Revenge is a dish best served dead

Regrets never adressed

Regrets never adressed

What if Type had never been brave enough to tell Paifah „no"? What if he'd stayed the night and hadn't gone back to Tharn?

Lying next to Paifah Type desperately tried not to think about Tharn. About his kisses and hugs, his smiles and this adorable pout he sometimes showed. No, he was definitely not thinking about Tharn's face whenever Paifah had been a topic during the last week. Or the way he'd distanced himself, or the way he'd looked when he had said it was all about sex between them. Or how Tharn could hold another man in his arms right now and Type wouldn't have any right to protest.

Type curled into himself, realising his own nakedness even stronger. No, he couldn't go back now. He'd promised Paifah to be her boyfriend and he'd slept with her. Even though he wished to be in Tharn's arms right now. To lean on him, just like that. But it could never be „just like that". No matter how much he wished to be with Tharn, he couldn't say it.

So this was the best way, wasn't it?

And so Type didn't say anything, but gave Paifah a goodbye kiss the next morning and went back to the dorm. Tharn was already gone, but Type had imagined as much. Staying over had been a clear sign, hadn't it?

When Tharn came back later he wore a careful mask and Type felt a sharp pain.

„So, how did it go?"

Type was still looking at him from his bad as Tharn put his bags on his bed and sat down, a slight smile on his face.

„Well", Type said an shrugged, „We're a couple now."

The smile became a bit more stifled: „Congratulations. I wish you the best."

Type couldn't smile but look at Tharn. Hoping Tharn could read his mind and see how much this pained him. But Tharn's smile didn't change.

„Thank you."

For a moment Tharn looked down at the floor, taking a deep breath, before he looked up again and straight at Type: „That's it then, isn't it? You have a girlfriend now and our little affair is over."

Type hated how this sounded. Their little affair. As if Tharn hadn't been clinging to him, telling him he couldn't live without him. As if Tharn hadn't taken him to his favourite bar and kissed him. As if Tharn hadn't gotten jealous. As if Tharn hadn't given him feelings of happiness and had touched him more intimately than anyone else ever had.

Type nodded slowly, although all he wanted to do was shake his head. Because no, he didn't want it to be over. But it was for the best, wasn't it? They couldn't have an affair forever, could they?

Tharn smiled, this time a bit wider: „Thank you for the time, I guess."

„Hm", Type shrugged, turning back to his phone, even though he couldn't care less about what it showed. Tharn's only reaction to that was a shallow laugh.

~~~~~

Some changes happened quickly, some happened slowly.

Tharn got distant quite instantly. He also stoppped coming closer or touching Type at all. No more seductive glances or smiles, no more dirty jokes.

But he also started taking less and less care of Type. Within a few weeks he'd stopped bringing him breakfast or dinner. He'd also stopped washing his clothes or tidying up for him.

Truth to be said, Tharn actually stopped coming back to their room most of the time. He was studying a lot and slept over at a friend's house more often than not. Seeing Tharn had become such a rare occasion, Type had to control his emotions whenever he saw him. So he wouldn't start smiling or throwing insults at Tharn's head. Both were a real danger.