Chapter Thirteen

In the dead of the night, Genrou lay awake on the bed, the sheets pulled loosely around him, his eyes raising to idly scan and trace the patterns of the stars that winked down at him through the attic panels of glass that glinted in the moonlight. Outside, downstairs, a lone car drove past, the sound of its engine and loud rock music fading away as surely as it had come.

He sighed, kicking his left leg slightly so that the edge of the bedcover fell over his toes. All right. Now I'm calm. It's cool. I can think about this like the rational adult I am.

Was I too hasty? I didn't even give him a chance to explain.

There isn't much to explain when you catch your boyfriend and a woman in lip-lock, do you? the other side of his mind taunted him. Unconsciously, he clenched his jaw, then relaxed. Unbidden, an image of Houjun appeared in his mind, Houjun laughing, his eyes crinkled up at the corners, the sound of his laughter washing out the cold in his heart even as he imagined it.

Fuck. I miss him.

He fell asleep.

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[The next day]

Kourin woke, her head rested on her arms, which were numb from being held frozen in that position through the night. Uncomfortably, she uncurled slowly and rose, stretching the kinks in her neck and legs, when her gaze landed on the sleeping heap on the other side of the room.

"Houjun," she whispered.

She remembered the day with guilty clarity, his stunned response when she had unthinkingly pressed her lips to his, his utter lack of reaction. At least, there had been a lack of it until she had heard him gasp against their chaste kiss, and he had pushed her to the ground.

She had never met Houjun's boyfriend, only heard about him. Hikou had never met him either, but had told her that Houjun was happier than they had ever seen him. That was then, at least.

Oh no. I ruined it, she thought miserably.

Houjun looked weary even fast asleep, his eyebrows knotted into a frown, his mouth twisted slightly in worry. He had circles under his eyes, and fresh stubble on his chin. The appearance was so unlike his usual self, meticulous and correct.

He was right. I had a crush on him, but it meant nothing. I ran to him for comfort because Hikou was ignoring me, and I felt terrible about it. I said I loved him, but the moment I knew the truth, it hurt inside. So I guess I lied. He knew all along, though.

She let her gaze fall to his rumpled clothes, his dirty shoes, before sweeping back to land on a pale face in the bed. A small smile touched her lips, but the regret gnawed at her. Oh Houjun…what can I do to make it up to you?

They would have to talk. She would have to apologize.

"Kourin?"

With a little yelp, she started, and then calmed, realizing the source of that voice. "Houjun. You're awake?"

"Barely."

They smiled at each other across the room, slow smiles, and small smiles. Kourin looked about her uncertainly, before her earlier determination returned to her. Steeling herself, she walked around the bed, making sure not to disturb the sleeping Hikou, and beckoned to Houjun as she opened the door.