READY OR NOT - Landoscar

18 - You Can't Resist

The door creaked as Lando stumbled into his apartment, the familiar sound of hinges protesting against his weight echoing in the stillness of the night. The world around him felt like a whirlpool of laughter and music, still lingering in his senses even as he stepped into the comforting embrace of his home. His mind swirled with echoes of the Halloween party—bright lights, vibrant costumes, and the infectious energy of his friends dancing through his veins like the remnants of the last sip of punch he had managed to down before leaving.

He kicked off his shoes, the soft thud against the hardwood floor reverberating through the quiet space. As he steadied himself, a wave of dizziness swept over him, the room spinning in a dizzying spiral. He leaned against the wall, the coolness of the surface grounding him for a moment. The faint aroma of caramel from the treats he had indulged in mingled with the crisp autumn air that seeped in through the slightly open window.

Lando took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the night mixed with the faint hint of the pumpkin spice candles he had lit earlier in the week. It was comforting, familiar—a stark contrast to the chaos of his earlier hours. He chuckled to himself, the sound ringing hollow in the empty apartment. "What a night," he murmured, swaying slightly as he made his way to the kitchen.

He reached for a glass, filling it with water from the tap, the cool liquid soothing against his parched throat. He leaned against the counter, his mind still buzzing from the thrill of the party. The laughter of his friends echoed in his ears, but a lingering sensation hung heavy in the air—an unshakable connection to Oscar, the enigmatic figure who had haunted his dreams.

As he gulped down the water, Lando found himself drifting into thought, the echoes of the evening fading into a quiet hum. Images of Oscar flitted through his mind like shadows dancing on the walls of his memory. He recalled the way Oscar had looked at him in the dreams—those captivating caramel-brown eyes, expressive and filled with an unspoken depth.

"Why can't I shake you?" Lando whispered into the stillness of the room, as if the answer lay hidden within the shadows. The thought stirred something deep within him, an emotional tempest he had managed to suppress amid the joy of the evening. It wasn't just curiosity anymore; it was a pull, an undeniable urge to understand the mystery that surrounded Oscar.

He wandered to the living room, collapsing onto the couch with a heavy sigh. The plush cushions embraced him, enveloping him in warmth as he settled back, his mind a whirlpool of thoughts. As the world outside darkened, the faint glow of streetlights filtered through the window, casting soft shadows across the room.

Lando closed his eyes, surrendering to the drowsiness that tugged at him. He could feel the remnants of the party tugging at the edges of his consciousness, a siren song calling him back into the vivid memories of laughter and dance. But as he drifted, Oscar's face floated to the forefront, vivid and haunting, a reminder of the darkness he couldn't quite escape.

"Why are you always there?" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. A flicker of movement caught his attention, and he opened his eyes, the shadows playing tricks on his mind. He sat up, peering into the dim corners of the room as if expecting to see Oscar materialise before him. But the only thing that greeted him was the mundane reality of his apartment, the familiar mess of textbooks scattered across the coffee table and the empty takeout containers lingering in the corners.

Lando chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "You're losing it, mate," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. Yet beneath the laughter was a current of anxiety that refused to dissipate. He knew he was caught between two worlds—one filled with laughter and friendship and the other shadowed by the dark allure of his dreams.