Tret sank into the plush cushions of the sofa, feeling a mixture of boredom and curiosity swirling within him. He had spent most of the day watching Yao and dozing off, but even at that hour, Heo had yet to return.
Tret couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Heo was hiding something from him. The memory of the significant amount of blood earlier, which Heo dismissed as a nosebleed, kept resurfacing in his mind. Something about it didn't sit right with him. Moreover, he couldn't shake off the memory of Heo dressing unusually that morning, almost as if he were preparing for a date.
Tret had tried to convince himself that Heo's explanation for meeting with his classmates for their collaborative project was genuine, but an intangible sense of unease lingered within him. The explanation seemed weak and lacked conviction, leaving Tret to wonder with intrigue what clandestine intentions Heo might be harboring beneath the surface.
As he lay there, Tret's mind raced with possibilities. Was Heo seeing someone else? It wouldn't be surprising; Heo was handsome after all. But he had just broken up. Then again, wasn't that how some guys operated? Treating rebound relationships as a tradition, perhaps to show their exes that they were unaffected and not at a loss. Or was Heo involved in something dangerous? Tret tried to push these thoughts aside, but the more he dwelled on them, the more anxious he became.
He was concerned as usual whenever Heo left their apartment and didn't return on time. But his worry at that moment wasn't as intense as it had been in the past.
The reason for this was something he had recently discovered, and lately, it had become apparent that Heo was acting strangely. Tret could even feel it in his gut, sensing that something was off. Tret considered three possibilities: Heo's sudden nosebleed, which seemed abnormal; the girl named Owen, whose true intentions Heo might be hiding, for all Tret knew, they could have met that day; and lastly, Heo's explanation about the project that needed to be submitted on time.
He shook his head and tried to think of something else, but his mind kept drifting back to Heo. He got up, but then sank back into the sofa once more. Up and down, down and up - that's what he was doing.
He found satisfaction in his actions, but after repeating this new habit a few times, he grew tired and gasped for air. He cleared his throat and checked his wristwatch; it was three in the afternoon.
"Where are you?" Tret groaned, turning to the door, expecting it to open any minute. However, minutes turned into hours. He was waiting in vain.
He stood up and went upstairs to his room. He checked his fully charged phone. The first app he opened was Messenger, but he was disappointed to see that Heo still hadn't read his messages. Where could he be?
He rose to his feet, slipping his cellphone into his pocket as he exited the room and descended the staircase. With purpose, he made his way to the kitchen, where he meticulously surveyed the contents of the refrigerator, longing to appease his voracious appetite and satiate his insatiable hunger.
There was chocolate cake in the fridge, which Wren had brought last night, a gift from Wren's secret admirer. He took a small slice, placing it on a plate. Sitting down at the dining table, he arranged his plate in front of him. His usual demeanor seemed off, worry lines creasing his face. A feeling of disappointment slowly settled within him. If Heo couldn't make it home early tonight, their anticipated movie night with Han and Wren would end in disappointment.
As he finished the slice of cake, he couldn't resist the temptation to grab another piece. This time, he served himself a larger portion that quickly disappeared. Unbeknownst to him, his indulgence in the cake was a result of emotional eating. Tears unexpectedly welled up in his eyes as he chewed. It felt like an overreaction, and he found himself frustrated by the underlying cause - his suppressed emotions. He scolded himself while hastily wiping away the tears from his cheeks.
Just as he polished off the final bite of cake, he heard a car horn outside. A surge of anticipation electrified his body, propelling him towards the door with nimble steps. He flung it open wide, only to be met with the sight of Wren's familiar car in the apartment's garage. Tret's heart sank. He returned to the couch, checking his phone once again and opening his Messenger app. A bitter smile formed on his thin lips. Heo had seen his messages but hadn't replied to any of them.
Yes, he had sent Heo tons of messages. He had thought of unsending them, but perhaps Heo would think he was sulking, when in fact, he was. But if it came down to rights, he might end up embarrassing himself; as a best friend, he had less right to react and overreact. If he crossed the line, Heo might feel uncomfortable and awkward around him. That was why, even though it hurt, Tret had to act like it didn't.
Wren entered the house, and Tret couldn't bring himself to look at his friend. He didn't want Wren to see that he was upset. Besides, he and Wren weren't close like him and Han, whom he could confide in about his feelings.
Tret hoped that Wren would go straight upstairs, and since he was facing away from the door, he didn't know if Wren was watching him or not. All he could think about was that Wren might have gone upstairs, so he couldn't do anything but face forward. That was when he realized that Wren was standing behind him.
"Alone?" Wren's deep voice echoed through the room.
Tret simply shrugged, finding it strange that Wren would ask about something he already knew. His shrug was a sufficient answer to Wren's question. Avoiding Wren's gaze, Tret looked down at the floor.
"You're not okay, I knew it," Wren said casually. "Where's your best friend?" he inquired, referring to Heo.
Tret let out a deep sigh. "He went out this morning for a project meeting," he replied tersely.
Wren sat down beside him and patted Tret's back. "Why are you allowing yourself to be alone?"
Tret couldn't understand what Wren was trying to say. He looked at Wren with a puzzled expression, noticing a sly grin forming on Wren's face. If he wasn't mistaken, Wren had something important to convey, but it remained inaudible to Tret's ears.
Tret refrained from asking about Wren's intentions, realizing that silence would be the wiser course of action. Wren might not be as accepting as Han had been. Wren seemed oblivious to Tret's bisexuality, and if he were to discover this aspect of Tret's identity, he might respond with animosity. Not everyone was as open-minded as Han, who had embraced Tret unconditionally, regardless of his sexual orientation.
Wren sighed wearily. "What I meant is that it would be better for you to find a romantic partner similar to us, thus alleviating feelings of loneliness. Do you have one? You haven't introduced us to your girlfriend. Don't allow yourself to be overshadowed by your best friend, who is surrounded by a group of female acquaintances. It would be wise for you to also develop relationships with multiple female counterparts, surpassing your best friend's reputation as a womanizer."
He pretended to laugh. Indeed, the latter was unaware that he somewhat didn't prefer having a girlfriend. "I fear the possibility of finding myself caught in a situation akin to Heo's recent ordeal. Last week, he seemed off-kilter, exhibiting signs of distress through crying, excessive drinking. Can you believe the irony of investing so deeply in someone, only to have them confess that they plan to pursue a relationship with an Afam? It's an infernal predicament, wouldn't you agree?" Tret concluded with a pretentious chuckle.
Wren shook his head. "And you believe in your best friend's drama? He's just pretending to be hurt, but he wasn't, it was all pretense. The truth is he doesn't really love that girl. Who knows, maybe he's meeting someone else today."
Pretense? So, everything that Heo showed, like crying because of a breakup and emotional distress, was all an act? Tret thought he knew his best friend well. Does that mean even accepting him as bisexual was part of the pretense? It seems like everything Heo showed was just a charade, isn't it? Tret asked himself while looking at the floor.
"Wren, do you think Heo is bad dating girls at the same time?" He asked.
Wren pondered the question for a moment before responding. "Well, I it's important to consider the ethical aspect of dating multiple people simultaneously. While some may view it as questionable, it ultimately depends on the honesty, communication, and consent within those relationships. If Heo is being transparent with all parties involved and they are aware and accepting of the situation, then it may not necessarily be considered 'bad.' However, if there is deception or manipulation involved, that would be a cause for concern."
Tret shook his head. Why did Wren change his mind so quickly? "An honest answer, please, Wren."
Wren chuckled. "Not bad, why does it seem like you don't know that? Engaging in multiple simultaneous romantic relationships may not raise eyebrows, but it does seem to imbue men with an aura of sophistication and allure, wouldn't you agree? It is expected that you, being a man, would comprehend this concept. However, it comes as no surprise that you possess an air of innocence and chastity; it is quite discernible." Wren rose from the couch.
Tret didn't know how to respond to Wren's statement. He wanted to contradict it, but he didn't want to prolong the conversation and risk learning more about Heo that might only cause him more distress. Wren left him without another word and went upstairs. Tret was left staring blankly at the floor.