Undercover

Secrets

When finally a movie was chosen, all quietly sat down to watch it. About an hour later, Bina fell asleep leaning on the sofa back.

When the movie was over, the men decided to go outside for a smoke, leaving the sleeping princess in her place.

A few moments later they were in need of some more drinks, so Benjamin volunteered for the delivery service. He went inside and fetched some drinks that were already prepared on the coffee table, noticing halfway the person they left behind.

He looked at Nate from beyond the glass thinking of the proper thing to do, eventually gently picking Bina up and laying her carefully and comfortably on the sofa. He covered her with a blanket placed inside one of the baskets he found around, and retuned back to his duty.

Benjamin scattered the drinks between the six, raising his bottle to cheers.

"Cheers to the pleasant surprise", Michael whispered.

"Surprise?" Nate asked.

Michael signed towards the living room.

"Are you still at it? Unbelievable! You are all sick." Nate dispraised his friends.

"Chill buddy", Chris came to the rescue playing serious, "looks like you are way ahead of us, Benji also believes in you."

"What?! I said keep me out of you s**t!" Benjamin replied with anger.

Nate looked at Benjamin with dismay, not sure of what will strike him next.

That was the point of the diplomat, Wilson, to place his words. "At least admit you said that you bet on Nate."

Benjamin glared at him with a feeling of betrayal.

"Ben?!" Nate was completely dumbfounded.

"No Nate, I was just trying to get their sick minds off their stupid idea."

Nate took a few seconds to think, eventually suggesting, "I think it's bed time."

The friends agreed on dismissing for the evening, and while picking their stuff from the benches outside, Benjamin turned to Nate.

"Glute is sleeping."

"She has a name." Nate was already at his limit, trying to stay restrained. "I'll send everyone through the yard."

He took a look at the glass entrance to the living room to check her, planning to come inside and make her comfortable.

"I covered her", Benjamin added easily. "Come."

Nate felt a small pinch in his heart, and followed Benjamin to send good-night him and his buddies.

The house became empty and silent. The lights were off, and only Nate and the sleeping Bina circulated the air inside the living room.

Nate placed himself of the sofa and looked at sleeping beauty. He took the remote and turned on some randon movies his provider offered.

The movie was about to end when Bina opened her eyes and sat up.

"Oh no", she murmured.

Nate turned to her. "Had a good rest?" He joked with a tired face.

"Sorry. I will leave in a moment." Bina looked worried and was in fact unwell with the situation. She put her feet on the floor and fixed her hair, covering herself with the fluffy blanket while she was searching for her shirt.

"Something warm?" Nate asked gently before he rised up and started his way to the kitchen bar. "Take your time."

Bina nodded. "Tea, thanks".

She put her shirt and covered herself back with the blanket, following Nate to the kitchen, who handled her a warm mug of tea.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

Bina lowered her eyes and sipped from her drink and said nonchalantly, "they expected to hear I'm a virgin, right?"

Nate couldn't help but let out a short laugh.

"And you too", she added.

Nate's face went a bit pale to the accusation, but he managed to keep it cool and humorous and his smile on, "I wasn't very attentive, wasn't expecting anything."

Bina returned him a smile too for his generous attitute.

He is very sweet.

***

Their next lunch together Bina and Nate spent outside in the faculty's garden. They found a nice spot and sat together.

"So... Is there any other juicy antithesis to your stereotype I can hear about?" Nate made a silly face.

Making a matching expression, Bina shaked her head. "It usually comes all at once, so I don't think so."

"I have an idea!" Nate jumped.

Bina looked intrigued.

"Let's have a nasty secrets routine." He offered.

"What?!" Bina asked surprised by laughing.

"Yes. Once a week, starting today, each of us is going to share some really deep things. I can start."

"Okay... Then do." Bina sent him a tense look.

"I had braces when I was a child." Nate confessed seriously. "Your turn."

Bina looked at him mazed. "Nate that's completely normal."

"Not for me! I was very ashamed of it and nobody except Ben knows about it."

"Ben and me now." Bina laughed.

"Yep, you now." Nate was satisfied with his pun.

Bina made a few thinking faces, trying hard to find something to tell about herself.

"I will tell you another secret, come on", Nate tried to bribe her, "based on its level!"

Finally something came to her mind, but she was unsure of it.

"I modelled for a lingerie brand in the summer." She said, looking aside. "Without my face of course, anonymously."

Nate gaped at her.

What, what, what?!

"You did... What?!"

Bina laughed at his reaction and buried her head in her hands.

"What you heard. They replaced my face though, as in our agreement."

Nate tried to find words, but things came to him mind faster than that. "Why... No, how did you get to that?"

"Danny's friend needed a backup."

"And you are good with that? Showing your body...?"

Bina chuckled. "It's not as if anybody knows that's me. And I get to see myself on billboards." Bina put on a naughty smile.

"You've got a point. But I have nothing at this level, sorry", Nate joked. "I don't know, maybe that I was a very fragile kid? I guess my life is pretty boring compared to that."

"That's actually interesting, you being small and fragile."

They both enjoyed their time, as a thought striked Nate's head. Danny.

"Bina," he made a serious face, "Danny arranged that?"

She nodded.

"So... He knows."

"Hmm... Yes, probably."

Nate searched for a hint of discomfort on Bina's face.

"I'm not fully okay with that, but he does modelling all the time, I don't think he even pays the same attention to this material as I do."

"Oh yes he does, I'm sure. Men be men."

Bina hid her face. "I prefer not to think about it."

Nate touched her shoulder. "Do what pleases you."

What does he think of me now?

"Are you coming to the New Year festival?" He interrupted her thoughts.

"Not really, I will be in the campus only to study."

Nate nodded with understanding.

***

School day was over and Nate made his way home. On his way to the students parking area where his car was he peeked at the full sheet size poster on the students' association building (that was also called in the students' tongue 'The Mall' as it has a simple grocery store, small diner and cafeteria and a plenty of other useful stores), which featured the new collection of underwear of the brand's store inside the building.

I have never noticed it was there.

While he was driving, he had been very attentive to all kinds of advertising around him: On bus stations, on buildings and even next to the highways exits.

When he passed through a huge billboard on the highway connecting the downtown and his neighborhood, he stopped his car at the nearby gas station parking and went out to examine it. It was another advertising of a well known and reputable undewear company - like all the previous ads that especially caught his eye.

You're going nuts, Nate.

He was looking down for a while and thinking about all the past sights, ashamed of the thoughts in his head. One of them must be her.

As if still not in peace with himself, he slowly raised his eyes to the enormous print.

He stood there relaxed as his eyes moved from the top to the bottom of the figure dressed in bright red set of underwear decorated with lace, sitting with bent knees and leaning on its side.

Billboards, she said. Really?

And then it hit him.

A small dot on the right of her chest, and not so far from it in exactly matching distance, another one on the left of the neck.

No f*****g way.

Nate covered his face in disbelief of what he was seeing, or more importantly - why and how he even noticed that.

Trying hard not to stick his eyes to the picture in front of him, he hurried back to his car and stayed focused all the way home.

It was a hard night for him in terms of falling asleep and trying to clear his mind.

***

The next day, the worn out Nate saw Bina waiting for him at the parking lot.

"I saw your car getting inside, so I waited." She mentioned.

Nate looked at her, dazed, but able to hide it under his weary eyes. He didn't comment.

They started walking to the building and Bina decided to ask, "Did anything happen?"

In his head he imagined saying you, but couldn't bring it to reality.

"Had a bad sleep." He said.

"You can take a nap during the lecture. I'm taking notes, you know."

Nate curled his eyebrows. "No way. I am going to miss some important stuff there."

Bina restrained a wide smile, very pleased underneath.

"What?" Nate inquired.

"I am proud of you."

Nate blushed and remained speechless as if he swallowed his tongue.

"Thank you." He evetually said in a low voice, looking down.

"What for?"

"For saying that."

Bina looked at him generously but at the same time unsure of the meaning of his words.

"Thank you for giving me a chance, for pushing me, for believing in me. For everything." Nate poured his heart. "We are only four weeks away from the end of the semester and I'm all caught up. That's the farthest I've been to for a long time."

He stopped his gait halfway by the end of the sentence and looked at Bina with a struggle.

What am I doing? He thought.

Bina went back to him and opened her arms welcoming him to a hug. Without thinking twice, he leaned towards her and burried as much of himself as he could inside her small capacity huggle.

After spending their time together all day after in classes, the two found themselves inside the building on the same bench next to the window that Nate found Bina once. It was raining outside and as the weather could not allow a walk under the warm sun, they both found it cozy at their place.

"Do you draw?" Nate asked abruptly.

"Yes, just as a hobby." Bina said humbly. "Want to see?"

Nate nodded in anticipation. Bina gently took out her sketchbook outside her backpack and handed it to him.

"I don't feel comfortable showing them, so just browse youself." She looked as tense as she sounded, and turned her head to the window, to look at the rain.

Nate watched her for a couple of moments before he opened the cover and turned it over. The first scribble was of a pretty young lady sitting next to the window and watching the rain. As he moved further in the pages, he saw many other figures, mostly humanoids, perfected to Bina's ideal and participating in soulfoul scenarios.

Symbolic.

"They are wonderful." Nate complimented her while staring at what was seemingly a self portrait. These marks.

"Thank you. It's like a therapy."

"I would want to star in one of these portraits." Nate jested but was full of intention.

In return, Bina fired a joke back. "I do only nudes." She narrowed her eyes and put a dirty face on.

It would be a lie to say she didn't strike him with a flirt attempt, but even though she was very decisive with her act, she felt terribly wrong doing that.

Bina what are you thinking? Who even are you? Get back to earth.

Of course, all this was caught in Nate's eyes and ears. A small spark was lit in his eyes and a slight shiver went down his spine.

He straightened his eyes towards her and with a naughty grin said, "sounds just like me".

First shocked, Bina stared back at him speechless. "I was joking." She lowered her look and turned all red.

Nate, who also lost it for an instant, rubbed his neck and tried to ease the tension. "I wasn't," He said laughing and added, "I really can do it."

Then he immediately remembered the picture of her from the evening. "Do you... Are you really good with your... Photographs?"

Bina's face turned frustrated. "Yes, Nate. Do you think I am cheap now and I sell my body?"

"No, no, no! Not at all! I think that's actually very cool. It's just..."

"I shouldn't have told you that." Bina looked very hurt, and as if she was about to cry.

"You really shouldn't have..." Nate confessed while covering his face in embarrassment.

"Nate I was just playing along with your-"

"Bina stop, stop. It's all good!" Nate interrupted her. He took her hands and got close to her. "I really think it's awesome." He giggled and looked away.

"I just... It makes me wonder. It's embarrassing to admit that."

Bina calmed down a little. "It's a boost to my self confidence, so even if I am a bit uneasy at first, I feel better with the final outcome." She explained.

Thrilled by her answer and aroused by the whole situation, Nate only quietly nodded in agreement. I really need a female.

***

By the weekend the campus was already prepared for the New Year festival. The stages hosted new local artists and the central lawns held a main bar and fast food stands, all next to colorful decorations.

Nate arrived with Benjamin when the place was already filled with plenty of people.

"Benji," Nate grabbed Benjamin's attention and inspected the area.

"Nate?"

"I need a fuck." Nate's eyes moved as if he was seeking for a prey.

Benjamin laughed at his friend. "Been dry for too long? How does you brain even still function?"

"Very funny. Anyway, that's the goal - today I am getting a f**k. Help me find one."

They both moved inside the crowd, tried some conversation with potential targets and enjoyed the music.

At some point they decided to get a drink.

At the bar, Nate saw Danny, whom he actually expected to meet there due to prior knowledge.

"That's Bina's best friend." He told Benjamin and they placed themselves at the bar chairs.

Benjamin scanned Danny from far. "What kind of best friend?" He asked expecting to hear something dirty.

"I know right?" Nate shook his head with a sneer. "Not that kind of a best friend, but the real deep friendzoned one."

"This guy? Wow. She must be blind. Or like girls. Is she into girls?"

"No Benji, she's definitely into men."

Danny noticed the two sitting not far from him. He approached them and greeted them lightly, "Hey, anything to drink?"

"Yes please, anything for a long night before us." Benjamin said and artificially winked at Danny to convey the meaning.

Danny put on a serious face while pouring three drinks (one for himself, of course, if company arrives) and checking Nate's reaction.

"For a successful night, then." Danny raised his glass and glared at Nate.

Nate on the other hand couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Yeah, cheers."

The three raised their glasses and drank the portion at once. Danny immediately headed back to serve a few more customers after which he retuned back to the familiar faces.

"So who are you expecting tonight?" Danny asked.

"Anyone!" Benjamin pointed at the crowd.

Nate, though, decided to tease Danny. "Not the one you are, don't worry."

The comment angried Danny, who poured a free shot for Benjamin but rudely skipped Nate. "Unfortunately, now I am worried." He stressed his words towards Nate.

Benjamin looked at the sharp interaction between the men and preferred not to intervene. What is their problem? He thought to himself while carefully fetching his free gain from the bar and drinking it.

"Hopefully," Danny continued, "the subject of my concern is nowhere near, so I can peacefully keep my hopes up for the night with the other one I am expecting."

Bullshit! Nate thought and made a sarcastic face. "My bad, I expected too much from the secrets boy." He said.

Danny narrowed his eyes and tilted his head in question.

"I fear your subject trusts me well enough to share deep things only you know. I wonder if that should worry you." Nate challenged him.

"What things?" Danny asked suspiciously and his posture became tense.

"That you are actually a pervert, that thing."

As Danny couldn't get the point, Nate pointed with his eyes to the huge print on 'The Mall' and back to stares fight with Danny. Danny traced him to figure out his meaning, and when he finally did, he burst with laughter.

"Wow Nate, that? I am honestly surprised you know that, but... You know nothing, buddy." Danny tapped his shoulder and turned around to drink some water.

Nothing? What else there to know?

"You are just jealous." Nate had to boost himself up.

"Fine, I am jealous, but at least not dumb, Nate."

"How did we go from jealous to dumb suddenly?"

Danny moved closer to him to whisper. "If you weren't, and you actually knew the things I do, you wouldn't put her in a room full of huge men drooling on her."

Nate felt very uneasy at Danny's words. "She really tells you everything, huh? What is that that I need to know?" For a moment, Nate feared she might have faced a trauma or some sort of assault and he was too blind to notice her distress, and even just the fact that something of that kind might have happened to her gave him chills.

"Need? Nothing. She will tell you herself if she trusts you that much. But as far as I know her? No way."

"Danny what is it?" Nate fiercly demanded.

"f**k off, Nate. Go find you entertainment for tonight now." When Danny's voice was raised too, the partying Benjamin noticed the quarrel between his friend and the barman.

"Hey, what happened?" He stepped in.

"Benjamin, don't interfere!" Nate commanded him. He then turned back to Danny with a new strategy. "I wonder what Bina's reaction would be when she discovers her best friend actually jerks off to her photographs."

All this over Bina? Benjamin was surprised by his new insights.

"Are you really that stupid? Tell her what you want, she wouldn't believe you anyway."

"It's written all over your face, just so you know. Having fun being friendzoned?"

Danny kept himself silent while he gathered himself, evetually nodding in defeat. "It's a bordeless zone. But you... You still have a wall to climb."

"You might be thrown out of there pretty fast." Nate grinned.

"Fine. I'll be back in competition then."

Nate suddenly raised up his phone and showed it to Danny on the recording app. "So Danny, what is it?"

Danny was pissed off. He tried to snatch the phone from Nate's hand unsuccessfully.

"Delete this." He pleaded.

Nate turned his face to the side and put his hand behind his ear, as a motion of hearing aid.

Danny hesitated. She is going to hate me.

"She's autistic, Nate."

"What?" Nate drew himself back and his face became expressionless.

"Now f**k off, Nate. You're an ass." Danny left his rival, who without thinking twice kept his side of the deal and deleted the recording.

Trying to hide his surprise, Nate shouted, "is that all? The big deal?"

"f**k off!" Danny shouted back.