5) Todd

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Those guys really are adorable, when they've just gotten laid. Todd smiles to himself as he sees them coming out of their room, all rosy cheeked, bright eyed. 
Yeah, he remembers those days, of good sex. You know, before his monk-hood started. He shrugs to himself as they walk through the lounge as a group. 
Just be happy for them, you dickhead. They can't help it that you don't have a sex life anymore. 
They walk through some very busy streets, but Todd can't help but marvel at the atmosphere here. It's all so friendly, so polite. Very different from what he's used to.
"All you can eat hot pot. That sound good to you?" Eddy asks them after a moment, pointing to a Chinese sign on an ornately decorated window to the right.
"Oh, fuck yeah. I'm starving, I'll eat them out of business!"
He is the first one into the place. 

Now, look. He's had some hotpot before, usually with Brett and Eddy, in Australia. And he loves it fine. But this, this is a whole 'nother level of flavour. How can it be so much better? Or is it just that he was famished? 
"I was famished!" Eddy says right then, as if he's read his mind. 
Which, to be honest, he seems to be able to do quite well anyway. He's certainly seen a lot more than Todd ever meant for him to see. Does he realise, how stupidly jealous he is? That he's been more distant with them than before, because of how complicated things have gotten? 
A wink from a guy over at the bar pulls him out of his reverie. 
Oh, God. He's been made, and it's a cute guy, too. Quite tall for an Asian, he can see, with pretty dark brown eyes and a mane of the shiniest, half-long, black hair. It looks like good hair to tug, really, as he pushes him down to sit in front of him on his knees, sucking him hard, or to pull back as he turns him around and pounds into him. And for a second he considers it. God knows he could do with some action. But then he looks away, back to the other side of the table where his friends sit. 
Sorry, cute guy. He remembers too well how rotten he felt after he went home with that guy at the party, a few weeks ago. 
Even though the sex was fine, it felt like he had cheated on Ian. And even if he knows how completely stupid that is, he can't do that again. So he scowls at his hotpot, tries his hardest to forget about pretty brown eyes and shiny dark hair and never looks towards the bar again. 

---

The night market is something else, though! A sense of excitement starts to flood him as they walk past stall after stall of fragrant food, touristy trinkets, and God knows what else. Look, whatever else may be happening in his life, he should enjoy this. He should make the most of being here. When they come to another tourist stand he sees a tacky linen bag saying 'I love Taiwan'.
"Hold up." he tells his friends. "Imma buy it. I can use it to carry the scores around."
Brett grins.
"Yeah, because that one tiny book will never fit into your cello case, hey? But I like it, Todd. Suits you."

How could he begin to tell Brett that he's only buying it to put something positive in his mind? Something he can show his folks, when he gets home and they ask how it's been? He can't, so he just follows his friends around until his feet hurt and he's absolutely exhausted. They've stopped for bubble tea, and are now busy sipping the best brown sugar milk tea he's ever had in his life. 
"I told you they had the best bubble tea here." Eddy says proudly.
"You did, and you were right." he acknowledges. "Anyway, can we head back to the hotel? I'm half dead and we have rehearsal tomorrow, right?"

Well. At least falling asleep shouldn't be an issue, tonight. 




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