Picture of Mako Pereira ^_^

Chapter 5 - Just, don't be gay.

Oliver

Thursday came by very quickly, finally my first week was almost over, I just had to survive today while holding on to my sanity. I don't have lectures on Fridays for now at least, they claim to be searching for a new lecturer to take up the course we have on Fridays, and apologised for the delay in the Email they sent out.

Thumbs up Denberg.

I had two classes today, one of which I shared with Chris; the first class by 8:30. I contemplated going to call him so we could walk to school together, but I decided against it becoming conscious of the fact that I was likely to meet him in school.

I did not search thoroughly but I glanced around the hall a few times during the lectures, I also stayed by the door after the lecture was over but I never saw Chris leave.

Was he going this far to avoid me? Or did he just skip? I tried to make plausible assumptions in my head in an attempt to calm my paranoia.

I got back, had a quick lunch which was obviously junk and I just laid on my bed trying to sort things out virtually. I rolled to my side grabbing my phone it was 4:35PM, I settled on texting for a while, minutes after my mind started screaming at me.

I replied a few messages, including Jess's who was currently active, like she always was. I lost interest in texting after some time, and was just about to drop my phone when I received a text from him.

Mako
Hey... Cutie.

It was a text from Mako which he sent with a winking emoji. I then remembered that we'd exchanged numbers on Monday, the night I met him playing his guitar but we hadn't texted since then.

Seeing as he was the first person to send a text and this was what he said, I was pleased and also a bit puzzled by the his choice of friendly words.

Cutie? I really don't think straight guys call each other cuties and such, or maybe they do? Stop Oliver! stop being so hopeful!.

I scolded myself.

Me

Hey to you too, Mr Mako.

I replied after a few minutes of just staring, I wanted it to look like I had friends I was engaged in conversations with before his text came in.

You're such an idiot.

I assumed replying immediately will make it seem like I was just online waiting for someone, just anyone to text me. As pathetic as it might sound I strongly believed that's just the way this kind of thing works.

Mako
Nice attempt at being formal Mr Olly.

He replied the instant it delivered, I suppose I'm the only one with these beliefs and insecurities.

Me
I'm just in my room, I'm so spiritless at the moment.

I replied just as fast, disregarding my beliefs and getting over my insecurities.

Mako
Why don't you go hang with them Khalid? They should be at the pool by now.

He suggested.

It wasn't a bad suggestion but I refused to consider it, going to hang with them simply means I'll have to face Chris. I wasn't ready for that just yet, so I tried to bring Mako aside instead.

Me
Yes, but I was thinking we could meet in the common area downstairs.

Me
And please come with your guitar.

I added, remembering how awesomely he plays. I was waiting in serious anticipation to watch those videos of him playing and singing.

Mako
Aww sorry boo I can't.

Me

You can't?

I asked feeling tensed, as fear gripped me.

Good one Olly, you've yet again pushed someone away.

Mako
Yeah I'm not in the dorm, I'm with a friend in his incredibly fancy expensive flat.

Mako
It's not far from school.

Me

Oh.

I replied relaxing a bit, realising I didn't push him away or anything similar to what got me scared.

Mako
Yeah I'm gonna stay here for a week or two.

Me

Okay, you have fun in that fancy flat.

I replied feeling a bit sad among everyone at the get-together, I felt most comfortable with Mako. On Wednesday I was in the elevator with Alex and he didn't speak to me even when I said hi, he's such a grumpy withdrawn pile of rubbish.

Mako
Hey why don't you come visit, I'll play for you.

He proposed.

Did he really? Fuck yes! But yes? Did I really want to go? I queried myself over and over.

Me

Really?

I brought myself to reply after thinking about it.

Mako
Yes really!, I'll send you the address.

I soon got a GPS location, I opened it on the maps app. It wasn't too far from my dorm just as he said, I'd even walked past the building a few times and boy was it expensive!

Me

This is the first invitation I'm getting, I shall wear a nice dress.

I got up from my bed and grabbed a chocolate bar from my table.

Mako
Hahaha it's not that fancy.

Mako
So when?

The next bubble came in right after the first one.

I thought about my schedule, tomorrow being Friday was pretty free for me I had no lectures, but I decided against going on Friday. He just invited me today, saying I would come the next day would be strangely repulsive, I had to go grocery shopping on Saturday I've been literally living off junk. I had three classes on Monday so that was out of the question.

Me

Tuesday.

Mako
Tuesday it is, see you Olly.

He replied with a heart emoji. I couldn't help but smile at his jovial nature, something about him just made me feel so happy and relaxed.

I was about to reply when his last seen appeared, signifying that he'd gone offline, I did the same. Finishing the chocolate bar I'd been eating I crumbled the wrapper and tossed it into the trash can at the edge of my room.

What to do now?.

I grabbed another chocolate bar, I bought quite a lot this just proves what I said earlier about living off junk food. Putting my fear behind me, I made up my mind to go to the pool and hang with Khalid and the guys, I was hoping not to meet Chris there anyway.

I had a serious case of aquaphobia after an incident that occurred some years ago, where I nearly drowned at the beach. The image of mum's terrified face when I was finally resuscitated after being unresponsive to CPR flashed through my mind, sending cold shivers down my spine.

I got my phone and keys still holding the chocolate bar in my hand, I looked my door and headed down to the pool. When I got to the pool Chris was the only one there, sitting on one of the pool side chairs holding his over his face, he was in a sleeveless tank like top and shorts.

Does this kid even feel cold?.

The weather was quite chilly it gave me little shivers and the sun had already began to set, it was 6:15 now. I walked up to him and sat on the chair next to the one he was sitting on.

He just looked up and tipped his head while wiggling his brows at me, greeting indirectly before taking his attention back to his phone.

"How're you doing?" I asked paying close attention to his tone, facial expressions and body language.

"I'm good, just this headache that doesn't want to go away, I've been feeling it since morning" he replied quite calmly his eyes still placed on his phone.

I gave up looking for hints of disgust or discomfort as I laid back and got comfortable in my chair.

"I'm guessing that's the reason you weren't in class today" I replied just staring out at the pool.

"Bro you guessed right" he replied stressing the first word.

"Sorry about that"

"Yeah no biggie we went for this party on Monday and frankly I drank quite a lot, I also skipped lectures on Tuesday because of the massive hangover I woke up with" he explained "I was okay on Wednesday I wonder why the headache came back this morning" he finished rubbing his temple with the tip of his fingers holding his phone in the other hand.

"I still can't believe you guys went for a party on a school day" I asked giggling shaking my head from side to side

"Well it was our first University party and we knew it was going to be fire, we just couldn't miss it" he tried to defend himself

"I heard about the party from Mako, how'd it go?" I asked watching as the water in the pool just moved around gently with the wind.

"Oh Mako, that wanker refused to come with us, I mean Alex yes I understand he's a sociopath or something similar to that, but Mako the life of a fucking party" he sighed very likely letting the pent up stress out because he winced and rubbed his temple again. "Well Mako's gonna have to make up for this one" he finished.

I ignored the fact that he didn't tell me how well the party went, I just sincerely felt a bit sad and left out. They even invited Alex of all people, but they skipped inviting me.

I was at the get-together for christ's sake.

I compensated myself by believing they did not invite me because they did not know me too well, I still had this feeling at the back of my head that if Mako was going he would've invited me.

"Oh the party was rad, I mad- Holy shit!" he exclaimed sitting up on his chair. I followed suit looking around starting to feel uneasy.

"What?! What?! Did you just see a mermaid in the water? Oh my God you did see a mermaid in the water didn't you?" I asked scanning the water without moving close to it.

He just gave me a blank, disappointed look before laughing.

"The fuck? No, remember Shirley?" He asked in between laughs.

I quickly scanned the files in my head, Shirley the one in my department, short brown hair.

"Yeah, why?" I replied.

"She was at the party," he took a pause trying to let me guess but I was just blank so he continued, "and I made out with her!" He finished smiling triumphantly leaning back on his chair "I'm so asking her out".

Wow so no mermaids then, thank the heavens.

I relaxed back into my chair, feeling a little flustered, I couldn't believe I was just scared of mermaids. I should probably stop watching all these movies.

"So you're gonna date someone from my department? I suppose I should date someone from yours then" I chuckled.

"Yeah good luck with that, they're mostly guys," he snickered, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I really don't mind, stop it Olly! I mentally scolded myself.

"Tell me Oliver, you remember that guy from Monday? The one who said you were gay?" He turned to me now with a serious look on his face as he put his phone away.

This was the topic I dreaded, I knew it was going to come up eventually.

"Yeah I do, we attended the same highschool," I replied softly, my mood changed that instant and my head felt so much heavier now, I leaned back relaxing my head which was now pounding.

"Oh I see," Chris voiced his realization. "Well is it true? What he said, are you gay?" He asked.

So many thoughts went through my mind at once; Is he homophobic? What should I tell him? Will he believe my answer? Do I even know the right answer to his question?

"No Chris, no I'm n-" I heaved a heavy sigh attempting to reduce the weight on my chest. "I'm not gay, he's just a bully and he mostly picks on quiet, slightly timid people almost half his size," I explained not sparing a glance at Chris. I had no intentions of finding out whatever expression he had on his face.

"Oh he's just a bully," he replied after a moment turning away from me, taking his attention back to his phone. "Well don't be gay, I don't judge people and I'm not homophobic either, just don't be gay," he said with a small soft tone which almost made him sound worried.

_
AN: I hope you stick around to find out what happens.

Mako is such a cutie I can't even 🤧

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