10 Days to Prom

The Truth

"He likes you.", Dave said to Rohan.

Three of them were at Rohan's house adding finishing touches to their assignments. Rohan had only one left but Dave and Henry were the ones lagging and so he decided to help them like always. He just related the scene that took place at the boy's washroom yesterday.

Henry covered his mouth to  portray shock. They were in the sitting room next to the kitchen from where Rohan's mom peeked in and asked, "Who likes my son did you say?"

"A boy from our class...he is in a different section though. But we know him. He was in our group on that excursion last year.", Dave said without any hesitation.

Rohan's mom emerged fully from the kitchen and came near them. "I want the details.", she said with her hands on her hip.

"No details mom! It's just a hunch.", Rohan said irritated.

"I will make sure you get the details, auntie. By tomorrow.", Henry said with a salute.

Rohan's mom smiled and left. Moments later they heard a squeal of two women from the upper storey. "These women!", Rohan said and shook his head.

"That's mean Rohan. You don't get moms like that all the time. Be grateful...she adopted you and brought you up single-handedly...all alone."

"I know...she even adopted her friends. Can you imagine four friends living together with their kids for 20 years? Moreover we are like a family now and all of a sudden she comes out to me as an  asexual. She also said that she doesn't necessarily need a partner, cuz she has this whole family.", Rohan said.

"Where is Elena? Isn't she home?", Henry asked all of a sudden.

"She and Chris went to their grandpa's home last week, with their dads. They will be back tomorrow. It's only mom and auntie Lily at home.", Rohan said.

"Oh...", said Henry.

"Why do you care? Elena doesn't even like you. When uncle Dan asked her who she wants to get married to she said my name.", Rohan said and laughed along with Dave.

"Her dads like me. Uncle Dan and uncle Neil both said that, remember? But leave that...I need to find out about your boy now. I promised your mom.", Henry said seriously.

"He is not 'my' boy! What's wrong with you?", Rohan threw his pen at Henry.

"He will be soon. I already found him on instagram. His name's Mike.", Dave said.

Rohan and Henry leaned to join heads with Dave and looked at the phone.

---

Mike was busy completing his last pending assignment on his bed while he heard his room's door open. It was his step-dad.

"Did you apply for the colleges I mentioned?", he asked.

"Yes dad.", Mike replied.

"Okay. Are you going to prom? Have you got a date?", his dad asked in a mellowed voice.

"I guess. I don't have a date yet.", Mike said looking down at his notebook, while fiddling with his pen.

"Hmm...well, good luck. For everything.", he replied with a smile and left.

Mike was immune to these abrupt conversations now that he started living with his mom's new husband for 5 years but the gap between them was still big.  Considering how he was not his biological dad, this was enough. He digested everything for his mom. His dad passed away long back but there were a few lingering feelings. At lunch, his mom recommended he wear the suit his father left him, to prom. Mike managed to say an 'okay' to this since there were only 8 days left and he was still not able to take a step. His mom sensing the tension during lunch decided to give him a pep talk later, just in case.

Mike was staring at the pamphlet with prom night's information that Rohan handed him last day.

"What's wrong, Micky?", she asked, coming in and sitting at the foot of the bed. Mike put away the pamphlet.

"Nothing much. Just a bit down.", Mike said lying down on his mom's lap.

"Is it career? Or love?", she asked patting his head.

"Both, I guess...", Mike said, " Kind of afraid and confused."

"Is second one the reason you joined gym? I couldn't get you to do it but that person did! I knew it.", she gasped.

Mike felt his ears were hot. He buried his face more into her lap. She smiled.

"It will be alright. Man up, Micky! Go on and speak out your feelings.", she said, slapping his back.

Mike looked up at her and said with a smile, "Will sure do!"

---

"Ricky, do you remember Mike from our group when we went on that excursion last year?", Henry asked while munching on his wafer.

They were at the school canteen enjoying their last few days of school lunch time.

"Do you mean chubby Micky?", Ricky asked in response.

Rohan looked up from his phone. Dave said, "I don't think he is chubby anymore." and showed Ricky a photo.

"Yes! That's him. We call him Chubby Micky in our class.", Ricky said nodding to himself.

"Your boy has got a cute name!" Dave said and laughed along with Henry.

Rohan, irritated was about to say something, when Ricky asked in a hurry, " His boy? They are already dating? When did Mike confess to you?" His face still shocked.

"I am not dating anyone. What the hell are you saying?", Rohan retorted, his voice serious.

Ricky looked at them in confusion. Henry rolled his eyes with his lips pursed. Dave scratched his chin and said after a minute, "Tell us what we don't know."

The three of them looked at Ricky intensely. Ricky glanced here and there, cleared his voice, leaned forward and said,

"Mike likes Rohan. Since when we went on that excursion. Wanted to confess after Rohan helped him go to or rather took him to the nurse's office when Mike injured his elbow during a game."

Dave banged the table with his fist. "See...I am never wrong.", he said and looked at Henry for confirmation.

Rohan, stupefied at the fact that he had been so oblivious all this time and also the fact that he didn't care for anyone except Dave and Henry, suddenly muttered, "Fool!"

"Who?", Ricky asked.

"He himself, ofcourse.", Henry said, "homeboy loves me and Dave so much that he lost his only chance at romance!"

Rohan looked at them laughing and said, "At times like this, mom is the only one who can help me."