Chapter Text
These were the only nights the house was quiet. All of Anthony's roommates were out for the night at some birthday party he did not have the energy to go to. Therefore, the normal chatter and movement that was ever present was currently absent. Because of this, Anthony was actually able to fall asleep before midnight for once.
However, his hopes of uninterrupted sleep were diminished as he woke to a knock on his door. He did not even get a chance to answer before his door was being opened, and he had to rub his eyes to adjust to the light streaming in.
As his eyes adjusted to the light, Anthony realized it was Hanbon standing in his doorway
"Han? What's up?" Anthony asked, his voice groggy from sleep.
"Anthony.." She replied weakly.
He could tell she was drunk based on how she was talking, which was not surprising considering she was coming from the birthday party.
Anthony sat up against his headboard, and intended to get up to make his was towards her. However, Hanbon beat him to it, and had already made her way to the edge of his bed, sitting at his feet. As she sat down, her shoulders slumped and her head hung.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Anthony asked, beginning to worry as he hung his legs over the side of his bed to sit beside her.
"The party sucked." Hannah said bluntly, raising her head and leaning it to rest on Anthony's shoulder.
"Sucked how?" Anthony replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her.
"Everyone was being weird and rude. Nobody wanted to make conversation with me and even when I tried, they would just brush me off. It was so weird. I ended up just hanging out in the corner drinking by myself trying not to look miserable. I am surprised I even made it a whole hour before I booked the uber back here."
At this moment, Anthony realized it was not as late as he thought. He checked his phone and realized it was only 11:30. She must of really hated the party to have made it home before midnight.
Hanbon turned her head so her forehead was resting on his shoulder.
"This has never happened to me before Anthony. Did I do something? Have you heard anything? Are people talking about me behind my back? I-"
Anthony cut her off before she could continue spiraling.
"Hey," He lifted her chin up off his shoulder with a finger to meet her eyes, "I am sure it was just some sort of fluke, I haven't heard anything, but I will ask around and see if I can find out anything out tomorrow."
Hanbon nodded still holding eye contact, her eyes slightly welled up with tears. Anthony's heart broke at the sight.
"Are you tired? Did you eat? What do you need Hannah?"
"I want to sleep."
Hanbon then proceeded to flop backwards onto her back so she was laying down with her legs hanging off of the bed. She began to inch her way towards the pillows at the head of the bed, shoes on and all.
"You can't go to bed in the clothes you just went out in. And you still have your shoes on dude." Anthony commented, reaching down to pull the sneakers she had on her feet off, letting them fall at the edge of the bed.
By the time he had taken both her shoes off, Hanbon already had her head resting on a pillow and was turned onto her stomach. As soon as she realized she had only socks on now, she pulled her feet onto the bed and covered herself with the comforter.
Anthony watched her as she made herself comfortable in his bed. It was rare to see her vulnerable and outwardly upset like this. He had dealt with drunk Hannah plenty of times, but in most of those situations, she was much happier then she currently was. Hanbon loved being social, and she could get along with everyone, he can't think of the last time she left a party upset. It was killing Anthony to not have more information about this birthday party, who was there, and what exactly was said, but he knew he would pry Coy and Will for more information tomorrow. For now, he knew he had to be gentle with her.
Anthony was not going to let her go to bed in the jeans and tank top she currently had on, even though he knew she could fall asleep in it if he let her keep laying there. He just had to figure out how to actually get her up.
He spent a few more seconds looking at Hanbon, determining his next moves. He decided he should probably get some clothes out for her to change into to give her a tangible goal.
Anthony dug out a random t-shirt and sweatpants from his dresser, and threw them on the bed next to her. He leaned down and put a hand on her back.
"Here's some clothes. Why don't you go to the bathroom, get changed and wash your face. Then we can go to bed."
Hanbon turned back onto her back and pouted up at Anthony. She reached her hands out towards him. Anthony took the hint and grabbed her hands, helping her up to her feet. With the state she was in, she stumbled as she stood up, so Anthony put his hands and her shoulders to help steady her.
He took one hand off her shoulder to grab the clothes that were on the bed, put them in Hanbon's hands, and turned her to usher her towards the door. She obliged, walking out of the room and towards the bathroom.
Anthony sat back on the bed, taking a moment to reflect. He was exhausted, but happy Hanbon chose to come to him. They have been friends for so long, and with every year that has passed, have only gotten closer. Now, they were able to tell each other almost anything, and he was glad to have someone like her.
Anthony was so deep in thought he did not realize Hannah had come back into the room, wearing his clothes, until he felt the bed dip beside him. Anthony was laying down on the edge of the bed, and Hanbon had to climb over him to make it onto the side of the bed that was free. Once she had made it onto the bed, she crawled back towards the head of the bed and curled up against Anthony.
It was as if Hanbon needed to minimize the space between them. She laid her head on his chest, wrapped an arm around his waist and tangled their legs together. Anthony, wanting to reciprocate, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.
As their friendship has grown closer over the years, so has the amount of physical touch they allow each other has also become more lenient. However, while there has been plenty of heads on shoulders and hugs throughout the years, they have never been quite as close as they are now. Anthony had to ignore the way it made him feel.
"Goodnight, Hannah." Anthony said into the darkness.
"Night." Hanbon replied, already half asleep in his arms.