"Definitely. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here wasting time with me. There is nothing wrong with me. Those guys don't just want me at that school." Zac answered with finality.
"Why don't they want you? What did you do?"
"They don't want me because you are my parents."
"That's not the way to talk to your parents, Zac."
"They asked, and I answered. The children and some teachers still don't understand sexuality well enough to know that there are gay relationships that thrive. How am I supposed to react to a student who tells me that I have parents, but how do I know which one is my mother and who is the father? Tell me," Zac answered, and Evans looked down, the memories all too familiar.
Calvin and Peter held their hands together, they cleared their throats at the same time, and Zac looked up.
"Listen, son. That is bound to happen. It shouldn't affect you. We're the ones considered sinners and outcasts. Just focus on your life," Peter said.
"My life is nothing without you."
"It will be worse if you keep on jeopardizing your future because of people's talks. They will never stop."
Evans hadn't said a word. He couldn't. Evans and Zac were different in that while Zac wanted to challenge and solve every problem, Evans avoided some confrontations.
Going through high school had been quite easy for Evans because, in his class, there was also a student who had gay parents. They two had bonded because of that similarity.
As he sat in that living room, he heard voices but didn't hear what they said. Zac had to decide himself that the talks won't bother him.
He also had to be strong because it could affect his other relationships. Evans and Angie had similar problems at first.
Evans was straight, but he loved the male company so much. He was afraid of talking to girls. He was afraid of saying the wrong thing and being mocked in school.
When he struck it off well with Gabriel, he found himself talking a lot to Angie, who would stay behind to watch Gabriel play.
They would then drive home together.
Angie had never judged, but when they first met in a private room and wanted to join their bodies in a union, she did.
"Have you done this before?" she asked, sitting on the bed. Seconds before, she had been undressing, and now she seemed so unsure of what she was doing.
"Yes," Evans lied. He wouldn't tell her that she was his first girlfriend and lover. He wouldn't make her think he wasn't worth her. "Have you?"
Angie nodded, embarrassed. Evans was shocked but hid his emotions so well.
He only told himself that he would do it right. After all, it couldn't be that tough, right?
"Is that why you asked about me?"
Angie was quiet, and Evans knew it had to be because she thought that he was bisexual. He hid his disappointment, but they couldn't do it that night.
They still didn't trust each other enough.
Carey and Liz were still together at Liz's. Carey had called in sick after Liz persuaded him to.
He looked at the time on his phone, and just then, Karen called.
He looked at the phone till it stopped ringing then placed it back on the bedside drawer where it had been.
'I will call her later after I get out of this damn house,' he told himself as he went to freshen up.
He got back to the room and found two more missed calls from Karen and a string of messages, asking whether he was okay and why he hadn't picked up calls from the night before.
He felt so guilty at her concern. He couldn't bring himself to answer the messages. He placed his phone upside down, thinking of an excuse he would give.
The phone rang again, and he disconnected.
***
Carol and Chery had left for work. Jael had insisted on going to work with Frank. Karen was at home alone.
She had washed the dishes, done her laundry, and cleaned the house, but she still had much time to be alone. She looked at her phone, and there were no messages from Carey and no calls.
'What the hell is wrong with him? Why won't he answer my calls?' she asked herself, pacing up and down the living room.
It wasn't like him not to respond to calls. Karen logged into her WhatsApp, but there was no message from him.
'Perhaps I am just over thinking. He will reach out to me. He might be very busy,' she thought to herself.
By five-thirty in the evening, there was only a simple message that read, "I'm fine. Send my regards to Frank.'
"He didn't even ask how I am? What has gotten into him?" Karen asked, and she called his number immediately, and Carey picked up, just when the phone was about to get disconnected.
"Is everything okay? You got me worried," Karen said, breathing out a sigh of relief.
"Yes. Sorry. I had Richy over. You know he never stops talking," Carey lied. Richy was his brother.
"I do," Karen answered, laughing. "I miss you. Pass my regards."
"I will. Can I call you back later? I'm leaving for home," Carey asked.
"Sure."