When it Stops Hurting (Royce)

12

Chresanto's P.O.V.

"Are you excited for your game tonight?" Rayan asked, I shrugged a little as I sat at the kitchen table. I ate some of my cereal, watching my father turn his head to look at me, my mother stopped making her lunch.

"Game?" My dad asked.

"I'm on the basketball team" I murmured.

"Really?"

"Yes".

"Since when?"

"Since I made the team" I answered.

"I didn't know you tried out for the basketball team" my mom said.

"Yeah, well, you know, there's a lot of things you don't know about me, mom" I said casually, I stood up with my soggy cereal and proceeded to drain the milk in the sink.

"Ray, how come you didn't try out?"

"I wanted Chresanto to have something of his own" my brother answered, I looked at him, managing to smile a little.

"Really, Chres? You've got your brother talking about this favoritism thing, too? You're only making things harder for yourself by not partaking in sports or clubs, like your brother" my dad rambled, "if you actually did something, then your mother and I would actually have something to talk about".

"Dad, really?" Ray asked.

I threw my cereal away and placed the bowl in the sink. "I'm not in the mood right now, so I'll just say okay and keep it moving".

"Chresanto, all your father is trying to say is you ju-" "It doesn't matter, mom".

"But it does because I don't want to hear about it anymore" my dad said, glaring at me.

"Why the hell are you getting so mad?" Rayan asked, "it's not even that serious. All Chres has been asking for is a little bit of attention".

I furrowed my eyebrows, "why're you sticking up for me?"

"Because you're my brother".

"We'll come to your game tonight, sweetheart" my mom informed. I shook my head a little, "you don't have to come".

"See, it's things like that, you do-" "Okay, dad" Ray said, interrupting him, he looked at me. "We'll be there, first row, I'll make you a sign".

"Wait, no" I said, "I didn't expect you guys to actually come! I actually don't want you to" I stated, playing with my fingers. I didn't want my family to be at the game because I knew I wouldn't be as good as Rayan. I was never as good as him and I wanted to save them the disappointment and I wanted to save myself the embarrassment.

"Why not?" My mom asked curiously.

"Because I'm not as good as Ray" I answered, "I don't want to disappoint anyone". It was silent for a good while, so I kind of just took that as an opportunity to leave. "I'm gonna go" I said, walking out of the kitchen, I grabbed my keys from the key ring and left for school.

~~*~~

"What happened to you?" I asked seriously, eyeing Jacob's bruised cheek.

"Oh, um..." He murmured, "I was at the church yesterday with Pastor Wayne and I have to do conversion therapy, and yeah..." He looked at me, I pulled him into me, wrapping my arms around him. He placed his head on my chest.

"I can't believe they're making you do this" I whispered, I played with his hair.

"I'm gonna start looking for my own place". He pulled away from me, "it might take a while to find one, but you know, you gotta start somewhere".