Sweet Christmas

4

"You have to forgive Gunnie. He's a sweetheart, he's just very passionate."

"He cares about you a lot."

"He does. A little too much sometimes," Win says. "But he's always been protective, it's part of his charm."

"Are the two of you..."

"What?"

"Well, you know."

"Together? Me and Gun?" Win bursts out laughing. "No. Never. And I am sure Gun feels the exact same way. The two of us, we're family."

"You've known each other for a long time?"

"Since grade 7. He's the one who convinced me to come back to Dome."

"You left?"

"After college, yeah. I went to San Francisco - chased what I thought was my dream."

"What happened?"

"The dream turned into a nightmare." Win shakes his head. "I'm being dramatic."

"You're not. I know a lot about chasing after the wrong thing too."

"Really?"

"Yeah. For the longest time, I was dead set on proving I was straight. I got toxic and defensive about it. I put up walls and turned away from my real friends. I...I was falling for someone in college but I just couldn't accept that he was a dude so I kept my distance. I think I was even mean to him once or twice just because this wasn't what I dreamt of, you know? I didn't dream to be different. My dream then was a well paying 9-5 job, a picket fence, a wife, a kid. It took me a few years to realize that's my dad's dream not mine."

Silence.
Bright couldn't bring himself to look at Win. "Sorry," he mumbles. "That was way too much information."

Win rests a hand on Bright's arm. "Not at all. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Your dad okay with who you are now?" 

Bright sighs. "No. Not really. He tries but he's far from accepting it. But it's okay. I am happier now. I found my groove you know? And if I'm lucky I may even get a chance to fall in love again."

"Oh! With mystery crush. How has it been going anyway? Have you made progress?"

Bright's smile turns shy. "I hope. I'm not really sure."

"Come on, ask him out already. It's Christmas! Christmas magic is on your side."

"I've...um...talked to him."

"I didn't even see! You're stealthy! So? Did the conversation go well?"

Bright bites his lip. "I think so. I really hope so. I really like talking to him."

"I always like talking to you. So if he's got any intelligence, he'll like talking to you."

"You like talking to me?"

"Stop fishing," Win says, pushing Bright's arm with his.

"We're near your house. You should get some sleep. Gun will probably flay me alive if you even yawn once tomorrow."

Win makes a face. "I'm not sleepy at all."

"But is Gun right? You haven't been sleeping?"

"To be honest, it's been awhile since I have slept well."

"You're up by 5 every day and you don't get sleepy?"

"I get tired. I'm human. But when I lie down to sleep, nothing. My body wants to rest but my brain doesn't want to shut down."