The Invite

Chapter 6

Up's heart leaps to his throat when the doorbell sounds through his apartment on a Wednesday evening, a foolish part of him entertaining the thought that maybe it's Kao standing on the other side of the door. That part must live through a severe disappointment; when Up hauls himself up to the entrance, it's First and Justin waiting there instead.

"What are you guys doing here?"

First grins. "We're taking you out for drinks!" he exclaims. And then he pushes past Up into the apartment without further ado, Justin following him right after patting Up on the shoulder.

Taken aback, he can only stare after the two of them as they disappear down the hallway. The hinges creak softly when the cupboards are opened, and when Up finally drags his feet to the kitchen, he sees First pouring grape juice into a tall glass sitting on the counter. Justin is leaning against the cabinets, watching him with a slanted smile, but his eyes flit to Up when he walks in.

"You should get changed," he says. "Doll up."

"I didn't agree to anything."

First sends him a look. "You need to stop brooding," he says. "We're going out, and we're having fun."

Brooding. It isn't brooding if Up has a legitimate broken heart, is it? Well, maybe not entirely broken. More dented. Slightly bruised? Nevertheless, Up doesn't feel entire well. He knows getting drunk won't fix that, but not getting drunk won't, either.

So he jumps into the shower while First and Justin raid his kitchen for snacks, and puts on clothes that make him feel hot—a short-sleeved black shirt with a white print, tight pants, and Docs that give additional centimeters to his height. If he sprays himself with the perfume Kao has gifted him, then it's only between him and the universe.

"Wow, you look sexy," First says when Up comes out, patting his cheek affectionately. "Maybe we can get some free drinks thanks to your cute ass."

Up laughs, but Justin calls First indecent and starts pushing the two of them into the entryway so that they can grab their shoes and jump into Justin's car. Maybe it won't be that bad, Up thinks to himself as he watches the city blur in front of his eyes while they rush down the streets.

It's bad because the bar is loud, even though it's not packed with people (after all, it's just Wednesday). Chris Brown's music is booming through the speakers, neon lights are flickering, and the place is so stuffy that even the hot weather outside seems more bearable.

But Up isn't going to complain. He lets his managers drag him to the lounge on the upper floor and order the first batch of drinks, even though it's only him and First that are drinking. Justin says he's there to keep an eye on the two of them.

As he's pouring them the first shots of soju, he asks, "Have you heard Mariam got engaged to her girlfriend?"

Up has. A few days ago, he saw it on Kao's Instagram—a picture of him between Mariam and her fiancée, arms slung over their shoulders with a big smile on his face. The congratulatory message was cute, and very Kao, and Up kind of felt like crying when the photo flashed on his screen.

He's pathetic. He really is.

"Let's hope they invite us to their wedding," First says, raising his glass.

Justin laughs, but he lifts his water, too. "I can drink to that."

Up grins, but when he clinks his glass with the other two and downs his shot, it only coats his tongue with bitterness. He squeezes his eyes shut and shakes it off, though it's always the same when it comes to drinks—Up's first always leaves him dizzy.