Get Lost, Cat Eyes!

4

"Oh my second son! You're so big now!"

Antonio smiled as Samba's mother squeezed the life out of him with one of her gamma-ray-mutated-bear hugs.

"Mama Samba, I can't breathe,' the newcomer wheezed, still in the woman's grasp. But he didn't mind much. It's been so long since he's seen her.

So long since he's had a genuine, love-filled hug from another person that wasn't his own mother.

"Sorry baby. I've just missed you so much. My baby has been so lonely without you. So lonely, he even went off and found himself a boyfriend." she fake sniffled, letting go of Antonio and grinning up at him.

"My you're so tall ... my babies are growing up so fast."

Samba's mother didn't seem to feel the tension in the air. The tension that came upon mentioning that Samba had a boyfriend. She didn't notice how her son's eyes widened briefly before glancing over at Antonio.

And she hadn't seen the slight glare Antonio gave Samba.

"I'm gonna cook dinner. You guys go up and do whatever kids your age do. I'll call you guys down when I'm finished. Also, tonight's movie night." she patted both boys on the shoulder before scurrying off into the kitchen, leaving behind the problem she potentially started.

"Yeah. Let's go upstairs and do whatever kids our age do." Antonio turned to Samba. "Care to lead the way?"

Shit.

-

"You didn't tell me you were seeing someone now." Antonio did seem a little hurt.

Samba arched a brow and mouthed, 'I can't really talk so ...'

"I mean, damn. Didn't we have an agreement?"

Samba vaguely remembered the silly pact the two boys had made when they were in middle school.

If we're both still single towards the end of high school, we'll just date each other.

Samba nodded. 'Yes. But ... it's not the end of high school. We're juniors. We still have another year.'

"Yeah. But who's to say you still won't be dating that guy by the end of next year?"

'And who is to say that I will be dating him?'

Samba didn't really understand why Antonio was so ...

Sick.

I mean. He did know why. But he couldn't've really meant what he said when they were just some silly 12 year olds, right?

That was like believing a little kid when they said they weren't gonna be your friend anymore because you didn't give them the green lollipop.

Samba rolled his eyes. 'Okay. Whatever. Enough about me. Tell me about you. What happened in these past few years?'