106: Epilogue Part 10: Frenemies & Enemies

Connor could admit it now. Two months had passed since he’d thrown a temper tantrum over some assholes calling Inho a drug dealer, and he no longer spoke to Sarah or Ethan. Sometimes they’d glare at him in the library or cafeteria, but he couldn’t care less, because why would he look at them when he could look at Inho?

Meanwhile, he and Inho had somehow become frenemies– the kind of relationship that talks shit and bullies eachother but somehow also manages to create a bubble of exclusion that makes everyone else feel unwelcome.

Connor wasn’t sure how it had happened. He’d increased his snark to hide his growing crush, and Inho just seemed too tired from his day jobs to bother making other friends. He tried really hard in class though, never missing a lecture, diligently taking crappy notes, and one day he’d even shyly asked Connor how to do a better job– oh god that was cute. Connor shuddered pleasantly remembering it.

And since Inho was a good student, he showed up to work on their group project every week, which was more than could be said for Sanjay or Josh, who had come one more time each before vanishing from team meetings with weak excuses and silence. So yeah, anyway, Connor could admit it– he was fucking in love with Inho.

I love you, I want you, please kiss me... That was the constant litany that ran through his head whenever they were together. It was going right now, as he watched Inho chew the end of his pen staring at the single monitor in the library booth they were both crammed into.

“Why won’t it fucking print?” Inho snapped at last, tossing the pen aside. “We need to run through the presentation a few times today at least– I hate public speaking.”

Connor leaned across him to flick his hand away and take control of the mouse, secretly thrilling as their thighs brushed together, “It’s fine, I’m great at it. I’ll cover if you forget how to talk.”

Inho leaned forward in his chair, getting in Connor’s face with narrowed eyes and a suspicious glare, “Are you talking shit about my English again?”

“No!” Connor’s heart was pounding wildly at the closeness, “And I apologized for that like a million times already, Jesus christ, let it go.”

Inho put his pen back in his mouth and rolled his chair back so Connor could take over trying to connect to the printer.

“What are we gonna do about Josh and Sanjay? They must know we’re presenting tomorrow, right?”

Connor shrugged, the printer was evading him too. “It’s not like they did any work, shouldn’t we just take their names off?”

Inho pursed his lips, considering, “That feels so dramatic though, right?” He paused and Connor shrugged in reply, “But also I kinda like it– where do they get off leaving us to do everything?”

Connor shrugged again, started to get frustrated at the abomination that was wireless printing.

“I guess it would, like, burn some bridges,” Inho continued, “But what are they gonna do about it?  Who cares if they’re mad, right?”

“You know me, I love making enemies,” Connor muttered as he found the right printer at last.

Inho laughed, bubbly and delighted, “I do know that about you.” He put an amicable hand casually on Connor’s shoulder, making his heart race again. “You know what, Josh sucks anyway, fuck those guys. Let’s take their names off.” He laughed again, and Connor smiled helplessly back at him. Their presentation printed at last, and they headed off to practice.

The next day, Connor woke up with the flu. He could’ve tried to reschedule the presentation, but he’d slept in, and Inho would already be on his way to class. Thinking of Inho’s nervous texts the night before about how he couldn’t wait for it to be over, he took some cold meds and dragged himself to school.

“You look like shit today,” Inho said when he sat down. Connor relished the concern on his face.

“You always look like shit,” he answered, then coughed harshly into his elbow. Josh and Sanjay were both present today, and were looking back at them from their seats near the front. He nudged Inho and nodded towards them, “Look at these turds, showing up to act like they did any work.” He and Inho sneered at them in unison.

“They can get fucked,” Inho dismissed them, and turned to Connor, “You’re all stuffed up though, will you be able to talk?”

Connor gave a mighty sniff and shrugged, “Who else is gonna do it?”

Inho looked worried,“I’ll go get you a tea, hang on.” he sprang up and rushed out of the classroom before Connor could stop him. Connor smiled down at his hands, Inho was probably just nervous about the presentation, but Connor let himself imagine he was fussing over him.

While Inho was gone, Josh came over and sat in front of him. Connor faked a long coughing fit every time he tried to talk.

“Listen,” Josh said at last when Connor started and finished coughing for real, “We’re cool right? Me and Sanjay had some stuff come up, but we’re here to help present.”

Connor rubbed his jaw, “Well I’m always cool, but you guys….” he ran his eyes rudely over Josh.

“Don’t fuck around,” Josh snapped, “I bet that prick didn’t do any work either. This projects nearly the whole grade, don’t screw us over.”

“I don’t wanna screw you at all,” Connor answered airly, though his nose was now plugged.

“Can you stop with the snappy comebacks for one second?”

“No, I literally can’t.”

Inho came back just then, and started opening a honey packet to put in Connor’s tea. “Why are you guys even here?” he asked Josh in a bland tone.

“To present.” Josh snapped back.

Inho’s eyebrows shot up, “Oh yeah?” he grinned, “I mean you’re welcome to stand up there.”

Connor could hear the threat in Inho’s voice, but Josh missed it, nodding sharply once and returning his seat.

Connor snickered, and the smile of secret shared revenge that Inho gave him with his tea made his heart flop in his chest, sending him into another coughing fit.

~~

I'm back at Kiss It Better chapters! I decided to post them here first as early access, it'll be up on Tapas/Wattpad on Thursday.  What's going to happen when Josh and Sanjay find out they're not getting credit?! 

Lil Status update for rewards:

Spice $3 Tier: 

-The poll is closed with a clear winner! Chapter 1 of Min's romance: coming soon!

Hot $7 Tier: 

-June Reward 1: Public Sex Chapter is up! HERE 

-June Reward 2: Uncensored NSFW artwork of Min in lingerie: coming soon!

- Bonus reward: 4 panel NSFW comic of Inho getting his harness: coming soon!