Chapter Text
Zo is deeply engrossed in his studies, the soft rustle of pages and the occasional whisper creating a serene backdrop. Suddenly he hears his name being called and this breaks his concentration. He looks up, disoriented, and he sees his friend, Pat standing a few feet away, smiling.
It’s a familiar face, Zo realises with relief and happiness. But then his eyes shift slightly to the right and he spots someone he recognises immediately.
Joke.
Joke is an old classmate that Zo rarely ever sees around and certainly doesn’t expect to see standing next to Pat. A mix of surprise and curiosity flicker across Zo’s face as he stares at them.
"Hi Zo." Pat finally says, taking the available seat across Zo. Joke takes a seat as well next to Pat.
"Hi guys. What’s up?" Zo replies
Pat turns to Joke and starts making introductions, "This is Zo." He looks at Zo then, " and Zo, this is-"
"Joke." Zo says easily, surprising both pat and Joke.
Zo smiles and explains, "I know Joke."
Joke gives Pat a confused look for a brief moment before sliding his gaze towards Zo, "How do you know me?"
"First year. It makes sense that you don't remember, but you made an impression on me."
"How?"
"We met in the campus recording studio. My session came before yours and ran about 7 minutes into yours. You derided me for it." Zo giggles at the memory which is not a sore spot for him at all.
Joke stares at Zo, surprised and confused at the same time as he tries to remember the incident in question.
"It's awesome that you two already know each other." Pat says jubilantly, "This should go a lot smoother then."
"What do you mean?" Zo asks his friend
"Joke is struggling with the presentation part of his thesis and he needs help with it. He sucks at public speaking. I thought you could help."
Zo’s gaze slides from Pat to Joke and then back, "How would I help?" he asks
"You're in debate club. Public speaking is your niche. Joke could probably learn a thing or two from you."
Zo takes a moment to take in the out-of-nowhere offer. Apart from it all being so sudden, he's quiet uncertain about his ability to teach anyone anything ground-breaking or useful.
"When is the presentation?" Zo probes more but really it’s a way of stalling while he thinks about all this.
Joke speaks up for himself this time, "Thursday next week."
Zo's eyebrows shoot up, disappearing under his hairline and he smiles uneasily in incredulity, "And you're just now seeking help? Isn't it a little late?"
Joke places his forearms on the surface of the table, anchoring himself for the conversation. "Some help is better than none. I've really tried all the tricks, tips and lessons I know but I still think I could do better. Can you help me please, Zo?"
"It helps to practice with your friends, taking turns to present in front of each other." Zo suggests
"Joke's social circle includes myself and one other person.” Pat re-joins the conversation, needlessly taking it upon himself to answer that question on Joke’s behalf. “He's not exactly what you'd call a colourful, social butterfly." Pat dramatically illuminates with hand gestures and all.
Joke furrows his eyebrows at Pat and purses his lips in silent rebuke of that remark, but Pat continues talking to Zo, unfazed, "Help him come out of his shell please."
Zo waits for Joke to stop frowning at Pat and bring his gaze back to him before speaking, “I'm not sure I can take you to the heights you're looking to go, Joke." Honestly Zo would feel so bad and so guilty if he agreed to help only to fail Joke in the end.
"I'll make it worth your while. If you want money or a favour in return, just say the word." Joke hates to beg and how desperate he must seem to Zo right now but well, he's as desperate as it gets at this point. Failing his final project would be a bigger nightmare than swallowing his pride and asking a random stranger for help.
"You don't have to pay me or anything."
"Then you'll help?" Joke's posture relaxes, the worried expression on his face easing into optimism and a smile touches the edges of his lips.
Zo’s resolve begins to crumble, but he tries to keep it up, "A week is so little time."
"Then we should get started right away." Pat advises
"I also have tests to study for you know."
"I'll help you study." Joke offers. "We can help each other out."
"I don't know."
"You're my last hope." Joke implores
Zo sighs, his walls tumbling down completely. "Okay, let's give it a shot and see how it goes."
Joke smiles broadly in relief. "Thank you, Zo."
"Let's keep the thanks until we see whether I can really help you or nor not."
Joke nods, "Okay. When can we get started?”
“Right now, if you don’t mind. We are pressed for time.”
“Sure. I’m not busy. By the way, when we met in the studio, was I very harsh when I lambasted you?"
"Yes. I learned something that day. Don't mess with a stickler for time." Zo nonchalantly chortles.
A soft, genuine smile spreads across Joke’s face while he’s thinking about how quickly smitten he’s getting with the sound of Zo’s laugh. "Even though I can't remember and it's in the past, I'm sorry for being harsh towards you." Joke says
"It's okay."
"Let's bury the non-existent hatchet with a cup of coffee. I'll buy."
"I'm a student, I never say no to a free beverage." Zo packs up and stands just as Joke does the same.
"Wait, you two are just going to leave me here?" Pat complains
Joke looks at Pat and says, "Thank you for all your help, but I’m sure you can buy your own coffee.”
Pat looks indignantly at Zo who just cackles and follows Joke out.
*****
Joke and Zo find a table at the cafe and take their seats. "The ambiance here is nice." Zo remarks while looking around the place.
"I come here often. I like it too. I'm surprised you've never been."
"I'm a sweet tea kind of guy."
Joke smiles at Zo’s answer. Of course a cute boy like Zo would be a sweet tea type of guy. "This place doesn’t serve tea. We can go someplace else."
"No. I can drink coffee.” Zo isn’t opposed to coffee or anything. It’s just not his favourite drink that’s all. Also, the weather outside is too damned hot for them to start moving about again looking for another café. “What do you normally drink?" he asks Joke
"Americano."
Zo makes a face. "I've heard that that's bitter. Can you recommend something sweet?"
Joke nods and gets up, "I'll go order."
Zo hasn't been scrolling through his tik tok feed for long when Joke returns with two drinks, handing one to Zo.
"Here is your mocha."
Zo eyes the drink hesitantly, "You sure it's any good?"
"Trust me, it is."
"How can I trust you when I know exactly five things about you? That is your name, your preference for Americano coffee, your apparently poor public speaking skills, the fact that you're a stickler for time and it seems you’re left-handed."
"That's still one more than I know about you."
"One? You know four things about me?"
Joke nods, sipping his coffee. "Your name, your preference for sweet tea, your promising career in debating, and the fact that change doesn't come easy for you."
"How could you possibly know that last thing?"
"You're overthinking a cup of coffee."
"Oh." Zo smiles shyly. "Right." Zo’s nose wrinkles, a cute, endearing expression as he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Joke feels an abrupt surge of affection, struck by Zo’s cuteness. "Try the drink. I promise it's good." He gently encourages
Zo does try it and he likes it. It's sweet, rich and creamy. He nods in approval, taking several more and more sips. "This is so good." He puts two thumbs up
They sip their drinks in silence for a moment and then Zo suggests that Joke walk him through what the thesis is about and exactly what Joke's problem areas are in public speaking.
*****
After the cafe, they head back to campus so that Zo can sneak Joke into the debate room. Zo peeks through the glass doors of the room from outside to make sure no one is inside. Joke is standing behind Zo, watching him curiously.
"What are we doing?" Joke asks
"People who aren't on the team aren't allowed in here." Zo explains, reaching into his pocket for his key
"Can't we practice elsewhere?"
"There is a way that the seats and desks are arranged in here and that's the feel I want you to get as you practice. We need to introduce the pressure right away of presenting in front of an audience in a setting such as this." Zo unlocks and opens the door, walking in with Joke in tow.
Joke looks around the place, taking in every detail until his curiosity is satisfied- layout, desks, chairs, podium, décor and the technology.
Zo puts his bag down on top of a desk and Joke does the same.
"I'll briefly demonstrate what a presentation is supposed to look like then you'll do the same and this way we'll be able to see the gap. Okay?"
"Okay."
“Pay attention to the way I speak, the tone and volume of my voice, the way I pronounce my words, my body language and hand gestures.”
“Okay.”
"We’ll use the audience seating section for the spectator and the podium for the presenter.”
“So that’s what you meant by giving me the full experience huh.”
“Yes. Please take a seat Mr Jiranai."
Something about the way Zo addresses Joke makes him smile as he does what he’s been told.
Zo starts his presentation, introducing himself first before moving on to his topic. His sample is brief, to the point, gripping and so compelling. Joke watches in admiration, not only wishing he could present himself like that but also in awe of how cool Zo looks commanding Joke's attention up there. Until today he had no idea he could find a nerdy boy talking about the subject of global security cool.
You learn something new about yourself every day.
Joke claps for Zo who laughs and bows slightly in appreciation.
"Thank you, now you come up." Zo steps off the podium
Joke stands and takes Zo's place while Zo takes Joke's, sitting down.
Joke takes a deep breath, already getting intimidated by the setting. He understands why Zo suggested that they do this here. The way the desks are arranged in the room gives the illusion of standing in front of a real audience even though those desks are empty.
Suddenly he’s nervous about speaking in front of Zo as well.
“Don’t keep your audience waiting.” Zo calls out
“Right.” Joke gathers his courage and starts his presentation, butchering it right at the start to Zo's surprise and chagrin.
Joke is worse at this than Zo imagined.
No proper eye contact, no confidence, poor posture, no engagement, mumbling, and that's the tip of the iceberg.
Zo stops him and gets up, walks over to him.
He puts his hand on Joke's arm while guiding him, "Firstly, when you address your audience, you must make eye contact and sweep your gaze across the room. Also," Zo gently tugs on Joke’s crossed arms, prying them apart, "Don't cross your arms when you address a crowd. It'll also help if you open your mouth and enunciate your words when you speak. Okay let's try the intro again. Just that."
Joke tries several times with Zo's guidance.
"Okay now let's try-"
"Can we take a break please? I'm beat." Joke slumps down tiredly at the edge of a desk
"There isn’t much time left between classes and other schoolwork. We need to make use of this time."
"I'll practice more at home. I'm tired now."
"Okay just one more thing before we quit for the night, the secret to having confidence when you speak to people is doing intensive research on your topic and knowing that you have something of value to say."
Joke sighs wearily, shoulders hunched. "I don’t have anything of value to say. I just want a good grade on this."
Zo puts his hands on Joke's shoulders and gives them a gentle squeeze, the reassuring pressure calming Joke’s tension, "That's your fear talking. Of course you have something to say. You're a fourth year student who's come this far already. That's no easy feat. A lot of your classmates failed along the way I'm sure. I can tell that you’re smart and knowledgeable. We just need to work on helping you convey that knowledge to others, that’s all. You can do it.”
For the first time someone is praising Joke for something more substantial than his looks. He’s heard compliments to do with words like ‘handsome’ and ‘charming’ several times but never ‘smart’ and ‘capable’. For once he doesn’t feel like he is just a pretty face. This gives Joke a different kind of self-worth he’s never experienced before.
"I appreciate you saying that. See? You’re helping me out already. I feel a little more confident.”
Zo smiles, "I'm happy for you."
"I bet your project is going smoothly."
"It's not perfect yet. My supervisory professor is a jerk."
"Doesn't care, only criticizes your efforts, is never actually available to guide you...which is it?"
"All those things plus he is a disgruntled employee of the school."
Joke inclines his head to the side in thought, "Do you mean Professor Amarin?"
"Yes."
Joke laughs mirthless and shakes his head, "Yeah he's an asshole. I took his Human Rights class."
"I was in that class."
"You were?" Joke’s gaze searches Zo’s, scrutinising this information. "I never saw you."
"How do you think I knew your name? It's not like you told me in that recording studio."
Joke's lips form an 'o' of realisation. He watches Zo in silence for a moment, unable to fathom how he would overlook someone like Zo;
Joke’s is captivated by the youthful exuberance in Zo’s almond-shaped eyes, his easy-going charm and that lovely way he laughs so genuinely and infectiously. Every detail of Zo’s pretty face becomes more enchanting the longer Joke stares, he is more than a little stunned that he never noticed Zo before.
Zo gets flustered under Joke's gazing, "What is it?" he asks, pulling Joke out of his reverie.
Joke blinks a few times to centre himself again in the present and in this conversation, "I'm wondering how it is that I never noticed you once."
"You seemed unfriendly back then, very...in your own world."
"So I've been told." Joke laughs short and quietly. "I quickly got overwhelmed back then by social people such as yourself, so I may have unconsciously deliberately avoided your kind."
"I wasn't social back then either. That's why I joined debate. I realised my choice of career needed me to speak up more, so what better hobby than debate?"
"I think it worked beautifully. You owned that podium just now."
"Thank you. Let's get going. It's getting a bit late."
"Let me buy you a burger before we separate."
"I already bothered you for coffee."
"It's not a bother."
"Are you trying to stealthily buy my help with free food?"
Joke smiles at Zo's qualms. "It's a good burger and we're both starving. Come on."
Zo goes to reach for his bag, "Okay okay." But just as he's about to move, he feels his foot catch in the edge of the carpet on the floor and in an instant he is falling. Panic assails him as he braces himself for the impact, but it never comes. Instead, strong arms wrap around him, pulling him back to safety. Zo looks up at Joke, his heart pounding. Joke’s gaze is locked onto Zo’s, his eyes filled with concern.
Zo’s mind empties of all thought save for the one about how close he is to Joke.
Joke’s warmth envelopes Zo, and he can feel Joke’s breath on his skin. Zo’s heart races, not from the fall, but from the unexpected intimacy of the moment and the overwhelming awareness of Joke.
“Are you okay?” Joke asks concernedly
Zo just gapes at him, utterly muddled in the head and slightly alarmed as well by why his heart would beat this fast over a fall.
He wonders if perhaps he’s doing an entirely different falling altogether.