Side Story 2 – Chapter 14
“Why?”
“I told you, I have plans with a friend.”
“What friends do you have?”
…This bastard.
It was a problem that he knew me too well.
“The photographer I became close with… when we shot the CF last time. We’ve been saying we should have a meal together, and we finally set up a lunch date this time.”
It’s true that I became close with the photographer, but we didn’t actually set up a meal appointment. Of course, we were close enough that I could make plans with him even now.
“Who?”
“You wouldn’t know even if I told you. He’s just an ordinary person. I don’t think he’s ever worked with you? He said it was his first project when he worked with me. He’s not that old either. Twenty-three or twenty-four, I think. Just a kid. Though he’s an adult physically. Haha.”
I winked and made a somewhat lewd expression, and Mitchell openly showed his displeasure. He sneered and then glared at me as if he could kill me.
“I wasn’t going to say this, but it’s all thanks to you, Mitchell.”
“What is?”
“If I hadn’t slept with you yesterday…, I might have continued living without knowing that such a pleasurable activity exists. You felt how incredibly familiar I was yesterday, right? It didn’t hurt at all. I thought I was going crazy from how good it felt. Wow, I’m getting too excited. Haha. Anyway, thanks. Thanks to you, I’ve realized a bit about my preferences.”
“Ha.”
Mitchell clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“I’m really grateful. You said I was gay, right? You showed me what my gay life was like. Just as you’re interested in the opposite sex, I’m attracted to men. Actually, I’m only telling you this…”
I deliberately wrapped my arms around Mitchell’s neck and put my mouth to his ear. As I exhaled a long breath, Mitchell flinched. I whispered against it, almost as if licking his ear.
“The photographer I’m meeting today is just my type.”
I mentioned another man to Mitchell, who likes whispers. His stiffened body transmitted the feeling to me.
I pretended not to notice and stepped back, observing Mitchell who had turned into a statue. His gaze was clearly on me, but his pupils seemed lifeless. It looked like even his breath wasn’t passing through his parted lips. It was the first time I’d seen Mitchell make such an expression.
I really was sorry. But still, words that only a scoundrel would say kept pouring out.
“I guess you could call it a date. Oh, if you want to sleep with me, let me know in advance. I might not have time available.”
As I was an situational scoundrel, I stopped there appropriately. I pretended to check the time and headed towards the front door. I thought it would be better to avoid the place now, as I was afraid to make eye contact with Mitchell.
“Geon-woo.”
I didn’t turn around even when he called my name. He might imprison me for real today. I quickly put on my shoes and left the house as if escaping. Surprisingly, Mitchell let me go.
Does this mean it’s okay if I go have a fling with the photographer right now?
Just as I was starting to feel really upset, a phone call came. I pouted my lips as I saw the name on the screen.
“Yeah? What? Did I leave something behind?”
– Leave behind? There’s nothing here but your stuff.
“Ah… haha. You’re good at jokes too.”
I readjusted my grip on the phone as I went down the stairs. I planned to go home now since I had nowhere else to go.
– Are you going to meet him right away?
“Yeah. I should be able to leave now.”
– It’s barely been a day since you slept with me. It’s not good for your body to do it again with that bastard.
It was so ridiculous that I laughed. I wanted to ask when he ever cared about such things.
“‘That bastard’? Watch your language.”
This time, Mitchell seemed to be on the same page as me. A dejected laugh came through the phone.
– Where are you meeting?
“Somewhere around here. As it happens, he lives in our neighborhood. I might go to his place.”
– Since when did you start chasing after men like this? Let me tell you for sure, you weren’t like this before.
“Maybe I wasn’t like this before. But I think I’ve changed now. I want to meet a lot of men.”
– You’re an actor. You can’t avoid getting caught. Wouldn’t it be better to stick with one trustworthy guy instead of meeting this man and that man?
I covered my mouth, amused by Mitchell recommending himself. Leaning against the front door, I willingly continued the conversation.
“You’re right. The guy I’m meeting now seems trustworthy. He seems like he can keep a secret. I’m planning to meet him today to talk and see what kind of person he is.”
– Wouldn’t I be better? I’ve already slept with you and we know each other well.
“You must have really enjoyed sleeping with me.”
– Is that even a question? I felt like I wanted to become gay.
“Haha. Who would have thought Mitchell Cronenwirth would be so desperate for a man.”
– It’s not just any man, it’s you.
“Huh? What did you say? I didn’t hear you. I was checking a message.”
– …Never mind.
“I’m hanging up now. Let’s talk later. I’m outside now.”
– Outside?
“Yeah. I’ll contact you later.”
– Okay.
As soon as I hung up, I went inside the house. I hummed a tune as I took a drink from the refrigerator. Given the time, I was hungry. There was no food at home, so I thought I’d have to order delivery. I was too lazy to go out.
I sat on the sofa and chose what to eat. After ordering something suitable, I lay down and thought about Mitchell’s troubled face. I realized that Mitchell’s love hadn’t changed at all.
I should just enjoy the current situation. The game’s host keeps switching between Mitchell and me, but it’s much more fun when I’m in control. If I have a mischievous wish, it’s to see Mitchell cry. How pretty would that be? How satisfying would that be?
After a long time, the doorbell rang. I ate the delivered food while watching TV. A peaceful and enjoyable afternoon was passing by.
***
Mitchell closely examined his phone. Of course, Geon-woo was unaware of the existence of the location tracking app.
He couldn’t understand Geon-woo’s psychological state of saying he was going out to meet a friend while actually being at home. Since there was a possibility that he had invited the so-called photographer to his house, Mitchell hid in the stairway and observed the front of Geon-woo’s house for a long time. But there were no visitors except for the delivery person. Geon-woo also didn’t leave the house.
It was fortunate that he didn’t meet anyone. Mitchell had planned to follow him as soon as he left, but there was no need for that.
It was revealed that the appointment to meet a man was just one of Geon-woo’s occasional bluffs. The probability was high that his behavior like a playboy, claiming to have discovered the joys of sex, was also a bluff.
But if he had really opened his eyes to men, it would be a serious problem. It was also what Mitchell feared the most.
If he became interested in someone other than himself.
If he fell in love with someone else.
What should he do then?
When Geon-woo’s memory was intact, Mitchell had never worried about this, but now he was. It didn’t seem entirely impossible.
***
I yawned and stretched out my arms and legs. As I spent time lazily, the sun had already set. Since I was planning to start working a little from next month, I intended to rest as much as I wanted during the few days left.
Today was the same, I spent time doing nothing. I missed Mitchell, but I was satisfied just recalling the moments we enjoyed on the bed.
Mitchell contacted me after 8 PM. Since I had already run simulations on how to lie, I answered the phone immediately.
“Hey, Mitchell.”
– Where are you?
“I just got home.”
– Just now? After playing with that photographer guy?
“What do you mean by ‘that photographer guy’?”
– You acted like you were going to sleep with him, so why are you home already? Or did you do it since the afternoon?
“I almost did, but I didn’t.”
– Why?
“I just wasn’t in the mood. I was tired too. But we had a good conversation, so we’re going to meet again next time.”
– Really?
“He likes me a bit. I like people who love me.”
– I guess you don’t care if you don’t like them?
“Of course I care. I like him too.”
– …This is annoying.
“What?”
– Nothing.
“You just said it’s annoying.”
– I didn’t.
“I heard you, what do you mean you didn’t?”
It felt like today was the first day Mitchell and I actually fought. The childish argument gave a strong feeling of a real couple. Of course, we’re not a couple on the surface right now.
– Geon-woo. Stop it now. I was wrong.
“What are you talking about? Stop what?”
– Come back.
“Where? To your house?”
– Just everything.
“Are you talking about my memory? You know that can’t happen just because you plead, right?”
Mitchell just sighed. He didn’t say anything after that. I didn’t have anything more to say either, so I briefly said goodbye and hung up.
I was planning to tease him for a few more days because I was upset about all the lies he had told me, but seeing Mitchell so depressed, this didn’t feel right either. The situation was very different from when Mitchell had teased me so well.
That’s why I thought we should end it here.
Let’s just let today pass and go to Mitchell tomorrow morning to confess everything. To tell him that my memory has returned.
Of course, I would need to stage a scene where I hit my head somewhere. If Mitchell found out that my memory had returned earlier and I had pretended it hadn’t, I didn’t know what he might do, so I needed to mix in an appropriate escape situation.
I love Mitchell so, so much, but separate from that, he’s such an eccentric guy that it’s better to create a safety measure.
After making this decision, I felt quite relieved.
Now I can end this act and just love Mitchell wholly by staying by his side. This will probably be the last night I sleep in my own house.
I spent the last night alone in the big bed. When tomorrow comes, everything will return to its place.
But our Mitchell has an impatient personality and is quite troublesome.
He didn’t just let the long night pass by.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
