6 Chapter 6- Some Secrets are Hard to Keep (2/2)

”Oh.” Mei's face felt as though it would burst in to flames- was he coming down with something due to over work? Shifting his weight from side to side, he decided that discretion was the better part of valour and headed off, ignoring both the poster and the question on KO's face. He didn't get very far before a large hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a small alley, out of the crowds and the lights.

”It was you.”

In the dark of the alley, KO seemed to double in size and Mei took a step back even as he told his imagination to calm down. This is what happens when you step into the dark with someone wearing all black; it feels like they're suddenly so much bigger than you, and too close, and was KO actually coming closer? Mei took another step back and felt the cool rasp of brickwork press against his shirt. Putting his hands up in an instinctive gesture, he checked himself and dropped them back to his side; cursing himself for acting girly.

If in doubt, go with bravado, he told himself.

”Yeah. It was. If you're born with a talent then it would be stupid to let it go to waste.” Light from the busy shopping street shone faintly enough that he could see the confusion in KO's eyes.

”Why?”

”Why not?”

KO reached a hand up but froze with his fingers barely hovering over Mei's jaw line. ”You don't like this face. It frustrates you when people can't see past it. Why would you put it forward like that?”

Breath catching in his throat, Mei froze even as his heart raced. He hadn't thought KO would see through it so quickly. ”Money.”

”Why?”

”I needed it.”

”Why?”

”I just...” Looking up at the implacable face so close to his own, Mei sighed. ”I needed it to fuel my hobby. I like to....well, my father calls it gambling.”

”You don't gamble. You're not that careless.”

Mei smiled. ”Thank you. And you're right. I don't gamble but my father doesn't see much difference between horse racing and playing the stock market. He refused to let me access my savings, moved it to his account 'for my own good' and only releases enough for me to buy food each week. You know you need a decent amount to invest if you ever want to make a profit.”

He was shocked when KO's lips actually twitched in the hint of a smile.

”So you, what? Signed a modelling contract for the start up funds?” Was that... admiration Mei could hear in KO's voice?

”Uhuh. I was approached on my first day on campus and worked my way through my degree. Invested as I went along. The place I just moved into? I sold all my stock when I graduated; I'd already proved I could do it and going to work at Zhi Yi Technologies was going to take up all my time and mental capacity. So I bought a place.” Confessing was nerve-wracking and Mei wasn't entirely sure why. It wasn't like he'd done anything wrong... he just had kept quiet about some things.

With a sigh, KO pivoted to lean against the wall next to Mei. It sounded like he muttered under his breath something about needing to get used to eating soft rice, but that didn't make sense to Mei so he shrugged it off. At least he wasn't mad. (A/N: eating soft rice= financially relying on your wife... Mei really should have paid attention. But that's okay; KO will remind him later.)

After what felt like hours, but was really only a minute or two, KO pushed off from the wall and held a hand out to Mei. ”We still have shopping to do.”

Automatically putting his hand in KO's, Mei let him lead the way back out on to the busy street, where they both felt a sudden desire to put their hands in their pockets and look anywhere but at each other. The lights of a clothing shop caught Mei's attention and he grabbed at the distraction they offered, pushing KO inside and calling for the shop assistant to find ”Bright shirts for the gentleman! The brighter the better!”

A glowering KO held out until the girl had passed from hearing before muttering ”You buy anything in neon and I can't promise my lips will stay sealed.”

Mei checked his face, saw the truth etched across his features and abruptly changed his mind about tormenting his friend. Trying to coax KO into colour was obviously as productive as playing a lute to a cow. Better to save his breath and remain friends for another day.