Chapter CI - Betrayal

Walking down the central city area, Irene moaned after taking a sip of her strawberry smoothie they picked up on their way home.

“I’d never guess you had such a sweet tooth when we first met,” Arthur said with a coy smirk.

“Like you’re the one to talk.” Irene pushed her hair behind her ear, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. “You raided like half of F&I. . .”

“I did not!” Arthur laughed, finding her accusations preposterous.

“Aham. . . So I’m guessing Max lied?”

“When did he–”

“Oh, Iseul too. . .” Irene interrupted, holding the cup firmly with both hands and wrapping her lips around the straw.

“I’m being framed,” Arthur protested, scratching his head awkwardly, knowing they were probably right.

“You stopped running in the morning, right? And. . . you’re no longer working out, so I’d watch out if I were you,” she teased.

“Worried I’d get fat?” He jokingly asked, knowing she was just messing with him.

“Hey, if you’re gonna get fat, better be my cooking that does it,” she nudged him, giving him a wink.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Oh, and for our next date, I was thinking. . . maybe if you want, we could go to Comic Con next week.”

“Comic Con?” Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah. Always wanted to go to one but never had the chance.” Irene gazed into his eyes, tilting her head cutely. “It’ll be fun. . .”

“I’d love to go,” Arthur said, to which Irene cheerfully wrapped her arm around his and leaned against his shoulder.

“It’s gonna be great.” Irene paused before mumbling, “I hope. . .”

Arthur awkwardly chuckled as her confidence suddenly vanished after realizing he had accepted.

“Well–” Arthur wanted to say something, but Irene’s phone interrupted him.

“Sorry. . .” She mumbled, letting go of him to check the message. While patiently waiting for her to reply, Arthur happened to notice someone familiar in the distance. “The girls want us to drop by the store and get something to drink. Want anything?” Noticing Arthur wasn’t listening, she leaned a bit and said, “Hey, you listening? Art. . .”

“Sorry, but is that Hyun by the shop?” Art asked.

“Where?” She looked around in the direction he was looking before noticing Hyun standing near a wall with his leg pressed against it. “Oh, you’re right. Wanna go say hi?”

“Sure,” Arthur said, taking her hand and starting to walk over to him.

However, right before they reached him, the cheery mood they were in suddenly changed as a girl that neither knew slowly walked up to him with her arms wrapped around his waist. Hyun placed his hand behind her neck, leaning in for a deep kiss.

“What the?” Arthur looked in confusion while Irene quickly snapped a photo of the two kissing. She didn’t hesitate and started marching over to the two. “Irene, wait. . .”

He followed behind her, knowing things weren’t going to end well.

“Hyun!” Irene yelled, coldly gazing at the couple. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Irene?” Hyun broke away from the kiss, clearly caught red-handed.

“Don’t you Irene me. . .” She turned her glare toward the girl as Arthur caught up.

“Art. . .” Hyun mumbled nervously. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Who’s this?” Irene asked, still staring at the brunette girl.

“Hyun, who’s this?” the girl asked, furrowing her brows. “Is this your ex?”

“Ex?” Irene’s eyes shifted to Hyun.

“No, this is his girlfriend. I ugh–”

“She wouldn’t happen to be talking about Nabi, would she?” Irene’s voice was sharp and quick to the point.

“What’s it to you?” the girl interrupted, taking up a defensive stance. “They broke up two weeks ago, so he can date whoever he wants.”

“Broke up?” Irene asked, stunned that he’d make up something like that. Her glare once again was directed only at Hyun. “So you broke up two weeks ago but still went on a date two days ago?”

“Hyun?” The girl turned to him. “Is that true?”

“Look–” Hyun wanted to say something, but clenching his fist, he glared back at Irene. “You wouldn’t know what it’s like dating her.”

“Don’t you dare pin this on her!” Irene was fuming.

“So it’s true? You haven’t broken up?” the girl asked.

“No, they didn’t,” Irene answered for him. “So he’s been lying to you too.”

“Ji, it’s not what it looks like,” Hyun panicked, unsure how to salvage the situation.

“Don’t. . .” the girl took a step back. “Don’t even think of talking to me again.”

She turned around and walked away angrily.

“Dammit! Look what you–” Hyun started yelling, turning to Irene but was met with a smoothie splashed in his face. “What the fuck?!”

“You trash!” Irene yelled, squeezing the plastic cup.

“Why you?!” Hyun took an aggressive step toward Irene, to which Arthur finally acted by stepping in between them.

“Back off,” Arthur warned him.

“You wanna go?” Irene wanted to kick his ass.

“Oh, yeah. Get your boyfriend to protect you while you talk shit from the back.”

“Art, move. . .” Irene stared him dead in the eye.

“Stop!” Arthur raised his voice, surprising both of them. “Take a deep breath, and let’s go. It’s not our place to get involved.”

He grabbed Irene’s hand, wanting to leave despite Irene’s frustration.

She gritted her teeth before letting out a defeated sigh and dropping her gaze. “Fine. . .”

He could feel her squeezing down, hurting for her friend.

Watching them slowly turn around, Hyun angrily yelled, “You know what? Fuck you and that prudish nerd–”

Before he knew it, he found himself lying on the ground, confused. His jaw hurt, and all he could see was Arthur menacingly staring him down after punching him in the face.

“Don’t you dare say another word about her,” Arthur whispered, furious that he’d have the courage to insult Nabi after doing such a thing. Taking a deep breath, he turned around and looked at Irene. “Let’s go. . .”

Left alone to sit on the ground, Hyun finally noticed other people watching as they were in a somewhat crowded part of town.

“Fuck. . .” Irene mumbled into her hands as she sat on the park bench.

“You okay?” Arthur asked, handing her his smoothie. “Try drinking this one.”

“Thanks,” she whispered, taking it, knowing that it’d soothe her a bit.

“Can’t believe that just happened,” Arthur said, sitting beside her.

“Ugh! What a dickhead.” Irene looked like she wanted to punch something. “And now she’ll be crying over a wuss that didn’t even have the balls to break up with her first.”

“I don’t think he planned on breaking up. . .”

“That’d just make it worse. . .” Irene sighed, downing half the smoothie in one go in a desperate attempt to calm down. She paused for a bit, then turned to Arthur, softly whispering, “I’m sorry for acting out like that. Probably not what you’d hope your girlfriend would do. . .”

“Nah, it’s okay. I wanted to do the same, but I’d like you not to put yourself in danger,” Arthur said, worried what would’ve happened had he not been there. Considering they were out in broad daylight, the chances of him hitting her were slim, but that didn’t help him feel much better. “Anyway, how are we gonna tell Nabi?”

“I’ll handle it, but we’ll probably need to have a girl’s night.”

“Planning to go out?” Arthur asked.

“Nah, I’ll invite them over to my place.”

“Why not do it at our house? There are enough beds for them to crash the night.”

“Art. . .” She awkwardly mumbled.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll see if the boys are up to something. Might even stay with them for the night.”

“Thanks.” She smiled, leaning against his shoulder. “Fuck, I hate when this happens.”

“Not the first time?” Arthur asked.

“I wish. . .” Irene sighed, glancing up at him. “Take my keys and invite the boys over if you want. Just don’t let them go through my stuff.”

“Sure, but I’ll see what they wanna do.”

“God, what a waste of a good smoothie. . .”

“But the look on his face was priceless,” Arthur smirked.

“Right?!” She giggled, grabbing Arthur’s hand. “Thank you.”

“What for?” He looked confused.

She leaned closer to his ear, kissing his neck on the way up before whispering, “For being you.”

Without answering, he gripped her hand firmly and gazed into her eyes. “Let’s go home.”

“Sure,” she smilingly whispered back. “We still need to go to the store.”

“I know, I know. . .”

“I fucking knew it!” Tjay yelled angrily. “Told you he was a scumbag.”

“You were just saying that cuz he got together with her,” Max said, leaning against the table. “Just so happens you were accidentally right.”

The boys gathered at Don’s place after Arthur sent them a group message explaining what had happened.

“Should we like call her and ask if she’s okay?” Don asked.

“I’ll talk to Irene and see how things are, then I’ll let you know,” Arthur said, glancing at Tjay, who kept walking in a circle. “Please don’t start a fight.”

“Huh?” Tjay turned to him. “I’m not gonna fight him, just gonna hit him real fucking hard in the face.”

“Art already did that for you.” Max sighed. “And I doubt Nabi wants you to fight him.”

“To think we slept in the same house for a month. . .” Tjay mumbled.

“Maybe we should just play some games and chill for a bit,” Don suggested.

“God, if I see him. . .”

“Or maybe not. . .” Don sighed, unsure how to help.

Arthur placed a hand on Don’s shoulder, sharing the same struggle.

“I mean, I knew the relationship wasn’t going to last, but cheating on her?” Max was still in disbelief. “I bet he’ll try and turn it around on her not being good enough.”

“I’d like to see him try!”

“Calm down, Tjay. . .” Arthur said, already exhausted from his daily visit to Ryung that he did before getting smoothies with Irene. “Again, it’s not your job to do something like that.”

“What? Protect a friend?” Tjay asked angrily, but this time it was aimed at Arthur.

“Take it easy. It’s not Arthur’s fault,” Max pointed out.

“It’s fine,” Arthur said, raising his hand halfway. “Think about it. Are you truly protecting her, or are you letting your emotions get the better of you?”

“What are you trying to say?” Tjay formed a fist, staring at Arthur.

“I don’t agree with what he did, nor will I ever, but you wanting to punch him is purely your own will and has nothing to do with helping Nabi. I’d go as far as to bet that she’d be devastated if you went out there and picked a fight with him. Not only would she have to deal with the confusion of being cheated on, but she’d also have two people close to her going at each other’s throats.”

“He doesn’t deserve to be close to her. . .”

“You and I both know she’s not the type to hate someone, and while I agree that she should keep her distance from her, that doesn’t mean she’d wish him harm even if he hurt her.”

“Then. . . what am I supposed to do?” Tjay mumbled, frustrated knowing Arthur spoke the truth.

“How about you just be there for her?” Max said, walking up to him and gripping his shoulder. “That’s the best we can do.”

Tjay sighed, breaking away from Max’s grip.

“You’re right. . .” he said, taking a step to the front door.

“Where’re you going?” Max asked.

“To get some snacks from the store.”

“At least buy drinks. We already have snacks,” Max pointed out.

“Whatever.”

“Mind if I come with you? I have something I wanna pick up as well on the way,” Don said, but Arthur felt as if he just didn’t want to let Tjay go alone.

“Do whatever you want. . .” Tjay said, putting on his shoes and walking out of the apartment.

“Hey, wait up!” Don yelled, trying to hurry up.

Before they knew it, Arthur and Max were left alone.

“What a mess. . .” Max said, dropping onto the couch.

“Think he’ll be fine?”

“Give him time.”

“I guess. . .” Arthur smiled meekly, sitting down next to him.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Just thinking. . .”

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking about Irene? There’s no way either of you would cheat.”

“Nah, but I’m just thinking how I’d feel if it happened.”

“Don’t torture yourself.” Max elbowed him. “Besides, it’s not gonna happen.”

Arthur sighed, turning to the door. “You think he’ll confess to her now?”

“Maybe not right away, but I sure as hell hope so. . .”

“Yeah. . .” He mumbled, glancing at his phone. “Hey.”

“Hmm?”

“If we’re not crashing the night here, wanna go to Irene’s? I don’t wanna invade their girls’ night.”

“That okay with her?” Max asked, wary of a potentially fatal mistake.

“She gave me the keys.”

“Sure. . . but let’s talk to the others. I don’t think we should leave that maniac alone right now,” Max chuckled.

“Agreed.”

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.