Here's to You & Me

Chapter 2

After we were fully seated, we started to eat, and the conversation also started. They talk about what happened to the previous months that I'm not around. They even talk about the handsome guy in the art club who's name is Kevin with his so hot best friend Jacob. Since the name they mentioned didn't ring a bell, I just said nothing and just listen to them talking.

"So, Milo. What's your type in a guy?"

I didn't know when did the conversation diverted at me because I half-listening and half-observing the surroundings but I don't like it.

Horrified, I looked at Jennifer wide eye and then to Amber and Karen. They all stared at me, waiting for an answer. I gulp the water I'm drinking and inhaled briskly. How did they know my sexual orientation? I didn't even say it to them. Why is she so casual asking me that question? Didn't people living in small town are bigoted and homophobe? I coughed to hide my nervousness.

"You aren't expecting her to ask you that. Are you?" I diverted my gaze at Karen. I just stared at her. Her expression was gentle.

"Uhmm. Yeah, I mean no. I just... just wondering what makes Jenny think that I liked guys," I spat out when I found my voice.

They all looked at each other and then burst out laughing. Okay, I'm offended. I'm trying my best not to pee in my pants just to say something, but they will just laugh? They all calmed down, catching their breath. And Amber sensed my annoyance.

"Of course we know. The way you looked at those other guys when they passed our tables tells us everything," she said mirthlessly.

"But not everything, though," Amber chirped merrily.

I took a deep breath and give up.

"Aren't you guys gonna ditch my sorry ass because I liked guys?" I asked them seriously. They all looked at me like I grow another pair of head.

Jennifer clutches a hand on her chest and dramatically sigh.

"Oh, boy! Are you telling us we're some bigoted homophobic assholes?"

She wiped the fake tears in her eyes whilst Amber and Karen rolled their eyes.

Amber took my hands and clasp our hands together.

"I have a gay brother. And he is the greatest human being I've ever known."

Her smile was contagious, so I throw the tension away and smiled.

Karen also took my other hands.

"My cousin is also gay. So don't worry, we won't bite your gay ass," she said.

I laughed at her.

"And I had a gay uncle," Jennifer said casually. It took me a minute before it sink in. Had. Oh.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Jenny," I said genuinely. She waved me off and sip her pineapple drink.

"It's okay. We've all moved on already," she conceded.

"When he died, I think it's a good thing for the town, though," she continued. I lift my left eyebrow and look at her weirdly.

"Okay! Let me say it this way. It seems like a wake up call for the people in this town when he died. Some pimps in this town changed their perspective and prejudice about homosexuality when he took his life, because some uneducated assholes are harassing him when he came out. They even send some sex toy to him. Silicon dildo was one of it. Painted a huge dick in his house and wrote the word faggot in his car. Someone even beat him using a bat that took him one month into a coma. He woke up depressed and anxious. He felt nauseated going out in public, scared that someone might beat him again. After months of feeling like he's being followed and the paranoia always nagging him. He can't bear it anymore, so he hangs his self in his room. And after that incident, the mayor ordered and signed an ordinance to protect the LGBT people living in this town. Months after, many people came out. Some folks leave the town because they don't want to live and watch some sinners wandering around. Some just shut their mouth afraid of going to jail. But a lot accepted them, though. They're way more accepting than we'd expected," she said sullenly.

"I'm sorry those happened to your uncle," I said.

And I mean it. I really am sorry. I never experienced something inhuman like that. When I first came out at my father, I thought he's going to beat me for being gay, but he never do it and said he will never do that to his only son. We hugged and cried for almost an hour after that. I'm grateful and proud for having an open-minded father like him.

"It's okay. It's not your fault if some people want to stay in the dark ages. And can we please stop talking about my uncle?" she said and finished the burger she's eating.

"Let's talk about Milo's type," Amber suggested, and winked at me.

"Agree," Jenny happily agreed, whilst clasping her hands with a dreamy eye.

"Ditto," Karen said with wry amusement.

I face palmed when they all high five. I piously thank the bell when it rang. Literally saved by the bell. We all gathered our things and leave the cafeteria for our next class.

We are all in the same room and wondering why I didn't see them before. Oh, yeah. I never paid attention to other students around me. We sit together. Good thing the seat in between Karen and Jenny was empty, so I can sit here with them. Whilst Amber is seated next to Karen. We stop talking when our subject teacher entered the room. I tried to listen and took note so that I can. read it at home but Jenny didn't let me. I looked at her.

She's wearing this obnoxious smirk on her face.

"So, Milo. Your type in a guy, hmmm?"

That caught Karen and Amber's interest. Their ears perk up like a dog hearing their owners calling them. They all nodded ferociously. I go back listening and focused to write on my notes like I didn't know they're beside me staring. But Jennifer keeps poking me whilst Amber and Karen stared at me, blinking slowly.

Karen can't take it anymore, so she shakes my shoulder. I sigh. I don't have any liberty so I give up. I looked at our teaching and then around to make sure nobody's listening. And that is how my afternoon classes turned out.