Love sick no more

24. Apart, part 1

Ohm had spent the night with Mick at his mom's place, and was now saying reluctant goodbyes. Mick and his mom were going to spend the weekend with Arm, Mick's cousin, and his family. Arm's baby was now a lively toddler, and Mick had only seen him over the Skype. Mick's mom had borrowed a car from her relatives and was driving them there, about a two hour drive, if the traffic cooperated, which it usually didn't.

"Text me, often. And video call me later, alright, love?" Ohm said, his arms tight around Mick.

"I will miss you too." Mick gave Ohm a shy kiss and went toward the car. Or he tried to. Ohm's arms refused to let the boy go. "P'Ohm?"

Ohm started, and let go, only to reach out to touch Mick's hair. "Hurry back," he said, his voice cracking.

Mick's mom noticed Ohm's difficulty. "I'll take good care of him, Ohm dear."

"I know, mom. It's just... It's our first night apart, since..."

Ohm's mom patted his cheek gently, and pulled him into a hug. "I know. But it's only one night, and we'll be back tomorrow. I will drop Mick off at your condo when we get back." She patted Ohm's shoulder and went into the driver's seat.

Watching them drive away, with Mick waving and sending air kisses at him until he was lost in traffic, was the hardest thing Ohm had ever done, after their long separation.

Desolate, Ohm texted Noh. "I'm on my way, Mick just left." He had arranged to spend the weekend with the guys, knowing he would be a nervous wreck while Mick was gone. It was embarrassing to admit, but Ohm had no choice. He had colored two hearts half full that morning, with a message: "You have my heart." He felt hollow without Mick, but thought that would have been too pathetic a message.

"You really have it bad," Noh said, with an exasperated sigh when he opened the door to Ohm and found him there, looking like a lost puppy. But he wasn't really mad. They hadn't spent that much time with Ohm since Mick came back, and he had been looking forward to a fun weekend with his best friend, and his boyfriend. Reality, of course, was something quite different.

They played a new XBOX game, which Ohm dropped immediately when his phone pinged. They watched a movie, and Ohm was glued to his phone. They had lunch, and Ohm went to answer a call from Mick.

"You're fucking pathetic, Ohm," Noh finally bellowed. "Put that damn phone away! The time doesn't go any faster even if you're glued to it."

"Sorry, sorry," Ohm mumbled.

The only thing that managed to drag Ohm's concentration away from his phone was when Noh forced a guitar in his hand, and they had an impromptu jamming session.

The evening felt interminable for them all, and Noh sighed with relief when it was finally late enough for them to go to sleep. They were in Phun and Noh's condo, and Ohm slept on the sofa in the living room. They could have gone to Phun's house, which had several guest rooms, but his father was hosting a dinner party for some dignitaries and they had agreed that it was best that the three boys would head there the following morning.

Later that night, Noh went to get a bottle of water, and he saw Ohm's face illuminated by his computer. "What are you doing? I thought you were already asleep?"

"Shhh. Video call with Mick," Ohm whispered.

"I'll come say hi," Noh whispered back, without even realising he was doing it. Before Ohm could hiss his protest, Noh had walked around and stuck his head into the camera range. "Hi Mick. Please come back soon. Ohm is being fucking annoying..." He realised only then he realised that Mick was fast asleep. Noh turned to look at Ohm, his face a picture. "You're just watching him sleep? Are you still worried about that Arm guy. He's Mick's cousin!"

"What, no. It's just that.. The last time I watched Mick leave in a car, he disappeared." Ohm swallowed.

Noh's breath went out. "Shia, Ohm! I didn't think about that." His hand gripped Ohm's shoulder. "You know it's not going to happen again. Mick's mom loves you, she would never keep you guys apart."

"I know. I just can't help it. It's our first night apart. I can't sleep without Mick."

"What? It's been two months!" Noh's voice rose above the whisper they had been using so far and Ohm shushed him.

Ohm shrugged helplessly. "We've spent every night together until now, either at my condo, or together at Mick's house."

"Seriously?"

"Says the guy who hasn't slept apart from Phun for two years now, isn't it?"

Noh opened his mouth to say something, but found he had no comeback. He sighed. "Try and get some sleep, at least. We have that brunch with Phun's dad tomorrow." He patted Ohm's shoulder again, and went back to bed. Phun was just stirring, having woken up by the empty bed. "Wha..?" He said sleepily.

"Just got some water. Ohm is watching Mick sleep over a video call, poor bastard."

"Nngghh," Phun answered and pulled Noh into his arms, and both were asleep in minutes.