The evidence of their debauched encounter littered the shattered bedroom. The pillow beneath the bed, the other wedged between the mattress and the headboard, the sheets hanging half-on, half-off the bed and the clothes trailing from the bed to the doorway and beyond—in fact, all the way to the front door. When the moment and the heat came upon them, they forgot all else except the need to be naked and pressed together as soon as possible. Mega had clocked them once at 73 seconds, but Jay had declared that it did not count, as Mega had still been wearing a sock when they hit the mattress. Of course, the argument and the timing had come later—much later.

But every beginning has an end, everything that goes up must come down, right? That is where they were now, down at the end. Las night should not have happened, but Jay had always had a problem saying no where Mega was concerned. He was like a drug Jay could not get enough of, the finest wine, the perfectly aged bottle of whiskey—but that was all over now. After the most amazing night they had had in-God-forever, Mega had left. It's not you, it's me. Just giving you the freedom that you always wanted, to find the person you're meant to be with.

Bullshit. Jay knew exactly who he was meant to be with: Mega. Except Mega had already moved on, had been moving on for months now, with various encounters, both for business and pleasure. But now he had landed the big fish, their boss, Ram. Jay had seen it coming from the first moment the two had met, the smugly arrogant young entrepreneur eyeing them both suggestively enough to have garnered harassment charges. Jay had shifted his feet uneasily under the unabashed appraisal, but Mega had given as good as he got, eating up the attention.. Jay had known then that his days by Mega's side were numbered.

Actually, he had known before then, long before then. He thought back to their first meeting.

(O)

Ugh! Talk about long-winded. If Jack had gone on any more about the potential of the game he was developing called The Pain Game, Jay would have put his head down and started banging it on the table. And it was not like Jack had said much, he simply stuttered and repeated himself so often that listening to him speak was an energy-draining activity. But the meeting was over now and thankfully Jay could moisten his parched throat with a drink from the water cooler. As he stood tall, head tilted back, drinking thirstily, he heard a long low whistle.

Almost spilling on himself, he turned to see who his admirer was, and his shock could not have been any greater than when he realized that it was none other than Mega, programming genius, second only to the company's CEO, and legendary office lothario, again, surpassed only by the big man himself. You could have knocked him over with a feather, he was in such disbelief. Mega, interested in him, Jay, him who wasn't a programmer, but rather a member of the marketing team, helping to sell the products that others like Mega and Jack were developing.

He had stared at Mega, cup held just in front of his mouth for an embarrassingly long time, only realizing he had been staring when Mega had stated, "Like what you see? Because I certainly like what I'm seeing."

Flustered, he dropped his hand to his side, and opened his mouth. Nothing came out. He blushed a vibrant red and wished for lightning to strike or for a hole to open up and take him away. But neither of these things happened, instead something even more unexpected occurred: Mega came over and brushed a kiss across his lips. Before Jay had time to process, or respond, it was over and Mega walked away, again whistling.

(O)

He had been off-kilter then and he was off-kilter now. From the first, Mega dominated in their relationship and Jay had followed, with his eyes wide open, or so he thought. But if he had known what was coming, why did it hurt so much now? Why was this moment so surprising? He had known it was coming, and his friends had warned him from the beginning as to what kind of guy Mega was, but still here he was, curled up in the recliner, viewing the wrecked room and staying just this side of crying.

(O)

"Nauseating, isn't it?"

Jay jerked out of his unblinking surveillance of Ram and Mega surreptitiously groping each other at the month-end Happy Hour Hang-Out. Clearing his throat, he responded to Ebony's comment. "Pardon?"

She grimaced up at him. "No need to pretend for me, Jay; I know what you're doing, I've been doing enough of it myself."

So the office rumor mill was correct. Ram had been seeing Ebony before Mega. "Um, I'm sorry?"

She laughed humorlessly. "Thanks, but it isn't necessary. I knew it was only a matter of time. You know that old saying, when a man says that he's bi, it really means that he prefers men?" She continued without waiting for an answer, "Well, in Ram's case, it meant that he liked anything with a pulse, but I'm sure you know all about that. I know Mega is no angel, and like recognizes like, after all."

"I think you have the wrong idea about me. I'm fine with them being together. Why shouldn't I be?" He struggled to keep his voice even and succeeded.

But it meant nothing. "You've got stars and sorrow in your eyes, Jay, never a good combination." Shaking her head, long braids sliding over her shoulders, Ebony walked away.

Jay was unable to stay after that. He needed to get away, he needed to get out. All of a sudden, he was suffocating. He had to leave, but first, one last trip through Babylon.

"Excuse me, Ram, Mega."

Ram swiftly pulled his hand back from a not subtle enough, brush with Mega's crotch as both men turned to Jay.

"Jay, my man, I see you made it." Ram clapped Jay on the back heartily, his hand swiping Jay's ass on the way down.

"Yes, but I was just leaving, actually. I just wanted to thank you before I go." Jay's eyes skittered away from both Ram's and Mega's, unable to bear their assessing perusals. He couldn't believe it, they were both checking him out. Ebony was right; they deserved each other.

"Well, sorry to see you go so soon, but enjoy your weekend." Ram licked his lips suggestively and Jay almost threw up right then and there. Just holding it together, just, he made it outside, stopping to heave into the bushes outside.

God, it still hurt so much. Why couldn't he care as much as I did? As I do?

As dry heaves wracked his body, he received no answers, just a seemingly unending stream of tears coursing down his cheeks.