Arthur's hands trembled as he fumbled with his keys, forcing the door open. His chest felt tight, his mind racing with panic. He had spent the entire cab trip home preparing what he was going to say to Nick, ready to explain everything—but the moment he came inside, a sickening emptiness fell in his gut.
The apartment was silent.
"Nick? Arthur called, stepping inside. He almost expected Nick to be sitting on the couch, arms crossed, waiting for an explanation. But the living room was vacant. No lights were on.
Arthur dumped his backpack at the entrance and went to the bedroom. The closet door was half open, and his breath froze in his throat when he noticed that some of Nick's clothes were missing.
"No…"
He wrenched the drawers open—Nick's basics were gone. His toothbrush, his charger, and even his favorite leather jacket that he never left behind.
Arthur staggered back, grasping the edge of the dresser for support.
Nick was gone.
A chilly rush of panic swept over him. He grabbed his phone with shaking hands and dialed Nick's number.
It went straight to voicemail.
Arthur's heartbeat raced in his ears as he tried again and again.
Nothing
His fingers sped over the screen as he dialed Pim. She picked up after a few rings, her voice weary from sleep.
"Arthur? What's wrong? "
"Pim," Arthur gasped. "Have you seen Nick? "
She paused. "No… isn't he with you? "
Arthur closed his eyes, inhaling forcefully. "No. He's gone. His stuff is missing. He's not answering his phone."
There was a pause. "Are you sure he's not just out for a walk? "
Arthur let out a weak laugh. "Pim, half his clothes are gone! He's not just on a walk."
Pim was silent for a moment, and then her voice softened. "Arthur… what happened?
Arthur gulped. He couldn't explain—not now. Not when he hardly comprehended it himself.
"I'll explain later," he murmured. "Just… if he calls you, please tell me."
"I will," she assured. "Just don't panic yet, okay?
But Arthur was already panicking.
He tried phoning Mai next, then Tyler, and then even Nick's parents.
No one had seen him. No one knew where he was.
Arthur sat on the couch, squeezing his phone so tightly his knuckles became white. His mind raced, attempting to make sense of it.
Had Nick abandoned him? Just like that? Without an opportunity to explain?
Arthur remembered their last discussion; his stomach twisted with remorse. Nick had been unhappy about Tyler. He had already been suspicious. And then those pictures—
Arthur pinched his eyes tight.
Had Nick honestly believed he had cheated? That he would betray him like that?
Tears stung his eyes.
Has he left me? Has he gone… without hearing my side of the story?
The thought made Arthur's chest ache.
What should I do now? What have I done?
That night, Arthur sat in the dark, his mind spiraling. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the photographs again, the fuzzy images of him with that guy, the betrayal in Nick's final message.
Arthur barely noticed when the sun began to rise.
By dawn, he had made up his mind.
He needed answers.
He needed to find the guy from the party.
He needed to know how those pictures came about.
Arthur grabbed his jacket and left the apartment, heading straight for the pub from last night. He hardly remembered the name, but he retraced his steps, wandering the streets until he located it.
The neon sign flashed softly in the daylight. The place was virtually empty now, only a few personnel cleaning up after the previous night.
Arthur walked directly to the bartender, his hands clenched. "Hey," he said, his voice husky. "I was here last night. Do you remember me? "
The bartender eyed him up and down. "Maybe we get a lot of people."
"I was with a guy," Arthur responded hastily, "tall, dark hair. We were drinking together. Do you know who he is? "
The bartender frowned. "Can't say I do."
Arthur's heart fell. "Are you sure? He was with me for most of the night."
The bartender shook his head. "I don't remember seeing him before. He's not a regular."
Arthur swallowed hard. "What about the receptionist? Maybe they saw him leave with me? "
The bartender sighed. "You can ask, but I doubt it."
Arthur ran to the front desk, but the receptionist just gave him a blank stare.
"I don't recognize him," she remarked after he described the individual.
Arthur's stomach twisted.
How could no one know him? It was like he had suddenly materialized out of nowhere.
He left the tavern, his mind whirling.
None of this made sense.
Who was the guy?
And why did it feel like someone had planned this?
Arthur strolled aimlessly through the streets, his head blurred with tiredness.
Nick was gone.
And now, he had no way of showing that he hadn't done anything illegal.
Tears pinched his eyes as he turned back toward home.
What was he expected to do now?