When Kai bumped me on the shoulder, I remembered where I was. "Hey, sleeping on the job again, I see." Kai said, putting his arm around me, peering over my shoulder.
I saw an article in the paper that brought me back to the past. It was only been a month, but it felt like years. I looked up and gave him a weak smile.
"Sorry, I need to go out for awhile, I will be back, it's important, would you cover for me for me for an hour? I promise I will make it up to you." I asked him, looking at him, pleading.
He must have seen the desperation in my face that he nodded, touch my arm and gave it a light squeeze, "Go ahead, I will cover for you. Take your time." He said, with a light smile.
I smiled back, trying to hold back the tears. "Thank you, Kai." I said, gratefully, grabbing my bag.
"Kyo." He called, when I reached the door, I looked back, "Be careful." He said, I smiled and nodded.
I took the newspaper with me; I couldn't believe what I just read. I couldn't believe he would do that to me. So maybe that's why he didn't ran after me, that's why he didn't look for me.
I got back in the apartment I shared with Kai, and got my old phone directory, looked up his aunt, my hands were shaking when I dialed the number, it was difficult to see, and I was blinded by my tears. But I connected, and reached his aunt who had always treated me as her son.
"Auntie, it's me, it's Kyo." I said, trying to sound normal, trying to lighten up my voice.
"Oh, Kyo, it's so good to hear from you! How are you, dear? How come you never come to see your Auntie Mae anymore?" she said, sounding so motherly, so warm.
"I'm sorry, Auntie, I already moved and I lived so far out now, but I will come visit you as soon as I can." I replied. I don't know how to ask, so afraid to ask. "Auntie…" I began, before my courage gets the better of me.
"Oh, Kyo…Kyo…I'm sorry. You've seen the papers. I'm really sorry, my son. You know how Ryu is with his gambling, and bad habits." She said, I can almost see the tears in her eyes. Yes, I know that. I've sold everything I own to cover all of his gambling debt, that was one of Ryu's worse flaws, he is a gambler, and he is addicted to it, he would even sell himself to pay for his debts.
So, it wasn't for love. "They got married in San Francisco, Jin bought a million dollar house in Nevada, and they travel there when they are home for the holidays from Jin's group of companies in New York." Ryu's aunt said.
"Oh, I was gonna ask you something else, Auntie. Ryu and I broke up a long time ago, he really had been seeing Jin for almost a year now, so naturally they would get married." I lied.
Auntie Mae laughed, "Oh, Kyo. Don't make excuses for Ryu, we know how bad he is and how he is so addicted to his gambling. And I know you, you are my son, remember?" she said.
I chuckled, "Oh, Auntie. I could never get one passed you, huh?" I said. "No." she said, with a laugh. "How is he? Is he okay, has he been taking care of himself?" I said, my voice softened. He probably forgot about me, too. I wanted to say.
"We don't know. I guess, he shut us out, because Jin's family is a snob and didn't want anything to do with us, probably he thinks that we want our hands on his money, too, like Ryu. That boy, what was he thinking? Am sure am glad that you're no longer with him, Kyo, he might be my nephew but sometimes, I wish you were and not him." She said.
"Oh, Auntie Mae, I love you." I said, with a smile on my voice. "Don't be too hard on him, it's a sickness, and he can't control it, well, good thing his husband is rich and can support his habits now." I said.
She laugh, "Yes, but I heard that this Jin and Ryu had a pre-nuptial agreement, and that Jin only paid, the last of Ryu's debt and was planning to put him in a rehab center so that would end his bad habit. That was kind of good, maybe this Jin really love Ryu after all."
I was quiet. The last words echoed in my head like a knife. I exchanged a few more pleasantries with Ryu's aunt before hanging up the phone. I wasn't feeling well after that phone call, I felt so drained and weak, I called Kai and told him I was taking the rest of the day off. He said, it's okay that they were closing early that he would see me later when he gets home.
I didn't want to drink. It's bad for me, I don't have the money now to keep buying my medication. So I decided to just take a nap and hopefully I would feel better and get back to work tomorrow.
I couldn't believe it, they did it. They got married, I didn't know that Ryu is so in love with Jin that he would go all the way to San Francisco to make it final with this guy. He could always use him, he had done so in the past, all those former lovers and flings that he had, and I thought this Jin would be just one of them. I guess, I was wrong, I guess, I should have said, I would give myself a month and Ryu would dump me instead. How could you, Ryu? How could you?