House of Nerds (Hon)

Hon chapter 2

The dim lighting and familiar chatter of Latte's bar was a welcome balm to Jimmy and Tle's frazzled nerves.

The moment they sat down, Latte, a whirlwind of energy and colorful accessories, pounced on them, eager to hear about their disastrous living situation.

As they recounted their stories, from the fire that destroyed their studio to Aunt Jane's "bonding opportunity," Latte's eyes widened in disbelief.

By the time they reached the part about sharing a room with their exes, he burst out laughing, a hearty, unrestrained sound that drew a few curious glances from other patrons.

"You're kidding me, right?" Latte gasped, wiping tears from his eyes.

"This is like a rom-com waiting to happen! But seriously, guys, that's messed up."Latte added.

The laughter died down, and a more serious expression settled on Latte's face. "So, spill. What went wrong? What's the deal with Ohm and FirstOne?"

Jimmy took a deep breath, the memories flooding back. "With Ohm... it wasn't a big fight or anything. We just... drifted apart, I guess. He was always busy with his art, and I was always chasing the next gig. We were like ships passing in the night."

He paused, a flicker of pain in his eyes. "The final straw was probably when I was two hours late to our date. I know, it was a shitty thing to do, but I was stuck on a shoot. I tried to call him, but he'd already blocked my number. The next day, my stuff was delivered to the studio. That was it. He just cut me off."

Tle sighed, his expression mirroring Jimmy's sadness.

"My story is even more pathetic. I ditched FirstOne because I found out he was in the same graduating class as me back in high school. I wasn't exactly the popular kid back then, and the thought of him remembering my nerd phase... I just panicked. I know, it was stupid, but I couldn't face him."

Latte's eyes narrowed, his beast mode activated.

"You guys are both idiots," he declared, his voice laced with exasperation.

"Jimmy, you let your work consume your life, and you, Tle, let your insecurities ruin a perfectly good opportunity. You had something special with these guys, and you threw it away over something so trivial."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But here's the good news you have a second chance. You're living with them now! You can fix this. You can show them that you've changed, that you're worth another shot."

Jimmy and Tle exchanged hesitant glances.

Could they really rewrite the past?

Could they overcome the regrets and what-ifs that haunted them?

The prospect was both terrifying and exhilarating.

As they listened to Latte's impassioned lecture, a flicker of hope ignited within them.

Maybe, just maybe, they could turn this disastrous situation into a second chance at love.

Or maybe they are just meant to be each others shoulder to cry on.

The walk back to Aunt Jane's apartment was a blur of drunken stumbles and sleepy yawns.

By the time they reached the building, Tle was practically swaying on his feet, while Jimmy was struggling to keep his eyes open.

The sounds of laughter drifted from inside the apartment.

As they fumbled with the key, they realized that Ohm and FirstOne were already home, happily chatting and laughing in the living room.

The laughter abruptly ceased as they entered, the atmosphere shifting from lighthearted to awkward in an instant.

"Tle, I'm sleepy,You should try to walk straight now. We've arrived." Jimmy mumbled, his words slurring slightly.

Tle scoffed, puffing out his chest.

"OI! I DON'T WALK GIDDY OK! He pointed out.

I am perfectly capable of walking in a straight line!" he said as a declaration, his voice loud and slurred.

To prove his point, he took a dramatic step forward, only to stumble and nearly fall face-first into the floor.

Jimmy quickly grabbed his arm, steadying him.

"Told you that guy's drink is not on your level!You're such a lightweight." Jimmy chuckled, shaking his head.

Tle glared at him, his eyes unfocused. "Shut up! Man who danced for a highschooler, haha!" he retorted, his words dripping with drunken sarcasm.

Jimmy's eyes widened in mock horror.

"Whoa! I didn't know that until the bouncers ran after them!" Jimmy laughed, recalling his embarrassing moment.

"But hey, he's got a skill for acting and probably running," Jimmy added.

Ohm and FirstOne watched the exchange with a mixture of amusement and concern, their earlier lightheartedness replaced by a wary curiosity.

This was going to be an interesting three months, indeed.

"But at least this time, I came!" Tle slurred, throwing an arm around Jimmy's shoulder for support.

"Yeah, even though the guy kept saying that you were too young-looking!" Tle added, giggling uncontrollably.

Jimmy grinned, patting Tle on the back. "And at least we're not late for this one!" he declared, earning a groan from Tle.

The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning.

Ohm and FirstOne exchanged a significant look, their expressions a mix of understanding and a hint of pain.

It was like a mock-up session of their past relationships.

FirstOne, the sweet and patient one, had been ditched by Tle, left waiting and wondering.

Ohm, the dedicated and loving partner, had grown tired of Jimmy's chronic lateness, the constant feeling of being second place to his career.

Now, here they were, forced to witness a drunken reenactment of their past hurts.

Despite the awkwardness and the sting of old wounds, a sense of responsibility washed over them.

They couldn't just leave Jimmy and Tle to fend for themselves.

They were, after all, stuck in this situation together.

With a sigh, Ohm stepped forward, his voice calm and steady. "Alright, you two. Let's get you to bed before you embarrass yourselves any further."

In Ohm's room, the scene was a mixture of comical and endearing.

Jimmy, exhausted from the day's events and the alcohol's effects, had barely managed to collapse onto the cot before succumbing to sleep.

But the small cot proved no match for his restless slumber.

A loud thud echoed in the room as Jimmy tumbled onto the floor, completely unconscious.

Ohm, startled by the noise, rushed to his side.

He knelt down, his eyes softening as he took in the sight of Jimmy sprawled on the floor, his face peaceful in sleep.

Despite the pain and resentment that lingered between them, a wave of affection washed over him.

He couldn't help but care for the man he had once loved so deeply.

Carefully, Ohm scooped Jimmy up in his arms, his muscles straining with the effort.

He gently placed him back on the cot, making sure he was comfortable and covered with a blanket.

He lingered for a moment, gazing at Jimmy's sleeping face, before finally turning off the light and retreating to his own bed.

Meanwhile, in FirstOne's room, a similar scene was unfolding.

Tle, heavy with alcohol, had managed to make it to the bed before passing out, his limbs sprawled haphazardly across the mattress.

FirstOne, though equally exhausted, couldn't bring himself to leave Tle in such a state.

He carefully removed Tle's shoes and jacket, gently maneuvering his heavy body until he was lying comfortably on the bed.

He covered him with a blanket, his fingers lingering for a moment as he brushed a stray strand of hair from Tle's forehead.

Despite the fact that Tle had once rejected him, FirstOne couldn't deny the spark of attraction that still flickered between them.

He sighed, a mixture of fondness and resignation in his heart.

He may have been ditched by him before, but he still cares and doesn't want anything bad happen to him.

With a final glance at the sleeping Tle, FirstOne turned off the light and crawled into bed, the events of the day swirling in his mind.

The forced cohabitation had begun, and it was already proving to be more complicated than he had ever imagined.