House of Nerds (Hon)

The smell of smoke still clung to Jimmy's clothes, a constant reminder of the inferno that had devoured their studio and their dreams. He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, the soot smudging against his skin. Beside him, Tle stared out the taxi window, his usual vibrant energy replaced with a quiet resignation. "Think Aunt Jane will have extra blankets?" Jimmy asked, trying to inject a note of levity into the situation. Tle sighed, not taking his eyes off the passing scenery. "Knowing Aunt Jane, we'll be lucky if she has enough space for our camera gear, let alone blankets." The taxi pulled up in front of a weathered apartment building, a stark contrast to the modern studio they had lost. This was Aunt Jane's domain, a place of floral wallpaper, strict rules, and a distinct lack of privacy. As they hauled their equipment and what little belongings they had salvaged from the fire up the creaky stairs, Jimmy couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. He knew his aunt loved them, but she also had a... unique way of showing it. And he had a sinking suspicion that this whole "temporary" living arrangement was going to be anything but easy. The door swung open to reveal Aunt Jane, a formidable woman with a no-nonsense attitude and a floral apron. Her eyes softened slightly when she saw them. "Jimmy, Tle, welcome. Or, I should say, welcome back. It's been too long." She enveloped them in a surprisingly warm hug. "Come in, come in. You must be exhausted." She asher them to get inside The apartment was small and cluttered, every surface covered in knick-knacks and framed photos of relatives they barely recognized. Aunt Jane ushered them into a cramped living room. "Now,Let's talk about the elephant in the room. You boys owe me a lot of money." she said, clapping her hands together. Jimmy and Tle exchanged nervous glances. They knew this was coming, but hearing it out loud made the situation even more dire. "We know, Aunt Jane,We're working on it. The insurance..." Jimmy said, wincing. "Insurance takes time," Aunt Jane interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "I need a solution now. Which is why I've come up with a plan." And that's when she dropped the bombshell. In exchange for covering a significant portion of their debt, Jimmy and Tle would be sharing the apartment with her two nieces for the next three months. Nieces who, as it turned out, were very familiar faces from their past. "Jimmy, you'll be staying with Ohm," Aunt Jane announced, her voice matter-of-fact. Jimmy choked on air. Ohm? His Ohm? The one he had spent the last year trying to forget? Aunt Jane turned to Tle. "And Tle, you'll be with FirstOne. He's a very polite young man, and I'm sure you'll get along just fine." Tle's face paled. FirstOne? The ridiculously handsome brand ambassador he had turned down for a date, citing “Professionalism" As the reality of their situation sank in, Jimmy and Tle exchanged a look of utter despair. They were not just homeless, they were trapped. Trapped in a tiny apartment with their exes, forced to confront the ghosts of their past, all under the watchful eye of their well-meaning, but incredibly meddlesome, aunt. This was going to be a long three months.