Chapter 59: CHAPTER 59: A WEIRD TURN OF EVENTS
"So, when's the wedding?" I ask, distracting myself from bad thoughts.
"After Marsha," Triana beams, "I like winter, so we'll have a winter wedding next year."
"Winter next year…" that's just about the time I'm in France, though…
Oh no.
"We'll have it at our ranch in Verne, so make sure you have enough credits for a long vacation," Triana grins at me and that's just swell. I can only offer her a smile for now. I really can't make any promises. Especially since France is a long way from here. Even if I manage to get a day of two off, I don't think I can actually make it.
"Lee, come, I bought a hat for you," Bellinda says excitedly and starts rummaging through the shopping bags. I glance over at Chuck who pushes me towards his mother and I heavily walk there.
Here's the thing. Marsha's parents love to feed us. Even when we're away at uni, they'd send food, snacks, supplements and the likes every few weeks. We barely have to do groceries since they always packed ready-made food for us and we seldom eat out.
Chuck's parents are the type of parents who like to shower their children with gifts. From clothes, shoes, books, anything the children might like, they'd buy it. Even when something is as expensive as the camera, if their kid likes it, they'll buy it without even a second thought.
My parents? Well, they're the epitome of strictness. They'll make you study for hours on end before allowing any of us to play. Which is probably why Chuck and Marsha's parents often send their children over to my house so they'll study more under strict supervision, especially during exam season.
Those long hours of studying paid off nicely, though, so none of us really complained. We each went into the major we want in uni and we always do great in class despite our notorious off-time activities. Even the teachers are lenient because we always occupied the top spots in school ever since elementary.
This is not me bragging, seriously. It was hard work. Really hard. My parents are strict, strict, you know? All sticks no carrots. No, they weren't scary. Not at all. They never hit any of us. None of our parents ever do that. Even when we literally burn down a whole bus (that's a story for another time). I asked once why they never hit us and they said that we're sensible children and can still be talked to so there's no need to use violence. Well, I'm really glad to hear that.
Anyway, here I am, sitting on the couch beside Bellinda, with Anthony sitting across from me with Chuck, helping Bellinda put on clothes, hats, scarfs and everything else on me one after another while Triana takes pictures and Andrew just looks at us with a polite smile.
I feel bad for the man. I bet he never thought he'd marry into this kind of family where they dote on someone else's child like he was their own. I bet he has questions.
"Umh.. this is kinda embarrassing.." I whisper, stealing glances at Andrew who just keeps on smiling. Isn't he tired?
"Andrew?" Triana asks me before chuckling, "Oh, don't mind him. He actually thinks you're cute. He just doesn't know how to express that so he just sits there smiling like an idiot," she teases her fiancé who just, once again, smiles, though the mile is slightly wider now as he lightly chuckle. Even his laugh is polite.
"Oh," is all I can say as I feel my face heating up.
"Oh! Look at him blushing!" Triana laughs at me and I glare at her, "you're becoming even cuter! I guess uni suits you," she laughs.
"Right? Do you have someone at uni?" Anthony suddenly asks and I almost choke.
"No," I tell him, apologizing to God because I lie a lot these days.
"Why don't you just get together with Chuck, then?" Anthony asks so suddenly so seriously I literally choked on my own saliva.
"Excuse me?" I ask at the same time as Triana shouts a 'No'. And I once again blurt a "What?" I then turn to her just as baffled.
"Are you seriously going to let Lee be with this kind of a human?" Triana asks her parents in all seriousness.
"Hey!" Chuck protests immediately, standing up and facing his sister, "what's wrong with me?" he asks, offended.
"One, you're gross. You can't even take care of yourself all you do all day is playing football like a maniac," Triana mocks him.
"I am an athlete so of course I play football all day!" Chuck defends himself while I sit there between Anthony and Bellinda who watches their children fighting in amusement while I worry.
"Ignore them," Bellinda then turns to me, "so, why not Chuck?" she asks, smiling and inquiring.
"Well, I… I don't…" I try glancing over at Chuck but he's still busy arguing with his sister about what else I have no idea since they both talk so fast.
"Well, we originally thought that you'd end up with Sha, but since you didn't, so why not with Chuck? You know, keeping it in the family," Anthony says and I really, really can't tell anymore whether this was a joke or an actual conversation to be had in all seriousness.
"Unless you're not gay and in that case, we apologize," Bellinda adds caressing my head gently.
"Well… I don't… I have no idea… I mean…I think… I mean... I'm not 100% straight…" I tell them slowly and their smiles blossom once again and I guess that's not a good thing to say because now they seem even more hopeful and this is just weird to me.
"You're not?" Chuck probably hears that and immediately turns to me, ignoring Triana who then also turns to me and I can feel my head is about to explode from all the blood rushing there and to my face which I'm pretty sure now looks like a boiled lobster.
"Well… I'm not…" I glance over at Chuck who's already sitting back down, "Straight, that is," I clarify once again just to be sure.
I haven't said it out loud before, not even to myself, and I don't think I have to. But it's actually a good feeling to declare yourself to the world. Or in this case, my best friend's family who apparently is trying to set said best friend with me.
I realized this actually not long after I got into uni. I like looking at both girls and boys and I appreciate their beauty just the same. At first I thought it's only because I'm studying to be a photographer so I tend to appreciate beauty in all shapes and forms more. Also because I haven't really dated anyone before, let alone fall in love, so I still wasn't sure at that time.
But then Allen came along and he made me realize a lot of things. I am most likely bisexual with the preference of men. And that's good to know. To finally have one puzzle be put into that empty space in you and you can finally start to take shape.
I look at Chuck and his family. All of them are smiling. Well, not Chuck, tough. I realized after I did a double-take. He sits there seemingly dumbfounded by what he had just learnt. I'm not blaming him, though. Must be a shock.
I turn to Bellinda worriedly and she turns to Chuck and calls out to him softly, "baby? Anything wrong?" she asks gently, pulling Chuck out of his trance.
"Huh?" Chuck turns to his mother. If I am not worried, I'd really laugh at how he looks.
"Why are you spacing out? So? How about it? You and Lee?" Bellinda asks slightly impatiently.
"Wait, Bellinda," I call out to her in alarm, "Chuck isn't…"
"Oh, he's 100% gay," Anthony chuckles, rubbing my head in adoration and I blink. Now it's probably my turn to look dumbfounded. I almost snap my neck when I turn to Chuck who stares at me guiltily.
Well. Can't blame him. It's a really personal matter after all. I didn't tell him either.
"Madam? Dinner is ready," a helper comes into the living room, distancing us. Thankfully, from continuing with the conversation which just turned very weird very fast.
"Come," Bellinda stands up first and we all follow quickly, "let's have dinner first. We can chat later," she says and leads us to the dining room.
This meal is a savior. We get distracted by it and the conversation shifts to any other topics but the previous one and for one, I am eternally grateful because it was so awkward back then and so weird and I really can't figure out why Bellinda and Anthony would just suddenly bring up me being with Chuck.
Honestly, I never even thought about that, and now that I'm thinking about it, I can't help but to overthink it. Just like I always do.
Damn it.
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