"Perth!"
Perth kept walking, ignoring the pleases of the boy behind him, continuing his walk to the door.
"Perth Tanapon, you better fucking listen to me!"
"Or what!?" Perth growled, suddenly standing root still, resulting in Saint running into him. The older boy fell to the ground and looked up as Perth towered over him.
It was a lot like Déjà Vu and it fucked with Perth's facade of being angry.
Perth wasn't angry.
Perth was hurt.
"Oops" Perth whispered, watching as Saint's facial features changed from frustrated to sad in a matter of seconds.
Saint gulped, obviously struggling with his words, before he whispered back, "I'm not saying goodbye this time."
Perth stared at Saint and Saint stared right back. It was dead silence. Perth let out a shaky breath before holding out a hand, helping Saint to his feet.
"Thanks," Saint said quietly, staring at their linked hands. Perth didn't let go.
"You helped me to my feet. I should help you to yours as well," Perth responded.
Saint nodded, gripping Perth's larger hand. Perth wasn't sure what Saint wanted, but it was obviously Saint's way of asking Perth to stay.
But what would happen if Perth stayed? They would continue to fuck around with each other, obviously, because Perth was wrong. Saint didn't love him back.
"I should go," Perth said, letting go of Saint's hand. The smaller man whimpered, stepping forward as Perth backed up.
"Please. Perth, please don't leave me," Saint begged.
"What do you want from me!? I gave you everything I could, Saint. You knew how fragile I was and how I trusted you- why would I leave you right after spilling my heart out? Why?" Perth asked, his deep voice shaky.
Honestly, Perth wanted to cry. He wanted to scream, beg, cry because he was so lost and he was never lost.
"Perth-"
"I need time. I need to be away from you, Saint. I can't take it anymore."
Saint whimpered again. Saint couldn't help but reach out, but he retracted his hand quickly and Saint let out a sob.
"Perth."
"Saint. No."
Perth backed up and away from Saint before leaving.
•••••
The days were going by as quick as ever and Perth was thankful for that.
Time was ticking by and they were very close to opening the new club. It's only been two weeks since auditions and they've hired everyone they needed, plus the building was quickly renovated into a club.
The only problem was the first dance of opening night.
It was agreed that Perth and Saint, as the faces of the club, would share the stage for the first dance.
They've worked on the dance, of course.
It always ended with Saint in tears and Perth holding himself back from kissing Saint to happiness.
Perth was only teasing himself.
How can I be the source of anyone's happiness? I can't even keep myself happy.
Perth knew that the first step was to make himself better. He would start by dancing again.
Perth was a stripper. But Perth was good at being a stripper. He belonged in a strip club. He belonged somewhere where he could he demanding and in charge of the crowd.
