"KIM"

Chapter 20

Aftermath of his breakup

It was Jeff's birthday, and he had been eagerly looking forward to celebrating it with Vegas. The day had started with excitement and promises of love, but little did Jeff know that it would end in heartbreak and pain.

They were at Vegas's penthouse, the city lights twinkling outside the large windows. After a delicious dinner, they had made sex, their passion burning hotter than ever before. Jeff lay in bed, flushed and happy, reminiscing about the intense connection they had just shared. Vegas had gone to take a shower, leaving Jeff to bask in the afterglow.

Feeling a bit bored, Jeff decided to get a glass of water. As he walked into the kitchen, he noticed a key lying on the edge of the coffee machine. He picked it up, puzzled. "What could this be for?" he wondered.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he walked back towards the bedroom but stopped when he passed a door he had never seen open before. Vegas had always told him it was just a storage room full of old files. Jeff hesitated, the key in his hand feeling heavy. He knew he shouldn't invade Vegas's privacy, but something about the key and the closed door called to him.

With a deep breath, he inserted the key into the lock and turned it. The door clicked open, and Jeff stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, but as his eyes adjusted, he was shocked by what he saw. His eyes were drawn to a photograph on the wall of a man holding a child. The man's face was eerily similar to his own. Jeff's heart raced, and confusion clouded his mind.

"Is it me?" he whispered to himself, tracing the photo with his finger. He stared at it for a moment longer before the realization hit him. This was Kimhan, Vegas's ex-boyfriend. The similarity in their faces was uncanny, and it made Jeff's heart ache.

Something in his mind clicked painfully. "What if Vegas saw him as Kimhan? No, no, it can't be. But... that face... it's the same as mine," he thought, feeling a mix of fear and sorrow.

Just then, Vegas walked in, fresh from his shower, and saw Jeff standing frozen in the middle of the room. His face fell as he realized what Jeff had discovered.

"Jeff," he started, his voice trembling, "I can explain."

Jeff turned to him, tears streaming down his face. "Vegas, who am I to you? Me or Kimhan?" The silence from Vegas was deafening, each second feeling like an eternity. "Answer me, Vegas," Jeff pleaded, his voice breaking.

Vegas opened his mouth to speak but then fell silent, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and pain. The silence was unbearable.

Jeff felt his heart shatter. "You don't have to say anything. Your silence is the answer," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "You've been seeing me as Kimhan, not for who I am. It hurts so much, Vegas. I loved you with all my heart, but now I see there's no space for me in yours."

Vegas reached out desperately. "Jeff, please, it's not like that. I do love you."

But Jeff shook his head, stepping back. "This was supposed to be a happy day. My birthday. And now... I don't know what to do."

Vegas's voice was desperate. "Please, Jeff. Give me a chance to make this right. I love you."

Jeff took a deep breath, his heart breaking. "I need time, Vegas. I can't just forget what I saw here. I need to know that you love me for me, not as a substitute for what you lost."

Vegas tried to step closer, but Jeff shook his head. "Please, just give me some space."

Feeling his world crumble, Jeff turned and walked out of the room, leaving Vegas standing amidst the remnants of his past. As he left the penthouse, the tears flowed freely, his heart shattered by the weight of the truth he had uncovered.