MIX-UP (JossGawin)

Chapter 2

Joe's day at the hospital had been eventful, and as he returned to his shared apartment, all he wanted was a quiet evening.

Pushing open the door, he was immediately met with the usual chaos that was Tong's domain. Books, gadgets, and half-finished projects were strewn across the living room, a stark contrast to Joe's meticulous and orderly corner.

"Jezz, Tong! Could you at least try to keep this place looking like it's not a hurricane zone?" Joe exclaimed, kicking aside a rogue drone part.

Tong looked up from his makeshift workbench, grinning. "Hey, Joe! Welcome home. Sorry about the mess. I was in the middle of something genius."

"You're always in the middle of something genius," Joe muttered, heading to the kitchen to grab a drink. "And it always ends with this place looking like a bomb site."

"Creative minds need space to think," Tong retorted, not missing a beat. "You should know that by now."

Joe shook his head, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. Despite their differences, Tong's infectious enthusiasm and charm were hard to resist. "Yeah, well, try not to blow anything up while you're at it."

"No promises," Tong replied with a wink, returning to his project.

Joe took a long sip of his drink, letting the cold liquid soothe his frazzled nerves. "You wouldn't believe the day I've had."

Tong's interest piqued. "Oh? Do tell."

Joe leaned against the counter, recounting his encounter with Ming. "So there I was, in the ICU, when I ran into this guy. Literally. Tall, dark, brooding. The whole nine yards."

Tong raised an eyebrow. "And let me guess, you were your usual charming self?"

Joe rolled his eyes. "I was polite, thank you very much. But there was something about him. I don't know, it was weird. Like he was out of place."

"Sounds like a mystery," Tong said, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Maybe he's a spy or an undercover cop."

"Or just someone visiting a patient," Joe said, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Ming was more than he appeared.

Tong leaned back, his chair creaking. "You know, you should bring him around here. Spice things up a bit."

Joe laughed. "Yeah, because what we need is more chaos."

"Exactly! Chaos is the spice of life, my friend."

Joe shook his head, finishing his drink. "Speaking of chaos, do you have any idea how to fix the bathroom sink? It's leaking again."

Tong grinned. "Leave it to me. I'll have it fixed in no time."

"Last time you said that, we ended up with a flood," Joe retorted.

"Hey, third time's the charm," Tong said with a wink. "Now, get out of here and let me finish this. It's going to be revolutionary."

Joe sighed, heading to his room. "Just don't blow anything up."

"Again, no promises," Tong called after him.