God, when will this fucking end? The redhead thinks silently, desiring to straight-up just tell everyone to go fuck themselves and leave this ocean of petty commentary— too bad his mom would kill him if he ever tried to do that.

Kyle has never craved death more than at his little brother's annual birthday party.

The problem isn't the party as a concept, not even the people that are invited, he honestly can't care less about them, especially since he spends most of the party just eating the worst low on sugar cupcakes he has ever tasted— what bothers him is their dumbass, pettiness-filled comments.

"Oh, you are Kyle? Ike's older brother...? Are you sure, though— he's such a cute kid..." Some old guy spits out, trying and failing to be subtle about his disappointment.

Meanwhile, a rather younger woman, who seems to be that man's partner, lets out the most stupid sentence ever, completely shameless. "Oww, how come you've got no freckles? You would look so much better with them!"

For fuck's sake, how dumb can people be?

This happens every year. Usually, people are more subtle, while others are just as guiltless as that last one. Either way, Kyle always gets wrecked by both in equal parts.

What is their problem? Don't they realize how disrespectful they're being right now? Something he often asks himself every time this happens, which just seems to happen even more as he starts getting older.

As he glances over towards Ike's Terrance and Phillip themed, birthday cake, with the two blue number-shaped candles that showcase his little brother's current age on top, Kyle just can't help but to feel so old.

Because yes, he is only eighteen, barely an adult, but next to Ike? Who's basically him, but prettier and younger? He's fucked.

And as people come and go besides Kyle, comparing him with his younger brother constantly in every way possible, he just grows even more upset and insecure.

The party began around half an hour ago. Why did his parents have to take his phone away again for the day? So he socializes? Yeah, not a chance.

Letting out a frustrated sigh as soon as the last couple walks away— after leaving their gift for Ike on the longest table there, which sadly is next to where he's currently sitting— Kyle doesn't expect anyone else to approach him so soon, immediately getting proved wrong as a dude, a really cute one at that, does walk towards him.

Fuck... Kyle panics, surprisingly a lot, as he attempts to fix his ushanka, so his hair isn't that visible. Too bad the next guest has already arrived to his table.

Kyle almost chokes with the air as he locks eyes with the most breathtaking gaze he has ever come across and— alright, his gay is showing, he needs to stop being such a desperate loser. Plus, this guy is way more attractive than him, Kyle would never stand a chance— or at least that's what he's thinking.

After all, why would someone so appealing even want to talk with someone, well, like Kyle? The guy's parents are surely forcing him to come to the party with them, with him only agreeing to approach Kyle as long as he doesn't need to stay for too long.

Yeah, that's definitely what's happening, definitely not just Kyle's low self-esteem haunting his every thought.