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Jerome doesn't want to be out of his room, despite his mom's insistence.
"Jerome, you do not get to hide anymore. You better be down here in five minutes, or I'll make you," Jan calls with irritation in her voice.
Jerome knows she will.
So, he shuts his phone off, leaving it on his pillow as he heads downstairs in sweats, the baggiest he owns.
There's a rapid knock on the door as he steps off the last step, and Jan hollers, "Get the door!"
Jerome sighs before going to the door and tugging it open.
Only to freeze in disbelief at the sight of Jinn.
"J," his name is like a breath of air from Jinn's lips. "I need to talk to you."
"You— Why are you here?" asks Jerome quietly.
"Because I wanted to talk to you the minute you left my condo, but I didn't have the words," Jinn says it quickly.
"Do you have the words now, or is Mae scheming with you to get me out of my room?" asks Jerome as his eyes close.
"I have the words, if you're willing to listen, Jerome," Jerome opens his eyes to find Jinn staring at him as he holds one of his hands between his own.
Jerome just hums, breathless at his actual name being said by Jinn.
It's been too long since he's heard it from him.
"Jerome, I—" Jinn cuts himself off to take better hold of Jerome's hand. "I've been in love with you for years. But with everything that's happened, I couldn't believe your confession. But after a call to Farm to confirm what you said, I— I couldn't deny that you were telling the truth because you never lie, not on purpose anyway."
Jerome agrees with a murmur, "Not on purpose."
"But if you meant it, then I think we need to talk," replies Jinn seriously as he gives Jerome's hand a gentle squeeze. "I think we need to talk about what it means."
"What do you want it to mean, Jinn?" asks Jerome softly, giving Jinn the chance to say what he wants.
"I want to try, but I can't guarantee that I'll be used to it if we were to jump straight in," Jinn lays it out quickly, staring hard at Jerome's hand in his own as he does. "I think we need to take it very slow because of our history."
"Then we do that," replies Jerome softly as he lays his free hand on Jinn's and gives it a gentle squeeze. "I want this, I want you, but I want things to go at your pace, Jinn."
"Thank you for understanding," murmurs Jinn with a smile.
"Are you two finally ready to eat? Dinner's ready," Jan's teasing them.
"We're coming, Mae," huffs Jerome as he leads them inside.
He lets go of Jinn's hand as they reach the table.
Not because he wants to, but because Jinn lets go first.
Slow.
It'll be okay to go slow.