Chapter 2- The Truth
After my brief encounter in the supermarket, my excitement was visible to all. I was driving at snail's pace, with the windows rolled down. I sang out loud as I usually do and I'd occasionally scream out almond praline gold or not chocolate randomly.
My poor aunt Berne one must admire her patience. It was only after we missed the turning did she bother to stop me briefly to tell me we were going the wrong way.
Nonetheless, if this is what getting my phone number taken was imago the state id is when we 'hung'.
We reached home unpacked all the stuff and I bounced up to my room. It was really my room. Half my stuff from my house in California was here. The bookshelf, the bed, the study they were all my familiar friends.
I collapsed onto the bed and placed my phone cautiously on the bed side table. I closed my eyes. Promptly 2 minutes later I woke to see if I had received any messages. This was getting out of hand. I was acting like a little girl seeing Justin Beiber for the first time. But I couldn't help it.
I decided -what better way to take my mind off Chris than by studying. So I took out my book and flipped through the pages. And rightly so within 10 min I was fully immersed in the book till I came across Chris Douglas and something on excavation. And there I was back to the same state.
Half an hour later aunt Berne chimed for lunch. I huddled down the stairs and asked her if she needed any help. She politely declined my offer to help and continued about the kitchen.
"The whole family is coming over for thanksgiving." She said out of the blue.
"Really? Wow. Cool." Is all I could say.
"So that means you are going to help me cook the thanksgiving dinner!" She smiled like it was obvious.
"No problem. I'm an expert with dead birds!" I laughed.
Ok now is where the complication starts. I was a closeted gay. The only two people who knew were Toria and aunt Berne. Neither had said anything about it. I mean there were no signs to suggest that I was.
I wasn't the stereotypical type who runs around shaking his ass wearing pink or anything. I don't think any gay guy is like that. I was just a guy who liked other guys. I didn't think it was a problem keeping it to myself till aunt Berne herself told me that I should tell my parents.
I never did bother to tell them. We are a very traditional orthodox family. Besides I barely see them anyways. And it really didn't make a difference. At least that's what I told myself.
You see the thing is I've had girlfriends in the past. I've even had sex with them. My parents know that so telling them that was just experimentation was not going to help much.
The familiar guilty feeling came back to me again. It wasn't that I needed their approval of who I was. It was just my conscience. They were my parents. You'd expect them to understand and comfort you.
All of a sudden I felt weak. I sat down my face flushed of any colour. I felt like I was going to puke. Aunt Berne came nearby and put her hand on my shoulder.
"I know you haven't told them. It's going to be ok." She said her voice soothing my mind.
Now you see the reason I haven't told you about aunt Berne's husband is because his story is quite similar to mine. He was a closeted gay. He had married her by force from his family and only after having two kids did he really decide to tell her. I don't know the details of what happened, but all I know is that my parents hated him for making aunt Berne's life miserable. Regardless of the fact that she was ok with it-and that they still kept in touch. She never spoke about it.
She brought out the lunch. It smelled delicious. It was soup and fish. I know not the best combination, but I was famished, for the first time. All the thinking had drained me of any will to move around or anything.
Lunch was quiet other than the occasional exchange. After lunch and some strawberry cheese cake. I helped her with the dishes and went up to my room to work on the computer.
I walked over to my bed to pick up my laptop when I saw my phone flashing. A message. Till then it had completely slipped my mind that Chris was going to call me to hang out a word that I still didn't understand.
It was from him. 'Hey Jake, some of the guys and I were going to hang out at my place flat 301 and then head out to a club. The invitation is still open.......see you at 6 -Chris ' wow he even punctuated in messages was all I could think of.
It was a quarter to three. That's it 3 hours more. The wait was agonizing. I took out my laptop and pulled out my project file. It was complete. I just had to submit it on Monday. I opened the Internet browser and randomly opened stories on gay children revealing to their parents stories. Basically out of the closet stories.
And without knowing it was 5:15. I looked at the watch and almost shrieked. I had to get ready. I opened the closet that I had accumulated here and went through the stuff I had. I pulled out a graphic tee and black jeans. My green converse which I wore everywhere. I pulled on a jacket and headed down.
I found aunt Berne and told her I'm going out with some friends and would be back well in time to help with dinner. She looked at me and smirked. "Are you meeting someone?" She emphasized on someone.
Without knowing it I got hot and blushed. "C'mon cut me some slack." I winked. I could've lied but I didn't want to especially not to aunt Berne."Yes I'm hanging out with a guy I like.... And his friends.... And don't get too excited he's straight." I added at the end.
"Oh honey!" She began.
"I know I know and I'll talk about it over dinner!" I said heading out
I went up to the building and stood outside it, wondering if I should act cool and cancel at the last minute. I decided against it and went into the elevator. I punched in the third floor button and headed out when the elevator door opened. It was the wrong floor.
God these guys had to redo the lift signs. Third floor was 201 etc. I climbed the stairs to the next floor and rung on the bell. Seconds later I heard footsteps on the other side and the door opened.
I caught my breath. Chris was standing there smiling. He looked at me and then frowned. Oh it wasn't me he was expecting.
"You didn't get my second message did you?" He said an apologetic look on his face. His eyes twinkled. And his smile lit up the entire corridor.
He opened the door and ushered me in. Now I was too caught up in what he meant to really pay attention to the rest of his house. But after frequent visits I can tell you, it is big. It fully marbled floor duplex pent house. his living room was an epitome of decor. Everything placed with great detail. It was dare I say it........ Perfect.
"No I didn't get your message I cut in, is the plan cancelled?" I asked pulling out my phone from my pocket. I did receive the message I just didn't read it.
"Oh semi formals ....oops ok then it looks like I'm not going to be coming." I didn't know what to say.... I didn't have formal wear at my aunt's house? "Ok I'd run and change but all my formal stuff is in the university." I couldn't believe I said it either.
He looked at me speculatively. "Wait maybe some of my stuff would fit you." He said grinning.
He himself was dressed in a blazer with jeans and a shirt with an open collared tie. He looked HOT. It was almost like everything was made for him. Everything hugged him in all the right places accentuating his chest and small waist.
I followed him to his room. That too seemed too good to be true. Typical yet clean jock room. 4 other guys were hanging around in his room doing various stuff everyone with a beer in hand.
