103: Epilogue Part 7: Things You Shouldn't Feel

In Connor’s room, Connor pressed a pair of grey sweatpants and a lime green shirt into Inho's hands before sitting on the bed. “You done dad-creeping, you weirdo?” He asked in a bored voice.

Inho clicked his tongue at him, “I’m not creeping– stop saying that. But you know their relationship, of course I’d be curious.”

“I don’t actually.” Connor waved a dismissive hand in the air, “Neither of them will talk about the other. Uncle Stephen’s been a forbidden topic in our house since I was little. And, if I ask Stephen about it, he just puffs up all angry, and tells me to shut up.”

Inho chuckled as he stepped into the sweatpants, Stephen did love telling people to shut up. The elastic waist got stuck under his butt and he hopped around, trying to pull them over it. These might be oversized on Connor, but they were too short on him and skin-tight to boot. He almost felt more exposed than he had without pants on at all. Connor watched him struggle, and his snickers told Inho it was probably intentional.

“So, is Lucas still like, super religious or what’s his deal? He seems nice, like, I can’t picture him beating Stephen up or anything.”

Connor flopped back onto his bed, but his eyes tracked Inho when he pulled off his shirt. Too late Inho remembered that his chest was covered in love bites, and friction marks from this morning's harnessed session. He spun away, and hoped his back wasn’t as marred as his front.

Unexpectedly, Connor didn’t comment on the marks, but his voice was stiff. “Who knows? What makes a guy homophobic? I think the pope is cool with it, but my dad’s out there like trying to uphold rights for poor oppressed straight men or some shit. Maybe he’s scared those gays are gonna turn him into a homo with vaccines and 5G or whatever.” He shrugged, and pulled a stuffed blue elephant into his lap. “He’s a dick.”

Inho finished pulling on the green shirt. It was a crop top and it said the word ‘WHORE’ across the front in all caps. Of course. Connor laughed out loud this time, and Inho ignored him. Pretending he was wearing regular clothes, he plopped down on the rug cross-legged to keep asking questions.

“How can you talk about your dad like that, and what d’you mean ‘those gays?’ You straight now?” Inho tried to think if he’d actually ever confirmed that Connor was gay. He thought, Stephen had said… He pursed his lips, he couldn’t remember, actually.

“In this house I am. So straight. The straightest.” Connor sat up and his eyes narrowed, perhaps his guilty conscience reminding him how shitty he’d been to Inho in the past. “If you say something to him, I’ll–”

Inho held up his hands, “Of course I won’t. I’m not a piece of shit. Besides, I get it… My dad doesn’t know I’m bi either.”

Connor relaxed again, but leaned forward curious, “Really? You’ve been dating Stephen for a while now– are you gonna tell him?”

Inho sucked in his lower lip and chewed it, “I dunno. It all seems so normal and fine here, but back home… I don’t really know what my family would say.”

“You just think it’s fine ‘cause you live in the city. It’s all rednecks out here, an hour away and you might get jumped if you look too feminine on the streets.”

Connor’s voice was sad and bitter, and as Inho considered him, his face didn’t have it’s usual condescending twist. He looked small, forlorn, and young. It was the first time they’d interacted on the same level, and Inho felt like he should offer some advice as the older man.

*****

Connor hid his face in the stuffed elephant on his lap. Inho was looking at him with a soft expression, and he seemed to be possessed by the obnoxious intention to say something comforting. Inho had never directed anything other than annoyance at him before, and the change made Connor’s stomach flop.

It was bad enough that Inho looked fucking good with his shirt off. Connor didn’t feel guilty for popping a boner watching him dress– he was young and healthy, and Inho was kinda jacked. That was normal. What wasn’t normal was the sinking feeling he got seeing hickeys all over Inho’s chest and torso.

Connor gave himself a little shake. He needed to get it together before Inho caught on to any of the weird shit he was thinking. Inho started to say something that would probably be stupid and inane, like everything that came out of his perfect full lips. He hesitated, and Connor peeked up to see Inho watching him with unwelcome compassion.

Before Inho could speak, Connor pasted a sneer on his face. “Anyway, who told you to sit down? Since those fit, I’ll bring your jeans to class, so get out of my room.”

Inho rolled his eyes and stood with a grunt. Connor walked him down to gather his things and as Inho was putting on his sneakers, Lucas appeared at the top of the stairs to say bye. His face twisted unpleasantly when he saw the shirt, and Connor regretted his little joke. It wasn’t worth what was about to happen. Inho waved and left. As soon as the door closed the shouting started.