Hypernova : A Sequel to Supernova

Episode 8 - Some Mysteries

"Can you believe it's finally over?" Ontae asked, his voice heavy with exhaustion. He pressed a hand to his forehead like he was trying to scrub away the last three hours of essay prompts and equations. "I swear, I blanked halfway through and just started writing nonsense."

The afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of the campus hallway, casting long shadows across the floor as their peers trudged with various expressions of exhaustion etched across their faces. Nine leaned back against the wall, hands shoved into his pockets, exhaling like he'd been holding his breath all week.

 "If nonsense gets graded,then I might actually pull a decent grade." He teased.

Ontae's laugh was soft, wavering on the edge of a groan. "Don't try to make me feel better. We both know you're going to ace it."

Nine tilted his head, mock-sighing. "If only I had your confidence in me, Mr. Shin." He rolled his neck, wincing at the stiffness, a likely product of endless hours hunched over textbooks. "I spent the week cramming, barely slept, and probably single-handedly funded the campus cafe. If caffeine poisoning's a thing, I'm probably on the verge."

For the past week, his entire focus had been on studying which now that he thought about it was a small mercy in a way. At least he hadn't had much time to think about Jorah or the jumbled mess of feelings surrounding their relationship. However, now with their exams over, thoughts of him were already began to meander their way back in.

Ontae shifted his bag on his shoulder, in an attempt to shake off the remnants of tension. "At least it's done. No more exams—for now," he said, his tone lifting with a note of anticipation. "Now we can focus on our research."

"Yeah," Nine replied, the weight of their next steps suddenly making him feel alert, almost excited.

"I still can't believe we're really going to New York," Ontae continued, the excitement in his voice tempered by something quieter. "I've never even left the country." A shadow flickered across his face as he added, almost to himself, "I always thought my first trip would be with my brother. We used to talk about seeing the world someday, but the furthest we ever got was two cities over."

The words hung in the air, delicate and unsteady.

"You have a brother?" Nine asked, his curiosity tugging at the edges of the moment.

Ontae stilled, his eyes darting to Nine as if caught off guard. His hand stilled on his bag strap, and his shoulders tensed ever so slightly. "Yeah," he nodded, his voice quiet, like a thought half-formed.

"That tracks," Nine said lightly. "You've got that protective older-brother vibe. How come I've never heard you talk about him before?"

Ontae exhaled, the sound sharp and controlled, like he was trying to keep something buried. "He's actually older," he said, the words measured and sounding slightly heavy. "And it's complicated...so, it's not something I talk about much"

Nine studied him for a moment, catching the way Ontae's jaw tightened. The look in his eyes—pain veiled but present—reminded Nine of his own buried wounds. He nodded, a faint smile curving his lips. "I get it. Some things aren't easy to talk about."

Ontae's shoulders loosened, and his mouth twitched into a small, grateful smile. "Thanks."

"New York, though," Nine said, steering them both back to steadier ground. "It's chaos, but in the best way. Pure energy, once you let it sweep you up." His eyes brightened, the thought pulling a genuine smile from him.

Ontae's lips curved into a tentative smile."You've done this a lot, haven't you? Travelled." He asked curiously as more of the tension from before faded.