#final part!!

When Oliver was finally allowed to leave the hospital, he didn't show the least bit of resistance towards his parents insisting that he finish his recovery at home.

He really only agreed so easily because he felt bad for how badly he'd scared them. If that were the case, he'd likely would have gone back to the dorms and gone right back to pulling all-nighters just to catch up with all the work class and newspaper work he'd missed, even if his mom insisted that she'd contacted the university to inform them of the situation.

So, three days after discharge, he now found himself in his childhood bedroom too tired to scroll on his phone and not really in the mood to watch tv. The aftermath of pneumonia was not pleasant. Several times, he had to put in more effort than he cared to just to take a few deep breaths that made his head spin from the oxygen. He'd been exhausted, his muscles so used to not moving while on the ventilator that it was almost painful to use them.

His doctor had explained how pneumonia recovery took a while. By next week, he knew that breathing would be less of a task, and his energy levels will go back up again soon.

I would kill for a cup of coffee, he thought. Then, he grimaced as he recalled that it was a cup of coffee that had put him in this situation in the first place.

Isaac had called Dan at the university's newspaper himself to explain why Oliver wouldn't be able to work on his assignments, only to hear from Dan that apparently Oliver was just one of several staff members who had called in sick with pneumonia. Ryan, the freshman who had been fetching coffee for the staff the night before Oliver got sick, had apparently not bothered to check whose mugs were whose, or even to rinse and/or wash before re-filling them. Felicity, the other staff member who had been coughing a bit while working, apparently had bacterial pneumonia herself, and her mug had been passed around to several people.

Long story short, Ryan left the Uni's newspaper staff.

But, despite being one of several, Oliver of-fucking-course had to have been the only one who had it bad enough to require a goddamn hospital stay and a goddamn ventilator. The unfairness made him genuinely mad. Fuck my fuck-ass-shit-quality immune system!

He let out an annoyed huff at his own thoughts, deciding not to think about it anymore. He thought about maybe sleeping, but although he was tired, he wasn't tired enough to actually sleep.

He thought about what he wanted at that moment. Honestly, he didn't have to think long.

I want my friends.

So, he grabbed his phone off his nightstand and sent a text in the group chat.

Me: Heyyy

Kei-K.O.: Hi, Oliver! How're you doing?

Issy 💕: Heyy, bby! What's up?

Bye-Bye-Birdie: Hiiiiiiiiiii !!!✌️✌️✌️

Jorrrr: Hey, pookie! You alr?

Spirit {Big sis}: Wassup, lil dude?

Eli-belly: Hi!

Aiden {Spirit's bf 👀👀}: How's it going, Ollie?

Queen_Amber👑🎭: Heyyy! Hru??

Oliver couldn't help but smile at just how quickly the messages rolled in. God, he loved his friends.

Me: I'm fine. Doing better. Tbh, just kinda bored 🥲

He knew they were probably all busy, but he missed them all too much to really care.

Me: Can u guys come over?

Me: 🥲🥲🥲

Issy 💕: Ofc!!!! I'm omw! 😙

Kei-K.O.: Sure thing! I'm finishing an assignment rn, but I'll head over right after. Do you guys want pizza?

Bye-Bye-Birdie: Bleh! 🍕🤮

Kei-K.O.: Besides you, Birdie 🙄. I can get you fries or something. Everyone else?

Eli-belly: Amber & Jor are both with me rn. They said pizza is good👍

Bye-Bye-Birdie: I'm coming over, too. With blankets. LOTS of blankets!!!!!😁😁😁

Spirit {Big sis}: I'll be there in 10.

Aiden {Spirit's bf 👀👀}: Oliver, you want anything?

Me: Not rlly. Just you guys.

Jorrrr: Awwwww!!😊😊😊

Spirit {Big sis}: 😁

Issy 💕: Love ya, bby! See u in a bit!!

Oliver smiled at his phone before deciding to actually try and get up from bed.

He'd only done it a few times in the last three days since he left the hospital, each time to go to the bathroom, and usually with at least a little help from his dad.

Sitting up was already physically taxing. He groaned as he managed to get his elbows beneath himself. His arms shook as he pushed himself up the rest of the way, having to push himself back against the headboard as he caught his breath. His chest still ached a bit.

He coughed a couple times before taking a deep breath, bracing himself to actually stand up. He kicked his covers aside and shifted his legs off of his bed. It took him a whole minute just to stand up, using his bedside table for support. His legs shook, though not as badly as they did on his first day after discharge.

He took slow, careful steps out of his bedroom. He kept a hand against the wall as he made his way through his house. Eventually, he found his way to the living room, which was right by the open kitchen where his mom was chopping something that looked like pickled beets on the kitchen island.

Her eyes widened when she saw him. She put down her knife, all but running to him. "Oliver, sweetie, what're you doing up? What's wrong?" She asked, worried, taking his hand. He smiled at her a little.

"I'm fine, mom," he assured her. "My friends are coming over to spend some time with me. Is that okay?"

The worry on her face morphed into something else. Something relieved and happy. "Of course it's fine, sweetheart. Are you guys going to want anything to eat?"

"Kei said he's bringing pizza."

"Well, our fridge is fully stocked with everything from cookies to fruit, so you and your friends can take what you want as you please."

"Thanks, mom," he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

She patted his hand, smiling. "Alrighty then. Were you heading to the couch?" She looked at his other hand that was still braced against the wall for support. "Want some help, or were you planning on taking the wall with you?"

He laughed a little, which made him cough a couple of times but just little coughs.

She helped him make the rest of the walk to the couch. Then she went back to the kitchen to keep making what he assumed was her favorite salad recipe, judging by what he'd seen her chopping.

He took the remote and began searching for a movie to watch. Upon trying to decide what all of his friends would most likely all be in the mood to watch, he settled on 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'.

A knock came from the front door, and Oliver saw his dad emerge from his office to go answer it. The man did a double take when he spotted his son outside of his bedroom, a relieved and genuinely happy smile gracing across his face.

The man went to answer the door, and after a minute or so, he came back with Oliver's beaming boyfriend behind him.

"Hi!" Oliver said, his whole face lighting up upon seeing Isaac's smiling face. He hadn't realized just how badly he'd missed him until that very moment.

Isaac wasted no time walking over to the couch where Oliver was sitting, taking the spot beside him and embracing him in the tightest hug he could manage without having to worry about maybe accidentally hurting him.

Oliver hugged him back, relaxing into his warmth. There was something about Isaac that was warmer and more comforting than any bed or blanket could possibly be. He smiled when he felt Isaac press soft kisses to his hair.

Not long after getting cuddled up together on the couch (a fluffy sky-blue blanket tossed over them, courtesy of Oliver's dad), Birdie, Eliana, Amberlynn and Jordan all arrived together, all of them either getting settled on the other couch in the living room, or on the carpeted floor with couch-cushions and the multitude of blankets Birdie had actually brought.

Aiden actually got there three minutes before Spirit, explaining that they were coming in separate cars but he'd just narrowly made it past a red light, whereas Spirit couldn't pass it before it went red. She arrived and immediately went to give Oliver a hug. As she leant down to do so, she shoved Isaac's face in the opposite direction, making him yelp and try to turn his head. He settled for licking her palm, which she then wiped off using his perfectly-styled hair. They stuck their tongues out at each other, which made Oliver laugh, a sound that had everyone in the room smiling.

Keiko arrived last, carrying three pizza boxes and two extra boxes, one with fries and the other with chicken wings. In minutes, everyone had a plate and the movie was playing. Jordan and Eliana cuddled up on the other couch, Birdie burrito-rolled in about three blankets on the floor, Keiko and Amberlynn on Oliver's dad's armchair, and Aiden and Spirit cuddled up with several blankets and pillows on the floor as well.

Oliver looked at all of them, not focused on the movie. Every time they laughed or smiled, it made him smile. He felt like the luckiest person in the world to be surrounded by friends like this. Friends who showed up and cared about him.

Family.

He hadn't realized there were tears in his eyes till Isaac kissed one running down his cheek. "You alright, Olive?" he whispered so the others wouldn't hear. Oliver looked at him and smiled, kissing him softly. "Better than ever," he told him.

kuko

huh? was this for him??

kuko is a little bewildered when you just hand him the chocolate, shy or not. he’s a bit slow on it, but when it hits, he does cackle and grin. you shouldn’t have!

how cute — he teases you about it, a bit too much perhaps. really, it’s all a bit flustering and confusing for him as well

but ah, he’s confused on what to do. kuko’s left scratching his head, wondering what it all meant. i mean, he did know, but it’s still so strange when it happens to him

ughh, the way his body reacts is a pain too. he gets those stupid heart flutters when he realizes all too well that you had gifted him chocolate on valentine’s of all days. why’d you have to do him like that? it’s irritating, dealing with all these annoying emotions

what a pain in the ass. he has to sort through all of himself again as well. i suppose it wasn’t all that bad though

jyushi

one word, of course: flustered. it’s pretty obvious

he kinda…short-circuits, visibly, when you hand him chocolates. he knows what this means all too well; and as much as jyushi tries to keep up his front, the cracks show when he gets all too warmed up

it’s all he thinks about for the rest of the day, missing a chord or two during practice because of it. he’s off his balance, and jyushi can’t help but bury his head into his pillow when he comes home to muffle his thoughts

hngg, everything was too much. your chocolates tasted way too good, and his mind was becoming too overwhelming. he felt all too strange and warm. again, it was all too much

he whines to amanda about what he should do, overtly emotional. why’d you give him chocolates? i mean, jyushi’s over the moon about it, but he still can’t help but wonder. he also can’t help but ponder on his feelings

jyushi knows this means he must give you something for white day, and come to terms with his feelings, eventually. but he’s sure he’ll just malfunction on the spot if he did so

hitoya

mm, he kinda freezes up? it’s clear that he doesn’t know what to do, visible on his (handsome) features

hitoya is, more or less, awkward about the entire thing. it wasn’t anything he was entirely prepared for, and hitoya is usually well prepared. it throws him off

it feels so weird to have been gifted chocolate, especially from you — he wasn’t sure why it did either. the two of you were somewhat close, and hitoya considered you ‘tolerable’, i guess

but goddammit! why’d his chest act up, his heart did a flip, when you gave him the chocolates. they could’ve been obligatory for all he knew, even if they were so obviously homemade

ugh, he needs a drink to sort this all out. he feels like a mess, both inside and out

sasara

he’s shocked, but a good shocked! sasara is pretty expressive i think, so you can definitely see it on his face in real time as he goes from surprise to being flattered

gahh, his heart is full to bursting from getting chocolates from you, and he definitely expresses that. his smile seems a bit bright, and sasara is definitely a little loud with it, not too much though (maybe he throws in a pun or two..or even a flirt)

but really though, it puts him in a great mood, to get chocolates from you (especially if they’re homemade). his jokes and routine seemed to flow naturally that night, and he’s as funny as ever. sasara feels at his best

and your chocolates were the perfect reward for after. they’re not too sweet, a bit bitter from the darkness actually, but sasara enjoys them. they’re super good, especially with the warmth that spreads and resounding of his heart in his ears

sasara is left with many thoughts, especially about you. they all feel too good though, and sasara is sure he comes to a conclusion

you were so precious to him

rosho

he trips over his words and can’t seem to get a sentence out when you hand him chocolates. he’s beyond in disbelief, at a loss of words

i mean, rosho’s super grateful! but also, what the fuck. he totally wasn’t expecting anything from you, who held so much more significance and meaning than any of the chocolates he’s received from coworkers (for some strange reason..)

it’s kinda cute how red his ears get though, and he’s super flustered. he also can’t say much without making him out to be a fool (in rosho’s eyes anyway)

it shouldn’t be much of a big deal, maybe, especially if it was only obligatory chocolate; but rosho can’t help but feel all muddled up and confused inside

it’s..frustrating to him a little, trying to make sense of all these feelings. all he knows is that it felt good, much so, when you gifted him the chocolates

well, he had until white day to figure it out

rei

well, it’s amusing for him, certainly

he’s not exactly the type to receive anything for valentine’s day, of course, and it’s not like rei cared much about the day anyway

but, he still couldn’t help but appreciate your gesture. you went out of your way to gift him chocolates on valentine’s of all days. it’s cute, especially with how shy you looked gifting him it (maybe it earned a little chuckle out of him too)

it’s still a little strange to rei, though, when it came to himself. this feeling is difficult to explain, but it’s familiar to a degree. he’s not entirely oblivious to it all, but some things still aren’t all too clear

he can’t entirely bring himself to finish the box of chocolates though, for some reason

things are certainly a bit more muddled between the two of you after