he’ll never admit it aloud, it’s not something he’ll talk about even when asked…it’s all too REAL for gun. it was the first time he really affirmed his own sexuality ( yet he’s still in denial over it ) and the first time he’s really shown interest in SOMEONE instead of something, instead of books, instead of everything but people. it was the first time he felt his heart STOP when he saw someone smile, his breath caught in his throat when they said HELLO to him, his heart beating quickly over a brush of their hands….
when gun was in his FRESHMAN year in high school, he developed the hugest, undying crush for someone in his biology course. crush…yes, that’s what he told himself, convinced himself. he was head over heels for his ONLY friend in the class, his only male friend. perhaps he mistaken PLATONIC love for ROMANTIC love…maybe what he felt wasn’t love and that’s what he said to himself ––– final, firm….nothing else. JUST FRIENDS.
as the years wore on, gun can’t help but to feel himself infinitely attracted to his friend ; puberty came and went, they got taller and handsomer but gun remained small and meek…yet they still stuck with gun, that gave the boy some HOPE that maybe they wanted to be with him. he never suspected anything of his friend, he was grateful to have a COMPANION in his life that wanted to be with him. he took whatever he was offered, never asking for more because he FEARED losing his best friend ––– soft touches, gentle smiles, peals of laughter…he was SURE this was meant to be platonic yet he can’t help but to CRAVE for more, fantasizing for something more.
in their SENIOR year, he had intended to let his friend know that he ( maybe ) felt something more than a friendship…maybe his friend felt it too and that’s why they were so TOUCHY, so close with him. he had hope that maybe he wouldn’t be so LONELY anymore, not have to carry his burden alone. until he overheard the snickering and whispers around the corner, he catches SNIPPETS ––– the weirdo, finally freed, can get away, fun while it lasted…ah, they were talking about HIM. it was no surprise that gun was labeled the school weirdo for his ODDITIES, nor the fact that people wanted nothing to do with him but what really HURT was he recognized the voice.
he hears his heart shatter….the boy he was so in LOVE with, was just being polite ( as polite as he could be ), leading him ON for the sake of jokes. he was the butt of the joke…he feels hot tears flood his eyes and a lump forming in his throat. no, not here his mind reminds him as he turns and books it down the hall, not hiding the fact that he had eavesdropped, letting the group KNOW that he had heard everything. he hears the call of his name, perhaps the last time he’ll hear that voice call his name….it’s ingrained in his mind.
graduation came and went, he fakes a smile on stage, not bothering to shake his best friend’s hand as he heads out of the school yard…ready to just get away from this nightmare, away from the boy who shattered his heart ( and the last, he promises himself ).