Jock Next Bed (BL)
Chapter 97: Midnight crisis

Chapter 97: Midnight crisis

Chris’s eyes fluttered open in the depths of the night, his senses slowly rousing him from slumber. The soft, rhythmic sound of sniffling reached his ears, like a plaintive melody cutting through the silence.

He was confused for a moment, wondering what that was. His groggy brain finally remembered that he wasn’t the only one in the room tonight. Someone else was there. And the sound coming from Sky’s side of the room.

The dim glow of the moonlight filtering through the window cast shadows that danced on the walls, creating an eerie yet strangely comforting ambiance in the room.

Turning his gaze toward Sky’s direction, Chris was first met with Sky’s back to him. But he seemed to be awake because he noticed the soft, muted light that emanated from his phone, its glow casting an ethereal radiance that painted the edges of Sky’s profile. Even though he could only see his back and a little bit of his side profile, the sight was tinged with a touch of melancholy—a lone figure immersed in the glow of technology, an isolated connection to a world outside their room.

The snufflings came again, and Chris wondered if he had caught a cold but was rather surprised when he heard what sounded like quiet sobs coming from him too.

Sky’s fingers danced delicately across the screen of his phone, and Chris could tell from his disposition that whatever he was typing was laden with emotion.

As he continued to listen, Chris’s heart began to tighten with concern. It was evident that Sky was struggling with something, and his internal struggle played out audibly through the hushed sounds of his snuffles. The sound alone was enough to set Chris on edge, his own worries intertwining with his roommate’s obvious distress.

Chris wanted to respect Sky’s privacy and allow him the space to process whatever was troubling him. But the desire to reach out and offer support gnawed at him, urging him to bridge the gap between them.

Summoning his courage, Chris sat up in his own bed, his concern overriding his hesitations. "Sky?" he called out softly, his voice a gentle beacon in the darkness.

The sound of his name seemed to startle Sky, his movements on the phone faltering for a moment before he hastily shut off the screen, quietly muttering, "Shit!" to himself.

The room plunged into darkness once again, leaving only the faint illumination of the moonlight to outline their figures.

Sky turned to face him, his silhouette etched against the dim light, a mixture of surprise and tension playing out in his body language. Chris could feel the weight of the unspoken and sense the turmoil that lay beneath the surface. Yet, despite the uncertainty, Sky managed a small, strained smile. "Chris? You’re awake?"

Chris’s heart went out to him, his worry intensifying. "Yeah," he answered as he also sat up and looked at him.

Sky’s lips twitched, a mixture of embarrassment and concern in his expression. "Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to disturb you."

Chris shifted on the bed, his brows furrowing with concern. "What’s bothering you? Did... something happen?" He asked since Sky had been on the phone earlier and it looked like he was texting someone.

Sky hesitated, his eyes flickering briefly to Chris’s before he looked away. His fingers toyed with the edge of the blanket, and the tension in the room heavy. "Just... stuff. You know how it is."

There it was.

The secrecy again.

What was he expecting, anyway?

But despite that, his heart ached at the sadness in Sky’s voice, the weight of his words resonating with a sense of isolation that hit him too. "Yeah, I get it," Chris said softly, his voice gentle.

Sky’s shoulders seemed to relax slightly at Chris’s understanding, and his guard momentarily lowered.

Chris could sense his internal struggle—the conflict between wanting to confide and the fear of burdening someone else with his problems, or simply the fear of sharing whatever was bothering him.

Taking a deep breath, Chris swung his legs over the side of his bed and stood up. He took a few steps, closing the distance between them. Sitting down beside Sky, he offered a reassuring smile. "You don’t have to face whatever it is alone, Sky. And you don’t have to force yourself to talk about it." Chris added. "Although I am curious, I won’t force you to share your burdens with me. Remember what I said? I won’t do whatever would make you uncomfortable."

Sky’s gaze met his, vulnerability flickering in his eyes. It was a raw and honest moment, with the barriers between them crumbling as Sky’s arms tentatively encircled Chris in a hesitant hug. The embrace was tentative, as if Sky was afraid of burdening Chris with his troubles.

Chris was a little surprised at the gesture, but he quickly recovered from it and welcomed it, returning the hug with a gentle squeeze. "It’s all going to be fine, Sky. I’m here for you."

A shuddering breath escaped Sky, and he seemed to release the pent-up tension he had been carrying. The walls he had constructed began to crumble, and Chris felt the weight of Sky’s emotions spilling over. Slowly, Sky’s grip tightened, his fingers clinging to Chris as if seeking an anchor in the storm.

Sky’s voice wavered as he finally spoke, his words broken by quiet sobs. "I’m sorry... I’m a bad friend. I should’ve told you, but... I c-can’t."

Chris’s embrace tightened in response, offering solace in the face of Sky’s vulnerability. "Don’t be silly. You’re not a bad friend," Chris reassured him, his voice soft and soothing. "Sometimes we all have things we can’t share with just anyone easily."

Sky’s hold on Chris seemed to grow stronger, as if he were afraid of letting go of the lifeline he had found. "You’re not just anyone, Chris. You are my friend. You’ve treated me better than anyone."

In another situation, Chris would have probably cringed at the word ’friend’, but now his heart swelled with emotion, and a bittersweet smile curved his lips. "That’s funny. Because I don’t remember doing anything spectacular, whereas you’ve been the one doing everything and being amazing."

Sky shook his head in his embrace, but he said nothing further and just held Chris as he tried to bring his emotion under control.

Chris was worried about him. Recently, he had seen Sky in too many vulnerable states. Not the confident, annoying, crazy, idol that everyone loved. The perfect idol.

The room was bathed in the soft glow of their words, a sense of understanding and vulnerability filling the air.

As the minutes ticked by, the tension seemed to melt away, and eventually, Sky’s sobs subsided, replaced by the hushed cadence of their voices.

Sky’s exhaustion was evident; his emotional turmoil was taking its toll. "I think I’m ready to sleep now," he murmured, his voice weary. "I’m sorry for waking you up." He said this as he pulled away from the hug rather awkwardly.

Chris’s lips curled into a playful smile. "Need someone to share their warmth? The room’s kinda chilly." He wiggled his brows.

Sky looked amused and, at the same time, hesitant.

"I don’t snore, if that’s what you are worried about." Chris said lightly.

"Tch!" Sky scooted over for him, and Chris smiled as he joined him, his presence a comforting weight on the bed. Chris pulled the covers over them, cocooning them in warmth and intimacy.

Chris had a silent battle in his head, wondering if it was wise to do what his brain was telling him to do. After a few seconds of contemplation, he went along with it and slipped around Sky’s shoulders, pulling him close in an embrace that felt oddly natural.

He waited for Sky’s reaction, and after a few seconds of waiting, he realized Sky was not going to pull away. Instead, he leaned into the embrace, his face close to Chris’s chest. Just like they had been on that night.

Chris smiled to himself in the dark room, which was steeped in quiet intimacy, a sanctuary where vulnerability was met with understanding.

As their breathing synchronized, Sky’s voice broke the silence once more. "How’s school been? Have you been well?"

Chris’s reply was gentle, his voice laden with genuine concern. "Nothing strange. But what about you? Have you had any encounters with... you know, the stalker?"

A pause hung in the air before Sky responded, his voice guarded. "I’m good, Chris." There was another brief pause before he added, "Really."

Despite the attempt at reassurance, Chris sensed there was more beneath the surface. His instincts told him that Sky was still grappling with whatever had been bothering him.

Chris didn’t want to push it, so he just nodded. "You should sleep now. I, at least, do not have any classes until noon. But you, on the other hand, are always busy."

Sky’s response was quiet and curt. "Yeah."

Both were quiet again before Chris said, "Return to the dorm."