"Thank you for never saying anything even though you already knew," he said at the time. Acting awfully shy, " and for agreeing to do this with me..."
"I could tell you are like that but I wouldn't go around joking about that when it's obvious you hadn't sorted it out to say it yourself… As much as I seem not to care, things like these can't be taken so lightly... Besides…"
"What?"
"Well. You're the first real friend I ever made. You and Sophie. Why would I do something that I knew could trouble you? That wouldn't be nice."
He cried right after that. I don't understand why though, since I feel it was just the bare minimum and I was just being honest. I felt a bit of cringe since I'm not really used to tell him how much I care about him, but it still felt like the right thing to do… I like being able to support my friend even if I don't understand all of it.
If I'm honest, when he said he had been going on his own to some gay pubs and bars I felt a bit worried. He's too naive, enough to think nobody suspected his sexuality, so…
"I agreed since going together will be safer. We can protect each other if anything happens and we can enjoy each other in our own way too."
I told him after he calmed down, breaking into tears again since he was also afraid to continue going on his own and he just hadn't told us out of embarrassment.
As outgoing as we are between us, we would usually be seen by people's eyes as "good kids" and behaviour-wise, we actually are. This kind of stuff was scary for us.
Even so, we came to like this kind of routine and today… more than a year has passed since we started this innocent play.
... Maybe it's not so innocent since I do it for free alcohol… But we didn't have bad intentions while doing it and I'm not hurting anyone since I'm always honest about not wanting anything "spicy" after my drink.
Either way, today we came to a coffee shop to hang out the three of us like any other day. It was supposed to be a relaxed carefree day so… how come I'm suddenly having an anxiety attack only because of this one e-mail?
"What? What is it?"
"You wanna go do number two?... Maybe number three?"
"I might go, actually...."
"Why? What happened?"
"Guys… I passed all the interviews. I start work on Monday," I announced to my friends just as both drank their frappes so they could choke on them and feel as miserable as I do right now.
"Cough! You— cough!! You what?!?"
"Heh. Cough! You b*tch... Ha. So you finally got a job," Sophie said sarcastically, since I've been unemployed for over a year. "Serves you well."
"Yeah… this sucks."
"You did say that company is like your dream job. Isn't it awesome that you managed to get in after avoiding it for so long, though? Good job." Mason said trying to make it look like an accomplishment even though he still had tears in his eyes and it was hard for him to talk.
It was indeed an accomplishment… but it still depends on the perspective you're taking.
"Yeah, it's awesome. But there is a downside to that dream… in reality, I do HAVE to work there. Like… to REALLY be a productive new asset... It's like once I sign the contract I'll sign my sentence into true adulthood, you know?"
"Sigh… at least that means you'll get paid. Feel darn happy, you b*tch. I still have a year left of uni, I envy your troubles. Idiot."
"… Right. Thanks, Sophie."
"You're welcome." Concentrating on her frappe, she smirked.
"Cheer up, Layna. Sophie's right. You'll get paid, work where you dreamed of and actually make use of your degree. Don't be stupid and be happy."
"Urgh… yeah, I know. I'm being stupid..."
The two of them somehow got frustrated by my lazy character but in the end, I knew I was indeed being unreasonable. It's good I have them to point it out since I acknowledge that I should be happy but…
"HAaAahH…" Melting over the table we were sitting at the coffee shop, I continued to whine over nothing. Exhausted because of what it meant for me to earn the money I so needed, "I guess… No more free drinks, huh? If I get paid, I can't continue using gay gentlemen's invitations anymore…"
"Huh? Why?" Sophie asked, surprised that I was saying that.
"Well… To start with I do have some ethics and morals. Even if you doubt it."
"Oh~ you have those~… get rid of them and problem solved."
".... And also, Mason seems to be kicking it off with that one guy he met two weeks ago. I think it's just the right time for me to stop."
"Huh?? W-we aren't that… Sigh, alright, who am I kidding... I think I love him, girls," Mason, declared. Giving up on acting shy and openly fawning over a guy he barely knew, getting too into this newly born relationship.
"Its a bit soon to say that, don't you think so?"
"You're right. But either way, back to the topic, it's fine if you want to stop now. If things do go well with my cutie I wouldn't like you to go on your own since it's dangerous."
"... Right," trying to restrain the disgust from showing on my face, I said, finishing the issue about the free drinks and going into another issue that had me more nervous. "Anyways. Let me prepare my stomach before you start flexing about your new guy, alright? You know I'm not good with that subject."
"Tsk. You're so not nice, as if it could make you puke—"
"Sophie," ignoring him as he said the actual truth I turned to look at her while still lying on the table, "I think I'll need some of your help."