Chapter 3: Getting on Each Other's Nerves
The following weeks became a brutal test of patience.
Than quickly learned that working with Kit was like trying to organize a hurricane.
Everything about them clashed.
Than liked schedules.
Kit ignored them.
Than color-coded files.
Kit renamed documents things like "final_FINAL_v2_ACTUALfinal."
Than planned meetings days ahead.
Kit texted "u free rn?" five minutes before disappearing for three hours.
It drove Than insane.
"We need to stick to the timeline," Than insisted one evening, frustration clear in his voice as he pointed at the project schedule displayed on his laptop.
Kit barely glanced at it from where he was sprawled lazily across the couch in the study room.
"Schedules are just suggestions."
Than stared at him in disbelief.
"No," he said slowly, like he was speaking to a deeply concerning child, "they are not suggestions. They are essential for efficiency."
Kit looked completely unimpressed.
"You're going to give yourself a heart attack before graduation."
Than shut his laptop harder than necessary.
"And you're going to fail because you think life is one big joke."
Kit grinned immediately.
"But you'll save me before that happens."
Than opened his mouth to argue,
Then stopped.
Because somehow, unbelievably, Kit looked genuinely sure about that.
Still, despite the endless arguments, something strange slowly started happening between them.
They worked well together.
Dangerously well.
Kit's chaotic ideas somehow balanced Than's rigid structure perfectly. Where Than focused too much on details, Kit saw the bigger picture instantly. Their debates during brainstorming sessions were exhausting, loud, and ridiculously dramatic, but the project kept improving because of it.
Neither of them wanted to admit that part.
One evening, they stayed late in the nearly empty study hall, laptops abandoned momentarily as exhaustion settled into the quiet room.
Rain tapped softly against the windows.
Kit spun lazily in his chair while Than highlighted notes beside him.
Then, out of nowhere, Kit started laughing to himself.
Than looked up suspiciously.
"What?"
Kit grinned.
"Remember freshman welcome week?"
Than frowned slightly. "Unfortunately."
"There was this one guy who accidentally triggered the fire alarm during the party."
Than blinked.
Then slowly lowered his pen.
"…Wait."
Kit's grin widened instantly.
"Oh no," Than muttered.
"Yep."
Than stared at him in disbelief.
"You're the idiot who set off the fire alarm?"
Kit placed a hand dramatically against his chest.
"In my defense, nobody told me microwaving metal was dangerous."
Than actually laughed.
A real laugh.
It slipped out before he could stop it.
Kit immediately froze for a second, visibly surprised.
Than noticed too late.
Their eyes met across the table and suddenly the room felt strangely warm.
Than cleared his throat quickly and looked away first.
"I always wondered who the idiot was."
Kit leaned back in his chair with a smug grin. "Glad to finally meet your expectations."
Than rolled his eyes, but this time… he couldn't completely hide the smile tugging at his lips.