Aya burst into laughter. She did not expect Gavin to have it in him. Oddly enough, she finds Gavin gentle and polite, even though she knows fully that he is a gangster and is currently wanted by the mafia.
"That's a good one, Gavin. I don't mind paying for that drink!" Aya said while still giggling. She then raised her glass to Gavin and took a gulped the drink Gerard gave her.
"So, have you done it on the beach?" Gavin blurted out of nowhere. Aya almost spews the drink out of her mouth.
"What?" She asked Gavin for clarification.
"Date, on the beach. I mean I enjoyed the park date then maybe we can visit the famous Hudson beach sometime." He expounded on his question.
"Are you for real?" Aya pinched Gavin's nose for being naughty. They both laughed and stopped when
"Are you ready? The show is about to begin!" The spotlight focused on the stage, Gavin could not figure it out but his heart was beating so fast right now, as if he was the one under the spotlight.
"I am what I am; I am my own special creation." The familiar music played with the opening number of the Six Drags.
"Shit! Will I really do this?" Gavin scolded himself when he saw how the guys performed. They are truly professionals. The energy and effort they gave on their performance is beyond his expectations. Something he thinks he will never be able to match. He has never performed in front of other people and never thought it would happen in this lifetime.
All the Six Drags had their own moment in the center stage. The crowd chanted their alter names. Gavin's eyes widened when he realized how famous this group is. The pressure mounting on him is enormous.
Aya saw his expression, a combination of admiration and nervousness. She squeezed Gavin's hand. "Don't be too pressured, they were once like you." She smiled at him for reassurance.
He nodded and smiled back at her. It feels good to have someone who got your back.
After the dance performance, Harry and Dobbie went on the center most part of the stage and then handed with microphones. "This is a comedy segment for Harry and Dobbie." Aya said to Gavin enthusiastically, like a proud sister to those two onstage.
Gavin nodded, not knowing what to anticipate as it is the first time for him to witness such.
"Good evening, guys!" Harry exclaimed in a very manly voice, contrary to his very girly appearance.
Dobbie bumped Harry on his side as reminded him. "Ahem, you are Henrietta now, not Harry."
The crowd laughed and cheered as the two started exchanging their punch lines. Gavin could hardly contain his laughter. He tapped the table and held his tummy, as it was starting to ache from laughing too much.
This is the most laughter he had let out since he left the orphanage. But he really did not care. He was having fun with the person he likes and it was all that matter right now.
Aya found herself smiling, looking at the laugh struck Gavin. "Geez, I've known him for just a few days and I'm drooling over him like this." Aya scolded herself again. She can't conceal her admiration at this stranger that is slowly invading her world.
"Oh, Hudson ladies, we have a present for you." Dobbie teased the audience, who roared after hearing him.
"Gavin, can you come up on the stage, please?" Harry said, and pointed in his seat. The spotlight shone brightly above him. It was hard to see anything beyond the light. Aya held his hand and looked at him with encouragement in her eyes.
Gavin, though stunned, still went up on the stage and decided to just go with the flow. Just because he did not want to let down Aya.
"Hello, handsome." Dobbie said flirtatiously. They let him stand in the middle and gave him a microphone.
"Girls and our friends from the LGBTQA+ Community here is our present for you, our new friend Gavin." Harry introduced Gavin to the crowd, but he was quick to whisper his situation to them to save Aya.
His revelation surprised Harry and Dobbie, but they accepted it right away and improvised on the spot.
"Oh, I'm sorry he is no longer available." Dobbie said, looking disappointed. His mere facial expression made people giggle.
"Why does our girl, Aya, always get the good-looking guys?" Harry added. "Hey, sis! Can we borrow him for a while?" Harry asked permission from Aya. She laughed and put her thumb up.
"So, Gavin." Dobbie pouted his lips and cheekily touched Gavin's face.
"How big is your…" He looked down at Gavin's groin area down to his feet. "Your shoe size?" He continued. The audience laughed at the expense of the innocent Gavin.
***
After the show, Gavin saw Aya talk to Don, explaining her situation. Don did not look frustrated or anything. It actually surprised Gavin on how welcoming Don is to Aya's idea. "Does he trust me this much for letting me do this with his sister?" Gavin could not help but mumble.
"Hey, baby. Let's go home." Aya said it loud and clear, that it was impossible for Gerard not to hear her. He was leaning on his black sports car a few steps from them. Gavin extended his hand for Aya to hold. They opted to walk back to their 'home'.
It felt so natural for him to hold Aya's hand like this under the moonlight with the cold, intermittent evening breeze. He placed Aya's hand inside his jacket's pocket while he was still holding it tight. He was hoping it could provide enough warmth for his 'girlfriend'.
His gesture surprised Aya. It is true she have had one too many boyfriends before but this gesture is something new for her. Before Gavin, she thought she had experienced it all, and now he is proving her wrong.
"honk."
They both heard a car horn behind them. They did not want to turn around to check who it is since they already know who it is, the very reason why they are still putting on an act while walking home.
"You don't have to walk home to this cold night, Aya. Come on, hop in." Gerard said confidently.
Gavin raised his hand over Aya's shoulders and replied to Gerard's crude offer. "No thanks, bro. I know how to keep my woman warm."
"Hahaha, just wait, bro. It won't last. I'll give you one week max." Gerard said as he sped off.
The two of them spent the whole walk back to Aya's store quietly. Gavin wanted to ask Aya about what Gerard just said, but he was not in the position to ask. Who is he to judge when he is trash compared to Aya?
He respected her silence and wanted to savor this moment with her, their hands still interlocked, while walking home.
Gavin definitely wants to get to know Aya more after the info he got today. It intrigued him all the more. Funny thing is that he is not the type of person who would want to know someone in a deeper sense because he does not want to bare himself to anyone as well. Aya however is always an exemption.
When they arrived home, Gavin sat on living room as Aya instructed him. Aya went inside her bedroom. It confused Gavin, since he could instead go straight to his room next door. This is their first night together. Will they continue where they left off or is Aya serious about her rule? Gavin's anticipation is killing him.
A few minutes later Aya went out of her room and walked up to him. She bent down and spoke in a very innocent tone. "Hey Gavin, tonight, let's sleep together."