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Parker kicks the dormitory door open, inviting himself inside the dimly lit apartment. Boomie follows suit after, making his way to the kitchen and setting the groceries down.
"Judey!" Parker shouts, dragging the Y.
The bedroom door slowly opens, revealing a very disheveled Jude. So he pulled an all nighter again. Typical.
"Good morning." Parker singsongs
"It's seven in the fucking morning."Jude groans
"I know!" God, how does Parker have that much energy this early?
He glances over to the kitchen, catching a glimpse of Boomie arranging the newly bought cereal boxes in his cabinet.
"How do you even find an open supermarket at this time?"he exclaims.
Boomie smirks at the confused boy "Got connections." Jude mentally facepalms.
"He's kidding, we got them yesterday but Boomie thought it'd be inappropriate to visit so late at night." Parker adds from across the dorm, to which Boomie replies to with a 'Hey!'.
"And visiting this early is?"
Silence, then Parker bursts out laughing. Jude sighs, but he can't help the smile creeping up to his face.
Ever since Sharpness and Jude broke up, the latter has been on a total lockdown, isolating himself from everyone except his closest friends, especially Boomie and Parker.
Ah. And his roommate, Tai, too.
They'd get him groceries, drag him out of his rooms and walk him to his lectures and offer constant support.
Speak of the devil. Jude hears a loud yawn before the other bedroom door swings open and Tai marches out. Great, he has two morons to entertain. He's quite grateful Boomie is somewhat composed compared to the other two, even if he has his moments.
__________
Tai lets out a muffled yawn, his slippers dragging across the floor.
"Morning."he mumbles before letting yet another yawn, a loud one at that.
Tai barely has any time to fully wake up before Parker grabs him by the shoulder and drags him to the sofa. "Oh you absolutely need to hear what Loppy told me yesterday." He whispers-shouts, grinning widely.
Tai giggles in return "I'm all ears!"
______________
Jude watches the interaction fondly as their voices disappear into giggly whispers. He glances back at Boomie, who was already done placing the groceries in their respective place. He grabs something from the counter and hands it out to Jude.
"Here,"Boomie gently places the Matcha Latte cup in his hand. "Figured you'd need it." He smiles faintly, then turns around and busies himself with gathering the rest of the paper bags, dumping them into the bin.
"Thanks." "Don't mention it."
Jude watches him as he dusts off his hand and walks toward the sofa, taking a place besides Parker and Tai.
He takes a small sip.
Warmth spreads across his tongue, followed by the bitterness of the matcha, just the way he likes it.
A familiar, fuzzy feeling settles in his chest. It wasn't because of the hot drink.
Boomie had gotten... closer lately. Not that Jude minded, of course.If anything, he appreciated it.
Trappa, Tai, and his other strength uni friend have been there for him. Jude appreciated them for it. He really did.
But they still had their own lives. Their own problems to deal with. As supportive as they might've been, they made Him feel like a burden.
Boomie, though...
Jude glances at him.
He was more attentive, careful. He treated him like he's all that matters in the world.
There was something comforting about having someone like... that.
Jude's fingers tighten around the plastic cup, the latte almost spilling.
He misses that. Being someone's person.
Being loved. Understood.
For a while, he thought Sharp had given him that.
Maybe that's why Boomie's presence felt so comforting lately.
It wasn't the same. It couldn't be.
Boomie was his friend. Just his friend.
But right now, he was the closest Jude could get to that feeling.
And, for now, that was enough.
____________
The cafeteria is as loud as always, students coming in and out, some exchanging words and others fully focused on their lunch.
Twirps sits down with his friends, phone glued to his ear "I told you babe, I'm with the volleyball team." Sharp and Flow chuckle at that.
On the other side of the table, Flamefrags quietly bites into his burger, until Jaden decides 'taking' some of Flame's fries is worth losing the peaceful atmosphere.
"Jaden bro, you big back," Flame whisper-yells. Stop stealing my shit!"
Jaden doesn't respond, giving him a lazy smirk. He dips the fries in the sauce, slowly munching on them.
"What is a pirate if not a thief." He says as he 'takes' more fries from his friend's plate, earning him a glare.
"This chungie, bro!"Flame huffs, placing his plate on the empty seat next to him. Evourai's chair, supposedly, but the "chud'– according to him– likes disappearing every now and then.
Sharp notices the whole thing and chuckles yet again, smile unwavering.
But it instantly vanishes when he hears the loudest "I'M SORRY BABE."ever from Twirps.
He groans. Great, now the whole cafeteria is starting at them. Flow nudges him playfully. He lets out a soft 'hmph', but the corners of his mouth twitch up regardless.
As much as he pretend to hate this, he loves his people.
If only he was here.
Flow hooks a lazy arm around his neck, already babbling about the next exercise. Sharp can't help but smile, enjoying the moment for as long as it lasts.
The emptiness in his heart doesn't fade, though.
_____________
'Fucking finally.'Sharp silently mumbles to himself. He wouldn't have majored in engineering if he knew courses would be this hard.
He studies the empty seat next to him, the place that used to be occupied by a certain someone.
The person would occasionally steal a glance at his notebook. He'd compliment his handwriting or point out his mistakes.
They'd arrive early to seat next to eachother. The person would lean into his shoulder and they'd talk about everything and anything until the lecture starts.
Sharp has tried over and over to get Jude out of his mind, yet he doesn't seem to be able to.
He misses him.
He immediately looks away. "No. I don't."he hisses at practically nobody.
"..."
Maybe he does.
The train of his thoughts is cut short by loud footsteps.
He looks up. Evourai. Fucking finally, mister enigma decided it's worth showing up.
"Sharp! What are you still doing here bro?" "What are YOU doing here?"Sharp interrogates. Evo chuckles lightly.
"Horizon high reconciliation ended early. Sorhin still hates my guts just as much, for the record."he jokes.
Sharp tosses whatever he has on the desk in his bag and makes his way out of the lecture hall, Evourai trailing behind.
"Sharp."he starts "Hmm?"Sharp hums
In response.
"Rejoice is throwing a party tonight."
"..."
"You're my last hope, Sharp, I don't want to go alone!"Evourai whines.
"Still not going." "Jude is going too." Sharp's stomach twists, but not in a bad way. Jude's going, now this gets his interest, although he tries his best to keep the nonchalant facade.
Jude's been avoiding him like the plague ever since the... breakup. He didn't even get a chance to talk to him, let alone explain the reason behind the whole thing. Well, not that he'd do, even if he'd seen him.
Pause.
'Why not?'he thinks to himself
He stops in his track, Evo almost bumping into him.
He loves Jude. He has a chance to apologize, fix his mistakes. Why not?
He won't pussy out this time. So he turns around.
"I've changed my mind, I'll go."he declares, voice not above a whisper. Evo's shoulders relax, and he gives sharp the widest grin ever. "Thanks bro, you're the best."
Sharp starts to mentally set his plan. He'll apologize. Explain himself. Maybe Jude will yell at him. Maybe he'll tell him to fuck off.
Sharp can handle that.
He'd rather Jude hate him than continue pretending Sharp doesn't exists. Jude cares enough to hate him.
___________
Jude makes his way to the comfortable sofa, sitting next to his roommate. Tai generously hands him a bag of chips, he takes it. Opening up the bag with a loud 'whoosh' he takes a chip, then another, then another.
Comfortable silence stretches. Not for long, though.
"So,"Tai awkwardly starts.
"What's it."
"Rejoice is throwing a party at his parents'." Shit, he know where this is going.
"And?"Jude demands.
"He wants you to go."
Now, don't get him wrong. Rejoice is a very good friend of his, and one who stayed by his side at his lowest. But no is no. Jude barely has any energy left to attend his classes, let alone actually go and actually socialize.
Tai doesn't like that, though. He wraps his hands around his arm and gets uncomfortably close. He stares at Jude. Jude stares back.
Then Tai's eyes light up. He has an idea. No fucking way.
"If you go I'll write all your essays for the next week."he offers "One month."Jude bargains Tai huffs in return.
"Two weeks." Good enough. Jude nods, and Tai nuzzles into him, giggling in victory.
_____________
Tai practically has to drag Jude through the front door.
"Come on, you're already here. You might as well have fun."
"Can't I just stay outside?" Jude mutters.
"Of course not, silly." "Fuck you." Tai snorts at that.
The house is already packed with students from both engineering and other majors. Music blasting on full volume, voices blending together beneath it as people squeeze past them with drinks in hand.
Jude regrets coming. Tai, however, barely makes it three steps before his eyes light up.
"REJOICE!"
Jude barely has time to turn before Tai launches himself at Rejoice, wrapping both arms around his shoulders.
"TAI!"Rejoice catches him, of course. But instead of putting him downw he carries him bridal style and walks away with him.
'These freaks.'Jude gags, letting out an 'ugh'.
The two disappear into the crowd almost immediately, leaving Jude standing there with his hands shoved awkwardly into his pockets.
"Great."he sighs.
Guess he's on his own now. Might as well get wasted and actually enjoy the party.
---
Sharp follows Evorai through the crowded hallway, keeping one hand around his drink as they squeeze between people.
"See? This isn't so bad."Evo says, smugly.
"I fucking hate it here." "Of course you do." Evo scoffs, and Sharp doesn't answer.
His eyes wander across the room. He'd been looking for Jude ever since he arrived.
Evourai suddenly slows.
"Wait."
Sharp follows his gaze. Someone familiar stands near the other side of the room.
Boomie fucking Blackforge.
Sharp's expression immediately hardens.
'Of course he's here.'
Boomie is one of Jude's closest friends. If he sees Sharp trying to approach Jude, he'll probably get in the way.
But Evo does him a favor by walking toward Boomie and dragging him away. "You missed SO much at the horizon reunion bro," Boomie smiles at that. "Did you know Epax dropped out to pursue his dream of f–"is all Sharp can hear as they walk away and settle on the sofa.
Now that nothing is distracting him, he can go look for Jude
____________
Jude loses track of how many drinks he's had.
At some point, the music becomes less irritating. Then the room starts spinning too.
He laughs at absolutely nothing. Someone asks if he's okay. "Perfectly fine."he assures, although he's not.
Eventually, Jude decides that's it for the night. He shouldn't have drunk that much knowing he has the alcohol tolerance of a dying ant. So, he looks around for someone familiar to walk him home.
Wondering around, he spots two familiar faces. 'Sharpness' on a couch, chatting with who seems to be Evourai. The screws in his head suddenly stop working.
Maybe it's the alcohol giving him this newfound confidence. Or maybe just his desperation.
"Sharp, here!"
'Sharp' turns around and they lock eyes for a moment. He's the way he's always been, although his hair is bubblegum pink instead of hues of blond, and his eyes are a dull golden color instead of his lively sage green. He looks taller too, Jude notes.
Doesn't matter. Tai abandoned him, 'Sharp' is here, and he needs someone to hold into before he collapses among countless strangers, at Rejoice's nonetheless.
'Sharp''s face immediately brightens. He get ups and gently places his hands on his shoulders. Too gently for him, in fact. Evo's face twists into an emotion Jude can't quite read–not in this state, and he excuses himself out.
"Jude! I've been looking for you the whole time, thank god nothing bad happened."'Sharp' exclaims, although he sounds too softspoken for his usual self. Jude doesn't mind, though. He has other things to do.
He pushes 'Sharp' back into the couch and settles in his lap, hands around his collars. He can feel his eyes burning. Great, just great.
"Why did you do this..."he asks, but it sounded more like a statement than a question. "Jude?"
'Sharp' sits up straight, hands around Jude's waist. Jude hits his chest with all little power he has leftw but it doesn't seem to do anything. 'Sharp' looks more concerned than hurt or angry.
___________
"Why did you do this, Sharp?"He repeats. Boomie gets it now. Jude is talking to Sharpness and not Boomie. He can only let out a bitter smile at that.
"I'm sorry." I'm sorry. He doesn't know what he's apologizing for. Maybe for the fact that he's not making it any better for Jude, instead making him sink deeper in grief. But sue him, he can't help himself.
He wants him, but what can he do? Isn't he pathetic...
Boomie places a hand on Jude's chin. Jude's hand move up to his shoulders out of instinct. He can't help but drown in the magenta of his eyes, piercing straight into his soul. Then, Jude eyes move down to his lips–
The front door opens.
Boomie doesn't bother to turn around to the newcomer, but he can't help but track them with the corner of his eye.
Sharpness fucking Conexion.
But Boomie's irritation turns into sickening smugness. He smirks at Sharpness as he captures Jude's lips into a kiss, eyes still glued on Sharpness.
Sharp, of course, doesn't seem to like this, but it's not like he can do anything else. He speeds out of the living room, probably already sobbing, but Boomie doesn't care. He finally breaks the kiss.
__________
They've made out for a few more minutes before Jude fell asleep on him. Fainted, to be more specific. He slowly carresses his back, hand stoping at the nape of Jude's neck.
He carefully pushes the purple locks away, and plants a slow, sweet kiss on the sleeping boy's neck.
Boomie leans back into the couch. He stares at the ceiling, satisfied yet disgusted at himself. His hand never stops working slow, comforting circles on Jude's back.
Jude will probably wake up tomorrow with the worst headache ever, and he'll forget everything. And even if he doesn't, he'll pretend to.
But Boomie will remember. Sharpness will, too.
He sighs.
At the end of the day, Jude is neither his, nor Sharp's. But for him, that's enough.