Can't Resist His Charm

Late night conversations

Bryan

“You going to school tomorrow with that face?” I question as I replace my toothbrush, grab a towel from the cupboard and head to the shower which I had left running while I brushed my teeth. Damian walks behind me, spreads toothpaste on the spare he used last night and starts brushing. I would try to get clothing tonight that I don’t wear often for him to wear- definitely not loaning him that new shirt I got from my aunt for my birthday for I actually liked the darn thing.

I closed the fogged-up tempered glass door and he replied, “Nah, I’ll just skip-"

I hung my towel over the rack, “Skip? And go where?” I say as I spit out the water I had gathered in my mouth.

Pulling my briefs off and I washed it with the gel. I had this habit of washing them while I showered, I didn’t like to think of anyone in my ‘personal’ space. It had stemmed from years back when I woke up one day, during the beginning of my early puberty and my briefs were soaked. Priya was in my dreams. Embarrassed, I had thrown it away, knowing it was not urine. And I couldn’t keep throwing them away could I…especially now with Mel.

“Natalie can’t see me this way but I’ll figure something out,” he says through the mint-flavored lather in his mouth before I hear him spit and I turn and see his blurred figure bent over the face basin. I close my eyes and feel the water cover me- so warm and refreshing. Did he actually think he could stay here when I wasn’t home?

It’s not like I was thinking he’d rob the place and leave although he did have the typical reasons too- broke and penniless. It’s just it’s weird. The maid can’t know he’s here either for she’ll inform my parents. Then I hear clearly, “I know I can’t stay here tomorrow but thanks for letting me crash tonight and last night. I’ll get out of your hair in the morning.”

I feel guilty about my thoughts.

I shampoo my hair and mutter and I hear myself saying, “Sure man if you need cash let me know.” My eyes open widely, startled by my own words and shampoo enters. I groan and quickly start rinsing to curb the sting.

“Money? You’ll spot me?”

“Yeah, sure. Not a big amount but yeah. How much do you need?”

What was I even saying? I’ll lend him cash?

Hearing silence, I shrugged it off as I saw his erect figure unmoving through the fogginess. I opened the shower gel and lathered up with the flannel. Still hearing silence, I wiped a circle on the glass frame and peered out.

He was staring at me.

Instantly I felt uncomfortable and my eyes widened for he just kept staring. Tch- Natalie? Oh please- homeboy was into me. “Keep your gay eyes away from me and my friends. Do you know she actually likes you? Just stop it!”

“What? Who’s gay?” his eyebrows came together and he looked at me with a taken-back expression on his face. It was a funny sight had it been a funny situation for his mouth was surrounded by the liquidated pale toothpaste and the toothbrush was in his hand.

“You,” I stated and opened the door.

“Me? Dude, I’m not,” he denied but his eyes went straight to my pecker and stayed there.

“Yes, you are!” I hear the hysteria in my voice.

“Huh. I think I would know if I were,” he frowns as he says the words with an almost comical look on his face as his eyes find their way back to my face.

He’s laughing at my- “Stop looking at my anaconda-”

“Anaconda? That would imply huge- that is not,” he pointed between my legs and covered his mouth with one hand before bending over laughing.

I back into the hot water and rinse myself out before grabbing my towel and stepping out, “It’s because of the hot water,” I mumble when I see he still has a wide grin on his mouth still.

I know he’s joking but it’s still embarrassing.

He puts his hands up in surrender and says, “Aye whatever man. It’s probably the water- we’ll see when I hop in won’t we?”

I feel my cheeks burn although I am sure that my skin is already a pink shade from the shower. I watched him and fumed, “Look Just stay away from me with all that- whatever that is,” I waved my hand in front of him and he snickered. “I won’t tell Nat if you break up with her, ASAP.”

“Break up with her? Are you accusing me because you want her for yourself?” he accused and I took another step towards him feeling my anger rising.

“What? Nat and I are best friends-”

“Yeah right. Girls and boys aren’t ‘just friends’. If you must choose, choose wisely for Melanie is great. But if you want Nat- I won’t allow you to cheat on her.”

What?

I stare at him for it sounds like an alien language to me. Natalie? And me? I scoff, feeling almost nauseated at that disgusting image of me kissing my bestie and he seems to now remember he was brushing his teeth for he turns and rinses his mouth, still staring at me in the mirror. I hear the running water over the toothbrush before I hear a ‘clink’ sound, knowing he placed the toothbrush in the holder before closing the tap. “Chill. I won’t tell Mel but make up your mind, for Natalie is a good girl.”

Again- what?

“I love Mel- why would I cheat on- wow. Oh, you’re good,” I mutter as I step back and stare at him, “Is this how you- look it’s none of my concern which way you swing but when it comes to my friends-”

“You want me to leave?”

Huh?

“Is this where I used up all the good deeds of the ‘high and mighty’ quota?” Damian places both hands on his waist and glares at me with a frown settling on his forehead.

I am speechless…how did the conversation come to this?

I grab my towel that’s about to slip off my waist and I say, “Look I don’t care if you’re gay or not-”

“What the f*ck-”

“I asked you to stay- you didn’t beg. So stay, just don’t look at me with those-”

“Gay eyes?” he jeered and I nodded.

“I’m not into you. I don’t like men,” he finishes with a deep-set frown between his eyebrows. “I don’t know how to prove it to you and I don’t care much for I won’t be around to care for long.”

He won’t be-

“You know what? Who am I to lecture you on cheating, huh? Have Nat. She’s cool but it won’t last long anyway- she’s too good for me. Whatever.”

He walks past me and into the shower.

He walks into the room five minutes later, fully clothed and slops down on the floor. I feel terrible but how can I ask him to join me on the bed when he’s- well- that.

“Why were you a cheerleader?” I blurt out.

“What?”

I remain silent while I wait for his answer.

“Because they needed muscle and I was good at it? My mum used to be part of a gym, so I was pretty athletic,” he satisfied me but I felt my curiosity growing.

His mother? I didn’t even know what that meant. She was part of a team? Did she represent at the Olympics? What? But I was too afraid to ask for I was feeling sh*tty once again- my belief that he was indeed gay was fading.

“She was part owner of a gymnasium, so naturally I was there practising too.”

Ah. Now it made sense.

“When my dad left the first time, I was about younger than your sister and my grades started slipping. Mum sold her part of the business to pay bills- see, she had gotten sick and my dad didn’t want a sick wife.”

I still didn’t say anything but I rolled over to the edge of my bed on Damian’s side and stared at the ceiling with my hands behind my head. His voice was void of emotion when he spoke in his hushed tone.

His father is a loser I note, however.

“I took part in the cheerleading squad for extra credit. See the basketball team was full. We had two options- that and the squad. Guess who made the squad? I had balance, discipline, core- upper and lower body strength- all thanks to my mum.”

“What’s that your mother had?” I mumble.

“Just kidney failing. She took him back after removing one. Now the other one is failing too.”

I feel his pain. I had a cousin who died from kidney failure. And although it was nothing in comparison to a parent, I did understand. No wonder he was drawn to Nat- she represented faith to him. Her background was just what he felt he needed- a deeper, higher healing.

Truth be told- I didn’t like them much.

“My sisters are- one is with them and I can’t find the other-”

Sh*t.

“She said he tried to r*pe her when she was sixteen. She ran away the next day because my mother didn’t believe her. She’s twenty-one now but I haven’t seen her since.”

What the f*ck?

He did what? Why would a parent- geez. These animals. His own daughter? How deeply banged up is his mother that she didn’t believe her own daughter? Was she even, okay? Is that why he didn’t want to go home? Wait- the other kid was still with them- Damian had said she was younger. Why weren’t the police involved? The children’s authorities.

I couldn’t believe the trauma he’s had to face in his younger years and here I was... accusing him of being- I am such a douche. I stare at the ceiling wondering if to press him more and also wondering if I wanted to know more. “You do believe her?”

“Of course, I do. I’m not a drugged-up piece-” He became silent.

Goodness- Damian’s parents were drug addicts?