12

"Did you witness it?"

"How did that happen?"

"Doesn't he know Marcus' preferences?"

"Wasn't this the kind of outcome that was easy to predict? You're so dumb, Philip."

Ignoring the chatter around him, Philip decided to grab a can of beer from the fridge, not bothering to respond.

Julio, still laughing, eagerly continued his story to everyone in the room. "You all know what Marcus said when Philip asked him to be his heat partner?"

Everyone nodded in enthusiasm. Even Suga, who had just grumbled about the tendency of the men in this building to gossip, fell into hypocrisy and sharpened his ears to listen to Julio's explanation.

"Ew! He said "Ew!" Just one word, and it wasn't even really a word! Haha ... Marcus immediately made a disgusted face, oh fuck that was so funny, he said 'ew,' and there was no sentence after that—he just turned and walked off, leaving Philip standing there stunned. Haha. ...."