Close to You

A New Beginning

"William..." Est began, his voice soft, almost hesitant. "I've been thinking... maybe it's time for us to move in together."

William turned his head to look at him, his eyes warm. "You mean it?"

Est nodded slowly, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. "Yeah. I think it would be nice. I know we spend a lot of time here already, and I'm not exactly far away, but..." He paused, biting his lip. "It just feels right, you know?"

William smiled, his heart swelling at the thought of Est living with him. It felt like the next logical step, but hearing it out loud made everything seem more real.

"I've been thinking the same thing," William admitted, squeezing Est's hand. "I think it's time we take that leap."

And so, they did. Over the next few weeks, William and Est started to pack up Est's things and move them into William's apartment. It was a mix of excitement and nervousness for Est, who had never truly lived with someone else in a romantic capacity before. But William was patient with him, always offering a reassuring smile or gentle words whenever Est began to feel overwhelmed.

The transition wasn't immediate, of course. They still had their own spaces within the apartment Est, with his love for photography, claimed one corner for his pictures, and William's guitar and music equipment took up another. But little by little, they began to merge their lives, and it felt right.

One late night, as they lay on the couch together, Est curled into William's side, the city lights glowing through the window, William couldn't help but smile.

"I think this is going to be really good for us," William whispered, kissing the top of Est's head.

"Yeah," Est agreed softly, "I think so too."

While William and Est were settling into their new life, Nut and Hong's relationship was starting to blossom as well. The two of them had taken their time, working through their issues, figuring out what they wanted from each other. But now, as they spent more time together, they were starting to feel like they were finally in sync.

It wasn't always easy. Hong, still cautious from his past feelings, sometimes found himself withdrawing, unsure of what to do with the emotions Nut was bringing to the surface. But Nut was persistent, patient, and above all, understanding. He knew Hong needed time to open up fully, but he was willing to wait.

One evening, the group gathered at the park near their university. William and Est were holding hands, laughing quietly at something Lego had said, while Tui and Nut shared a calm conversation about an upcoming project. Hong, however, had drifted to the edge of the group, his eyes on Nut from across the park.

Nut noticed him immediately, his usual smirk softening into something more genuine. He excused himself from the group and walked over to where Hong stood, standing just close enough to make Hong aware of his presence without crowding him.

"You okay?" Nut asked softly, his voice quieter than usual, his concern palpable.

Hong glanced at him, looking like he was about to pull away. But instead, he sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

Nut stepped closer, his hand brushing Hong's arm gently. "About what?"

Hong hesitated before finally meeting Nut's gaze. "About us," he admitted. "About how everything feels different now."

Nut tilted his head, sensing the conflict in Hong's words. "I know it's all new. And I know you're not used to this kind of thing."

"I'm not used to any of it," Hong confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not used to being this close to someone. To caring about someone this much. It's scary, Nut."

Nut's face softened, his smirk gone, replaced with an expression of gentle understanding. "It's okay to be scared. I'm scared too, sometimes." He reached for Hong's hand, their fingers intertwining. "But I'm not going anywhere, Hong. I promise."

Hong swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to speak. He had been running for so long running from his feelings, running from his own doubts. But Nut was right there, patient and steady. And for the first time in a while, Hong felt like maybe he could stop running.

"I just need you to understand," Hong said, his voice shaking slightly. "I'm not perfect. I'm... a mess sometimes. But I want this. I want you. I just..." He trailed off, unsure of how to finish the thought.

Nut squeezed his hand tighter. "You don't have to be perfect, Hong. You're just you. And that's more than enough for me."

The two stood there for a few more moments, the world moving on around them, but for Hong and Nut, it was just the two of them in that moment. And it felt like everything was falling into place.