104: Epilogue Part 8: Let's Not Be Stupid

A week had passed since the group had met at Connors place. Connor’s fight with his dad was all but forgotten now. Though obviously, he was never going to invite anyone over again– A first time and a last time for everything, as they say.

Not that he’d have to worry about the group asking to come over, so far he was the only member of his group at school today. Class had started five minutes ago, and though Sanjay had texted the group to say he was sick, there was no sign of either Inho or Josh.

Mr. Webb started his lecture and Connor annoyed himself by repeatedly twisting to check the back door. He’d saved Inho a seat, and that bitch didn’t even show up?

Five minutes later, the back door swung quietly open, admitting Inho with a face like a thundercloud, and before it could fall shut, Josh caught it and slinked in after, looking smug. Inho sat down beside Connor, quietly unpacking his things without a word.

The instructor paused to glare but continued with the lecture.

Why are you late? Connor wrote on the margin of his notebook and slid it in front of Inho. Inho looked at it and just shook his head. Did something happen with Josh? Connor added below it. Inho sighed and snatched his pen.

No.

I can tell something happened, I saw his face. What’s wrong? Connor scrawled. He knew he wouldn’t be able to focus on the lesson until he had details. Josh had definitely said something. Or done something– it wouldn’t even be the first time he’d interfered with one of Connor’s relationships either. He wiggled the page in front of Inho til he accepted it.

Nothing happened, stop writing me notes, are you 12?

Connor snatched his notebook back and pursed his lips, annoyed. How fucking dare Josh act like he had any say over who Connor interacted with? He really needed to cut that guy down, and remind him that he was a fucking nobody.

Inho stared straight ahead for the next hour and a half. Connor knew because he was staring at Inho. Inho’s hands were slack on his keyboard; he wasn’t focused on the lecture. Connor had seen Inho angry before, but this time it was at someone other than himself and he was dying to know what had him all stirred up.

When Mr. Webb announced a thirty-minute break, Connor immediately jabbed Inho’s arm with a pen. “So? What was it? Stop acting all dramatic and tell me what happened.”

“I told you. It’s nothing, and stop staring at me, it’s annoying.” Inho shut his laptop, folded his arms on it,  and laid his cheek on top. “I’m sleeping now. Wake me up when break’s over.”

“Why should I–” Connor started, but Mr. Webb had joined them. He stood in front of Inho staring down at his fluffy dark head.

“Mr. Kim.”

Inho looked up at him without answering, his expression was neutral, but his body language screamed, I’m annoyed.

The instructor cleared his throat, “Mr. Kim, I noticed you were late this class, and you didn’t attend our first class last week.” He rapped his knuckles hard on the desk beside Inho’s computer, “Please be a little more committed going forward, hmm? There’s a waiting list for this course.”

Inho face darkened, and he stood to look the teacher in the eye, the chair skittering back from him with a clatter. He wasn’t taller than the other man, but for a moment he seemed it. The instructor took an unconscious step back. “I wasn’t absent last time. I’m part of a group and everything. Please double check your records.”

Connor stifled a laugh, the build-up was so dramatic, but that was nothing if not respectful. Mr.Webb looked taken aback as well, and several other students that had stayed behind were watching the conversation unfold. Some were eyeing Inho curiously, and Connor felt an odd possessiveness unfurl in his belly. Resentment that Inho was getting so much attention warred with a desire to keep Inho to himself, away from other people.

“Yes well,” Mr. Webb was saying, “I will check.” He was already walking away when he added, “But don’t be late again.”

Inho watched him walk away like a haughty owl, all puffed and righteous, then suddenly deflated, never noticing that everyone in the room was staring at him. He sagged back onto his arms and peered at Connor just long enough to say, “I’m sleeping now, don’t bother me,” before shutting his eyes.

His breathing immediately slowed and deepened, and Connor could tell he was asleep.

What even was that? Connor mused, half about Inho’s dramatics, and half to his own confused garble of feelings. He steepled his fingers on the desk and rested his cheek on them, studying Inho’s sleeping face.

Today, he had dark circles that weren’t usually there, stark as bruises against his even skin. Inho had perfect skin, Connor would give him that. He always looked a bit like he was in a cleanser commercial. And he had long dark eyelashes below cute fluffy eyebrows, full cheeks, and a perfect jawline, as sharp as if it were faked by an Instagram filter. Had Connor thought he was plain? Stephen wouldn’t date someone plain. Inho tucked his lower lip in a bit when he slept, making his upper lip perk out like a baby’s. Connor filed the information away for later. Now, after re-evaluating, Inho was really quite… quite lovely…

Acknowledging it made Connor shiver. He also had to admit, the way that Inho held his own when Connor was being harsh was kind of appealing. Inho was older but didn’t talk down to him. There was the same age gap between him and Inho as between Inho and Stephen... Connor immediately shut the thought down. Let’s not be fucking stupid.

A blonde girl plopped down in the chair in front of his desk, dropping an iced coffee into his line of sight, blocking his view of Inho. He sat up irritably. “What are you doing here?”

The girl pouted. Her name was Sarah, and she was sort of a friend, sort of an acquaintance, mostly an inconvenience, “So rude,” she whined, “You know I’m in the class next door, but you didn’t come say hi to me. I bought you a coffee too.”

Connor shrugged, he was already sucking on the straw, “Well you found me, what d’you want?”