay," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But we need to be honest with each other, Milo. No more games, no more pushing each other away."

He nodded, his grip on her hand tightening

reassuringly. "I promise," he said, his voice firm. "I'll try my best to be honest and open with you. Because I don't want us to be strangers living under the same roof anymore. I want...well, I want to be friends."

The words were easier to say than he had

expected them to be. And as they stood there, hand-in-hand, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope blossoming in his chest. Maybe, just maybe, he was finally ready to let someone in.