The Hush-Bond

Chapter Seven: Stripped Off

Darren's POV

I entered the kitchen and settled back at my previous position. I look at Carla who is now assuring Allen that 'everything will just be fine' but Allen seems just sat there motionless and head still hanged low.

I cleared my throat to know my presence "So...I'm all ears now." I begun. Carla look at me with a sad smile and nodded.

"Alright--" she breath out"-- but Dan - Allen will be the one explaining it to you because it's really not place to talk about it." Carla said. I look at Allen but it seems he was not going to talk either. He just sat there staring at his unfinished food. But I need some reasoning here so that I can approve about him staying in my house.

"Okay but I think the guy is more interested in staring at his food than talking Carla." I said.

"Dan could you please stop that. It's not helping..." Carla scolded me.

"Carla I don't have all day to wait for him to talk and if he doesn't - you're dealing with this alone. He can find somewhere else to live. Call me heartless. He is old and big enough to figure all this out."

"Dan please...just understand. It's not that easy for him." Carla said.

"Carla, he just said awhile ago he doesn't want pity- if that's what he wanted then he should man up and face it head strong." I said bluntly. I waited for her reply but nothing came but instead.

"Allen, please... Dan is right, you should man up and face it. I know it is hard for your part but not talking either is not even helping your situation." She explained to Allen urging him to talk.

"But wait Carla, tell me your reason why he can't stay at your house?" I suddenly shift the question to her.

"Well Dan, you know how my dad right?" Definitely. How I could not forget that homophobic bastard. When he knew I was gay he's treatment towards me abruptly change from good to disgust.

"Yeah how I could forget your dad." I said rolling my eyes. "Why you asked - is that man has to do with this guy?" I asked wondering.

"Very much!" She exclaimed.

"Carla could you please elaborate it more. I'm not getting the point here?" I asked still not grasping her thought.

"I'm gay." Allen suddenly said.

Now I get it. He can't stay at Carla's house because his gay. But ---

"Okay I understand that part. Then why you still decided yourself to fly over here?" I asked him still not understanding his situation.

"I don't have nowhere else to go. I hope that if I tell it personally to Carla she would help me. My family disowned me. My dad stripped off everything that I have. He left me nothing but only his surname and nothing more." Allen said with sadness lingered in his voice. "This all happened when I came out to them two weeks ago. My father was furious about it to the point he hired men and tortured me, believing it will turn me back into a real man. After that incident I decided I must escape from there." He paused catching his breath and wiping away the tears that are now present in his eyes. After the confession I was silent for a moment. How could a father do that to his own son? Just because his gay? Well some people are not very acceptive about homosexuality but what his father did to him was far beyond unacceptable. I look at him not with pity but with proud. Proud of what he did - it's very hard to come out when you knew that the outcome may not be in your favor, you just hoped that once you told them the truth they may not understand you or may not judge you. But to Allen's case he was rejected by his own family.

"Sorry to hear that Allen." I start after a long pause. "Now that I know your reasons. And knowing it now, made me feel bad about myself of how I reacted. But seriously I'm doing this without pity towards you but as a new friend willing to help. Actually I'm proud of you for doing that. You're such a strong person by telling your parents who you truly inside. You can stay." I said to him with reassurance .