66: A Secret

Adrenaline coursed through him on the ride down the elevator – a hot nauseous wave of frustrated energy. Inho needed to get out of there before he did or said something he’d regret.

He didn’t feel remorse over what he’d already said exactly, but he might tomorrow when he was sober. He wasn't that drunk yet, but his joints had that loose dopey feeling forewarning that it hadn’t fully hit him yet. Why did everything go so wrong? He felt so foolish for looking forward to tonight. He thought he’d hear some cute stories about young Stephen and maybe make some friends but instead…

Despair and worry gripped his insides, and his sinuses started to sting, threatening his eyes with tears. He liked Stephen so much, but they were in such different places; Inho would probably never be on Stephen’s level. The elevator reached the ground floor and the doors slid open.

He stepped out and nodded curtly at the security guard in the lobby, pausing once he was through the glass doors, closing his eyes in the cool night air, trying to calm himself.

“You alright there Kpop?” a voice called.

Chris was standing near the door in a wooly cardigan, one hand tucked into his armpit as he hovered in the cold for a smoke. Inho sighed, he hadn’t escaped yet.

“Yes, I’m fine,” he answered, resigned to more polite small talk. “Why are you out here?”

“Ah, the neighbors get complain-y if we smoke on the balcony. What about you? Was my cooking so bad you’re leaving before dessert?”

“Ah, no sorry. I was just going to go buy some cigarettes.”

“Oh, here, I’ve got some,” Chris offered him his pack, then a lighter, stealing Inho’s excuse to sneak off. Inho stood awkwardly with him and huddled in his sweater.

“Are you having fun?” Chris asked, blowing smoke through his teeth, “Must be intimidating meeting all the friends at once, hey?”

“Yeah,” Inho puffed a small sad laugh out with his exhale, “It definitely is.”

“He’s never brought someone for us to meet before,” another puff and hiss, “Why you?”

Inho closed his eyes again for a moment, at the absolute limit of his tolerance for passive aggression. “Did I do something to offend you?” he asked, trying and failing to maintain an even tone. He’d somehow reigned in his desire to fight Connor, but he wanted to break this guy’s fucking jaw.

Chris ignored his question, “What happened to your ex?”

“What?” Inho was taken aback by the question. “How is that any of your business?”

Chris shrugged, “What is she getting fired for?”

“I…”

“You don’t know, do you? Did you ask him?” Chris jerked his chin to indicate the apartment, “Bet he hates it when you talk about her.”

“Why… How do you know that?”

Chris smiled and shrugged again, the cherry of his cigarette glowing brightly in the dim light, “It’s called projection, Kpop. It’s a thing cheaters do. They get real suspicious of their partners, cuz they’re doing the nasty themselves.”

“Stephen isn’t cheating on me,” Inho bit off each word, his hands curling into fists. Seriously, what the hell was up with Stephen’s friends?

Chris laughed, he laughed so hard he choked on smoke, “Are you gonna hit me? You’re higher-strung than you look,” he kept laughing till he had to wipe tears from his eyes with his sleeve.

Inho fidgeted, the aggression he was barely suppressing was hard to direct at this weirdo. A thought hit him, “Are you...high?”

“Yeah,” Chris kept laughing, “Drunk too,” he paused to catch his breath, “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong though.”

Inho dropped his cigarette butt and ground it under his heel, “Cool, thanks for the tips, asshole,” He took a step to leave.

“Wait, wait, stay! Don’t be mad! If I chase off his lover, Stephen will yell at me,” Chris moved to block his path, “Come on, if anything we should be buddies. He cheated on me, too”

“What?” Inho froze.

“Yeah, loads of times.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“That’s fine,” Chris lit another cigarette, “It’s true though. You can ask him. Ask him about your ex too.”

Inho fists clenched and released helplessly. He wanted to ask more, but he could tell he was being baited. “I’ll be leaving first,” he said, at last shoving his hands in his pockets and turning away.

“Alright, buddy, see you around,” Chris continued laughing at a joke that only he understood. Inho’s footsteps rang loudly in his ears as he stalked away. Stephen definitely hadn't cheated on him, but... had he really cheated on Chris? He didn't know what to do with this information. His mind and stomach boiled with frustration and worry.