PAST:
Once they did the deed, they couldn't keep their hands off each other. They entered their honeymoon phase right away. They were at it every chance they got. One such opportunity presented itself when Cody went out on a date with Jessica, so obviously, Ray invited Jason over.
Jason hated meeting Ray empty-handed, but he couldn't really afford to buy something every time, so he settled for a flower. Every time he met Ray, he gave him a flower. What he hadn't given him yet, was a red rose. So, when he saw one at the flower shop, he couldn't resist buying it.
When Jason reached Ray's place, the door was already unlocked. He knew that Cody wasn't gonna be there, so for a second, he got excited that he might find a very sensual setting. But his hopes and dreams got shattered when he found Ray, dressed in his pyjamas, sitting on the bed, and painting his nails.
"Why was the door unlocked?"
"And, hello to you too," said Ray.
"Hello, Blondie," said Jason and gave him the rose.
"You seriously have to stop with all the flowers. I am not so big on them."
"My mother taught me that you should never go on a date empty-handed, but I can't really afford anything else, so you'll have to make do with the flowers."
"Well, if your mother said so, then fine... Wait a minute, she didn't know you are gay. Are you calling me a girl, Jason?" Ray asked with a mean look on his face.
"I mean, you are the one with the painted nails, so... And, you chose blue of all color?" Jason asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I love it. It really brings out the color in my eyes, don't you think?"
"Yeah, yeah. It's nice."
"Come, let me paint yours," said Ray.
"Oh, no. Thank you very much."
"Oh, come on. I know you want to."
"No, I don't," said Jason, affirmatively.
"Jaasssooonnn..."
"Raayyyy..."
"Deny all you want, but I know that deep down, you really want to," said Ray.
"Ugh... Okay, fine. I really want to... Here..." said Jason and gave Ray his hands. It was a weird feeling for Jason, getting his nails painted. He cringed but felt exhilarated at the same time. "You are so comfortable in your skin. Please, make me too."
"For that, you need to accept who you are. I know that you love being gay, but you're still not out and proud. You are not open about your sexuality. You think it's a personal matter and that others have no business looking into it. When in reality, you hide it. You don't want other people to know that you are gay because you think it will make you vulnerable. All these blockages in your head, that you are supposed to be a certain way, or expected to be a certain way... Fuck them, okay? And, then me, if you feel like it, but them first, definitely."
"That was a pretty spot-on evaluation, and I'll consider everything you said, but can you please, for the love of God, stop sexualizing everything? It turns me on."
"That's the whole point, big guy," said Ray.
"Ummm..." Jason blushed. "Now, since you...uhh... Now that we are talking about it...I, uhh...do have something in mind."
YOU ARE READING
Shell Of A Man
Romance"I guess just spending time with some people fixes everything." Carrying the burdens of his past was Jason Smith. Numb. Emotionless. After all those years, what remained was just a shell of a human being. Dragging his life, one day at a time, becaus...
