I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back. It was my first time seeing Liam crying like this. I never knew he had been this terrified. I knew he had been scared. I mean, even I was too, when I saw what was there approaching Liam and Joanna that night. But I’d never thought what Joanna did made him feel so much worse. Days ago, when I said to myself that I was in so much pain, I realized it wasn’t true. Listening to Liam’s story, he was also in pain. And it was me, who caused him the pain.
That night, it was a coincidence, really. Some would call it fate. I remembered that night, when I was avoiding Liam, after I had lost him in the maze full of mirrors, I was trying to look for my friends: Nathalie, Jerry, and Duncan. But I had failed. When I decided to go home, didn’t want to risk bumping into Liam again, I saw Liam and Joanna walking out of the carnival, heading towards the parking lot. I quickly hid myself, didn’t want them to notice me.
When I was about to turn back and take another direction to get to my motorbike, suddenly, I heard Joanna’s scream. I turned around to see what was happening. A clown, carrying a machete, was approaching them. I had never for once thought that it was a joke even when it happened right outside the carnival. What if he was some psychopath? I had thought. Liam’s safety comes first. His safety was more important than anything else. I had taken an iron rod nearby and charged straight at the clown. I had whacked him nonstop when he almost took the love of my life away.
“It’s okay now, babe.” I patted him, trying to comfort him.
Mrs. Eastwood stood up. She pulled a tissue from a box on a cabinet nearby and passed it to Liam.
But Liam was still crying with his eyes closed. “Thanks,” I said and I took the tissue instead. I helped Liam wipe his tears away. Mrs. Eastwood sat back down beside her husband.
“Thank you, Ethan,” Mr. Eastwood said, “for putting of my son’s life above yours. We understand now.”
I was surprised. There was no sarcasm at all when Mr. Eastwood expressed the gratitude. Liam turned to look at his parents. He was as surprised as I was.
“You guys are not mad at us?” I asked, almost rudely. I forgot my manners.
“No,” Mrs. Eastwood said. “Oh, sweetheart. The reason we called you here is not that we want you to break up. Both Billy and I...” she said as she held her husband’s hand. Both of them smiled at each other for a second. “…We had a talk about it. It’s nothing wrong if our son decides to love a man. Love is just... love, like you said. It doesn't change who you are.”
“We know something must have happened that separated Jo and Liam,” Mr. Eastwood said. “But what we’re concerned about is whether this love... is true. We might not look like it but we are firm believers of true love. We’re afraid that Liam might be being too quick about things and misunderstanding his feelings. That’s why I asked him to bring you here, Ethan, so that Maris and I get to see you and know exactly what is happening.”
“So does this means…” Liam said.
Mrs. Eastwood nodded. “We accept him. We approve him, honey.”
“We welcome him to the family,” Mr. Eastwood added.
Liam smiled and leapt up to hug his parents. “I love you both, Dad, Mom!” he said and started crying again.
Honestly, I’d never seen this side of Liam before. I mean, when we shared with each other our sad stories, he’d shed a tear or two but never actually crying. I smiled, too, looking at them. His parents were hugging him and patting his head, comforting him. I couldn’t deny that I began to have mixed feelings. Don’t get me wrong. I was happy. Really happy when they said they accepted and welcomed me, but I couldn’t help feeling envious. I wished my parents were like them.
That night, Mr. and Mrs. Eastwood included me in dinner. They had already prepared food for me before we even met. I was deeply touched, not only by their kindness but also by their trust. They must have trusted us to make the right judgment. They must have trusted Liam to do the right thing. They must have called Liam back only to make sure he was on the right path. Else, why would they cook food for me before we even met if there was a high possibility that I would not be welcomed here, especially if they would refuse to accept our relationship in the first place?
Michael was as welcoming as his parents, and, of course, he remembered me. I used to pick on him when we were playing Xbox at Liam’s place. Now that he was all grown-up, he was no longer the playful boy I used to know. He had matured and had his mind set on becoming a pilot.
“What are you thinking, babe?” Liam asked when we were sitting on the guardrail across from Liam’s house after dinner. Liam’s house was high up on the hill, so from here, the forest and almost the entirety of Westville could be seen below. It was beautiful. The lights from the town and the driveways were like stars reflected in a dark ocean.
I sighed. “I wish my parents were as open as yours.”
“Hey, babe,” Liam said as he put his arm around my shoulders. “You wanna try to talk to them tomorrow? I’ll be with you, just like how you’re with me today.”
“I’m not even sure if they want to see me anymore,” I said. “They’ve never called or texted me even once.”
“Did you call or text them?”
“No,” I answered. “I didn’t think they’ll like it. Besides, Mom was the one who told me not to call her Mom anymore.”
“Maybe it was just in the heat of the moment that time,” Liam told me. “Maybe they’re waiting for you to get back to them, just like how you’re waiting for them now.”
I thought about it for a while. All the while, I hadn’t put much hope in reuniting. In fact, getting disowned was something that I’d already expected and prepared myself mentally from the moment I found out I was gay. But when I looked at Liam and thought about what happened back there just now, a part of me wanted that too. I loved my mom, really. And my dad too. Because they’d done so much for me.
I sighed again. “Okay, babe. We go see them tomorrow, okay? But you and me, together.” I grabbed his cock.
It was hard. What the fuck? Since when? He moaned. We quickly looked around to see if there was anyone watching.
“Babe!” he hissed.
I grinned and unzipped his fly.
“Babe, babe!” he hissed again. “Stop!” He was still looking around, hoping that no one would notice us.
I put my hand into the fly and grabbed the side of his briefs. I pulled it outwards and over his cock, unleashing his cock into the fresh air. But it wasn’t for long. I glanced around to make sure no one was seeing us and leaned down. I inserted his cock down my throat, whole.
“Fuck.” Liam moaned again. “Stop…”
I didn’t. I continued to taste him, slurping his cock again and again. His cock was warm and salty, and it tasted so good that my cock sprang to life immediately and throbbed, begging to be relieved too. I unzipped my own fly and released it. I wrapped my fist around my cock and began wanking myself.
“Babe!” he tried hissing again, but it was only a mere act. Because his hand had come down to grab my hair, pushing my head further against his cock as he thrust upwards so that his dick could go deeper down my throat, fucking me through my mouth.
And then he came. His cock erupted inside my throat, tingling my windpipe. I made sure I took in everything and only leaned up when he was done, my mouth dripping with his cum. His cum tasted sweet. I kissed him first before I continued to wank myself. Liam looked around to check again if there was anyone watching before he came down to suck mine.
Despite being his first time, he did it like a pro, licking the eye of my cock non-stop. At the same time, he didn’t leave out the head, bathing it occasionally with his saliva. But that wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I grabbed Liam’s hair and shoved his head against my cock. I shoved my cock down his throat at the same time, fucking him in the mouth, just like what he’d done to me, only in a much rougher way. Liam choked, but it was hot. I didn’t want to stop and I was sure he didn’t want to either because he didn’t try to lea
n back up at all. I continued to ram him.
“Babe!” I moaned and came inside his throat, pushing my cock so deep down that it felt like I was cumming inside his tight ass instead. Maximum pleasure. When he was sure I was done cumming, he leaned back up. Both of us panted with our mouths dripping with each other's cum. We kissed, licking the cum on each other's mouth.
“You’re turning me into a slut, babe,” Liam complained when we were done cleaning our mouths.
“And I’m approved by your parents,” I said.
He pushed my head lightly once. I laughed. We put our dicks back into our pants and zipped them. My phone rang once. There was a text. I took it out to see who it was.
Hey, is everything okay? Nathalie texted. Oh shit. We’d totally forgotten about her.
Yeah, Nat. Thanks. We’re okay. You can go back now. I’m sleeping over at Liam’s place. Liam’s parents took me in. I replied.
“Took you in?” Liam said as he saw what I replied. “Or did you mean Liam took you on?”
My mouth dropped open. “Really, babe?”
“Just kidding,” Liam laughed. “Let’s go back in. My throat and mouth are starting to feel all sticky and weird. I gotta clean up.”
I agreed. I was feeling the same too. The cum must be drying. We got in, showered together and spent the rest of our night lying on his bed, talking about many things that had happened in the past. I was glad how things had turned out, especially today. I hoped the same would happen to me tomorrow. I slept soundly with Liam in my arms and me in his.
The next morning, Nathalie picked us up. Initially, we’d planned to go back to Buvekeli right away after Liam confronted his parents, but things had changed. And I’d informed her. Nathalie was willing to drive us to confront my parents. She parked right in front of my house and got out of the car with us.
“I’ll give you guys some privacy, okay?” Nathalie said. “I’ll go get some orange juice. Text me when you’re done.” She walked into her house beside mine.
Standing in front of my parents’ house, Liam asked, “You ready?”
I nodded. “Yeah,” I said and reached my hand out to press the doorbell. I didn’t have my key since we never had this plan in the first place. The key was still in Buvekeli. I didn’t know why but I took a few steps back. Liam seemed to understand and followed without saying a word.
My dad opened the door. It was nice to see him again. But it wasn’t nice to see his forehead creased and eyes narrowed the moment he saw us.
“Hi, Dad,” I tried to greet casually.
“Why are you here, Ethan?” he said and put his hands on his waist.
It stung to hear him talk to me like that. I tried not to let it affect me. “Dad, can we come in and have a talk?”
Dad sniggered. “If you want to talk, young man, you gotta make that fag over there,” he said, referring to Liam, “disappear.”
He was fucking unreasonable. And who was he calling a fag?! I took a step forward, to defend Liam, but before I could, Liam pulled me back, stopping me.
“Let me try to talk to him,” Liam whispered. He took a step forward instead. “Mr. Whitefeather?” he tried. “It’s me, Liam. Ethan’s best friend, remember?”
“Of course, I do,” Dad said. “The one who fucking turned my son gay.”
What the fuck? “He didn’t turn me gay, Dad,” I said. “I was fucking born gay. By you and Mom!”
“You dare to say that one more time, mister?!” Dad pointed his first finger at me. “What did you just say?!”
Before I lost it and said something back, Liam pulled me back again when I was stepping forward. He shook his head, trying to tell me to calm down. “Look, Mr. Whitefeather,” Liam tried again. “Ethan misses you both. I mean, it’s natural that he’d feel that way. You guys are a family. I’m sure you miss him too. He wants to make it up to you. That’s why he’s here. If only we could just talk it out and let him come home...”
“You want to come home?” Dad nodded scornfully at me. “Sure, but at least try to act straight! Cover it up! Come up with something! A breakup! Even if it’s a lie!” he said and threw his hands up. “But not like this, young man.” He pointed at our hands then. Liam and I hadn’t stopped holding each other’s hands. “This… This is disgusting!”
I couldn’t believe what he’d just said. Did he mean that he would rather have a fake me, full of lies, over the real me? Did he mean that he would rather pretend that nothing had happened, that Mom had never found out about me and told him? Were these what he was asking for?
“If… If you want me to act like someone I’m not...” I managed. “If… If I can’t even be myself at home... then... then it isn’t home anymore...”
“Then, young man, you don’t call this home.” Dad pointed harshly to the ground.
“Eh, what the fuck are you saying, Mr. Whitefeather?!” Nathalie snapped from next door. She walked out of her house. She scolded Dad as she walked over, “I thought you’re the Minister of Health. I thought you’re a healthy person like Eth, but what exactly did you fucking eat until you warped your mind that bad? How could you even say that to your son? He’s your son! Your own flesh and blood! You know, you’re such a hypocrite. You’re okay when some of your friends are gay but not your own son? You… you…”
“It’s okay, Nat,” I said. “Let’s go,” I turned around and pulled Liam with me, getting into Nathalie’s car.
I wasn’t angry anymore. I was just sad. Disappointed. After so many years living under the same roof together, eating at the same table, laughing and crying at the same movies, people, and things, and the fun times we had together... In the end, they could cut ties with me so easily, just like that. In the end, all they wanted was their ideal son who they had in mind. In the end, all it was because I preferred dicks over vaginas.
Liam reached his thumb up to wipe my tears away. It was only then I realized that I was crying. I didn’t try to hide, though. If Dad was going to see, let him see. I didn’t fucking care. I buried my face in Liam’s chest and continued crying.
Nathalie hopped into the driver seat and began driving.
“I’m sorry, babe,” Liam said, patting my hair.
I shook my head. It wasn’t his fault. He’d just hoped the best for me. It was I who’d put my hopes up.
“Babe, don’t cry,” Liam tried to comfort me. “If they don’t want you anymore, I want you. If you have no home to return to anymore, I’ll be your home. So don’t cry, babe. I’ll always be by your side, just like you’ve always been by mine.”
I hugged him, harder than I’d ever done. I stopped crying, because I knew that would make Liam sad. It would make him feel guilty too. I didn’t want him to feel that way. I leaned up from him and smiled.
“Thank you, babe.” I kissed him on the mouth. He kissed me back, absorbing all the negative emotions from me like a sponge. Nathalie never complained. She pretended like we were never there as she drove us back home.
18
Trust or Mistrust
(Ethan)
“I
f they don’t want you anymore, I want you. If you have no home to return to anymore, I’ll be your home. So don’t cry, babe. I’ll always be by your side, just like you’ve always been by mine,” I told Olivia and Sam during lunchtime, remembering each and every word Liam had told me yesterday.
I knew I wasn’t supposed to tell them yet. Because Nathalie, Jerry, and Liam weren’t yet here with us in the cafeteria. Nathalie and Jerry had headed to the library to return the books they’d borrowed while Liam was told to see Professor Mark personally regarding one of the professor’s individual assignments. But I just couldn’t wait to share. And Olivia just wouldn’t stop asking me what had happened. Eventually, I lost to my urge and Olivia’s constant nagging, and I told them.
Olivia squealed, her fists under her chin and her expression as if she’d put a sour plum in her mouth. “That’s so sweet, Eth!”
Samuel, on the other hand, was less genuine.
He was laughing with pauses between each ha. But he wasn’t laughing at me. He was laughing at Olivia. “I wonder if you’ll be happier if I’m gay. Maybe I should get a guy.”
“What?!” Olivia smacked Samuel’s head.
“Ow!” Samuel exclaimed. “What was that for?!”
“Any guys can but not you!” Olivia said back.
Samuel was rubbing the spot where Olivia had hit him. “You hang out with Nathalie too much. You got her bad habit,” he complained.
Olivia raised her hand to smack him again.
I laughed and continued to work on my notes.
“What is it like, Eth?” Olivia asked after I wrote a few words.
“What is it what?” I asked.
“To date the guy of your dreams?” Olivia grinned. She didn’t want to drop the topic just yet.
I smirked. Samuel was busy with his laptop now. “Isn’t Sam the guy of your dreams?”
Samuel lifted up his head from his computer. “What?” he said and looked at Olivia.
“That’s different,” Olivia said, ignoring him. “Besides, he was the one who confessed. Not me.”
“How did it happen?” I asked.
“Hey, hey,” Olivia grinned as she saw through my plan. “Don’t change the topic, Eth. We’re talking about you.”
“You’re talking about me,” I corrected her. “Sam isn’t. Besides, it’s none of your business.”
Olivia couldn’t stop grinning. “But I can see everything, Eth. The answers are all on your face.”
I smirked again. “Then why do you still ask?”
“Just tell her, Eth,” Samuel said. “She just wants to hear. Make her happy.”
I shook my head. “No. She’s not Liam. It’s your job to make her happy. Not mine.”
Olivia squealed again. “That’s right!”
“Got you!” Samuel laughed at me in triumph as I fell for his trick.
A Monster's Love Page 27