Chapter 10: Your right we're all just performing.
As Stephen picked the tablet, to her surprise, no password. She taped the screen, which led to NK's chart. As she saw the person he was messaging, she almost dropped the tablet in shock.
"Oh my God, he's hooking up with the Instagram witch," Stephen said in shock, still looking at the photo and charts.
Then Stephen pulled out her phone to snap the charts, but she heard laughter. She quickly ran into the bedroom by her right, dropping the tab back on the table, then hid behind the wardrobe.
NK and Sage walked into the room kissing. NK held Sage by her waist, and she held him by his neck. The kiss was very deep, filled with so much passion. He gently began to open her bikini top.
Meanwhile, Stephen was there, trying not to make any noise. She tried closing her eyes, but that didn't work.
Sage lay on the bed, signaling NK to come. He removed his shirt joyfully, then he jumped on her. She chuckled, then he kissed her slowly, gently, using his hands to touch her stomach to her neck, then he kissed her waist gently.
Sage moaned gently as she used her hand to rub his back gently.
"So do you think it's weird that we're having this party without her?" Sage murmured as NK kissed her neck gently.
"Who?" he breathed into her ear.
Sage sighed gently. "Hannah. What do you mean, 'who'?" Sage said, still being composed.
Then he placed a kiss on her forehead and began to kiss her again. Sage gently touched his chest. "Hey. NK, can we talk about it, please?"
Then NK released his grip and sat up on the bed. Sage looked at him. "It just feels weird, you know?"
NK looked at her, still trying to calm himself so he would not shout.
NK sighed as he looked at her. "To me, it just feels weird that you're talking about my ex right now."
Sage looked at him, astonished. "She was my best friend too."
NK sighed. "But we're about to have sex, and you're talking about Hannah. It feels... very weird."
Sage looked at him, still shocked and trying to comprehend. "Well, we're not having sex. You can go fuck yourself." Then she stood up and left the room, closing the door with anger.
"That's fine," NK said. He stood up, hearing noises. "Whose that?" he said as he turned. He walked forward, standing close to the wardrobe that Stephen was hiding behind.
"Hello?" NK said, waiting to hear any noise, but he didn't, so he walked away. Stephen sighed in relief.
"Stephen." He came back and hit the wardrobe. Stephen could not help but laugh. "Hey," Stephen said so confidently. She gently held the knob of the wardrobe, showing her face alone.
She came out gently. "Hi, sorry," she whispered.
NK's expression turned serious. "Were you watching us?"
"No. Um, I was in here, and you guys came in here, so I went in there," she said, slightly pointing at the wardrobe.
NK looked at her. "I know what you were doing." It was like a piano dropped on Stephen's heart because it was pounding.
"I'd hide from my party too if I could," NK said, smiling at her in an understanding way. She looked at him surprisingly.
"It's alright," Stephen said. This time she couldn't manage a smile.
"Come on. Let's cool off," NK said as he held her hand gently, then he dragged her hand slowly.
NK took her to his corridor. It was quite big; you could see an island from there, and there was also a pool. He offered her a seat in front of the pool.
As they sat down, looking at the pool, NK turned to Stephen. "Okay, tell me something about you that no one knows."
Stephen turned to him. "Why would I do that?"
"Because... I'm interesting," NK answered in a knowing tone, "And because you wanna impress me."
Stephen sat up, looking at him. "You wanna know my deepest, darkest secrets?"
NK said as he looked at Stephen.
Stephen nodded in agreement. "Yes," she replied.
NK turned back to the pool, looking at it like it had answers to his deepest secrets. "I don't want any of this," he said, looking at Stephen. "I would love to backpack through Europe with my camera."
NK smiled gently. "Just blow up my whole life, I would. 'Cause all this shit... is performative." NK turned to Stephen, who was just looking at him quietly.
"And for what? So I can be the most popular guy in high school?" NK said as he relaxed his head on the chair.
"Yikes," Stephen grunted. She then looked at him curiously. "Then what do you want to be?"
NK sighed. "I don't know, which is about the worst answer I could give."
Stephen looked at him. "Yeah, but it's true. You're right, we're all just performing." They smiled as they looked at the beautiful sunset; the sky turned orange.