Chapter 2

Standing outside Brendan's dorm, I felt a heavy silence.

I raised my hand to knock, then lowered it again.

The voices from inside continued.

"Just pretending to be deaf to mess with that idiot, that's all."

"And liking guys? Not really my thing."

The guys suddenly laughed.

After a moment.

Someone asked him, "What if Alex finds out?"

Brendan lit a cigarette, his voice casual.

"He won't. Even if he does, I'll just sweet-talk him a bit."

"My ear went deaf saving him, you know. All I have to do is say a few nice words, and he'll melt."

Brendan's ear was accidentally damaged while saving me, which is why I felt guilty and wanted to make it up to him.

So, I picked up several part-time jobs, working nonstop to earn money. I lost over ten pounds in a month, all just to save up for his hearing aid.

I never thought I was the only fool.

Now, I’d finally saved up enough cash.

Brendan's hearing loss was faked.

His poverty was faked too.

He played me like a fiddle.

"Brendan, if you don't like guys, why did you even get with him? This kid, he looks a bit girly-looking, but he is pretty. Still, thinking he's a guy just makes me… totally turned off."

"Is being gay really that fun?"

Brendan chuckled from inside.

"It's great! Don't you think Alex is overly obedient?"

His roommates roared with laughter.

"Isn't that because you're such a good trainer, Brendan? I heard you asked Alex to move in with you last week, and he refused, right?"

Last week, Brendan suddenly suggested we move in together, but I said no.

Brendan was really upset.

I had to sweet-talk him for three days before he finally bothered to talk to me again.

At the mention of it, Brendan bit on his cigarette, mumbling a reply.

"Yeah."

"He said he doesn't want to live together right now."