The clinic was quiet.

Tua sat across from Ohm, posture relaxed, expression clam.

Pen resting between his fingers.

''So,'' Tua began gently,''how have things been this week?''

Ohm let out a long breath.

''Complicated.''

Tua nodded slightly.

''Because of your partner?''

Ohm gave a small, tried laugh.

''Yeah. Mostly.''

''He just.. doesn't listen,'' Ohm continued.

''Like,I explain something, and he already has his own version in his head''

Tua's gaze stayed steady.

''...So you feel misunderstood.''

''Exactly.''

Silence settled for a moment.

Tua tapped his pen lightly once.

''Have you told him that directly?'' he asked.

Ohm shook his head.

''No point.''

''Why?''

''He'II just assume I'm overreacting,'' Ohm replied.

''He always does that''

Tua's expression remained clam.

but something in his eyes shifted slightly.

''..You sound certain,'' he said.

Ohm frowned

''...Because I am.''

Tua titled his head just a little.

''Then let me ask you this,'' he said softly,

''are you giving him a chance to understand..

or deciding that he won't?''

Ohm paused.

''That's different.''

''Is it?'' Tua asked gently.

Silence.

Ohm leanedback, running a hand through his hair.

''You always do this.''

Tua almost smiled.

''Do what?''

''Make me question my own logic''

''I'm just asking you to look at both sides,'' Tua replied clamly.

Ohm said

''Annoying.''

''Effective,'' Tua corrected.

Then Ohm spoke again-

more casually this time.

''...My cousin's kind of like that too.''

''Oh?'' he said

''Yeah,'' Ohm continued.

''He's not my partner or anything-but same habit. Assumes things. Doesn't really try to understand people properly.''

Tua listened.

Quietly.

''He's always been like...confident,'' Ohm added, thinking. ''But now it's more like-he just doesn't bother.''

A pause.

''Do you get along with him?'' Tua asked.

Ohm replied

''Sometimes. Sometimes not''

Tua nodded slowly.

''Sounds like a pattern,'' he said

''Oh definitely,'' Ohm replied. ''I somehow end up surrounded by people who don't listen.''

Tua gave a faint, almost amused look.

''Or,'' he said gently.

''people who don't feel heard.''

Ohm blinked.

''...Okay, that sounded deep.''

''It was simple.'' Tua replied.

Ohm shook his head with a small smile.

''..You're way too clam about everything.''

''It helps.'' Tua said lightly.

Ohm studied him for a second.

''You're not always like this, are you?''

Tua raised his eyebrow

''What do you mean?''

Ohm smirked.

''I don't know... feels like you're different with people you're close to?''

Tua didn't answer immediately.

''Oh-and,'' Ohm added casually,'' I still think you're in a realtionship.''

Tua blinked

''You keep saying that.''

''I'm not wrong,'' Ohm grinned

''You are.''

''Then explain the mysterious clam+ secretly chaotic personality combo.''

Tua sighed softly, picking up his pen.

''That's just personality.''

''Suspicious personality,'' Ohm muttered.

Tua ignored.

''Let's focus,'' he said clamly. '' Do you want to continue trying with your partner... or are you starting to feel done?''

Ohm's smile faded slighty.

''I don't know.''

Tua nodded.

''That's okay,'' he said gently.

A pause.

''But whatever you decide- make sure it comes from self-respect.''

Slience settled again.

Because that line-

felt heavier than the rest.

''Ohm,'' Tua added softly''

''you can't force someone to understand you.''

A small pause.

''But you choose whether to stay where you're misunderstood.''

Ohm exhaled slowly.

''.. You always say things like that so clamly.''

Tua gave a faint smile.

''It's easier when you've already learned it the hard way.''

Ohm didn't catch the weight behind that...