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Even has always been fascinated by the moments. Moments like life-altering but you have no clue at the time, then you look back at the events as if a filmstrip and everything starts to get into its places, or even better, moments just like that and you know your whole world is about to turn around, you can feel it at the time but you just can't pinpoint the logical reason behind. It was just like that when he first saw Isak. Time was frozen by the laughter of a blond boy with curly hair in his new schoolyard. The laughter that lingered in his bones. Even was fascinated and he just knew.
It's been two weeks since Isak's third year in high school started, so a year and two weeks since Even saw Isak for the first time. What a year turned out to be. He was attending a new school, nervous as hell thinking what the year could bring, little did he know, it could bring Isak to him. And Isak was the most beautiful thing his eyes ever laid on. Some things never change. He is attending a new school, a film school now and Isak is still the most beautiful thing his eyes ever laid on. He can imagine his boyfriend rolling his eyes right now, 'stop with the cheesy shit, Even' but he won't because he just knows it means 'thank you bby, I love you so much' in Isak-tionary.
He might have made a mess today, though. Apparently bragging nonstop about your perfect boyfriend to your supposedly new friends is considered as a frowned upon act. Whatever. He pulls out his phone to text Isak to know when he's finished school. To come home. Where they live together. For five months. Okay he understands the gist of why it can be annoying. His screen is full of notifications, messages with overused emojis, that can mean one thing, Eva.
long-awaited double date (Ok Hand Sign ≊ Ok Hand) (Dancer ) (Party Popper ) (Heavy Black Heart ≊ Red Heart)
14:17
Eva: soooo
what about our talked about once but never acted on double date (Smiling Face With Halo )
are you guys in (Hugging Face )
Eveeeeen
are you there
or are you at a seminar (Nerd Face )
15:09
yep, I'm in
sorry I just got home
wait you forgot to add Isak
Eva: I didn't forget (Grimacing Face )
Jonas: it would be better to let Isak know in just like last minute
why?
Jonas: he might be annoyed with us
what did you guys do?
Eva: we didn't do anything
Jonas: yeah he just sees us together he goes all ugh Even, where's Even, Eveen, Eveeeeen
ahaha
I came to school on his lunch break twice last week
Eva: he misses you so much
it's ridiculous
you guys literally live together (Face With Rolling Eyes )
I miss him too (Heavy Black Heart ≊ Red Heart)
Eva: åh (Smiling Face With Heart-Shaped Eyes )(Smiling Face With Heart-Shaped Eyes )
Jonas: yo back to the earth, what should we do?
what about bowling?
Really? Isak can get too competitive
Jonas: Let's just stratch that out
Eva: haha
I can find a concert maybe
I'll just look up for tickets
it would be fun
Jonas: yeah (Face Throwing A Kiss )
it's a good idea if we can find some
or we can just chill at home, you know I could make dinner and then we could just watch a movie together
Jonas: No
Eva: lol
Why not?
Jonas: No offense but if we're thinking our brains out to understand just a tad the movie you choose for us to watch then it's not 'chilling out'
Eva: adhkfhfsj
Wow, straight up
Eva: did you know how Isak talked me down when I was thinking about changing schools in my first year
he said if I went to Bakka, I would end up being a wannabe creative media and communication person (Face With Look Of Triumph )
he was like don't do that Eva, keep it real here (Smirking Face )(Face With Tears Of Joy )
and he talked shit about their pricey coffee choices too (Smiling Face With Open Mouth And Cold Sweat )(Smiling Face With Open Mouth And Cold Sweat )
Jonas: Eva, you're being a Magnus now
Eva: oh
he was just being a good friend, Even
ahaha it's all good
and why am I not surprised
so it's a solid no for movies?
Jonas: No
I think Isak is unlocking the door
or someone is trying to break into
any way I gotta go
but I'll come up with something
don't worry, I got you
Eva: (Thumbs Up Sign ≊ Thumbs Up)
Isak ran over to Even who's sitting at the edge of their bed and jumped onto his lap as soon as he got the key correct and opened the door in his third try. This boy. He kissed all over Even's face, wherever he could reach out, mumbling 'I missed you today' to his skin.
'I missed you too' answered Even between laughs.
'That's it, you have to come back. High school education is so important, it wouldn't do any harm to relearn some things. People showing off their relationship on me, Eveen' pleaded Isak, kissing the corner of his mouth to make his statement stronger or less ridiculous.
'Okay. Anything for you, bby' agreed Even easily and tilted his head to give a proper kiss to his boyfriend.
After what felt like eternity but can't have been more than ten minutes make out session -Even has no idea, time stands still for him when they kiss. Yeah even after all this time- Isak tossed his backpack to the floor. He had forgotten about it before, he'd had other things in his mind like kissing Even, breathing him in. He got off of his lap and lay down next to him on the bed instead. Even was still sitting up but reached out to grab Isak's hand, 'Tough day?'
'This year's kicking my ass.' grunted Isak.
'You can achieve anything. Don't forget you're a genius bby' said Even, stroking Isak's hand with his thumb. That made Isak smile, so it's a victory.
'Yeah, I know. I'm just tired, I guess. And I really missed you.'
'I'm right here now and I was thinking watching a movie together before you came, you know for my foreign film assignment. I finally chose what to watch. But if you're tired maybe you should get some sleep.'
'No, I don't wanna sleep now and fuck up my schedule.'
'Okay. A professor wanted to talk to me today about the essay I wrote for my acceptance. The one you helped with.'
'That Argentine film? hm, Wild Tales, made up of six short stories?'
'Relatos Salvajes, yeah. Apparently he found it brilliant how I- we perceived the film and anger management and how it was a totally new area that the director wandered on. I'll save you the technical talk but really boosted my self-esteem. I was thinking maybe we could watch this one together also.'
'But I didn't do anything, Even. It's all you bby, and I'm proud of you.'
'You watched it with me and shared your opinions, let me discuss it for hours. I know I can be annoying when I hooked on something. That's more than enough.' said Even, lifting up Isak's hand to place a kiss there. The thing is Even knew at this point Isak would compromise. If he praises Isak and shows affection, Isak can't say no to him. So can this be considered as manipulation? Maybe. Just a little. No. Just perks of knowing someone too well for his liking.
'Okay okay let's watch the movie' giggled Isak, probably the place Even just planted a kiss tickles a bit.
'You're not too tired?'
'Just give me coffee and call me pretty and I'm ready'
Even laughed. 'You're so needy. But do you like my coffee?' Isak looked up at him with questioning eyes. 'I mean don't you find my coffee choices some pricey shit?' Even went on teasing, raising his eyebrows and all.
***
'So what's the name of the film?' asked Isak, sitting up on the bed with a cup of coffee in his hand and finally functioning again.
'Bin-jip' said Even, making himself comfortable in bed, leaning against the wall, placing his laptop in front of them.
'What?'
'Bin-jip. It means empty house in Korean. 3-Iron in English but I think original title suits better. Anyway I couldn't find Norwegian subtitles so we have to watch it with English ones.'
'What am I getting myself into?' said Isak suspiciously.
'Don't worry. I think there's not many dialogues in it anyway.'
'What?!!'
***
'Yikes. Did he just use someone else's toothbrush?'
'You used my toothbrush once. And he's trying to act like the person who actually lives there.'
'So what's your point? You're not some stranger'
'Keep watching.' shushed Even and Isak obeyed, his head falling into the crook of his neck.
***
Even doesn't know when exactly Isak dozed off but he realises that he did in the middle of the film, Isak was being suspiciously quiet. 'Isak?'
'Mh?'
'Are you paying attention?'
'Ja.'
'Isak, your eyes are closed.' Even couldn't help laughing.
'I am mhm-listening'
'So you speak Korean now?'
'Ja.'
'Even though they haven't spoken for like fifteen minutes?'
'I'm listening don't worry' said Isak again, still paying no effort to open his eyes.
'Okay then.' Even laughed again. This boy. 'I'm just gonna make us some popcorn and you rest a little bit.' He planted a kiss to his sleepy boyfriend's temple and replaced his shoulder with their blue pillow.
***
'Rise and shine, bby' yelled Even but he's pretty sure it's the smell of the popcorn that made Isak open his eyes.
'Oh, did I sleep through it? Sorry.' said Isak with a voice anything but sorry.
'Don't worry you didn't sleep through all of it, I paused it to make popcorn.'
'Why?' Isak said, his voice now less amusing. 'I mean let's get it over with' added, grabbing the popcorn and holding on to it for dear life.
Even resumed the film and he appreciated Isak's attempt to keep his eyes open even it was for the sake of eating popcorn but couldn't help laughing himself after a while. 'You can't possibly comprehend anything at all, come on, you slept through most of it.' Even laughed again, somehow found this quite amusing.
'We're watching a Korean but barely spoken film with English subtitles and I'm sure I heard some Arabic song in the background at some point and you really expect me to understand it?' Isak defended himself.
'You would've understood if you'd kept your eyes open.'
'Yeah. I'm sorry. I guess coffee doesn't work on me anymore.' Yeah that's been a problem lately. That's why Isak started to mix up coffee and red bull before preparing for exams, wishful thinking he won't die of an unexpected heart attack. 'Let's watch it over again.'
'No, you shouldn't watch it if you're not enjoying it. It's okay if we don't like the same things sometimes.'
'I know that. That's like the definition of a healthy relationship'
'What is?'
'First you love each other so much, so soo much. Next you care about the same values. Then you have different interests and opinions in matters to keep the other interested or like not bored. Last but not least you respect each other's views. Finally you have a healthy relationship. Congratulations.'
'I'm glad that I'm scientifically approved boyfriend for you then. But really you should take a nap. I'll finish the film.'
'Okay, let me just finish the popcorn first.'
***
Even finished the film himself, his boyfriend peacefully sleeping on his shoulder. He loved the movie. He loves all epic love stories. He can't wait for the day that he'll make the world watch his epic love story. Isak and Even's. One day.
We are all empty houses, waiting for someone, to open the lock and let us free.
And Isak opened his a year and two weeks ago.