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It was the last class for today. Apo cheerfully said goodbye to a tired-looking Jisang, next to whom he had been sitting this class, and suddenly felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. It was Obo.
"Do you want to go for a walk with me? I heard they added a new menu in that cafe we went to last time."
Apo felt a little spark of joy. He smiled at him excitedly. He had just been thinking about their bubble tea this morning, so this suggestion sounded perfect. He nodded and headed to the door that led out into the university hallway. Obo walked right beside him.
Outside, there was a surprising chill in the air. Goosebumps had risen on Apo’s skin by the time Obo handed him his zip-up hoodie. Apo smiled at him slightly, feeling the soft fabric. "Are you sure you'll be warm enough?"
"I'm fine, don't worry," Obo assured him, a warm smile on his lips.
On the way to the cafe, they discussed today’s classes and shared funny stories about their professors. The easy conversation made the short walk feel even quicker.
The new menu was absolutely lovely, Apo thought. He got the "Papaya Drive", a chilled green tea drink with a gentle papaya-flavored syrup, chunks of papaya, and white, chewy tapioca pearls. From the very first sip, his thoughts were consumed by Jay and the urgent need to share this amazing drink with him. Though Jay would probably say that it's too sweet or something, Apo's only thought was that he wanted to share with him something he really liked. He imagined Jay's thoughtful face and his "It's just as sweet as you", entirely forgetting about Obo's presence.
Taking slow sips of his "Peach Ice", an iced tea with peach flavor and chunks of peach jelly, Obo kept a close eye on Apo, who was clearly miles away in his head. Then he suddenly turned his gaze to the window and the gray sky. The sight of people milling around in raincoats and under umbrellas made him go tense.
"I think it will be raining soon," Obo said with concern and, not getting any reaction from Apo, touched his arm.
"Oh, sorry, what did you say?" Apo looked at him, still feeling a bit lost. He blinked, not taking his eyes off Obo, and noticed his tension.
"I think we will get wet."
Apo traced the way Obo looked and saw the first raindrops falling from the sky. Only now he remembered Jay's words and regretted he didn't take an umbrella as Jay had told him.
"I think it's a sign to sit here longer." Apo leaned back in his chair, pulling Obo's hoodie tighter around himself. "I mean, we have drinks, good company, and now nature is giving us an excuse not to go anywhere. It would be rude to ignore such a clear sign, don't you think so?" He raised his eyebrows playfully, a teasing smile spreading across his face.
The familiar warm smile appeared on Obo's face, while Apo started to look much happier than before all of a sudden. "Can I try your drink?" Apo smiled at him brightly. Obo just nodded and giggled as Apo fumbled, missing his mouth with the straw. A pensive look crossed Apo's face before he drank his own tea again. "Want a taste of mine?" He moved the cup to Obo. Obo hesitated for a second, then leaned forward and took a careful sip. "It's sweeter than mine," he remarked, tilting his head thoughtfully. "But it's pretty delicious."
They talked like that for a while when Apo got a message from Jay. "Are you heading home? Should I get you a taxi?"
Rain fell harder outside, forming puddles on the roads and thinning out the crowds. Apo bit his bottom lip. "No, I'm at a cafe with Obo. I'll head your way when the rain lets up."
"Okay, love you," Jay replied, making Apo smile softly. He read the message three times, each time feeling a little flutter in his chest. Even such simple words from Jay could brighten his entire day. Apo texted him that he loved him too and set the phone aside.
Their drinks were nearly gone by then.
"It doesn't look like it will stop soon," Obo complained and reached for his phone as well, texting someone. His fingers moved quickly across the screen, his forehead creased in concentration. A few seconds later, he suddenly put the phone down. "Do we have a test on Monday?" Obo stared at Apo, surprised.
"Oh, true… I completely forgot." Apo blinked rapidly, the realization slowly sinking in. How could it slip his mind?
"And I didn't even know!" Obo dragged a hand down his face, groaning quietly. "This is what I get for skipping that one class last week," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
Apo couldn't help but giggle. There was something almost funny about the way they were both so unprepared. "That's not that bad. Weekends will be more than enough to prepare, I'm sure of it." He tried to sound confident, even though he wasn't entirely convinced himself.
Obo let out a long, heavy sigh that seemed to deflate him completely, his shoulders rounding as he stared despondently at the blank screen of his phone. "There is a family matter I have to attend to tomorrow," Obo sighed.
Apo’s smile softened into a look of genuine sympathy. He gave Obo's shoulder a brief, firm shake. "You are smart, don't worry. I'll try to help on the test, if anything." Apo knew he wasn't the best student but he wasn't a bad one either, and he could help with something. Especially when it came to Obo.
Lifting his head, Obo managed a small, grateful smile, though anxiety still pinched the corners of his eyes. "Thanks." Outside, the rain continued to pour, but Obo felt better for now. Knowing that someone was willing to help made the weight on his shoulders a little lighter.
They spent a peaceful while talking in low, leisurely tones, sipping the last of their drinks when Obo’s phone rang. He looked concerned and talked quietly while Apo was watching the rain outside. The sky was much darker than when they walked out of the university. Apo sighed; the rain didn't seem like it was going to stop soon. He checked his phone, hoping for another text from Jay, but found nothing.
A distinct nervousness crossed Obo's face as he glanced at Apo and hung up. "Well… Some plans have moved forward for today. I'm afraid I gotta go," he sighed, his eyes on the relentless rain beyond the glass. His leg bounced slightly under the table, a clear sign of his growing impatience.
"It's pouring!" Apo looked at him worriedly. "We probably won't even find a taxi." He glanced outside, watching the raindrops hit the pavement with increasing force. The streets were almost empty now, except for a few brave souls running for cover.
"Then will you run with me?" Obo's voice was urgent but somehow hopeful. He was already gathering his things, stuffing his phone into his bag.
Apo's eyes widened. "Are you crazy?" he asked, giggling, but Obo saw something in his eyes — Apo seemed to be ready for anything. There was that spark of mischief, the same one that Obo remembered from when they first became friends. The look that said: I know this is a bad idea, but I'm doing it anyway.
It wasn't even that funny, but Apo still laughed as they ran out of the cafe. The door swung open and the sound of rain immediately grew louder, almost deafening. Obo grabbed Apo’s arm to speed him up. Cold water hit Apo's face instantly, making him gasp, but he didn't slow down. They were already soaked but laughed for no reason, just enjoying each other's company and that childish frolic. The cold rain was unpleasant, but the shared laughter warmed them from the inside. Every splash of their shoes in the puddles sent water flying around them, and Apo couldn't remember the last time he had felt this free.
For a moment, nothing else mattered — not the test, not the wet clothes, nothing around them. It was just him, Obo, and the rain washing away all their stress. There was something liberating about getting completely drenched, about letting go of all control and simply running.
Apo tilted his head back, letting the rain hit his face, and laughed even louder. Obo glanced at him, shaking his head in disbelief, but he was smiling too — genuinely, without any of the tension he had carried earlier.
"At least I'll have more time tomorrow to prepare," Obo smiled, grabbing Apo's arm so that this time he could keep up with him. They ran through the sparkling, rain-soaked streets, their shoes splashing in the puddles. The streetlights reflected off the wet asphalt, creating golden patterns under their feet.
In a stroke of luck, as they were reaching the dorm, Obo noticed a taxi ahead and moved to flag it down. Apo turned back to give Obo a quick, damp hug and to say goodbye. "Thanks for today. And good luck!" He said, his voice sincere. He could feel Obo's wet clothes sticking to his own, but neither of them seemed to care.
"Thank you too! See you at the test, I guess," Obo replied with a smile, pulling away and opening the taxi door.
Apo just waved, watching the taxi disappear into the rain. Then he turned toward the dorm entrance, his soaked sneakers squeaking with every step. The sudden silence after all that noise felt strange. His clothes clung heavily to his body, dripping water onto the floor with every movement. On his way to his room he could only think about Jay's reaction and already knew it wouldn't be good. Firstly, that morning Jay told him to grab an umbrella, and Apo didn't. Secondly, he refused the taxi that Jay had offered to order. Thirdly, he was all soaked and knew that Jay wouldn't like it. He paused outside the door, hand hovering over the handle. There was a small, stubborn part of him that wanted to turn around and wait in the hallway until he was at least less dripping. But that seemed ridiculous. Apo sighed and shoved the key into the lock before he could overthink it.
The door handle turned reluctantly and fearfully. Apo crossed the threshold and immediately caught Jay's gaze.
"Oh, gosh," Jay only said, running his eyes over Apo's whole body. "You look like a wet kitten."
Apo stood there, dripping onto the floor, waiting for the scolding. He had prepared himself for it — for Jay to say "I told you so”, to sigh with disappointment, to shake his head in a way that made Apo feel like a child. But none of that came. Well, Jay, of course, wasn't that type of man, but Apo still thought, if he had been in his shoes, he would have done just that. Not with Jay, but with himself.
"It started pouring suddenly, and Obo had urgent business. So… we just ran," Apo told him as Jay helped to take off his wet clothes. His fingers carefully undid the zipper, and he slipped the zip-up from Apo's shoulders.
"I see. Go shower if you don't want to catch a cold," Jay answered and put the zip-up on the hanger. Then he helped to take off the t-shirt. His touches were gentle, not angry. There was no irritation in his movements, only quiet care. He even picked up Apo's shoes and placed them near the window to dry.
Apo stood still for a moment, watching Jay move around the room. "You're not mad?" he finally asked, his voice small.
Jay paused, then looked at him. His expression was soft, almost amused. "Would it help if I were?"
Apo shook his head slowly.
"Then there's no point, is there?" Jay returned to adjusting the hangers. "Go shower. You're shivering."
Apo looked at Jay with a faint smile. There was something precious about the casual way Jay hung up clothes and the fact he wasn't lecturing him.
Warm water felt perfect for a frozen Apo. He didn't even notice he was freezing until the hot water touched his skin. He stayed under the streams with his eyes closed and enjoyed the warmth, feeling the cold slowly leave his body. The water ran down his back, pink from the chill, and gradually his muscles began to relax. He thought about the afternoon — about Obo's worried face, about their silly run through the rain, about Jay's message that still made his heart flutter.
He washed his hair slowly, massaging the shampoo into his scalp, letting himself linger under the hot water.
Steam filled the small bathroom, fogging up the mirror. Apo watched the water swirl down the drain, carrying with it the last traces of cold from his skin.
"Will you be done soon?" Jay's voice was heard through the door.
"Yeah, just in a few minutes." Apo turned off the water reluctantly, the sudden quiet almost deafening. He stood there for a moment, water dripping from his hair, before reaching for the towel.
Stepping out of the warm shower into the chilly air, his damp skin prickling, felt like a small ordeal. After a hasty towel dry, Apo slipped into a large, soft t-shirt that originally belonged to Jay. He breathed in deeply, catching the faint scent of Jay's laundry detergent mixed with something that was just him. It felt like coming home.
Jay's eyes were glued to Apo's body. He followed the line of Apo's bare legs, the way the oversized t-shirt slipped off one shoulder, the damp strands of hair sticking to his neck. "It's not time for a seduction," he said with a short giggle as if trying to calm himself down. He ran a hand through his own hair and looked away, but his gaze kept drifting back.
"I didn't even try, you're making this up," Apo smiled, stepping closer to lean in and to tease Jay, but he ended up in Jay's arms on the bed. Jay covered them with a blanket and kissed him on the top of his head. The blanket was warm and smelled like them — like home, like safety.
"I only wanted to warm you. Did you even put on anything except that t-shirt?" Jay's hand grabbed the hem of Apo’s t-shirt and lifted it, revealing his shorts. His fingers brushed against Apo's thigh, feather-light.
Apo traced Jay's gaze. "What did you want to see?" He giggled playfully and, still, moved closer to Jay's body to snuggle up against him. Jay's hand settled more firmly on his hip, rubbing it slowly. His palm was warm, almost hot against Apo's still-cool skin. Their eyes met, and Apo leaned in to kiss Jay's lips. The kiss was light and tender, yet it carried the weight of profound emotions. In that quiet moment, everything felt perfectly right.
When they pulled apart, Jay rested his forehead against Apo's. "You scared me a little, you know," he murmured. "The rain seemed horrible, I was wondering how you'd even get here."
Apo smiled at him with eyes filled with love. "You don't have to worry. I’m fine now, see?” Grinning, Apo flexed his muscles in an attempt to prove how sturdy he was to fight off any cold.
"Yeah, alright, alright, I see," Jay giggled quietly. "But you are still cold,” Jay murmured, his smile lingering as he tightened his arms around Apo. "Guess, I'll just have to warm you myself.”
Apo offered no resistance. He wrapped his arm around Jay's waist and rubbed his back. Actually, he already felt warm enough but couldn't resist the opportunity to cuddle with Jay like this.
They lay there for a while, just breathing together. The rain continued to tap against the window, but inside, everything was quiet except for the soft rustle of the blanket whenever one of them shifted.
"You know," Apo said eventually, his voice slightly muffled against Jay's chest, "Obo asked me if I wanted to go for a walk after class. And I said yes because I was thinking about bubble tea anyway." He paused. "But also because I knew you'd be studying and I didn't want to distract you."
Jay's hand stilled on Apo's thigh. "You wouldn't distract me."
"Mmm." Apo tilted his head up to look at him. "You say that now, but last time I sat next to you while you were reading, you spent twenty minutes on the same page."
"Because you kept sighing," Jay said, but there was no annoyance in his voice. "Very dramatically, I might add."
"I was bored."
"So you decided to distract me on purpose?"
"Obviously." Apo grinned, and Jay shook his head, but he was smiling too.
Apo settled back against him, tracing absent patterns on Jay's arm. "Obo got a new drink. Peach something. It was pretty good, but not as good as mine. I got papaya."
"Papaya?" Jay's eyebrow rose slightly. "That's an interesting choice."
"That's what I thought when I saw it on the menu. But it's actually really refreshing. Not too sweet." Apo paused. "Okay, maybe a little sweet. But you'd like it, I think."
Jay hummed thoughtfully. "I'll take your word for it."
"You should try it sometime. We could go together." Apo's fingers found Jay's and intertwined them. "When you're not busy with assignments."
"When I'm not busy with assignments," Jay repeated softly. It sounded like a promise.
Apo closed his eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of Jay's heartbeat beneath his ear. He thought about how different this was from the rain-soaked run earlier. That had been loud and chaotic and exhilarating. This was quiet and still and warm. Both of them felt right, but in completely different ways.
"Jay?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry I didn't take the umbrella."
Jay was quiet for a moment. His thumb stroked the back of Apo's hand. "I know."
"And I'm sorry I said no to the taxi. I just… I don't know, Obo seemed really anxious, and I… um…”
"You don't have to explain yourself to me," Jay interrupted him. "I just worry because I care about you. Not because I think you can't take care of yourself."
Apo pressed his face into Jay's neck. "I know that too."
The rain outside was beginning to slow, the heavy downpour softening into a gentle patter. Apo could hear it now, the way it tapped against the glass in a steady, almost soothing rhythm. It was nice, he thought, being here like this. Being held. Being warm.
"You should probably dry your hair properly," Jay said after a while.
"In a minute," Apo mumbled, not moving.
Jay sighed, but it was the kind of sigh that meant "fine, but only because I don't actually want you to move either". His fingers came up to card gently through Apo's still-damp hair, working out small tangles with careful patience.
Apo made a small, content sound. "That feels nice."
"Don't get used to it."
"Too late."
Jay laughed softly, the sound vibrating through his chest and against Apo's cheek. "You're impossible."
"And yet here you are."
"Yeah, and yet here I am," Jay agreed.
The rain continued its gentle song against the window. Apo thought about the test on Monday, about Obo's anxious face, about the unfinished homework, sitting in his bag. But those were problems for later. Right now, wrapped in Jay's arms with the warmth of the blanket around them, he allowed himself to simply be.
"Jay?"
"Hm?"
Apo smiled at his own thoughts. "I love you," he said sweetly, giving a quick peck to Jay's neck.
Jay's fingers paused in his hair for just a second before continuing their slow, soothing motion. "I love you too," he said quietly. "Even when you forget umbrellas and run through rainstorms and worry me half to death."
"That seems like a lot of conditions."
"Maybe." Apo felt Jay press another kiss to the top of his head. "But they're all part of you. So I'll take them."
Apo smiled against his skin. The next second he approached Jay and kissed him just as slowly as before. This felt warm and sweet. Apo smiled into the kiss, hugging Jay.
For a long while, neither of them spoke. Apo only pecked Jay's neck periodically, still brightly smiling. The barely audible hum of the air conditioner filled the room, and somewhere down the hall, a door opened and closed. Apo listened to the distant sounds of the dorm settling into evening — footsteps, muffled music, the low murmur of a television from the room next door. It was the kind of ordinary background noise that usually went unnoticed, but tonight it felt comforting. Life continued as normal around them while they existed in their own small, warm bubble.
"You know," Apo said lazily, his fingers tracing patterns on Jay's arm again. "We didn't even plan to get wet, it's just… Obo's family called him, and suddenly he just had to go."
"I don't think you would plan to get wet," Jay smiled at him warmly. "And what's going on with his family?" He asked more quietly. His hand continued its slow path through Apo's hair.
"He didn't say much about it." Apo shifted slightly, pulling the blanket higher up his shoulder. "He seemed really stressed, even more stressed than about the test. I think that's why I said yes to running. I didn’t want to let him get soaked alone."
They shared a few more silent seconds before Apo continued. "He seemed really relieved when I said I'd help him study. I don't even know how much help I'll actually be. My notes from that class are kind of a mess."
"You'll figure it out," Jay said. "You always do."
Apo smiled at the quiet confidence in his voice. "You have too much faith in me.”
"Maybe." Jay's thumb settled into a slow, soothing motion against Apo's hand. "Or maybe I just know you better than you think."
They fell into comfortable silence again. Apo's eyelids grew heavy, the warmth of the blanket and the steady rhythm of Jay's heartbeat slowly pulling him toward sleep. Apo was becoming one with the silence when Jay spoke again.
"That hoodie by the door," Jay said casually. Too casually. "It's not yours."
Apo blinked, suddenly more alert. He lifted his head slightly to look at Jay. "What?"
"The gray one. With the white drawstrings." Jay's gaze was fixed somewhere over Apo's shoulder, his expression carefully neutral. "It's not yours. And it's definitely not mine."
Apo turned his head toward the door. There it was — Obo's zip-up hoodie, hanging neatly on one of the hangers Jay had set up. The soft gray fabric was still damp. Apo had completely forgotten about it.
"Oh," he said. "That's Obo's. He lent it to me when we walked to the cafe. It was colder outside than I expected."
Jay nodded slowly. "That was nice of him."
"Yeah, it was." Apo paused, suddenly hyperaware of how Obo's name had come up several times in their conversation tonight. The test. The rain. The hoodie. Wasn't it too much? Should Jay be jealous or something like that? Should Apo talk less about another man? "I hope you don't— I mean, I know I've been talking about him a lot today. But it's… We're just friends and he—"
"Apo." Jay's voice was gentle, cutting through his rambling. "I know."
Apo looked up at him. Jay's expression was calm, no trace of the jealousy that Apo had somehow been bracing for. His thumb traced a slow arc along Apo's cheekbone.
"I'm not worried about Obo," Jay said quietly. "Should I be?" Jay smiled.
"No! Of course not. I just thought…" Apo hesitated. "Sometimes I talk about him a lot, and I don't want you to think that I… because you're the one I…" He stopped, frustrated at his own inability to form a complete sentence.
Jay waited, patient.
"You're the one I love," Apo finally managed.
"I know that too." Jay's thumb brushed across Apo's cheek again, feather-light. He gave Apo a light quick kiss. "You don't have to explain yourself to me every time you spend time with someone else. I don't even understand why this hit you suddenly."
Apo relaxed against him, the tension melting from his shoulders. "Okay," he whispered. "I just don't want you to feel like I'm taking you for granted or something."
"You couldn't if you tried," Jay said simply. Then, after a moment: "But you should probably return the hoodie. Preferably dry."
Apo laughed quietly. "Yeah, probably." He settled back against Jay's chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "Yeah, I'll wash it and give it back to him on Monday."
"Mhm." Jay's fingers resumed their gentle path through Apo's hair. "Good."
The rain had almost stopped now, reduced to occasional droplets tapping against the glass. The room had grown darker as evening settled in, the gray sky outside fading to soft blue-gray. Neither of them moved to turn on a light.
Apo's stomach growled suddenly, breaking the peaceful silence.
Jay's chest vibrated with quiet laughter. "When did you last eat?"
"Um..." Apo thought about it. "Breakfast?"
"Apo."
"I had the bubble tea! That's basically food."
"That's basically sugar water," Jay corrected, but there was no real scolding in his voice. He shifted beneath Apo, careful not to dislodge him completely. "There's some rice in the cooker from lunch. And I think there's still half of that omelet you liked from yesterday."
Apo pressed his face into Jay's neck. "Five more minutes."
Jay sighed, but his arms tightened around Apo instead of letting go. "You're going to fall asleep, and then you'll wake up at midnight hungry and grumpy."
"Well, that's a problem for midnight me." Apo's voice was drowsy, his words slightly slurred. "Current me is very comfortable."
Jay pressed his lips to Apo's temple, letting them linger there. "Okay," he murmured against the skin. "Ten more minutes. Then we eat."
"Fifteen."
"Twelve."
"Deal."
The air conditioner hummed softly in the background. Outside, someone laughed in the hallway, their footsteps fading toward the stairs. Apo's breathing grew slower, deeper, his body completely relaxed against Jay's.
Jay watched the last of the daylight fade from the window. His hand continued its slow, steady path through Apo's hair, untangling the strands that had dried in soft waves. There was something sacred about moments like this, he thought, something deeply precious. The quiet ones. The ones that no one else saw.
"Apo," he said softly.
Apo made a questioning sound, not quite awake.
"I'm glad you came home." The words felt important.
Apo smiled against his skin, small and sleepy. "Me too."
Twelve minutes turned into twenty. Twenty turned into thirty. When Apo finally stirred, it was because his stomach had growled again, louder this time, and Jay was gently shaking his shoulder.
"Come on," Jay said. "I'll heat up the food."
Apo blinked slowly, reluctant to leave the warmth of the blanket and Jay's arms. "Carry me?"
Jay let out a short laugh and shook his head. "You're not a baby."
"But I'm tired," Apo whined softly, pulling the blanket up to his chin. His eyes were half-closed, and his voice was sleepy. "And you're already standing. It would be very easy for you."
"Very easy?" Jay raised an eyebrow. "You're not exactly light."
Apo gasped in fake offense. "That's so rude. I take back what I said about loving you."
"No, you don't," Jay said simply. But he walked back to the bed, reached down, and scooped Apo up — blanket and all. Apo let out a surprised, delighted squeak and immediately wrapped his arms around Jay's neck.
"See? Easy," Apo murmured against his shoulder, looking very pleased with himself.
Jay carried him the short distance to the small kitchen table. "You're impossible," he said, but his voice was fond. He set Apo down gently in the chair, making sure the blanket didn't catch on anything. "Now stay here and eat.”
Apo watched him, still wrapped in the blanket. He watched Jay scoop rice into bowls, watched him carefully reheat the omelet in the small pan, watched the way the kitchen light caught the edges of his face. There was something so ordinary about it, so domestic. Apo thought he could watch Jay do simple things forever and never get tired of it.
"You're staring," Jay said without turning around.
"Maybe I like staring."
"Maybe you're creepy."
"Maybe you secretly like it."
Jay glanced over his shoulder, one eyebrow raised. But his lips curved into that small, private smile that was just for Apo. "Maybe."
He brought the food over — two bowls of rice topped with pieces of omelet and some pickled vegetables from the small container in their mini-fridge. Apo sat up properly, accepting his bowl with both hands.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Jay nodded, settling beside him. They ate in comfortable silence, shoulders barely touching. The omelet was a little dry from reheating, but Apo didn't seem to care. It was warm and filling and Jay had made it for him.
When both bowls were empty, Jay took them to the sink and rinsed them quickly.
Apo stayed wrapped in the blanket, watching Jay move around their small space. There was something soothing about the domestic rhythm — the sound of water running, the clink of bowls being set aside, the soft rustle of a towel. Jay dried his hands and turned around, only to find Apo watching him with an expression that made him pause.
"What?" Jay asked.
Apo tilted his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Carry me back."
"You can walk, you know."
"I know." Apo's smile widened. "But you carried me here. So you should carry me back. It's only fair."
Jay stared at him for a long moment, something soft flickering in his expression. Then he laughed quietly, shaking his head, and crossed the room slowly.
"You're really impossible," he said, but his voice was warm.
He bent down, sliding one arm beneath Apo's knees and the other around his back. Apo immediately looped his arms around Jay's neck, nuzzling into his shoulder as he was lifted easily from the chair. The blanket slipped slightly, and Jay adjusted his grip to hold both Apo and the covers.
"See?" Apo murmured against his neck. "Still not so hard.”
Jay carried him a few steps and lowered him carefully onto the bed, following him down, pressing a kiss to his forehead before settling beside him.
They shifted under the covers, legs tangling together, arms finding their familiar places. Jay's hand rested on Apo's hip, thumb tracing small circles through the fabric of his t-shirt.
"Your feet are cold," Apo complained, but he pressed them closer anyway.
"Yours were colder earlier."
"Fair point."
Apo shifted closer, tucking his head into the curve of Jay's shoulder. Jay's arm came around him automatically, fingers finding the hem of Apo's t-shirt and slipping beneath it to rest against the warm skin of his back. Everything felt exactly right.
"This is my favorite part of the day," Apo murmured.
Jay pressed his lips to Apo's hair. "Mine too."
Outside, the sky had cleared completely, leaving behind the fresh, clean smell of rain-washed air. Through a gap in the curtains, Apo could see a few stars scattered across the darkness.
"I love you." Jay said, breaking the silence.
Apo smiled into Jay's shoulder. "I love you too."
The words settled between them like something precious, something to be held carefully and protected. Jay's thumb traced slow circles on Apo's back. Apo's fingers curled loosely into the fabric of Jay's t-shirt.
The dorm settled into the nighttime quiet around them. Apo's breathing grew slow and even. His grip on Jay's t-shirt loosened as sleep pulled him gently under. Jay listened to the soft rhythm of it, and felt the way Apo's body relaxed completely against his own.
He reached over with his free hand and switched off the lamp. Darkness settled around them, soft and complete. Through the gap in the curtains, the stars continued their slow, patient watch.
Jay pressed one more kiss to Apo's hair, letting his lips linger.
"Good night," he whispered.
Apo made a small, content sound in his sleep. His fingers twitched against Jay's chest, then stilled.
Jay closed his eyes and let the quiet warmth of the moment carry him toward sleep. Tomorrow there would be assignments to finish and tests to prepare for and a hoodie to return. But tonight, there was only this: the weight of Apo against his side, the steady rhythm of their breathing slowly syncing together, and the simple, profound peace of being exactly where he was meant to be.
The room grew quiet again. Outside, the last of the rain dripped from the eaves. Apo's breathing slowed, his body warm and soft against Jay's side.
Jay listened to the silence and felt something settle in his chest — not excitement or passion, but something quieter. Something that felt like rest.
This was enough.
He closed his eyes and let the night take him.