Qi’s eyes widen, and panic sets in as it registers that Kingston said he’s already approached Qiang. “Oh no.”
His eyes meet Tristan’s, and they both run out of the locker room, leaving their beef with Kingston behind as they search for Qiang.
I take a step in the direction they left, then turn back to Kingston. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but it’s not gonna fly here. We don’t tolerate misgendering. Qiang’s pronouns are they/them. Call them a he again, and I’ll rearrange your spine. And if you approach them, fuck with them, have anything whatsoever to do with them, I’ll rip your limp dick off and choke you with it,” I growl out before turning towards where Qi and Tristan left.
“Bad form to threaten your teammates,” Kingston growls out after me.
I don’t bother to turn around when I hear Gio’s voice behind me. “Bad form to buy your way on a team. Heed his advice or learn the hard way whose side the rest of us are on.”
I’ll have to thank him later, but for now, I need to help Tristan and Qi find Qiang and figure out what’s going on. I’m only hoping it’s not what I think it is, because if that’s the guy who caused Qiang’s trauma, then that fucker showing up here is the last thing Qiang needs.
A MOST UNWELCOME BLAST FROM THE PAST
Qiang’s POV
After googling whether Tibetan monks can wear makeup, I’ve decided it wasn’t as feasible an option as I’d originally hoped. And obviously, given the way I practicallymeltedat Marcus’s feet this morning, I feel it’s safe to assume gaslighting him into believing last night never happened is just as infeasible, which leaves no other option but to be an adult. How sad is it that I’m the ‘adult’ of the group and in no way enjoy having toactuallyact like one right now?
My phone buzzes, and I click open to see a text from Marcus waiting. I should be paying attention to the professor teaching the class I’m in right now, but my brain is everywhere except on a lecture that’s going over a topic I’ve already thoroughly covered in a previous class.
Option 1 or 2?
And nope!I’m definitely not falling for whatever trap is behind that cryptic text. My fingers fly across my phone to let him know I won’t be responding to that nonsense.
You seem to be under the misassumption that there’s any level of trust between us that would have me playing this game or answering this question without more context.
I’m fully aware that ‘sensible Qiang’ would respond this way. I was just hoping ‘completely under the spell of my stellar presence from this morning, Qiang’ was still dazed enough to answer without thinking.
This smug fucker.
Once again, you are suffering from delusions of grandeur.
Am I? Pretty sure the tone of your voice moaning my name last night, the way your pretty eyes expanded this morning, and the big ass smile that I know you’re trying to hide right now, tells a different story.
My heart races against my ribcage for a moment before remembering that he’s not in this classroom. I know for a fact that he’s not, but the text still has me halfway turning in my chair for a second to scan as many of the students as I can catch in my peripherals before remembering that. Not that I was actually smiling anyway; my face was just grimacing to hold back a yawn.
Are you a stalker now?
Nope, but your answer just told me I’m not wrong about that pretty smile.
Monks don’t wear makeup. Monks don’t wear makeup. Monks don’t wear makeup. Deep breath, Qiang.
I am in the middle of a highly riveting lecture right now, so if you don’t mind…
The way you are completely ignoring the smile I just trapped you into admitting adorning your pretty face, along with the speed of your responses, tell me that either a) your lecture is uninteresting in every way and you’re just avoiding the topic of conversation between us or b) your lecture is as riveting as you say it is, and yet, I’m even more riveting, and you are just, once again, trying to avoid the topic of conversation.
Fucker thinks he’s so damn smart. We’ll just see who responds quickly now.I set my phone back down on the table and leave him on read. It doesn’t even take five minutes for my phone to vibrate again.
So, option 1 or 2?
Pretty sure I already answered that I would in no way be answering this question without a shred of context.
Your brother will be messaging you soon with a dinner invite for tonight, so option 1 is to accept and we all go out together, or option 2 is to decline and you go with me. Just the two of us.
And if I decline both options?
There wasn’t an option to do so.
How the hell does he do that? Absolutely shameless, whether he’s flirting playfully or flirting seriously, either way, he never misses a fucking beat. It’s disorienting as fuck.
