Kai
Since the weird day that gave me chills every now and then, everything seems to be normal. I tried to not think much about the fact that I could be in trouble and just live life to the fullest. I was growing old anyway, might as well don't give a fuck towards any negativity that comes my way. That said, it has been a week that I pay no mind about it and truth to be told, I was doing great.
Now that Charlie knows about the whole relationship with Stan, it was easier for me to talk about it with both of him and Liara. It felt like another weight had been lifted from my slim shoulder that couldn't hold a ton more. Albeit, if I could, I would be feeling rather annoyed instead with all the burden.
Charlie himself was acting supportive of both of us. After knowing, he couldn't see Stan the same way again. Not in a bad way, I mean. Usually, Charlie would treat Stan like a gamer partner, one which they would just play games with each other. But after what happened, both of them had gotten closer somehow. Charlie was trying very hard to get closer with him, I can see that. He said to me that if I was dating anyone, he must know everything about them, doesn't matter if they're a boy or a girl. What matters to him, he said was that they were capable of making me happy.
It sort of made me feel that I had an older brother. He acts like those kinds of friends that would do anything to make sure that I was feeling my best when I was in a relationship. Liara, on the other hand, she was loving the whole sight of us being together especially now that we sit together for lunch. Speaking of sitting together, she has been acting kind of strange lately and I think it's because of Felix. Whenever he comes sitting with us, he would choose to sit next to her rather than next to his best friend. I have not had the ability to smell something off or fishy but I could smell the tension those two. Stan, himself said that he felt it too.
Must've been that ability one gets when they're in a relationship, who knows?
Breaking my thoughts away to reality, I look at myself in front of the mirror. My hands went on to run through the fabric that I was wearing, making sure it wasn't too wrinkled. It was a Friday after school and I have a date. I treat it as a reward for me being positive throughout the week. Even when it's hard, all I did was look at Stan's face for reassurance. He comforted me a lot more and that comes from someone who admits to me that he was scared of the whole consequences that come from this relationship. He was so brave. I could see that he was worried as well but that just kept making him stronger. All of these thoughts of coming out just made me fuelled with anxiety.
When I went to take a jacket from the closet, my phone buzzes. Looking at the wall clock, I thought to myself that Stan was earlier than usual but it could be that he had other plans as well?
Taking the phone from my bed, I scroll through the notifications and went right in to read his message.
"Can't go tonight, had some jobs to do. Sorry. Love u xoxo"
Plopping down onto the soft mattress, I let out a small sigh. He never told me that he had work today. He said that he would start working his part-time job next week. Maybe he forgot that he had work. Yeah... I need to be positive. I should understand that he was busy. A relationship needs understanding.
Nodding to myself, I type a reply back to him.
"It's okay, maybe tomorrow? Be careful at work"
After 30 minutes, I got no reply back from him. He always replies. What happened? My mind was starting to think something bad but my heart forces it to just shut up. It could be that he was extremely busy that he had no time to respond.
I didn't change back to my usual clothes. I had no energy to do so. For an hour and a half, I have been preparing myself for a wonderful evening with someone that I love and with just one text, it made me feel as if all of that time just go to waste. I could even go and watch a movie by myself if I wanted to.
Was I angry? No. But was I disappointed? Yes.
He could have had given me a longer text or even replied to me to make it up. This... this was just not what I expect from him.
"Ugh," I grunted, laying down on my bed with my eyes closed.
Slowly, I breathe in and out. "It's nothing Kai, he's just busy with his damn work. Maybe there's a reason why you can't go out today,"
Opening my eyes, I look over to the desk to see a picture of my parents and I. Both mom and dad were off from work today, Dad wasn't even going for another work trip till next month. I should spend my time with them.
I make my way out of my room and went down to see my parents. When I got down, I could see them laughing with each other while watching a series on the television. It was awkward for me to intrude their time together but when else could I spend my time with them? Even when all of my life is being planned by them, that doesn't make me have any excuses to isolate myself from them.
"Hey mom... hey dad," I spoke, sitting down onto the single couch.
Both of them look at me with a smile. "Hey, son. Why you look good today? Going anywhere?" Dad asked.
"I was about to go to the movies-,"
"Yeah? Do you have enough money? Here, take some. Your mom and I aren't going anywhere today so...," He pauses, scrummaging through his pockets to take out a few dollars bills
"Dad. Stop...," He turns back to me, raising his brows. Mom even looked at me confused.
"My bo-... I'm not going. My friend got some work to do," I mumbled, slumping down on the couch with a sigh.
Mom then sits straight up, her hand went up to touch my knee. "Oh, honey... don't be sad. I'm sure your friend will make it up for you. Cheer up, means you can spend time with us," Yeah mom, I thought so too.
Abruptly, Dad stands up from the couch then goes upstairs hurriedly. I was now the one being confused to what was going on. Mom even looked behind her to see what her husband is up to then she turns to me with a face that said 'Are you two up to something?' and I immediately raise both of my hands. "Don't look at me like that! I'm innocent,"
About a minute, Dad's face was seen again and now he was wearing... wow he wore something that was not work clothes. Just casual outfits that just says 'outgoing'.
"Come on, June. Dress up, our son needs us," He beamed, showing pearly white teeth.
My lips twitched into a small smile. "We're going out?"
"Ooh... let me dress up first," Mom replied, stepping over the couch and went upstairs too to get dressed. Dad turns to me with a smile on his face. "I don't like seeing you look like someone whose just got turn down by someone stupid. Now come on, get inside the car while we wait for your mother," His words soothes me a little, calling Stan stupid was just enough to make me feel a little bit okay. I nodded at him and walk outside to get inside the car.
I like this kind of aura that my parents had, it wasn't the same as before. Before, they used to turn me down if I ever want to go outside with them, especially Dad. Mom was the only option for me to hang out with family but that would just get me to the same store over and over again. This time... it felt different. To think that an alien just replace my parents with a cool one was... far dramatic but I'll take it any day.
-
"Here's another one, you know what the loudest pet that you can get? Trum-pet," Dad cackles, giving yet the tenth dad jokes that my ears had heard. Mom laughed as well at his antics, I don't know what was funny about it.
I was sitting at the middle of the backseat, with my head peeking at both of them. "That's not funny, dad,"
"Aw, come on. My jokes are all funny,"
My eyes squinted at his claims, feeling very unbelievable that this was my dad.
The ride home continued for almost half an hour and I had something in mind. I was going to ask my parents about... what they think of boys who likes boys. Since they look approachable now, I thought that maybe this would be a right time to come out? Or just maybe confirmed myself that my parents are okay with gays or not. That should be enough.
"Dad... Mom... I have something to ask,"
Dad looked at me through the rearview mirror, a smile still evident on his face. "Yeah sure, what it's about kid?"
I took a deep breath. I was indeed nervous, like my heart was beating at a faster rate than me just running around in circles during PE class. "I wanna know what you guys think about... well if a boy likes... another boy... or a girl likes another girl or... yeah...,"
Both of them look at each other, making the atmosphere much awkward than before. I could see the look on their faces. It wasn't anger or disappointment, it was more of concern of something or accepting?
Mom was the one who spoke first. "Well... for me, I'm okay with both. To be honest, I have a friend who is gay. There's nothing wrong about it although not a lot of people agree with it. But trust me, I'm fine with it. In the end, we're just all the same human beings," Coming from her, I felt as if another weight has been taken off from my shoulders. My heart didn't feel so heavy now.
Looking at my dad, I waited for his response. He seems reluctant to say anything but I knew he had something to say about it. I look down to my knee, having a feeling that he would say something bad.
But then I heard him mumbled "Fuck it. Of course, I'm okay with it, son. Yes, I know what you're thinking but that was a long time ago. Time changes and I don't have the power to oppose to everything. Whatever it is, it's their orientation, not mine. I love your mother too well," Mom nudges Dad's shoulder, chuckling at his remarks.
My eyes stare at them with disbelief. "Are you serious? You're okay with it?"
Both of them chuckle at each other. "Hell yeah! Don't worry kiddo, we have open our hearts and mind to be more supportive. If you have any friends that is gay, don't worry. Your mom and I aren't gonna eat them...-,"
"Unless...," Mom continues, both smirking weirdly at each other.
"Mom! Dad! That's gross!!"
Both of them laughed at each other with me trying to shut my ears from hearing anything else. In all of that nonsense, I feel much lighter. I smile to myself. If I could scream inside this car without getting scold for being crazy than I would. It was just so uplifting, seriously. I couldn't ask for anything better.
I guess I can decide my future by myself.
Taking out my phone, I wanted to text Stan about it but that intention was soon put to a halt when I see that he still hasn't reply to my message before. It was now eight at night, why was he not replying anything yet?
I went to text Felix instead, feeling that he might know what Stan was up to. I feel worried, that's all. Opening Felix's chat, I started typing. If you're wondering, I got his number since we sat together during lunch now.
"Hey Felix, have Stan texted you after work today?"
I waited for a bit for a reply. The only thing in my mind was that if Stan was okay or not. It was rather weird for him to be inactive in chats.
About a minute pass and I got my reply from Felix.
"What do you mean Stan's working? He was with me all day today,"
My body frozed. He lied to me? Then another message came from Felix.
"Wait... did he not tell you? Kai?"
I push my phone aside, turning it off. He lied to me... but why? I look out to the mirror, finding way to calm myself. Even when I couldn't see it, I can feel that my facial expression was showing multiple of emotions that it all just changes in seconds.
My mom caught up to this, her hand reaching out to touch me. "Honey? Are you okay?" That was when the tear fell. I could be so sensitive sometimes but it wasn't my fault that I was.
I brush away the tear, pretending that it just a flu. "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just cold,"
"Want me to turn the AC down?" Dad asked, looking at me.
I shake my head. "No, no. I'm fine. We're almost close to home already," They nodded at me and continue the ride home. I bring myself closer. It just feels off to me. Why would he do that?
Shaking my head again, I try to be positive about it. I will ask him about it tomorrow, I must ask him. It's was wrong for him to lied to me and just leave me hanging like that. What if I do the same to him? He would feel the same way too.
Although I though of it like that, I never knew how he would feel about it. Maybe something was going on. Maybe I should be overthinking. I don't know...
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