“Shouldn’t you go after her?” asked Lom.

“I don't know. I thought I'd have to have a difficult talk with her, but I guess not.” A small laugh escaped Fah's mouth before he turned serious again.

“What if she tells everyone? What will she do?” 

“I'm not sure. Honestly, she can say whatever she wants. I’m so happy right now. Besides, no one has ever seen me with anyone except her, it's common knowledge I'm faithful and that we haven't done anything. People will talk, but I can’t live to please other people. The only person I want to please is you.”

“We can talk about that later. I don’t think you’re making a good decision. Run after her. Calm her down. Explain this is all new to you, and that this hasn’t been going on for long. It might cause trouble for you at school. You don’t want Dad finding out from someone at the university.”

“Fine. Wait here, don’t leave. Ugh, I can’t believe I have to put on clothes before I can shower,” he said noticing his sticky abdomen. 

As he pulled on pants he slid his feet into shoes and pulled a shirt over his head. He opened the door and ran out. Lom got up to take a shower. He hoped Manao could be calmed down. 

In high school, everyone loved Fah so he never knew what it was like to be gossiped about. People whom Fah thought of as kind had said awful and cruel things about Lom and their father. He knew exactly what it was like to be ostracized.

Manao stood on the curb waiting for her taxi. Fah ran up, panting, reached out, and grabbed her hand. 

“Please, Manao, listen to me. We need to talk.”

“Don’t touch me with the same hand you used to touch him! We have nothing to say to each other.” Pulling her arm out of his grasp she pointedly stepped away from him.

“Manao, please. I beg you, please listen to me. I want to explain; after this, I promise I won’t bother you again. I gave you three years; can’t you give me five minutes? Please?” 

“Fine. Five minutes.” Manao stood with her arms crossed, feet apart, glowering at him.

“I won’t touch you, but would you follow me to that bench in the shade?” Manao wanted to refuse his request but the sun was exceptionally strong today.

They walked in silence. Fah waited for Manao to sit and then sat beside her. Not as close as he normally would. He reminded himself not to reach for her hand. 

“Manao, I’m sorry. I’m very sorry. I had no idea I was this way until a few days ago.”

“Why? Did he turn you gay?”

“Manao, come on. You’re smarter than that. People can’t turn other people gay, it's the way you're born. Please don’t be angry at Lom either.”

“He’s your brother! Not only do you want me to accept that you’re gay, but you had sex with your brother! That’s incest.”

“If we were actual brothers, it would be. His family took me in after my mom died and I had no living relatives. We aren’t blood-related at all. I haven’t seen him for three years.”

“What about your father? Where is he?”

“I have no idea. Remember the old photo I showed you of my mom? That's the only thing I know about him, an arm with a tattoo on it. He could be dead Or in another country. My mom wouldn’t tell me much about him except he came from a wealthy family. When she told him she was pregnant he disappeared. She wouldn’t tell me his name.” 

“Oh, well, I honestly don’t care who your dad is. How could you do this to me? Why did you date me for three years – three years? You made me believe we had a future together – that we’d marry and have children. Now I find you in bed with Lom! Why would you hurt me like this?” 

The tears she’d been holding back exploded out of her. Fah moved forward to hug her. 

“Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare touch me ever again!” She seethed with anger as she pushed him aside.

“Manao, sweetheart, please stop crying. I never meant for this to happen. I thought  I wanted to marry you and we would have a family of our own. Recently though I began questioning things."

Manao's sobs turned to hiccups as tears still rolled down her face.

"I didn’t want to marry you if I couldn't be a good husband. At the same time, I didn’t want to break things off if I wasn’t gay. I discussed it with Lom and things sort of... took a turn. I had no idea he was gay until we spoke – he’s kept it secret from me for years. It’s my fault, I'm the one who hurt you. You can tell people you dumped me,”

“I did dump you!” interrupted Manao. She stood like a warrior, legs apart, fists at her side, glaring at him.

“Yes, and you can say I cheated on you but please don’t say with who or that it was with a man. I beg you. I haven’t had the chance to come out to the family yet; this will get me in trouble with them. As much as you hate me right now, I’m begging you, please say I cheated on you with a stranger and leave it at that. Please don’t tell anyone the truth – not your parents or friends. Otherwise, my friends and family may find out. If they do, they'll stop paying for my schooling.”

“It’s a bit late for that.” 

“What do you mean?”

“I snapped a photo of the two of you in the middle of...that...and texted it to your father. At least, I sent them to the man I thought was your father; I showed him what kind of sons he raised.”

“You left my apartment only a minute ago! And how do you have his private number?”

“Remember when your phone was dead and you used my phone to call him on his birthday? I stored his number; I thought he’d be my father-in-law someday.”

“You did that to me? That fast? You didn’t think to speak with me first?” Fah stood up. He paced back and forth in silence for a moment. Suddenly he froze, sighed loudly, and faced her as he spoke again.

“We have nothing to talk about now. I hope you’re happy. I never meant to hurt you and if the situation were reversed, I would have kept it between us. I would not have involved your family. I guess I should start packing my things because Lom's father is going to stop paying for my condo and school. I didn’t even get to come out. At least you only outed me since Lom was already out. For what I did to you, I apologize. For what you did to me, I will never forget this.” 

Fah turned and ran back to the apartment. As he entered, he heard Lom’s phone ringing.

“Don’t answer it!” screamed Fah. 

Lom, who had already hit the green button, paused and looked at Fah questioningly. “Hang up!” Fah mouthed. Lom ended the call.

“Was that Ton?” asked Fah.

“Yeah, why?”

“Manao took a photo of us in bed together and texted it to him!”

“Shit! What a bitch! How did she do that so quickly?”

“I know. It’s my fault for hurting her but I never thought that would be her reaction. What are we going to do?” As Fah stopped speaking his phone began ringing; it was Ton. 

“One of us has to answer. I think it should be me. He’ll blame me anyway. I’ll tell him that you were drunk and weren’t aware of what you were doing. He’ll punish me but he'll only give you a warning; you’ll get to stay in school.” Lom lifted his phone to call home.

“No. I cheated, it was my girlfriend who did this. I need to step up. Also, I’m gay so I’m not going to let you say I was drunk and didn’t consent; I’m not letting you take the blame. I wanted you as much as you wanted me.” 

Fah’s words were much bolder than the way he felt. Inside he wanted to turn his phone off and hide from the world until he had more time to think. His phone rang again. Sliding the green button, he answered.

“Hi Ton, how are you?” Lom watched as Fah’s expression went from fear to sadness. He could hear his father’s voice screaming but couldn’t make out all of the words.

“Yes, sir… Yes, I know sir… Yes, I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me... No sir…No, I don’t want to embarrass or disappoint you… No! No, it wasn’t his fault. I’m sorry but I need to tell you I am gay. I hoped to tell you myself, in person… No, Lom had nothing to do with this. It’s my fault. I’m in love with him.” 

After Fah said the last part there was silence on the other end of the line. Fah stood holding the phone to his ear with an expectant expression. Finally, Lom heard a voice on the other side say something quietly.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be there. Tomorrow, yes, sir.” Fah hung up. Looking at Lom he said, “Ton wants us both at the house tomorrow.”