Soham was not the type to reach out first.

Soham was also the type of person who needed a colossal amount of emotional recuperation after a party, recuperation that could only be achieved by locking himself up in an enclosed place, alone, as much time as needed. 

It took him two weeks before re-joining civilization, during which the maid never visited. 

Feeling so burdened of having done absolutely nothing during this period, Soham exploded all his records of productivity.

Once he was physically back on the track and hadn't caugh up with his missed class because it simply wasn't that important, he considered the matter with Kai.

What the matter was, wasn't certain. 

Had he said or did something that night, he should have apologized. Had he done nothing and Kai was simply living his life, maybe Soham should do so as well.

The second choice was very much like him - Yet this choice implied Soham had not said or did anything, which he had no clue about. 

Thus, as surprising as it was, he went of his own account to the three's apartement.

Mia's eyes jumped wide, however, the most shocked one ended up being Kai.

Laid on the couch Kai twisted his body, staring holes into Soham "Why are you here ?"

Soham awkwardly shrugged and gave an excuse about loud works in his building.

The plan was to hang out with them a bit to then smoothly enough evoke halloween incident without Mia and Caleb around, nothing too complicated.

"ughhh" Soham was spacing out to the white ceiling, neck broken in half by the headrest of the couch. A big yawn followed.

Mia yawned at her turn, then Caleb, then Kai.

"Damn...Ima stop here for today" Caleb going to bed was a step forward for the plan. Thereupon a second step was made when Mia doze off, almost smashing her face on the floor.

She waved her hand and climbed the stairs.

At last, the two were alone. 

Kai had micro-naps from time to time, his gaming skills regressing as his posture was sinking in the cushions.

Soham kept making dumb mistakes, his legs unwittingly jumping up and down full of energy while te rest of the body was barely holding on.

The shaking transferred to he other knee, going faster, faster, faster-

"Stop" Kai said, his knee against Soham's "It stresses me out"

The leg obeyed. In all honesty, it was now unable to move a single millimeter for the foreign skin wouldn't either.

Kai was maintaining his gaze on the TV screen as if unaware.

Soham became over conscious of this physical proximity. 

Never mind the plan "By the way, Ima go home after this game" He announced casually. 

As always, Kai said he could just sleep over. As always, Soham would decline but-

Kai looked to Soham "There's something I wanted to ask you" 

"What...is it ?" Soham almost stuttered. 

Kai turned off the TV and started going upstairs, gesturing Soham to follow. 

He carried the cat off the desk to sat at it and pull a drawer.

"I've been working on a project for college so I was wondering if you were ok to help ?"

All the worrisome assumptions vanished.

Soham bent to see the papers in Kai's hand : sketches, mostly filled with the shape of a person in different places, doing different things.

"I've always wanted to make a music video" Soham was a bit surprised by Kai's words "Thing is, I needed a good camera but I recently befriended someone in my class who has one so...I mean I thought why not" Kai let out an embarrassed chuckle.

Soham squatted down "It's cool man, but how am I even supposed to help ?"

"Well I was planning on asking Lau-" What was blurted out was swallowed as fast "I mean you could be in the frame" Kai glanced to an unexpected grimace. He slid an index under the displeased chin "Come on, you're hot dude" A grin spoke "It's always more pleasing to have a good looking person on the screen"

"I don't even stand pictures, how do I survive being filmed"

"Just forget about the camera ?" The statement doubted itself.

"I don't get it" Soham lightly slapped away Kai's finger "Ask someone else"

Kai did not replied and instead checked his phone.

"...Forget it" Soham stood up ready to leave.

"You missed the last subway" Kai shook the blue light displaying the time in front of Soham's eyes.