The Many Flavors

Chapter 1

Mahedi POV

Hi, I am Mahedi! I just arrived at my first university outside of the motherland of Bangladesh. I am attending "Down Bad University". It will be my first experience living alone in a foreign country.

*beep* *beep*

I shut my alarm off and get ready for my international orientation. I am so happy to make new friends especially that are going thru the same difficulties as me adapting to the US.

Classes are supposed to start next week and I am so stressed. I hope to be able to explore my true desires in the US. Away from my families eyes, and the prejudice people of my country. I have had girlfriends in the past but I just feel something more for my attraction towards men.

I have been in what you call "denial" all my life weather it be because of circle of influence or just lack of self confidence.

Ever since I have arrived in the US, everyone I talk to, has wondered if I was gay or bi. They say it is because of my voice, I guess it sounds like the same as a gay guy here.

I Get out of my thoughts as I walk to sign in for the orientation. I get my name tag, sign up for a phone card and also get my welcome bag. I will open that later.

"Mahedi, please go to the second floor of the library for testing." Some guy that looks Indian says to me.

'Okay Mahedi, you can do this it is just a basic skill test'

Wish me luck!

Time skip~

I am currently waiting in the common area of the library. This whole group of guys that look East Asian are getting closer and closer to me.

"Hi, can we sit here?" The tall one asks in a weird accent I didn't hear before. But I have to say he is hot.

"Yeah of course. Where are all you guys from?" I say acting cool but in reality I am screaming because they are all handsome. They also all have long hair and they keep running there hand through it.

I wonder if they are good with there hands in other ways - wait why did I think like that? 'Bro you just met them 😩.'

"Oh, we are from Taiwan." The tall one says.

"混蛋 (Motherfucker), you didn't tell him our names." The shorter one says.

"We were just thinking that he could learn our names slowly once lunch time hits. Because I am too tired to remember his name for now." The taller one said.

"You are such a tease." The shorter one says almost sounding like an uncle.

"My name is wooshik. I am from South Korea." The tanner one said.

"Finally my name is Takato, I am from Japan."  The cute tanner one said.

"I am Mahedi, from Bangladesh nice to meet all of you." I say trying not to blush when they all slightly now to me.

We talk for a few minutes before a girl, I think she was named Rochelle says," I am glad to see you are all getting along but it is now time to go to lunch. I know you are all probably starving. But the cafeteria is mostly shit during the semester but I hope today hits." Rochelle says and goes with her friend Lillie.

"Well I guess we should all getting going. But I have to admit that jet lag is fucking me hard." The taller Taiwanese said.

"I know, right. Why did they have to make this shit so early?" I say and they all agree with me.

"I tried American beer last night and I feel like shit now because it was so bad." Wooshik said while leading the group to the cafeteria.

"This actually ain't my first time in this college. I have been here for my junior year of my bachelors and now I am here for a year of my master's." The tall Taiwanese guy said.

"What made you comeback?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"I have a lot of memories and a lot of firsts here." He said nostalgically.

"Like what kind of firsts?" I ask a little gleefully for some reason.

"Oh you know, like sleeping with my first guy, smoking weed for the first time, a few other things." He sounded so causal about but the rest of us were dumbfounded.

I felt relieved after I heard that statement. That means that he is Bi. He can understand my problems right.

"You all don't be surprised because in Taiwan is a regular thing. We aren't as traditional as most of your countries." The shorter Taiwanese said.

We arrive at the cafeteria and get our meal tickets  from the orientation leaders.

We get our food and all sit together and make conversation.

"Hey Mahedi, would you want to have a party with us tonight? It will just be the 4 of us." Wooshik asks out of the blue.

"I don't really drink. But I can go there just to chill with you guys." I say but I won't tell them that it is because it is haram.

"Yeah it will be fun." The shorter Taiwanese said and the taller nod their head in agreement.

"I am a light weight but I just turned 20 so unfortunately I can't legally drink in the US. 😭"  Takato said low key regretful.

"Do I need to bring anything?" I asked, because if I do I might have to go on a shopping trip to Walmart.

"No you don't just bring yourself. I bought so much stuff at Walmart yesterday and it is either too sweet or too salty to me so I need to get rid of it." Wooshik says.

"Okay so what time should we be over?" I ask making a plan so I can match my outfit to my mood. Maybe I will try to get alone with the taller Taiwanese and just see what happens.

'I should not be thinking about this'

"Come around 9 tonight." Wooshik says.

After lunch we get split up into groups with our leaders.

Mine just so happened to be Rochelle, the one from earlier. Judging from her bubbly personality, I want to ask if she is you know similar to my situation.

Rochelle and I are alone after one presentation.

"Rochelle may I ask you a question?" I say.

"Of course." She says.

"Are perhaps Gay?" I ask immediately a little embarrassed waiting for her response.

"No but I am bi. And I am an ally if you want to know." She says just being herself.

"Yeah I am an ally too but I am fortunately straight. Hahaha." I say hoping my statement doesn't sound like a lie.

"Well, that doesn't matter. If later you want to tell me something different I will still support you." She says and it is like her words pierced right thru my soul.

'Fuck what if she already knows. What if everyone already knows?'

The day finally comes to the end around 6pm I am just chilling in my dorm room. I want to take a nap but my inner thoughts aren't allowing me to.

'I wonder if the boys would judge me because of this well minus the taller one. I don't know how to act around them and them all being at on party 😭. Maybe I can just stay in my dorm and say I am not feeling good or something. But I already promised and I really want to go. What do I do?'

I finally shut off my brain and set an alarm for 2.5 hours from now.

Nobody was ready for what would happen at that party.