Chapter 74: Chapter 74
I stop to face him. "Relax, I was only kidding. You gotta learn to tell the difference between jokes and real facts. Did you grow up in a religious home where jokes aren’t allowed? Because... okay I’II stop talking."
"We are going to go see my baby brother. I need to recharge myself in his little hug and scent before going with you. You sap out all of my energy."
"So do you!" He retorts. We both huff and then simultaneously burst into a dramatic hearty laughter. Platonic friendship is the best. Better than going romantic and having your heart broken. I couldn’t ask for anything more right now. The fact that he is gay makes it just right and perfect. I trust myself that I would not fall in love. So will he. Perhaps we can just be like this. Friends who are more like siblings. For me, this is perfect than a sex relationship.
Mom said the daycare center is not too far from my school. As it’s in an upscale part of the city, it must be expensive. But I don’t think expensive means good environment and results. Look at Krohn’s as an example. Prestigious school my ass. We walk the distance. Maverick cannot stop whining that his legs are weak. Saying he hadn’t walked such a distance before. I playfully asked if he is a prince or a rich kid who only cruises around in a luxury car and does not know how to use his legs for walking. To that he replied something strange. "You can say that I was something like that." And then he tells me to not ask any questions.
I don’t.
Friendship does not mean you bare out your secrets and life history to each other. We reach the center. I meet Dad there. "Dad. Hey? What are you doing here?" I ask. He looks at Maverick then back at me. "I have some free hours to kill. I’II be covering hours later." That means he and his team members are going to do a stakeout at a special spot to catch a criminal. "What about you? What are the two of you up to?" He has been meaning to ask that since the second he saw me and Maverick come in together. "Hello sir—good day. My name is Maverick. Maverick Jones." I stilt a laugh at his stuttering. Why is he nervous? My Dad doesn’t bite. Dad on the other hand is looking at him from head to toe, weighing and examining him with his eyes. He then nods with a look of satisfaction. "You seem like a capable young man." He commented. "That... means a lot coming from you sir." Replied Maverick. "Stop it, both of you. You guys are acting like potential father and son-in-law."
"Aren’t we?"
"No. Totally no dad. Him and I are just friends." I say. Dad looks at Maverick. "Is that true young man? Don’t lie to me okay?" Before he could stutter out a reply, I intervene. "What? You don’t believe me? I’m not lying!"
"Would you believe that if you were in my shoes? Knowing you especially love to be secretive?"
Dad did not buy my firm denial until Maverick told him he is gay. "Oh. So that means you guys are just friends?"
"That’s what I said."
"Well. if you both change your mind and start having feelings..... come see me first Malcom."
"It’s Maverick." I correct.
"As I was saying Malcom, come see me first. You will be going through a lot of checks if you want anything to do with my daughter.."
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"Sorry about that. I did not know he would be there."
"What are you apologizing for? Your Dad is totally cool." Maverick says, sincerely. "He said I seemed like a capable young man. No one has ever told me that before. Everyone in my family sees me as a failure."
I look in the direction of the curtain covered changing room where he is. He opens one side and pokes his head out. "Don’t. Ask. Anything." Then he closes back the curtain.
"I wasn’t going to." That is a lie. I’m curious. But unlike most people, I can keep my curiosity in check. We’ve never said anything to each other about our family’s. He just didn’t ask about mine and neither did I, his. It is kinda surprising as nosy as he is. Maybe he knew asking about mine would make me ask about his that is why he never brought it up.
The feeling of sonder hits me. When you realize that it’s not just you and your family in the world. They are a lot lot others. And each person has got their own problems. Some way more complicated than yours.
"Alright! What do you think of this." He comes out in a dark red suit with black smoky designs. My jaw drops because of how terrible it is. "It’s amazing isn’t it?"
"Yes." I say sarcastically.
He laughs, being overly pleased with himself. "You have an eye for fashion too."
"That was me being sarcastic, you idiot! It looks terrible!"
"What? How?"
"The color, the shade, the designs—everything. It’s too loud looking."
"But that is the point I want to try to make. I want to be loud enough so he’d notice me."
"I thought you said you were gradually getting over him?
He rolls his eyes. "I was. But then I relapsed. It happens all the time. Which makes me sure that I truly like him. Perhaps even love him." I am holding myself back from smacking his head. "If you move on from someone and forget them quickly, then that tells you it wasn’t love."
"Go change that useless outfit. It is hurting my eyes to look at." He later picked a royal blue suit that looks so good on him. We are going out of the shop. But then he calls my attention. "Gwen, look at that dress. I think it would look great on you." I instinctively look at the direction he is pointing and see the dress on a mannequin. It looks so beautiful. And almost like the dress top a ballerina would wear for a performance. It’s ust that this one reaches the ankles.
Maverick tells me to go try it. "You will look like a fairy in it." He encourages. That is true. White has always looked good on me. "What’s the point? It’s not I have money to buy such a dress." I respond flatly. The only clothes that I can afford are the ones made of thrift materials.
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