Chapter 10: You're right, we're all just performing.
As Stephen picked up the tablet, her heart began to pound. No password. Odd. She tapped the screen—curiosity guiding her—and it immediately unlocked to reveal NK's chat screen. The sender's name appeared at the top.
Stephen froze.
"Oh my God... he's hooking up with the Instagram witch," she whispered, staring at the message thread, unable to tear her eyes away. A photo, a suggestive one, filled the screen. Her hand trembled as she raised her phone to snap a picture.
Suddenly, laughter echoed from outside the room.
Panic hit. She dropped the tablet back on the table and darted into the adjacent bedroom. With seconds to spare, she slid behind the wardrobe, barely able to breathe.
The door swung open.
NK and Sage tumbled into the room, laughing and kissing, their bodies magnetized by desire. NK's hand slid around Sage's waist, hers wrapped around his neck. Their mouths met with deep, hungry kisses. NK's fingers moved to the strings of her bikini top.
Stephen squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to become invisible. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She shifted slightly, trying not to knock anything over. The closet was tight, the air warm, and she fought every instinct not to run.
Sage fell back on the bed, smiling as she pulled NK down. He slid off his shirt and climbed onto her. His lips wandered from her stomach to her neck and finally to her waist.
Sage moaned, soft but audible. "So, do you think it's weird that we're having this party without her?" she asked, catching her breath.
"Who?" NK murmured, distracted.
"Hannah. What do you mean 'who'?" she said, eyebrows raised.
He kissed her forehead, trying to redirect. She touched his chest, gently but firmly. "Hey. NK, can we talk about it, please?"
NK pulled back and sat upright, frustration simmering beneath his skin.
Sage looked at him earnestly. "It just feels weird, you know?"
NK exhaled sharply. "To me, it just feels weird that you're talking about my ex right now."
Sage frowned, shocked. "She was my best friend too."
"And we're literally about to have sex," NK said flatly. "It feels... very weird."
There was a long pause. Sage's eyes hardened. "Well, we're not having sex. You can go fuck yourself." She grabbed her shirt and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
"That's fine," NK muttered, pulling his shirt back on. Then he heard it—a subtle creak.
He turned toward the wardrobe.
"Who's there?" he asked, stepping forward slowly. Silence.
He moved closer.
"Hello?"
Stephen held her breath. A bead of sweat trickled down her back.
NK lingered for a moment. Then—suddenly—he pounded on the wardrobe.
Stephen stifled a laugh but couldn't help it. "Hey," she whispered.
She slowly turned the knob and peeked out. "Hi. Sorry."
NK's face was unreadable. "Were you watching us?"
"No. Um, I was in here... then you guys came in here... so I went in there." She gestured awkwardly at the wardrobe.
He stared, then smirked slightly. "I know what you were doing."
Stephen's stomach dropped. Was he about to blow up?
But then he added, "I'd hide from my party too if I could."
Stephen blinked. "Oh." She relaxed a little but still couldn't muster a smile.
"Come on," he said softly. "Let's cool off."
NK led her through a hallway that opened to a breezy terrace. From there, an infinity pool stretched toward the horizon, the orange sunset reflecting on its surface. Waves crashed distantly. Everything felt surreal.
He offered her a seat by the pool's edge. The water shimmered like molten gold.
"Okay," NK said after a pause. "Tell me something about you that no one knows."
Stephen hesitated. "Why would I do that?"
"Because I'm interesting," NK said with a cocky grin. "And you wanna impress me."
She raised an eyebrow. "You wanna know my deepest, darkest secrets?"
He nodded. "Yes."
Stephen considered for a moment. "Fine. But you go first."
NK looked out at the water, thoughtful. "I don't want any of this," he said quietly. "This school... this fake social scene. If I could, I'd blow it all up. Backpack through Europe with my camera."
He let the idea hang in the air.
"All this... it's performative," he said, turning to look at her.
Stephen studied his face, seeing more honesty in him than ever before. "And for what? So I can be the most popular guy in high school?" NK leaned back against the chair, exhaling slowly.
"Yikes," Stephen muttered, half-joking.
"Then what do you want to be?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"I don't know," NK admitted. "Which is probably the worst answer I could give."
She nodded, watching the sky darken. "Yeah, but it's true. You're right—we're all just performing."
They sat in silence, side by side, the orange glow of the sun bathing them both. For a moment, the world felt quiet—no drama, no secrets, no pretending. Just two people with masks beginning to slip.
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