PLAIN and PROUD: Book 1 (BxB n LGBT)

Chapter 17: Bros Before Hoes

Connor's POV

Why would the only best friend that I have, who clearly betrayed me want? I felt the same urge to punch him hard in the face bubbling up inside me but I won’t give in to my own wrath, nope he deserved worse.

   “Are you going to just stand there or are you going to see him? He’s waiting in your room.” Dad croaked before shuffling his hands away, with a slight shove on my arms to get me moving. What if I don’t want to meet that sorry ass loser?

  “Why are you boys not hanging out with each other these days? Something happened?” For a moment I could hear a sliver of a crack in his voice, as if he actually meant what he said. He actually cared with what’s been going on in my life. But then again, what’s the point of putting your hopes too high?

He usually won’t care much about me and my friends. But this is a good sign, nonetheless. He might have heard it from Principal Vandrick or someone else close. I could’ve replied: nothing personal though, we both just kind of drifted apart from the best friends for life category. Looking at his stony face, I flicked off my straight-to-the-truth notion. A white lie meant nothing to me if he didn’t figure out the truth later on. That would be another thing to worry about, but not now. “Nothing happened at all, Dad. No worries. We’re just busy with different schedules. That’s all. We're good.”

          He shook his head and went away towards his room down the hallway. His greying hair made more obvious with his monotonous choice of a wardrobe, keeping up to the pastor's character really seriously. Not that I'm complaining anyway. He looked matured and wise for a man his age and I respected that the most. He’s also a man of privacy, his room is filled with biblical posters, and he devoted his entire life for Christ since Mom's death and yet he still would find some time for me. I really love him for that. He's being like what typical fathers would do, cater rather than nurture. That job is reserved for the moms.

   “Uh Dad, have you taken your meds?” I asked before he could disappear into his room, probably not seeing each other again all the way until tomorrow night. He stopped in his track and turned around, before nodding without much of a reply. He was diagnosed with hypertension three years ago and I found out recently, that his pancreas was starting to fail him and his salary as pastor which is based on alms by churchgoers and the monthly state funding are our main, current support. It wasn’t much to cover his medical expenses and let alone the house. That’s why I decided to work part-time – much to his protest – to try and relieve his burden on groceries and other essential bills.

Thankfully I didn’t have any siblings, or else there would be more mouths to be fed. Dad loves Mom so much he couldn’t be bothered to remarry. Her death made him silent and cold at times, but he’s cheerful particularly when he’s in the presence of Christ inside the church. He really enjoyed his work, spreading the love of Christ to all.

    “Of course I have eaten those god-awful pills, son. I have also injected insulin to my tummy afterwards. There, happy now?” he replied with a smug look on his face before turned on his heels back towards his bedroom door. “Connor, remember to sleep early and don’t chat so late at night. That boy needs to go back before midnight. I don’t want his parents calling me for his whereabouts.”

I tried to hide the fact I want to laugh when he tried to use basic less nasty sort of swear words like ‘bloody’, ‘friggin’ and ‘bulldog’ instead of just plain straightforward ‘bullshit’. He’s always so careful with his choice of words. He knew that he's still a father, a job that comes with exemplary duties towards me as his son. He looked a tad bit tired too but that’s probably because of the meds kicking in.