100: Epilogue Part 4: Inside Connor's Head

Connor reserved the word “hate” for people that actually mattered, but he was definitely not a fan of the man sitting next to him. He’d promised to be nice to Inho, but honestly, Connor wondered constantly what his uncle saw in this empty-headed jerk with an only-okay face (cute if you were being generous.)

Stephen was cool, successful, and attractive, a perfect role model for a young beautiful someone with a bright future, such as himself. He was Connor’s confidant when he couldn’t talk about things with his conservative father, and though Connor wouldn’t admit it out loud, Stephen was kind of his hero. He was exceptional, and he was certainly too good for this plain loser.

That being said, Connor regretted some of his actions towards Inho, especially the ones mocking his English. That was kinda racist, he realized now, with a twinge of shame. But still, he watched Inho turn a vapid grin on the two men that joined their table at the instructor’s direction and forced himself not to sneer.

“Hey bro, I saw you outside. That’s a pretty nice car.” Connor’s head whipped to the NPC that had just sat down. He recognized that voice.

“Ew,” Connor said out loud.

Inho shot Connor a confused look, then answered the guy who spoke, “Yeah it’s uh. It’s not mine, but ah, thanks.”

The other guy ignored him, now focused on Connor instead, “Did you just say ‘ew’?”

“I didn’t speak, actually,” Connor dismissed. The pair that had joined them included Josh, Connor’s loser next-door neighbor, and his equally lame friend, Sanjay. Connor pinched the bridge of his nose. Was this karma for something? How did he end up in a group of such absolute zeros.

“I heard you, you clearly said “ew”” Josh pressed. Inho was keeping his eyes fixed down as he fussed with his bag– pulling out his laptop and pretending he couldn't hear anything.

“Ew, I didn’t say anything, why are you so obsessed with me?”

“You literally just said it again!”

Connor ignored him, instead watching Inho unload a veritable fortune of tech onto the table  as if it were nothing. A massive ipad pro clipped into some fancy floating keyboard, then airpods while he shuffled through looking for his phone, which was also the latest model.

“You’re family’s really rich huh,” Connor nodded towards the pile, “Or did my uncle buy you that?”

Inho froze, “N-no, not really.”

Connor leaned in and whispered in his ear, “I saw the hickeys on your neck.” He sat back and giggled at the deep flush rapidly spreading up Inho’s face. He reacted so strongly, Connor noted. It was kinda fun.

Josh took in the interaction then demanded, “Who’s your uncle, is that like code for something?” Connor just smirked at him in response, “D’you have like a sugar daddy or what?” He turned to Inho, who seemed utterly taken aback by the turn in conversation and was still blushing like a strawberry.

With a sigh, Connor, being the kind gentleman that he was, decided to intervene, “No, potato, if you had more than half a brain cell, you’d know what it meant, but you don’t, so you don’t” He finished with a cheerful shrug, and pulled out the syllabus. “Should we pick a topic then?”

Josh’s friend nudged him, “Yo, maybe he’s a drug dealer.” Josh and Sanjay snickered as if that constituted a joke.

Inho covered his face for a moment, as if he were surrounded by annoying children, and needed to collect himself. Connor recognized the gesture as one of Stephen’s. “Anyway,’ Inho announced suddenly, “I live in Vancouver. I can’t meet during the week, it’ll have to be right after class if you guys want me there. Otherwise we can just group chat the details.” He then quickly gathered their contact info, typed it up, and shared the document. He was unexpectedly competent.

“I’m free today,” Sanjay replied.

“Same,” Josh added.

The instructor interrupted them to announce they could leave early today, and to bring their topics to the next class.

“I’m good today too.” Connor added, “Should we go to the campus cafe?

“Nah, it’ll be full right now,” Sanjay said unhelpfully.

“I’d say my place, but my aunt is visiting and it’s full of people,” Josh shrugged. “And Inho lives downtown, so let’s go to yours Connor? It’s the closest anyway.”

Connor frowned at the audacity.

“Come on Connor, let’s get this over with,” Inho said with an annoyed sigh.

“Fine, we can go to my house, whatever.”

They packed up and Connor felt like a mother duck leading a pack of nobody children to his home.

Inho sped up to match Connor’s pace. “What’s up with you and those guys?” He asked in a low voice, “It’s already awkward.”

“Oh, Josh is my neighbor, a closet case but like totally wants me, so it’s a whole thing.” Connor grinned at Inho’s long-suffering expression, “Don’t blame me, I can’t help looking like this.” Inho opened his mouth to respond, but Connor cut him off “I think my dad’s home, is that going to be weird for you?”

Inho’s eyebrows shot up, and he considered, he didn’t look worried he looked...

“You wanna see him don’t you?” Connor laughed, “You’re all curious about Stephen’s brother!”

For the first time, Inho’s face relaxed into a genuine smile and he puffed a small laugh. He shrugged sheepishly. “You got me,” he said, “I’m a bit curious… but let’s not… um…”

“Tell Stephen you guys met? Hell no. Don’t even tell him we’re in the same class. He’ll get all possessive and weird. 100% drama guaranteed.”

“You’re not wrong.” Inho laughed again.  His face was somehow different when he laughed. Connor looked away. Were they walking too fast? His heart was beating really hard.