Chapter 5: The Revelation

Shin woke up with a pounding headache and a mouth that tasted like cotton. He groaned, burying his face in his pillow. Vague memories of the previous night flickered through his mind – the party, the alcohol, the phone call to Xander. He cringed, his cheeks burning with shame. What had he done?

He sat up, his head swimming. He was in his own bed, his room thankfully tidy. How did he get here? He vaguely remembered someone helping him into a car, but the details were hazy.

A knock on the door startled him. Xander walked in, a tray with a glass of water and some aspirin in hand. He looked worried, his brow furrowed, his eyes shadowed.

"Hey," Xander said softly, setting the tray on the nightstand. "How are you feeling?"

"Like death warmed over," Shin croaked, his voice raspy. He reached for the water, gulping it down gratefully.

Xander sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on Shin. "You really scared me last night, Shin. What were you thinking, getting that drunk?"

Shin winced. "I wasn't thinking," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I just... I needed to forget."

"Forget what?" Xander asked gently.

Shin hesitated, his gaze dropping to his hands. "Forget about... you know."

Xander's expression softened. "You mean... about me being gay?"

Shin nodded, his cheeks burning. "I overheard you and Ethan talking the other day," he confessed, his voice barely audible. "At the water fountain."

Xander's eyes widened in surprise. "You did? I... I didn't realize."

"Yeah," Shin said, meeting Xander's gaze. "I know you're... you know... with someone."

Xander's cheeks flushed. "I... I am."

"And I just... I don't know. It messed with me," Shin admitted, his voice cracking. "I guess I was jealous. Not because you're gay, but because you didn't tell me. Because you confided in Ethan before you confided in me."

Xander reached out, his hand gently resting on Shin's arm. "Shin, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just... scared. I didn't know how you'd react."

"I know," Shin said, his voice softening. "It's okay. I understand."

He looked at Xander, really looked at him. He saw the worry in his eyes, the genuine concern in his expression. He saw the love, the deep, abiding love that had always been there, even if Shin hadn't recognized it for what it was.

"So," Shin said, his voice barely a whisper, "who is he? The guy you're seeing?"

Xander hesitated, his gaze flickering away. "I... I can't tell you that, Shin. Not yet."

Shin's heart sank. He knew he shouldn't push, but he couldn't help himself. "Why not?"

"Because it's complicated," Xander said, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Please, Shin. Just trust me."

Shin looked at Xander, his heart aching. He wanted to demand answers, to force Xander to tell him everything. But he saw the fear in Xander's eyes, the vulnerability that he so rarely showed. He couldn't do that to him. Not now. Not when Xander was finally opening up to him, even if it was just a crack.

"Okay," Shin said softly, his voice barely a whisper. "I trust you."

He reached out, his hand covering Xander's. Their fingers intertwined, a silent promise of understanding, a fragile bridge across the chasm that had opened between them. For now, it was enough. For now, Shin would wait. He would be patient. He would let Xander come to him in his own time. But deep down, a dark seed of doubt had been planted. A seed that would grow, slowly but surely, threatening to consume him.

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