[Continuation]
“Is it normal for a boy to love pink, Azaiah? Galen glance at his best friend who is beside him. They are at the roof top of a restaurant bar that is just around the village. They both love this place so much, especially the attractiveness of the the view down below. The natural scenery and the illumination of lights from every residence in the village is something that is fascinating to look at. The soft gentle breeze that touched their faces can be savored everytime they are up in this higher place. He managed to stop himself from having to continue daydreaming and proceeds to look at his best friend who is also looking at him already.
“Liking pink doesn't diminished your masculinity, Galen. You can like pink even if you are a guy.”
“Something's wrong with me these days. And I can totally feel it.” Galen took a deep sigh and stared at the sky loaded with a large number of twinkling stars that can be perceptible just by looking at the night sky.
“You know you can always tell me anything, Ajax.” This is something that she keeps telling Galen every time they are immerse in a serious talk. She loves the fact that Galen is always ready to listen to her even she sometimes love to talk about nonsensical stuffs. And she wants to do the same to him, too. It's not about giving reciprocity to Galen's kind gesture towards her. But it is all about showing him that she appreciated and recognize the full worth of his actions. And that she's extremely grateful for him.
“I am sure you are consciously aware what the kids at school are talking about, right?”
“That they are making fun of you? That they're been trying to provoke you by telling you that you are gay? Honestly, I don't care about what they say. None of those matter to me, Ajax.”
“What if I tell you that they're right? Will you be able to accept the fact that your best friend is indeed gay?”
“Wait-you. Are you serious? I-I think you are not completely aware of what you're talking about right now, Galen.”
“I am absolutely aware of what I said, Azaiah. That's it. I am gay!”
Azaiah was silent. She was so shocked that she was not able to display a reaction. There is a defying silence between the two of them. She is confused and at the same time astonished of the fact that Galen is gay. How come? How did it happen? She tries to conceive an answer by introspecting the ideas she had in her mind and somehow there is a connection, as she recollects the moments they've shared throughout the years of their childhood. Ajax's been acting odd at certain moments when they are together. It all started when they turned 8 when she noticed Ajax's changed behaviour.
It happened one Thursday afternoon when they are at Azaiah's house as they will be watching a movie. They have the house all for themselves since Azaiah's parents aren't there because they have some dealings that they need to attend to.
“Aunt Marie, can you prepare some snacks for me and Ajax please.” Azaiah directly says to their house attendant.
“Is there anything else, Miss Sigrid?”
“Just snacks, Aunty. I know it'll be good because you will make it.”
Azaiah can see the gleam in Aunty Marie's eyes as soon as she heard her compliment.
“I will make this right away, Miss Sigrid.” Aunt Marie smiled at her. And begin to do her request.
“Thank you, Aunt Marie. Can you bring it to my room upstairs please?”
“I will, Miss Sigrid.”
Azaiah proceed to go towards their living room where Ajax is waiting. She saw him looking at the photographs of her when she was still a baby and saw him smiled at it dearly.
“Am I cute?” Ajax's eyes immediately find her.
“You are. And it makes me wanna pinch your cute pinkish cheeks.”
It made her smile. Well, Ajax always makes her smile. He is such a positive light for her. His energy is something that actually makes her feel sane and unharmed. She's not used to that because every single day of her life there is a fear, a fear that she will experience something bad. Maybe it is because she grew up in an environment full of change ang instability that's why she is not accustomed to feeling the calmness within her. With Ajax she can be calm and steady. And she likes that kind of feelings.
“Let's watch a movie, Galen.” she went towards the couch and signalled Ajax to sit down.
“Any movies you have in mind, Azaiah?” Ajax approached her direction and sit beside her.
“Let's watch something that we can both enjoy, Galen.”
“It will be up to you, Aia. What do you want to watch? Let's watch it together.”
“But it's too girly for you, Galen. You'll probably not gonna watch it till the end.”
“Try me then.” Galen smirked at her.
“Fine. Let's watch Barbie. Let's see if you will consider finishing this one.”
“Uh huh. I'm sure I can withstand your choice, Azaiah. ”
“Really?”
“Just wait and see.”
As the movie starts she look at Ajax who is deeply emersed to the screen right in front of them and it seems like there's something suspicious about the way his eyes gleam just by looking at the princess who is happily dancing inside her chamber. She saw Ajax's admiration and how he clapped his hands while watching the movie. And she doesn't know if she likes what she's seeing right now or if she wants to get something and hit her best friend's head because she felt that Ajax is losing his sanity.
“I like this.” Ajax finally said something about the movie and it startled her.
“Are you okay, Galen?” She put her hand on his forehead to acting like she is checking his temperature. Which made Ajax's forehead furrowed.
“What are you talking about, Azaiah?”
“I think you're sick, Galen. I should ask Aunt Marie to bring us a glass of water and a medicine.”
“You're joking, right?”
“I am.”
Ajax flicked her forehead and rolled his eyes at her. And Azaiah ended up laughing at him.
“I can't believe you have a thing for Barbie, Ajax. Oh my gosh. This is quite shocking to process, friend.” She gently hit his shoulders and continue laughing at him.
“That's it. You're making fun of me.” Ajax scoot beside her and look at her with his, deadly glare.
“Wait. Don't take it too seriously, Galen. It's just a joke.”
“Well.” Ajax paused and held both of her hands and started to attack her with his tickles.
“Stop. Stop it, Galen.” Tears came out of her eyes because of too much laughter. Galen eventually stopped tickling her and grinned.
She smiled at the memory and she's fine with Ajax's confession. She firmly accepts and believes in the truth of her best friend's words. She composed herself and looked at Galen who is also waiting for her reply.
“I believe you. And what's your plan, Galen?”
“I'm planning to hide the truth, Azaiah. I don't anyone to know about the truth about my sexuality except you.”
“We both know we can't hide it from them. We can't hide it from our classmates, Ajax. They knew the truth.”
“I am aware of that, Azaiah. I can manage being ridiculed by the guys in our class but I think I can handle being the subject of judgement in front of my own parents. So I have decided to hide this from them. To be extremely careful of this.”
“You can't remain being discreet about this, Ajax. We both know your parents. There come a time were they'll be able to decipher the truth.”
“Our classmates can't come close to them, Azaiah. Not unless you will be the one to expose me which I think you can't do. Right, Azaiah?”
“Ajax, we got each other's back. So don't worry. Your secret is safe with me.”