51: How Many Babies?

When Stephen got back to the dim hospital room, he was surprised to see that Inho was still awake.

“The nurse came by,” Inho informed him, “he said I have to wake up every few hours ‘cause of the concussion.”

“Right,” Stephen agreed, plugging Inho’s phone in, then sitting back down beside him on the narrow bed. Inho immediately snuggled in. He was definitely the touchiest person Stephen had dated, and Stephen didn’t mind it one bit. He wrapped an arm gently around him, cautious of his injuries.

“What did you and Jamie talk about?” he asked as if he didn’t know.

“Nothing interesting,” Inho answered, pressing his face into Stephen’s sweater. Inho wasn’t a good liar, but Stephen didn’t blame him for not wanting to talk about it. Telling your recent ex-girlfriend that you’re now dating her male boss isn’t exactly the way anyone wants to come out, and Inho was probably feeling shaken by it.

To Stephen, though, it was just a touch funny. He enjoyed imagining Jamie comparing herself to him, as Inho’s new partner. He was much more attractive than Jamie by all metrics. If Inho were the immature type that liked to feel like he’d won a breakup, well….he’d definitely won this breakup. More beautiful, more successful, smarter, richer, more attentive – Stephen was an upgrade in every conceivable way.

He grinned, preening at the victory in his imagination.

“What are your friends like?” Inho asked suddenly. He must think Stephen wasn’t speaking because he was annoyed that Inho had avoided talking about his call with Jamie. Stephen decided not to press him about it, he was in a good mood now anyway.

“My friends? They’re hmmm...they’re an interesting bunch. There are five of us that are close, and then two of them have partners. So it’s tough to organize, but we try to all meet up together now and then. I’ll invite you next time we do something, okay?”

Inho nodded.

“Are you sleepy? Want to lie flat?”

“Not yet, talk to me more,” Inho grumbled stubbornly.

“I talked a lot already, it’s your turn. What are your friends back home like?”

Inho paused before answering, poking his lower lip out as he considered. “They’re alright. They used to be more fun, but lately, they’re all obsessed with getting married and babies. And jobs, and having more money and things than everyone else.”

“Well, I get that, who doesn’t like money and things?” Stephen chuckled, “Marriage and babies though. How traditional. What about you? Do you want babies?” Stephen teased, squeezing him lightly, “How many babies do you want, Inho? Should I put some in you now?”

Inho giggled, then answered earnestly, “I dunno. I can barely look after myself lately, much less someone else,” he slapped his hand over his mouth to stifle an enormous yawn, “My parents would love grandkids though. I know they’re asking my older sister about marriage already. Once they get her, then they’ll start with me I bet.”

“Ah,” Stephen responded mildly, sobered by Inho’s unintentionally serious turn in conversation. As far as he knew, Inho’s home was not very progressive about gay relationships. “And, how would they feel about you dating me?”

Inho shifted uncomfortably. He was silent long enough that Stephen wondered if he’d fallen asleep, but when he leaned over to check, Inho’s eyes were open. He was focusing hard on the curtain ahead of him. “I-I don’t...I don’t know. I didn’t really think about telling them.”

It would be ridiculous to be hurt by that, Stephen told himself immediately, we’ve only been dating for a day. He wasn’t expecting anything of Inho right now. It was just idle curiosity that made him ask.

“Okay,” he answered as if it didn’t matter at all. Inho was extremely tense now, and it was not a good time to have this conversation. Stephen regretted starting it.

“It’s just, I don’t really stay in touch with them, and...well I haven’t asked them about LGBT people specifically, but like….they’re Korean. It’s just how it is.”

“So no meeting the family then. Got it,” Stephen replied to dismiss the topic.

“I’m sorry...”

“It’s fine Inho, I’m sorry I brought it up,” he petted Inho’s head. “Don’t think about it anymore, just rest.”

Hearing Inho admit that he hadn’t even considered telling his family, clarified to Stephen that Inho hadn’t really thought this relationship through. Of course, Stephen knew that dating guys in the closet could get messy, but the small reminder that this relationship likely had an expiry stung. Yet it was necessary, it was always so easy to fall too deep if you weren’t paying attention. Stephen smiled sadly.

“Besides, it’s fine. I won’t be introducing you to mine either. They don’t even know where I live,”

Inho’s eyes were shut now, but he nodded. He didn’t ask about Jamie or about work, and when he burrowed deeper into Stephen’s chest, Stephen relaxed and watched him fall asleep.