Curving His Straight Line

Chapter 3: Under the Same Roof

Answer me this, why do we marry a person? – Is it because we want stability by creating our family? Is it because of the fear of growing alone and lonely? Or is it because we just love the person so much, that we just want to live with them for the rest of our lives? To look at their face first thing in the morning and last thing after a tiring day.

I did want to marry Pears, because yeah, I do want to live with him. Fortunately, no fancy altars were needed for us to live under the same roof.

After few days of me knowing about Celine, the real Celine, I acted like everything was fine, I’m kind of a pro. Pears didn’t know any of my feelings and maybe it’s better this way. We stopped going to the park though, he said he needed some “strength” first before he can proceed to confess to Celine and even if it was breaking me inside, I offered my support.

When we are together the smiles that were painted on my face almost faked everyone but once I am finally alone in my room – there was this tingling sensation in my heart, maybe it was the pain, the disappointment – I don’t really know. 

Until there was a knock and it was one of the most important knocks in my life.

“Little DJ?” It was my mother.

“Yes ma?” I replied.

“I know you’re going to be cool with this so I didn’t ask you beforehand.” What is she talking about?

“Hmmm?” I murmured.

“Pears is going to be staying with us, I hope that’s okay with you.” Am I hearing this right?!

“Of course!” I got too excited. “I mean yeah, but why?”

“Maybe you two can talk about it instead.” Pears came out and peak on my door. What a perfect view.

He entered my room with his bags. Oh my, is this really happening?!

“I’m sorry Pears, our house is not that big but you are very welcome to stay here as long as you like.” My mother smiled at Pears.

“Oh no worries Mrs. Zaleski, I’m actually really very happy that I am staying here now.” I am too, Pears.

“How ‘bout my little DJ?” Oh, you didn’t even need to ask ma, I’m literally smiling the whole time.

“Well, I’m happy too ma.” More than happy actually – I don’t know yet what was actually happening but it seemed like the pain of yesterday was replaced by a sincere joy.

“Okay boys, I’ll leave you two to catch up for now, just get down later for dinner.”

“Copy!” We said in unison, this is because of too much gaming.

My mother then closed the door then Pears sat at my bed, he’s usually here with me hanging out so nothing was deemed awkward.

“So, what happened?” I finally asked.

“Okay so, your mother was in our house earlier, I didn’t know why though.” I was intrigued too.

“Then?”

“Then it was the perfect timing for Drake to be himself, again.” Be an asshole, I guess?

“What did he do?”

“He uhm, told me I should stay away from you because you’re gay.” I was honestly spooked by what he just said.

“He was even talking about some love letter I don’t know, maybe he’s just jealous of our friendship.” No Pears, he hates me, it started a long ago but was really triggered because of me accidentally walking in their bathroom while he was still there and because of the letter of course.

I believe the term is homophobic.

I remember there was this one night I was at their residence, Pears asked me to ask if Drake would like to join us to play so I did. I went into his room but it seemed like he wasn’t there, in a sudden, his computer lighted up. I walked closer but didn’t touch anything then…

“Hey!” It was a freshly bathed Drake only in his towel.

We were kids back then but I know, that it was a hint for me that I prefer boys’ bodies to girls.

“Oh there you are-“

“Leave!” He shouted.

It was the start of me and Pears being disconnected with Drake. Like bro, I am not peaking at your body or whatever but he was so paranoid at that time.

Then comes the incident the other day in their bathroom – which only angers him more but hell, I am not trying to peep at all. Now I just believe that he has his problems with gay people like me, maybe that’s his business, I don’t care anymore.

Going back to the issue on hand…

“What happened next?” I asked Pears.

“I protected you, and said he’s the one who is gay, well I didn’t know what else to say.” Pears answered while slightly laughing.

“Then just by that he attacked me and it was a big fight until Aunt Gina and your mother came to stop us.” Drake is becoming more violent, what a trash.

“Tell me honestly Pears, he broke your pencil case, right?” I caught Pears off guard.

“Well, yeah but it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m sorry I lied.” He said in his cute form, ah I can’t believe I’ll get to see this face everyday from now.

“It’s fine, just promise no more lies, okay?” After he nodded, I just knew that I’ll never be able to stay mad at him for a long time. “So just like that, my mother decided to take you with her?”

“She and Aunt Gina talked for a while at first, then they asked me if I want to live here for the meantime to cool down whatever’s going on between Drake and me, you see, Aunt Gina also knew about the pencil case.” Pears explained.

“And she just let it go?”

“Drake is her son, I’m just her nephew, I totally understand she’ll favor Drake. But hey, when they asked me, I was like so elated because I’ll get to see you more often now.” You don’t know how elated I am too, Pears.

“I’m happy too it’s just that, it seemed like they kicked you out because of Drake.” I said to him.

“No that’s not the case, I even properly said goodbye to Aunt Gina and Duke, and they promised me they are going to visit me here often.”

“How about Drake?”

“I tried saying goodbye but it seemed like he was more pissed at me moving out, I don’t know, he’s just like always so angry at us.” Because he’ll know I’ll be so much pleased having Pears here, maybe I got to say thanks to Drake, lol.

After talking, I helped him arrange his things. Maybe some kids will hate it if they have to share their room with someone else but I am not, because this is Pears.

“Do you have any extra mattresses?” He asked me.

“My bed is big enough for us.” I told him.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, it’s not like we haven’t done any sleepover and slept in the same bed yet.”

“I just don’t want you to feel like I am barging in too much.”

“You’re not, Pears. I’m totally cool with you here.” All of that, just because I wanted to sleep next to him.

Once he was finally settled, I went to my mother to ask her.

“Ma, why did you take in Pears?”

“Because he’s your friend and things back at their house are just so messy right now.” She enlightened me.

“So how long is Pears going to stay with us?”

“Oh little DJ, do you have any problem with hi-“ I cut my mother.

“No ma, I didn’t mean it like that, I’m really happy he’s here, I just want to know until when.” I clarified myself.

“Oh, is that so, he’ll stay for as long as we need, I… I mean as long he needs.” She stuttered by that but I didn’t know back then that it meant something more, you’ll know it soon.

After dinner, Pears and I went into my room, well our room. By the way, my sister Chloe is also fine with Pears staying with us, she’s usually picky about everything but she was 100% fine with this setup.

Pears brought his video game console because I didn’t have one, that’s why I was normally at their house playing with him.

“You go bath first, then me, then we can finally play.” I told Pears.

“Let’s just go bath together! So, we can play more games.” A strawberry shade tint embodied my cheeks.

“What!?”

“Why? We bath together before.” He was laughing and he was right, we did but that was like a year ago and only because we were both muddy after playing at the park.

I had to act like there isn’t anything malice about this.

“Come on, we’re both boys.” Yeah, but I’m gay, and I’m still not sure about his sexuality.

We went into the bathroom together, at first, I thought he’s going to shower with his underwear on but he went full naked and that was so hard for me to act normal, like really. I just went along with his trip and bath with him, and even in here he was so playful.

I will leave the other details you guys don’t need to hear.

Back then, nothing was wrong with what we were doing. We are kids, we are just friends. Although I like him, we were too young to address any of that

I know, I’m sorry for contradicting myself. I just thought it was me, not that “Celine”, that’s why I got too excited.

After taking a shower and playing so many games, we lied down on our bed.

I was just savoring the moment until he spoke.

“Hey Dion.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think Celine can really like me back?”

And that was it, my fairytale time is up, I am back to the harsh reality. What a great night.

So, that was the story of how Pears and I end up living under the same roof but not under the same home. Because if a home is a person, he was mine, and Celine was his.