MIX-UP (JossGawin)

Chapter 5

Joe sat at his desk, trying to focus on his journal text. 

He glanced around his side of the room, satisfied with the neatness and order. 

Then his eyes wandered to Tong's side, which looked like a war zone. 

He sighed deeply. "It's useless to have a handsome face if your place looks like a haunted house," he muttered to himself.

Joe was thankful that their apartment was big enough to have two bedrooms. At least he could retreat to his private space when things got too wild. He turned back to his journal, trying to push thoughts of Tong's mess out of his mind. After a while, Joe decided to take a break and clean his aquarium. He found solace in watching the fish swim peacefully, a stark contrast to the chaotic whirlwind that was Tong's life.

Just as he was finishing up, the front door burst open, and Tong stumbled in, dragging a strange man behind him. "Don't mind me," Tong said, waving a dismissive hand as he headed straight for his room.

Joe blinked, bewildered. "Tong, who the hell is that?"

The stranger—tall, pale, and looking slightly out of place—gave Joe a brief nod before disappearing into Tong's room. Tong's door shut with a thud, leaving Joe standing there with his mouth open.

"What the actual fuck?" Joe muttered, shaking his head. He wasn't even going to try to understand this one. He went back to his aquarium, but his mind kept drifting to the stranger.

A few minutes later, he heard muffled voices from Tong's room, followed by Tong's unmistakable laughter. "Great," Joe sighed. "Now we've got random strangers in our apartment. What next?"

He put away his cleaning supplies and made his way to his own room, determined to focus on his studies. But curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself eavesdropping outside Tong's door.

"So, you're really a vampire?" Tong's voice said, sounding incredulous.

"Yes," the stranger replied, sounding a bit exasperated. "For the hundredth time, yes."

"That's so fucking cool," Tong said. "Can you turn into a bat? Or, like, hypnotize people?"

Joe rolled his eyes. Of course Tong would be fascinated by the weirdest things. He knocked on the door, deciding it was time to get some answers.

The door swung open, and Tong grinned at him. "Hey, Joe! Meet Mark. He's a vampire."

Joe stared at Mark, who gave him a polite nod. "Nice to meet you," Mark said, as if this were the most normal introduction in the world.

Joe pinched the bridge of his nose. "Of course he is. Tong, why is there a vampire in our apartment?"

Tong shrugged. "I woke him up in the old warehouse. Now he's my responsibility."

Joe couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Only you, Tong. Only you could wake up a vampire and bring him home."

Mark raised an eyebrow. "Is it really that surprising?"

Joe shook his head. "No, not really. Welcome to our crazy household, I guess."

Tong clapped Mark on the back. "See? I told you he'd be cool with it."

Joe turned to leave. "Just keep your vampire stuff to your side, okay? And no biting."

Mark smirked. "I'll do my best."