Workplace Issues

4 - Whistle While You Work

He goes silent for a few days after the article upload. No streams, no social media, no calls or texts - he just can't bring himself to open his phone, lest he sees the article still mocking him or the rumour mill he'd already known would find it taking it to extremes.

Of course, his friends still try and call as they do, but he's not answering. So does work, so does his agent, but he either lets the phone ring out or answers with texts saying to leave him alone. After all, what would he say? Normally, before this, he would have laughed it off, rolled his eyes, joked about it, hell, made it a bit in a skit or sketch.

This time, it's different and it's obvious.

He's never been one to hide, never been one to shy away from who he is, but this... this feels different. It feels like there's no coming back from this. It feels like he's been branded with something he can't wash off, no matter how hard he scrubs.

The silence stretches on for days, weeks even, and Damien finds himself becoming more and more isolated. He tries to keep his head down, to focus on something, anything else, but the article and the rumours are always there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for him to let his guard down. He knows that eventually, he'll have to face them, but he just can't bring himself to do it yet.

One day, out of the blue, he gets a text from Shayne. It's the first time they've spoken in almost 2 and a half weeks, and the message is simple: "We need to talk."

Damien's heart sinks.

He knows what this means. He's been avoiding the inevitable, but now there's no choice. With a heavy heart, he replies with a simple "Okay."

Of course, the world doesn't make it easy on him. The bump's grown in the time since that sketch and of course, when he was kneeling in front of the porcelain god, so every shirt he tries seems to be pulled taut against him, but eventually, he finds one that's a little looser and throws a hoodie over it for good measure, bulking out his frame.

He hopes it's enough for the time being.

He's always known Shayne's apartment complex, having been there often enough, but now, the familiarity feels like a noose around his neck. He takes a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation, and walks up to Shayne's door. His hand shakes as he lifts it, knocking once, twice, before Shayne answers.

Of course, Shayne looks as good as always. There's an air of concern around him that seems to get more localized as soon as he rakes his eyes over Damien's form. It seriously makes the latter want to shrink into himself. Even more so when Courtney appears over his shoulder, a look of relief crossing her face before it too, looks concerned. "Damien, hey. Come in."

He follows them, because of course, he follows them. He knows every inch of the apartment by now. He knows where to put his shoes, his keys, his jacket or hoodie if he took them off (he doesn't this time, which seems to make Shayne and Courtney trade ever more worried looks) all before he even rounds the corner to get to the couch.

The kitchen where they would argue over board games was on the left, the bathroom where Shayne almost fried his eyebrows off himself on the right and the couch where they sat having video game and movie marathons felt like its own island as he sat down gingerly upon it, his body already aching. He almost just wants to turn tail and run, but somehow, he doesn't, even as the others sit with him, giving him no means of escape.

Did the article go viral somehow in the time he was off the internet? Did they somehow figure it out? Do they know about the baby? Is this where they berate him? Tell him how much they hate him? How he's ruined their marriage and they never want to see him again? He closes his eyes before he can cry, face scrunched up as he fights back the tears before they can seen, but it doesn't seem to matter. They most likely saw anyway, regardless.