Wash 4
Teddy heaved a deep breath, his arms trembling under the weight of over ten laundry bags.
He was inside the student dorm building, knocking on doors, handing out freshly folded clothes.
Slowly, his burden lessened, one bag at a time, until he was left with only one.
Then he passed by Drew’s door.
His feet stopped on their own, his breath hitching.
His face was so close to the door he could feel the cold wood
against his skin. His heartbeat roared in his ears.
“Drew... I know you don’t know me,” he whispered, his fingers tightening
on the laundry bag. “But I’m Teddy. And for months now, I’ve been watching you from your window.
I just want to say that I really find you attractive. No... I really find you very hot.
In fact, you’re so hot, I feel like a steaming ignition that all it takes is a flick..before—”
Before he could finish, the door flung open.
Teddy’s body lurched back in shock. The laundry bag slipped from his grasp,
sending clothes flying—pants,
underwear, socks scattering across the hallway in a dramatic, slow-motion tumble. His foot landed on
a stray shirt, and suddenly, he was falling.
Before he hit the floor, an arm shot out, catching him. Strong. Firm. Athletic.
Teddy’s wide eyes locked onto Drew’s. They were inches apart, breath mixing, time stretching.
“Teddy?”
Teddy gasped. “You... you know my name?”
Drew smirked, still holding him effortlessly. “Everyone knows you. You’re the laundry guy.”
“Oh. I see.”
Drew’s smirk deepened, his grip still secure.
“So… you have no plans to get off my arm, right? Great. I don’t mind”
Teddy’s face burned. He scrambled to his feet. “I-It was an accident! Sorry.”
Drew chuckled, glancing at the mess of laundry.
He bent down to help Teddy gather the clothes. That was when she arrived.
Cupcake Clarisse. Drew’s fucking stupid girlfriend.
With a cupcake in one hand and her phone in the other,
she stared in disbelief.
“Definitely not. Drew, what are you doing? Picking up dirty underwear?”
Drew sighed. “Clarisse.”
She perked up, quickly fixing her hair, snapping a selfie.
Then she turned back, hands on her hips. “What’s going on here? Who’s that guy?”
Drew glanced at Teddy, who was still on his knees, hastily gathering clothes.
“You don’t want to know.”
Clarisse scoffed. “Accident, huh? Well, how about this?” She rubbed her belly.
Drew’s face paled. “Oh no. Are you pregnant? I—I’m not ready for this,
Clarisse, we need to—”
Clarisse rolled her eyes. “Silly, I’m not pregnant.”
She fished a cupcake from her purse and tossed it at Teddy.
“I don’t know you, but I feel like you need extra sugar. ”
Then she took a bite of the cupcake
in her hand and dragged Drew away.
Drew gave Teddy a small smile before disappearing down the hall.
Teddy sat there, staring at the cupcake beside him.
“So... he has a girlfriend. A cupcake-eating girlfriend.”
————————————————————————————————————————————-
A shadow loomed over him.
“Teddy.”
Shiny shoes. Tight jeans. White shirt.
Roger.
Teddy’s body stiffened.
Roger crossed his arms, voice sharp.
“Why didn’t you pick up my laundry last week? My clothes are rotting in my room.”
Teddy clutched the laundry bag.
“Because... because you’re not paying me.”
Roger’s eyes darkened. He grabbed Teddy’s arm.
“Teddy. Don’t play with me. I don’t like it when I don’t have clothes to wear.”
Teddy yanked free and ran.
He crashed through the hallway, dodging students,
his breath ragged. His chest tightened as he found a door—
The restroom.
He rushed inside, locked himself in the last stall, and climbed onto the toilet.
His pulse pounded in his throat. He covered his mouth,
trying to silence his shaky breaths.
Roger’s heavy footsteps entered. One by one, he kicked open each stall.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Then silence.
Teddy held his breath.
The door burst open. Roger grabbed him, yanking him to the sink.
Teddy’s knees nearly buckled, his reflection staring back at him—pale, terrified
as Roger’s hand gripped his cheeks, And then,
Roger ripped his shirt apart. Teddy gasped, the cold air hitting his skin.
He flinched as something pressed against his back.
A marker. The sharp scent of ink filled his nose.
Roger grinned cruelly as he wrote the word, LOSER.
“They say Teddy has a little secret.
Tell me, Teddy... what did I write on your back?”
Teddy stared at the mirror.
The black letters loomed over his skin. His throat tightened.
“I... I can’t.”
Roger’s grin faltered. “It’s a simple word, Teddy. Say it.”
A tear slipped down Teddy’s cheek.
His lips trembled. “I... can’t read.”
Roger laughed. “The fucking Laundry Teddy can’t read the word ‘Lo—’”
Before he could finish, a fist connected with his jaw.
Roger stumbled back. Teddy gasped
as Drew stepped in, fists clenched, eyes blazing. “Back off.”
Roger spat blood, glaring. “This isn’t over.” He stormed out.
Teddy clutched his torn shirt, shaking.
Drew draped his jacket over him. “Are you okay?”
Teddy didn’t answer. He stared at the mirror,
his reflection blurry with tears. “What... what did he write on my back?”
Drew hesitated. “It doesn’t matter.”
Teddy swallowed hard. “I thought you left. With your cupcake girlfriend.”
Drew sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, she’s... something.”
Teddy looked up. “But...?”
Drew opened his mouth—
Everything went black.
Teddy woke up alone.
His body ached. His head throbbed. He looked in the mirror.
The word “LOSER” was still there.
Drew was gone.
It was just a dream.
Teddy let out a shaky breath.
He was alone again.
And then he just remembered something
before he was gut punched-
the fucking laundry are still out there
SPREAD. all over the hallway.
