THE ROCKSTAR AND THE GAY (BXB ENGLISH)

Chapter6

As I plopped down at our usual cafeteria table, my heart raced like a drumroll signaling the start of a circus act. Today, I was determined to share my biggest secret with my friends, and I felt like I was about to jump out of a plane without a parachute. The smell of fries filled the air, but all I could think about was the handsome guy I couldn’t shake from my mind.

“Guys,” I began, trying to sound casual while my stomach did somersaults, “I need your help finding someone.”

Anthony looked up, his thick brows furrowing like a confused caterpillar. “What?! Wayne, say that again. You sound like you just swallowed a live goldfish.”

“Yeah, and it looks like it’s swimming around in your throat,” Shin chimed in, leaning forward with an amused glint in his eye.

“Ha ha, very funny,” I shot back, rolling my eyes. “I need you guys to help me find Kennan here at the university.”

At the mention of Kennan’s name, the atmosphere shifted. Anthony’s brows knitted together so tightly that they practically merged into one. “Wait, hold up. You want to court Kennan?” His voice was half disbelief, half horror.

“Yeah! What’s the big deal?” I replied, crossing my arms defensively.

Shin gasped as if I had just confessed to planning a heist. “Are you out of your mind, Wayne?! Have you caught some sort of weird disease? You're actually thinking of dating a gay?”

I tossed my fries back onto my plate in frustration. “How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t use that term! His name is Kennan, and I don’t care what you think!”

Shin shrugged, his smirk widening. “Oh sure, Kennan, but he’s still gay! And honestly, dude, I’m not making fun of him. I’m making fun of you! Look around! There are gorgeous girls everywhere, and you're looking for him? Why would you go after Kennan when you could have... well, anyone else?”

I leaned back, running my hands through my hair. “What can I do? I have a crush on him!” I blurted out, my voice rising. Suddenly, the entire table fell silent, and everyone stopped chewing. Even Lenard, who had just taken a massive bite of his fries, looked like he was about to choke.

Timmy blinked, then broke the silence. “Wait, are you saying you’re in love with Kennan? Like, for real?”

“If the fact that he’s stuck in my head non-stop is any indication, then yeah. I might be in love with him,” I admitted, feeling heat creep up my neck.

Lenard gawked at me, dropping his fry as if it had suddenly turned into a cockroach. “I knew it! I called it, guys! Love at first sight? Who would’ve thought? Wayne is finally going for something wild!”

“Wild is one way to put it,” Anthony said, shaking his head. “More like diving headfirst into a flaming dumpster. Seriously, before you embarrass yourself trying to court Kennan, why not date a pretty girl? It could solve your whole problem!”

I shot him a deadpan look. “Guys, I’m asking you to help me find Kennan, not push me toward the nearest girl! Do you really think I haven’t thought this through? You’re my closest friends, and I expected a little support, not judgment!”

Anthony leaned back, looking uncomfortable. “It’s not judgment. It’s concern, man. Look, the whole thing seems risky. You don’t know if he’ll even be into you. I mean, what if he’s like, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’?”

“Then I’ll deal with it! But I can’t just ignore how I feel! Can’t you guys at least help me out?” I implored, giving them my best puppy dog eyes.

After a moment of silence, Lenard stood up, grinning like a kid in a candy store. “Alright, Wayne! I’m in! Let’s find Kennan and make this happen!”

Relieved, I took his hand, feeling a rush of excitement. Timmy jumped in next, placing his hand over ours. “Count me in too! I don’t know how this will end, but I’ll support you.”

Shin exchanged an incredulous glance with Anthony, who looked like he was weighing whether to join or flee. But then Shin sighed dramatically, standing up as well. “Fine. I’ll help, but just know that I think you’re all insane.”

Finally, we turned to Anthony. He stood there, arms crossed, still looking skeptical. “I don’t completely agree with this, but since I’m the glue that holds this mess together, I guess I’ll help too.” He placed his hand on top of the stack, and we all looked at each other with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

“Thanks, guys,” I said sincerely, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me.

Anthony raised an eyebrow. “Oh, don’t get too mushy on us. I mean, you might still cry, right? I wouldn’t want to see that.”

We all burst into laughter, and I couldn’t help but feel hopeful. “No crying here! Just a brave new adventure,” I said, my spirits lifting.

“Well, brave doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Anthony said, shaking his head. “But what’s the plan? How do we even find this guy?”

“Simple,” I said, puffing out my chest. “We’ll start by scoping out the places he usually hangs out. We’ll work our charm, and I’ll ask him out like a pro!”

Shin snorted. “Right. Because you’re a certified pro at flirting now. What’s next? Are you going to serenade him under his window like some cheesy rom-com?”

“Hey, I could totally do that! Maybe even bring a boombox!” I shot back, rolling my eyes.

“Please, just promise you won’t,” Timmy said, laughing. “We don’t need you showing up with a boom box and a terrible rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love.’”

We all laughed harder, imagining the scene. “Okay, okay, I’ll save the boombox for a special occasion,” I conceded, grinning.

The rest of our lunch passed in a haze of laughter and outrageous plans. We brainstormed ideas for how I could approach Kennan, and the more ridiculous they got, the more fun we had. From cheesy pickup lines to elaborate schemes involving disguises, my friends’ imaginations ran wild.

Eventually, we settled on a straightforward plan: I would simply approach Kennan the next time I saw him and ask him out. It was bold, it was risky, and most importantly, it was my decision.

As we finished our meal, I felt lighter than I had in days. My friends had rallied around me, despite their initial shock, and that meant the world. Whether or not this would end in a grand romantic adventure or a hilarious disaster, I knew one thing for sure: I wouldn’t be facing it alone. I had my friends by my side, and together, we could tackle anything even my crush on a guy.

“Alright, team!” I said, raising my imaginary glass. “To love, friendship, and the wild adventure ahead!”

“Ugh, how cheesy can you get?” Anthony groaned, but even he was smiling.

“Let’s just hope you don’t get dumped in front of us,” Shin added, shaking his head.

“Yeah, because that would be too entertaining for my taste,” Lenard chimed in with a laugh.

And just like that, with laughter echoing around the table, I felt ready to take on the world… or at least, take on my feelings for Kennan. Whatever lay ahead, I was determined to face it with humor and a heart full of hope. After all, life was too short not to chase after what you wanted, no matter how wild it seemed.