10 Days to Prom

The New Feelings...2

"Oh hello, there! You must be Rohan!", Mike's mom, a short and slim woman who could almost be mistaken as Mike's older sister, greeted them with a big smile.

"Hello, auntie.", Rohan said, with a little bow.

"So handsome!!", Mike's mom stated and kept observing Rohan.

"Mom! Please!", Mike said and went to sit on the sofa. He patted the seat next to him signalling Rohan to sit there.

"Why? I am just complimenting him. I was so happy to know about you asking Micky out. It was so sweet of you to do that.", Mike's mom said.

"Well. When I learnt about his feelings for me, I just couldn't sit back and do nothing.", Rohan said shyly.

"Aww.", she said and clasped her hands together.

Rohan and Mike both smiled at each other awkwardly.

"Tell me about your parents. What did they say about you guys?", she asked, all of a sudden.

"Umm...well, I only have my mom. We live with her three friends from her workplace and their kids, together. They all met Mike and were really happy about us.", Rohan said.

Mike's ears turned red on hearing the last part of Rohan's sentence.

"Isn't she married?", she enquired.

"No. She is actually an Ace...asexual, I mean. Not really interested in a sexual relationship. Also she didn't feel like looking for a partner. She met me in an  orphanage, to which she and her friends used to donate money every month. I was 3 when she adopted me.", Rohan said.

"Really? I can't wait to meet her!", she said enthusiastically.

"I will tell her that.", Rohan said, smiling.

"Good. You take him to your room, Micky. I will get you guys something to eat,  meanwhile", she said.

"What about dad?", Mike asked, a bit nervous.

"He will be a bit late today. Don't worry.", she said and almost pushed them up the stairs.

"Woah. She is not scary as I thought!", Rohan said, letting out a sigh of relief, after closing the door of Mike's room.

"You should be concerned about my dad. Actually my stepdad. Mom got married to him 5 years ago. This is my real dad. He left us when I was 10.", Mike said, showing him a photo on his bed stand.

"Oh. Sorry to hear that. But what about your stepdad?", Rohan asked, because he is the one Rohan will have to face on 14th.

"He didn't like the fact about me being homosexual. He stopped talking to me since the day he heard about my prom date. Him accepting me is a dream come true. Forget about him accepting you.", Mike said, sitting on the bed with a thump.

"Oops!", Rohan sat on the bed next to Mike, in the same stance, with the same concerning thought.

A few minutes of silence, Mike turned sideways, placed his hand on Rohan's hand and said, reassuringly, "It's alright, Rohan. Even if we can't date each other, I am happy for just these few days that you are spending with me. No pressure."

"I can't just let go of you like that. I may be adopted but I have had a very ideal upbringing, Mike. I haven't learnt to let go of things that easily, not atleast a person who loves me.", Rohan said, looking back at him.

Mike went silent.

Rohan continued, "I might still be confused about my feelings for you but there's one thing that I am sure of. I don't regret asking you out. And since I have started this myself, I will take responsibility. Your dad will not be able to reject me."

"How can you if you don't love me like I do?", Mike asked, his grip on Rohan's hand getting tighter.

"I might not have fallen totally in love with you now, but who knows? And mom said, it's always better to love someone who already loves you.", Rohan caressed Mike's cheeks and continued, "Will you be able to wait for me a bit more?"

"Okay.", Mike said, his voice almost inaudible and buried his face in Rohan's chest.

"Chubby Micky is such a crybaby.", Rohan said and embraced Mike, in his arms. He heard a stifled chuckling.

"So I am able to make chubby Micky laugh too. Aah...this is pure bliss.", Rohan said, closing his eyes.

Mike chuckled more, still in Rohan's arms, and said without looking up, "Stop it."

"What? I couldn't hear you!", Rohan said and brought his face near to Mike's ears and said, "Let me see, are your ears red again? I love to see them going red."

Mike shivered with the warm breath of Rohan hitting his ears. He freed himself from Rohan's arms and asked, " You noticed?"

"I did. They become red like tomatoes.", Rohan said and smiled.

Mike covered his face with his palms and fell on the bed on his back and kicked in the air. Rohan was about to make a move when he heard the door knob turn. He was on the study table chair, sitting, in a flash.
Mike sat up and said, "Hey. Snacks are here!"

"Yep. They are here.", said Mike's mom.

"Thanks, auntie.", Rohan said, with visible nervousness.

"You are welcome. Mike's dad will arrive soon. I think it's better if you leave before he meets you, if you don't want to ruin your prom day. He is scary.", she said with a chuckle.

Mike and Rohan both laughed at her remark. Soon after having the snacks, Rohan was seated on the bicycle, outside, ready to leave. But he couldn't yet, wishing for Mike to do the thing that he did last day.

"See you tomorrow", Mike said.

"I won't be going to school tomorrow. I don't have anymore submissions left. All done.", Rohan said, without looking at Mike.

"Oh...", Mike said, and made imaginary lines in the concrete footpath, with his foot.

"I could come to meet you after school. Or you can come at my place. Or somewhere else.", Rohan said looking at Mike.

"Really?", Mike asked, his face bright, all of a sudden.

"Sure.", Rohan said, with a smirk, amazed at how fast Mike's reactions fluctuate.

"Okay, I will text you the place.", Mike said, smiling.

"Okay.", Rohan said and stared at him, all smiles.

"What are you waiting for? Go! Bye bye.", Mike said and waved his hand.

"I can't leave yet. There's one more thing left to be done.", Rohan said, boldly, hiding his shyness.

Mike remembered it and immediately his ears went red. He looked away for a moment and then came near Rohan. He glanced around the neighborhood and quickly gave a peck on Rohan's cheek.

"There you go!", Rohan said with a smile.

"Leave...will you?", Mike gave him a push.

"Bye...", Rohan said and cycled away.

Mike turned around with a swirl and half walked half danced while going back to the door.