Shihwan sighed as he scrolled through his phone.

It had been almost a week since that day in Insu’s apartment.

The day they had kissed.

He groaned. 

No, more like Shihwan had pushed himself on Insu and had initiated a full-blown makeout session.

Shihwan could still recall the taste of Inus’s lips, his smell — the unmistakable scent of clean-cut grass and a scent unique to Insu, a scent that Shihwan had always liked — and the feel of his soft skin beneath his hands.

Dammit. Shihwan cursed. He needed to apologize again. He knew this, but all he could think about was the fact that he had liked kissing Insu and that he wanted to do it again.

He cursed himself again. What was wrong with him? Not only was he thinking this way about a guy, but it was Insu, his childhood friend, his best friend.

And Shihwan had just had his heart broken.

He should have been depressed, but all he could think about was Insu, how he screwed up, and how he wished he had savored that kiss just a little bit longer.

“Dammit.”

Shihwan took a deep breath. The worst part was that Insu was avoiding him, so he had no way to apologize.

And, just as strangely, Boram was not. In fact, their relationship had quickly returned to the way it had been previously. Shihwan knew that part of the reason was due to the fact that Shihwan was annoyingly good-natured, but another part of him wondered if maybe the rejection hadn’t been a total one.

There had also been zero awkwardness between them when they had met again during rehearsal or when Boram had sheepishly asked Shihwan if he wanted to grab lunch.

Shihwan scratched the back of his head. He knew he was an idiot, but he couldn’t help but feel a little bit of hope.

That should have put him in a better mood had it not been for his preoccupation with Insu and how he had acted.

Shihwan sighed as he realized that his mind had once again returned to Insu.

He wanted to talk to him. He wanted to ask him how he felt about the kiss. He wanted to know why Insu had reacted the way he did.

But Insu had asked him for space, and he couldn’t ignore such a direct request. Shihwan respected him too much. Even if it killed him not knowing.

“Shihwan!”

Shihwan quickly looked up, hoping to see Insu, but instead saw Boram running toward him, waving a paper in his hand.

“I got invited!” he exclaimed excitedly.

“To what?” Shihwan asked, smiling softly as Boram came to a crashing halt in front of him, nearly colliding into him and the park bench he had been sitting on.

Shihwan reached out just in time to catch him.

Boram grinned, and Shihwan immediately released him. For some unknown reason, he felt guilty.

“It’s an invitation to the World Builders Guild, it’s an exclusive club for up-and-coming production designers. And they are currently looking for designs for the new Veil movie, and I’ve been invited!”

Shihwan took the paper from Boram’s outstretched hands. The font and the paper it was written on were both of incredibly high quality material. He read through the contents, frowning as he did so. “Isn’t this a club?” Atrium. He was sure he had seen the name of it somewhere before, though he couldn’t recall exactly where.

Boram took the paper from him and slowly nodded. “Oh yeah, I heard they like to meet in these places. I’m not sure how much work they can get done, though.”

“Maybe I should come with you,” said Shihwan, standing as he picked up his backpack.

“Really?” replied Boram, his face lighting up. “That would be great. To be honest, I always get really nervous at these things.”

Shihwan nodded. “It’s tonight?” he asked, then paused. “Isn’t this a little last minute?”

Boram gazed down at the paper as they began to walk out of the university park. “I heard they do this to see who’s really serious about it. I’m definitely going tonight. I hope it’s for the new Veil movie. I heard that Hajoon is going to play one of the major supporting roles. He—”

Boram suddenly stopped, shutting his mouth tightly as he stared up at Shihwan apologetically.

Shihwan gave him a small smile. Boram hadn’t mentioned Hajoon since the time he had confessed in the theater, and he supposed it was Boram’s way of being mindful of his feelings. 

“That’s pretty impressive,” Shihwan replied.

Boram slowly nodded, but immediately changed topics. “I don’t know if I have any clothes for tonight.”

Shihwan looked down at what he was wearing. Though he himself was not fashionable, Shihwan could tell that Boram’s jeans and t-shirt, sporting a cat with its butt toward the viewer, were not going to make the correct impression.

“I could ask In—” he began to say before closing his mouth. Normally, he would ask Insu, who had always been incredibly fashionable, but Shihwan didn't think asking him for a favor, after that huge blunder, was a smart move.

He frowned at the reminder that his best friend did not want to see him. “Well, I guess we need to go shopping,” he said with a sigh. “I don’t think I have anything to wear either.”

~

“Hey, Insu!”

Insu turned unenthusiastically upon hearing his name through the deafening music.

JoonSeo, a long time friend of his, his first gay friend, shoved his way through the throng of people until he stood beside him at the bar. 

“I was surprised when I got the text that you were coming,” he said in his feminine voice that he usually reserved for such scenes as he signalled to the bartender for another drink with an elegant wave.

Bright red nails sat at the tips of his long-fingered hands. Insu briefly stared at the many bracelets that graced his slim wrists before gazing at his friend’s form to see exactly what over-the-top outfit he had chosen for that night.

And sure enough, Lee JoonSeo did not disappoint. Clad in a short, backless, sparkling, dark red dress that showed more than it hid, mixed with gold gladiator high heels and an auburn red wig, he stood out even amongst a sea of the most extravagantly dressed people in the city.

Insu sighed, not bothering to answer as he turned back to his drink.

Atrium was the hottest gay club in the city, known only within their circle, but still incredibly exclusive. Anyone who was anyone in the gay community wanted an invite to their parties. And only a fool would ever reject.

And Insu hated it here.

It was loud, the people were drunk, rowdy, and obnoxious. He was being hit on every time he turned a corner. 

He gritted his teeth, reminding himself that that was the very reason he had come in the first place.

“Hey, hey!” yelled JoonSeo, leaning his body against Insu’s until he finally turned around. “He’s pretty hot, and he’s checking you out,” he said with a giggle, waving his fingers in a small, flirtatious wave to the stranger.

Insu did not even bother to look.

“Hey!” JoonSeo said, turning back toward him. “At least try to meet someone. You came all the way here after all.”

Insu groaned, then jerked as someone suddenly shoved themselves into JoonSeo.

“Dammit,” Insu grumbled, watching as the bright blue drink the stranger had held in his hand came flying from his grasp. Insu quickly grabbed JoonSeo and shoved his head under his black leather jacket and turned until his back was toward the scene just as a drink came raining down upon them.

“Drunk bastards!” JoonSeo yelled angrily, his high-pitched feminine voice giving way to his true baritone before catching himself and finishing with a graceful clearing of his throat.

The stranger and his friend giggled, muttering an apology before making their way back to the unruly throng.

“I swear if that had gotten on my dress, I would have had them kicked out.” JoonSeo turned back to him and smiled widely before grabbing his arm. “Oppa! It’s so hot when you do that kind of stuff.”

“Shut up,” Insu grumbled, pushing JoonSeo’s face away.

JoonSeo pouted but then immediately grinned as he grabbed Insu’s arm again. “Come on,” he said, tugging at his sleeve until Insu stood with a sigh.

“You’re finally here, and now your jacket is dirty. We need to get you a change of clothes, and I know exactly what you’ll wear!”

Insu sighed but allowed his friend to lead him away. He knew where this was going, and he knew that he wasn't going to like it, but he found that he was just too drained to give a damn.

.