The Snare of Symmetry C8

Chapter 8

Strangely enough, Elliott’s words left Bernard with a faint sense of unease. Shaking off the feeling soaking into his chest, Bernard asked carefully,

“Do you like him, Elliott?”

“I like him. And he said he likes me too.”

Elliott blinked his delicate lashes a few times, deepening the shadow beneath them. His green eyes looked sweet as honey. As he tightened his arms around Bernard in excitement, Bernard forced a small smile.

“Okay. Introduce him to me. I’ll wait.”

“You’re really—really—going to like him.”

“That much? …You’re making me nervous instead.”

“I can guarantee it. We can even make a bet.”

Not wanting to interrupt his excited voice, Bernard nodded. Whenever something good happened, Elliott always wanted to brag to Bernard. Bernard, on the other hand, rarely had anything to brag about.

“If I win the bet, help me critique Mr. Damon’s work next time.”

“I’ll help you anyway, so don’t worry. Just go upstairs and sleep.”

“Really? Thanks, Bernard. Good night… I’m sleepy too.”

Something kept gnawing at Bernard’s insides. Unable to dispel the strange anxiety, he could only smile uselessly.

“Hey, Elliott.”

“Hm?”

“…There’s something I need to confess.”

“Can it wait? I’m kind of sleepy right now.”

At Elliott’s innocent-looking face, Bernard pressed his lips together. Elliott waved cheerfully.

“Good night.”

With that soft whisper, the door closed. Bernard stared at the closed door as a long sigh escaped him.

He bit his lip, recalling what he’d been about to say.

Was he supposed to confess that he’d impersonated his brother—and slept with someone he barely knew? And ask Elliott to tell him if anyone ever brought that up?

Rubens’s face kept surfacing in his mind. Bernard tried to sleep, but a sudden wave of dread made his hair stand on end. He clenched the blanket tightly.

Bernard had always admired bright things—the warmth of the sunlit world, not the shadows. People were drawn to what they lacked, weren’t they? He’d known the endings would be terrible, yet still.

The people he liked always ended up liking Elliott.

Maybe that was only natural.

Why did an emotion he thought would pass so easily keep stirring him up like this? Bernard turned restlessly, trying to erase Rubens’s face from his thoughts. The weekend was coming. Elliott would likely introduce his partner then—so Bernard would have to cancel his plans with Rhyno in advance.

Bernard’s life revolved around Elliott.

If the frail Elliott so much as caught a chill, his face would flush red—and every time, people came looking for Bernard.

When life is forced into shape by others, the first thing you learn is how to give up. Bernard learned how not to desire, and he learned patience over a very long time.

“Hello?”

The sudden ringing made him answer reflexively. Rhyno’s voice poured out noisily from the other end.

— I know you canceled today, but can’t you reconsider? Seriously?

“I can’t. Elliott asked me to have dinner with him.”

— Can’t that guy even eat by himself?

“You know that’s not what it’s about.”

Bernard’s voice softened instinctively, coaxing. A heavy sigh came through the phone.

— When is Elliott going to graduate from you?

“But if Elliott’s with me, doesn’t that give you more chances to see him?”

At Bernard’s joking reply, Rhyno let out a few suppressed, unintelligible groans, then changed the subject as if giving up.

— Next time… you have to keep the appointment. Got it?

“Yeah. I promise.”

— Fine. Rest well…

His voice sounded drained. Bernard considered saying that he’d bring Elliott along next time—but in the end, he said nothing and quietly ended the call.

Now, he even felt sorry that he’d never once arranged a meeting between Rhyno and Elliott, despite knowing about Rhyno’s unrequited love. Elliott was already in love with someone else—maybe Bernard should’ve built that bridge sooner.

Rhyno had been a campus celebrity. His peak popularity came after joining the rugby club—he’d even been publicly pursued by a popular cheerleader. With his solid athletic build and a sharp, almost irritable look, nearly every girl who fell for him had tried to strike up a conversation.

Thinking back, it was strange—almost silly—how Bernard had ended up friends with someone like that.

“You’re twins with Elliott Whale, right?”

They’d been in the school library. Rhyno had suddenly approached, pulled the person sitting next to Bernard away, plopped down, and asked loudly without preamble. Too startled to even scold his rudeness, Bernard had stayed silent.

“Mind if we at least say hi? I’m curious about something.”

As usual, Bernard assumed Rhyno wanted to get close to Elliott through him. And indeed, after that library encounter, Rhyno made no effort to hide his curiosity about Elliott. Bernard usually refused, saying there were things he couldn’t tell.

Most people would’ve scoffed—calling Bernard an eerie nobody who acted too important—and walked away.

But Rhyno stayed.

He stuck close to the unsociable Bernard. They shared several classes, talked about assignments, and Bernard even accepted his help a few times. Rhyno followed him to the boring library to study, and on days Elliott was absent, dragged Bernard out to eat together.

That was probably when their relationship—if you could call it friendship—formed.

From the outside, they didn’t look like they belonged together, but Rhyno never denied it. When someone teased them, asking what they were, Rhyno would casually sling an arm over Bernard’s shoulder and say they were friends.

It was Bernard who stayed silent.

Thinking back, that was also when Rhyno stopped bringing up Elliott.

“…I really can’t tell.”

Bernard straightened his clothes and checked his reflection. He needed to leave a good impression on the person Elliott was introducing. But his outfit looked painfully shabby.

He never thought he’d regret being stingy with clothes.

Standing next to Elliott, the difference would be obvious—but there was nothing he could do.

“You’re really—really—going to like him.”

Rubens flashed through his mind again. There’d been no contact since. Only unresolved emotions, left in a messy pile.

After fussing with his hair in the mirror several times, Bernard gave up on dressing up and left the house. Looking neat would be enough. After all, he was just being introduced to someone else’s partner.

“Where are we going?”

“No need to go anywhere. He said he’d drive here.”

“Drive? You have a car too.”

“I think he worries just seeing me walk.”

Elliott smiled sheepishly. As always, he was impeccably dressed. Their parents never spared affection on Elliott—and they liked to show it off. Watching how smoothly Elliott’s new summer shirt fit, Bernard glanced down at his own clothes.

As expected—the contrast was stark.

“Did you dress up because you’re introducing your lover today?”

“I tried not to look like a nerd, but the glasses ruin it.”

“I told you to take them off.”

“It’s hard. I’m used to them now.”

“They don’t even have lenses.”

At Elliott’s incredulous response, Bernard quietly averted his gaze. Elliott could never understand wearing glasses simply because eye contact was uncomfortable.

Elliott’s small complaints continued, Bernard soothing him out of habit. Not long after, a car glided to a stop in front of the house.

“Elliott?”

A sharp ringing filled Bernard’s ears. He stared ahead blankly.

Elliott ran over and hugged the man who stepped out of the driver’s seat. The man lifted Elliott effortlessly and spun him around, not even frowning with effort. Elliott clung to him, looking endlessly delighted.

A light kiss to the cheek. Casual skinship without hesitation. Then greetings.

Watching the insulated world the two of them shared, Bernard absently touched the rim of his ear.

It was strange.

The ringing wouldn’t stop.

Elliott grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him toward Bernard. The man studied Bernard, then smiled warmly and extended his hand. Bernard stared at it blankly, startled, before hurriedly taking it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Whale.”

“N-no, likewise.”

His voice shook miserably. His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose. He wanted to scratch his ear with his other hand, but instead shoved it into his pocket and forced his lips into a smile.

He couldn’t tell whether he was smiling properly.

“Allow me to introduce myself.”

At those words, his heart leapt violently. Seeing Bernard’s excessive reaction, Elliott smiled mischievously, as if he’d known all along. He must’ve kept his partner’s identity secret on purpose—hoping for exactly this kind of surprise.

And it truly was…

A perfect success.

“My name is Rubens Hurt.”

That day, the man Bernard had slept with greeting him as his brother’s lover—

was nothing short of a magnificent nightmare.