failing VoIP tech. Torré’s lips weren’t synched with his voice, like a bad kung fu movie, and his voice crackled and reverberated on the speakers. Bad connection.
“Miss you.”
Torré’s brooding face softened. “Miss you, too.”
Fung’s heart leaped in his chest. The face in the monitor was beyond handsome—beautiful, really. He’d forgotten how much he missed Torré. Sunlight dappled the palm trees in the open sliding glass door behind his lover as the crashing ocean waves washed through the scratchy speakers.
“Thailand looks gorgeous.”
Torré sighed. “Yes, I suppose it does.”
“That terrible, eh?” Fung chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
“How’s the city?”
“Same. Busy, crowded, cold. More shit and needles on the streets than ever.” Fung quickly added, “Can’t wait to come visit you.”
“Yeah, that would be great.” Torré shifted in his chair, adjusting his sheer linen robe.
Clearly, it wasn’t.
“Something wrong?”
“Some friends are leaving for a week’s vacation to Tokyo tomorrow.”
Fung frowned with concern. “They’ll be back before you know it.”
“I know. It just gets so boring around here sometimes. I hate to miss out on the fun.”
“It can’t be that expensive to go.”
“I’ve already spent this month’s allowance.”
“Oh, wow.”
“But no worries. I know how it is. You’ve already done so much.”
That’s putting it mildly, Fung thought.
The cost of Torré’s gender transition kept escalating. The hormone therapy was expensive, and the anticipated surgery even more so. Thailand performed more gender reassignment surgeries than any other country in the world, followed by, of all places, Iran, which viewed homosexuality as a Quranic evil. But rather than punish gay people, the Revolution gave them the “opportunity” to change genders rather than suffer prison sentences.
Given the choice between Thailand and Iran, Torré chose the Southeast Asian paradise. Both countries were cheaper alternatives to anything offered in the United States, where medical procedures alone added up to six figures. Unfortunately, Fung wasn’t saving any money, because the lifestyle Torré insisted on maintaining in Thailand was more expensive than the medical bills themselves.
“You still have the credit card, right? Just use that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. What’s the point of denying yourself a little fun?”
“I hated to ask, but thank you. You’re just the best.” Torré smiled shyly. It was quite charming. The hormone therapy was really taking effect now. He was completely androgynous at this point. Fung could only imagine the beautiful butterfly that would emerge from that delicious caramel cocoon over the next several months.
With the ice between them finally thawed, Fung hoped the conversation might turn more interesting—even if only virtually. Fung’s heart raced with anticipation. But before he could open his mouth, an encrypted text notice slid onto his monitor.
Now what?
“Hey, babe,” Fung said, staring at his phone screen. “I gotta run. Something’s come up. Maybe we can talk again tomorrow.”
“I’ll call you from Tokyo—”
But Fung had already hung up and was pulling up the text.
13
WHY NOT? CHIBI asked in the dialogue box.
Fung’s cursor flashed on his screen. What could he say? The truth, he supposed.
“I’m afraid.”
OF WHAT?
“I know I’m being watched.”
SHE WATCHES EVERYBODY.
“You know what I mean. She’s been acting very suspicious. Double-checking my logs.”
I UNDERSTAND. I WOULD NEVER WANT YOU TO DO ANYTHING THAT PUTS YOU AT UNNECESSARY RISK.
Fung sighed, relieved. He’d hoped the nature of this relationship would have changed over time. He didn’t want it to end, though. It was too wrong not to be enjoyed.
“Thank you for understanding. Maybe next time,” he typed.
SADLY THERE WILL NOT BE A NEXT TIME. I NEED SOMEONE I CAN COUNT ON WHEN IT MATTERS MOST TO ME.
Fung’s stomach roiled with anxiety. He was losing CHIBI. His thumb tore across the virtual keyboard on his phone.
“NOBODY can give you what I have.”
BUT YOU WON’T GIVE IT TO ME ANYWAY. SO WHAT DOES IT MATTER?
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t. I just said I couldn’t. Not now.”
WHY? BECAUSE SHE IS WATCHING YOU? YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW IF SHE IS. YOU MAY NEVER FEEL SAFE. YOU MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO HELP ME AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN. BUT I CANNOT WAIT AROUND.
“Please don’t play games with me. I hate that shit.”
I AM NOT PLAYING GAMES WITH YOU. I AM YOUR FRIEND. BUT I HAVE OBLIGATIONS TO MEET. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HELP ME THAT IS FINE. WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS. BUT YOU DO NOT WANT ME TO GET IN TROUBLE DO YOU?
“What kind of trouble?”
NOW WHO IS THE ONE PLAYING GAMES?
Fung cursed himself. He really was playing games. He knew there was a lot at stake. Had to be, with all of the money that had