The Unknown

Ch. 2 - Habits

With half of the semester already over, you had to start writing your first draft of your research paper for finals. While working on it at home was great, you often preferred the atmosphere of the library; not to mention how many other resources were physically available to you there.
You walked into the large room of the main floor. Despite many bodies, it was completely quiet save for a few whispers and low voices.
You headed toward the computers lined up on the back wall behind some bookshelves. It was a secluded and quiet space, surely the perfect spot for you to get some work done...at least until you saw him.

He was face down on a keyboard with a document up. He was alone as no other students were utilizing the nearby desktops. The hiragana く must have been the first to be pressed as the screen was typing it continuously.

You walked over to him and dropped your bag down. Leaning down, you tried to see if he was awake. Unfortunately, you couldn't tell. His eyes were shut from what you could see and his back rose and fell heavily as if he were completely knocked out.

"Choso," you nudged him with your index finger, poking him hard in the shoulder. He didn't respond. "Choso, wake up." You continued poking him harder until you started shaking him with both hands.

"Goddamn," he sat up slowly with attitude, eyes still partially shut. He tried to focus them under the bright lights. When he was finally able to open them and look at you, his pupils were incredibly narrow and sclera slightly bloodshot. "What the fuck do you want?" He asked, rubbing his eyes with his four fingers on both hands, body now shifted to face you in the chair. His movements were incredibly slow and sloth-like.

"You were passed out on the keyboard," you motioned to the computer. "And it looks like you've managed to type hundreds of pages of く's." You squinted toward the page number in the bottom corner of the screen. Then, taking liberty, you grabbed the mouse and scrolled to the top of the document where he had the usual formatted header typed out. He at least had something started on his final paper.

"So?" He sluggishly turned his body back to the computer, highlighted all of the く's, and deleted them. You could tell by his frustration that he was slightly embarrassed.

"Are you high?" You asked outright, seeing how his fingers twitched and shook before pressing any keys.

"No. None of your business anyway," he spoke just as slow as he moved. It was also as if he were trying very hard to get the words out, preventing any slurring of speech. "Just...go somewhere else."

"Choso..." your face of anger turned to one of concern, "seriously, if you're high we need to get you help."

"Fuck off," he mumbled, logging out of the computer and slowly standing.

He began to stagger away, leaving you alone with the computers. You watched him saunter off, walking mostly normal, so you assumed he was safe for the time being.

You tried to shake off the experience and begin writing, but the entire time your mind worried about your classmate. Why do I even care? It's not like he's a friend...he's just some stupid low-life, you thought.

When you finally left the library you had to pass by a nearby pond. Leaning on one of the benches and underneath the blossoming trees with a few others who were known "bad boys" was Choso.
He was smoking, laughing, and just overall having the time of his life with his jerk friends. When you glanced you recognized his younger brother Eso who was just as happily involved.
Eso had a much more defined jaw structure and cheekbones compared to his older brother. He also had most of his head shaved save for a small tuft of hair that fell over his forehead. Quite honestly, he made Choso seem like the younger brother with his meatier arms and chest - not to mention his height.