For the first time, I called for a family meeting, and I included Davis, as I wanted to share the news at once and be done with it. Everyone was at the dining table, watching me intently. A few minutes passed; I had not uttered a word, and their patience was thinning out. I had rehearsed the sentence a hundred times, but my mind went blank as I saw my family. I had never felt so lost before, and I was having second thoughts now. My throat went dry as their stares grew intense. Geez, get the task done with it, Rowan, now or never. I chided myself.
I cleared my throat, and I don't know how many times I did that, but I repeated the action mindlessly. "So." I started, then stopped for no reason. Immediately, I got different reactions from everyone; well, I was really testing them. "I am going to date Dante for real." There you go, and everyone was clearly taken aback; my mom looked neutral. Please don't tell me she knew. "You mean Morris." My dad. I wanted to roll my eyes so badly, but I didn't. "Yes, we are going to date for real this time for a few months." Once again, I repeated the sentence.
My dad chuckled; I don't know what he found so funny. "What now, are you gay?" "Dante thinks that, and I want to prove him wrong by dating him for real." I nodded with determination. I told him this shit wouldn't work, and I would prove it to him.
Once again, the table went silent. "Let me get this straight." My dad spoke slowly, pondering. "You faked a relationship in front of the whole world with Morris so you could get rid of Shreya." He air-quoted the last part. "You announced yourself as gay without any second thought, and now you want to announce to the world that you are straight by dating Morris for real." He once air-quoted that, and it's annoying me like hell. "Did I miss anything, Rowan?" I groaned at his mocking. "We are not going public." He rubbed his forehead. "You are already public with your fake relationship, you idiot." He barked the words, and this time, I didn't try to avoid it; I rolled my eyes as hard as I could. "So, it's a win-win." My dad groaned at that.
"Rowan, please tell me where your mother or I went wrong in your upbringing." He rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Why are you so dumb most of the time?" I was a little offended by that. "What is wrong with you, Rowan? Do you hear yourself?" Heat was radiating from him, and I huffed at that. "It's just for a few months. I want to wipe out his confidence; he sees some connection between us and is persistent about trying this relationship. He is pointing out my sexuality; I am going to prove him wrong and end this for good." I grunted the words. He is making a big deal out of something that isn't significant.
"Rowan." I groaned when I heard Davis's voice. "Like, seriously, can't you think for a bit, at least? Why do you want to prove him wrong about your sexuality by entering into a relationship?" "How else could I possibly show him that shit doesn't work between us?" "By saying no." He deadpanned, and I coughed at that. "Do you think I didn't try that? But his confidence level is irking. He is bent on proving that there is something between us, and I am going to show him there is nothing." "By dating him?" he spoke, sounding ridiculous, and he needs to stop this. "Yes, by fucking dating him. It's annoying when someone sounds so fucking confident, not taking a no as an answer, hell-bent on proving something that you aren't, and persistent so much so that you feel a second thought of your own fucking thoughts and feelings. Yes, I want to prove that shit doesn't work between us by dating him for real, and I will show him." I collapsed on the chair when I was done with my monologue.
The table went silent; my mom was peeling the orange and was eating like things didn't concern her at all. I don't know why she is taking the situation so lightly. It's good that she is not questioning it like my dad, but at the same time, her calmness is making me furious. I am her son; things should matter to her. "Abi," my dad shouted her name as a last resort, and she sighed at that. My dad ruined her peaceful moment. "Yes." Still, her eyes were on the orange, peeling so carefully, making me groan. "Won't you say something?" My dad grunted the words in annoyance. "It's his life, and he can do whatever he wants. He can date anyone he wants, Ric; it's none of our business." Yeah, right? I am 27, for F's sake, and my dad should stop intervening in my damn life. I glared at my dad, who was glaring at my mother.
He turned his glare at my sisters, who just shrugged in return. Well, that settled it, then not entirely. One more thing is left to settle, and I will put him in his place, as he made me go through so much.
"Are you sure about this, Rowan?" Davis questioned me, panic laced in his tone. I knew everyone was in the same state, except my mom, of course. I hummed at the question. I leaned forward and met Davis's face, speaking with a determined look. "Davis, are you sure you are gay? He coughed at that. "Why can't you try to date a girl?" "I'm fucking tired, and you know it." "That was a long time ago." He groaned at that. "Maybe, who knows, things may click this time." He was annoyed, but I didn't leave him. "I don't want to click anything." He grunted the words, irritation lacing his voice. "And I am good as I am." "Nothing wrong with reconfirming, right?" I chuckled as I saw his furious stare. "Maybe something will click with some girl, who knows,"Rowan said. It was a warning, and I surrendered with my hands at that. "See, that's what I feel when something like that is thrown in my face, all the damn time," I muttered. "Maybe I have given a reason, or maybe not, but throwing shit on your face is kind of provoking. I am provoked now." I hummed, leaning back on the chair.
It's infuriating if a person keeps pointing out something that you aren't." I coughed when I remembered what all he did to me, which, of course, I didn't share with anyone. It's annoying to hear the same thing again and again. I groaned at his confidence, that smirk of his, which I want to wipe off soon. I want to defeat him by playing his game. He started this shit, and I am ending it. I know how he got this much courage to pursue me, not taking a no as an answer because of a few encounters. He fucking played a trick by closing my eyes and going along; that's it, to prove shit. This was too much, and I won't back off, not before showing him who he messed with.
He played mind tricks on me; his hidden encounters were a well-executed fucking plan. Somewhere I started to agree with his theories; like, seriously, how could I? He is a bloody manipulative bastard, and I need to defeat him in his own damn game. I am going to do just that; once and for all, I will wipe that smirk forever. I smiled at the thought, enjoying victory before entering the game. It's show time.
I heard a chuckle, and my eyes scanned the faces and stopped at my mom, who was smiling while peeling the orange. What is wrong with her all of a sudden? She was just fine being the lady of the house, and now her weird behaviour is pushing me to question her mental health.
My mom may have felt gazes, because everyone was staring at her, and she lifted her head from that damn orange. "What?" While scooping the orange to her mouth, we all groaned at that. "What is wrong with you?" My dad shouted. "I am just feeling happy. I can't smile in this house." She glared at her husband, who looked more annoyed. "The situation is wrong." He probed. "What, why?" By scooping another orange. "For love of God, woman, I am not getting what's happening in my own damn house. Everyone is turning crazy." He shouted, and my mom rolled her eyes at that.
"My daughters turned out just fine, but I am not getting where I went wrong with him." He pointed his hand at me, and I groaned at that. "Till some point, he acted as if he were straight. Well, all of a sudden, he shouted to the whole world that he was gay and dating a guy. Apparently, it's fake dating to get rid of a girl. He air-quoted that; he is getting on my nerves. Now, he is entering into a real relationship with a guy to prove that he is straight." He glared at me, and a few curses left my mouth. "Did I miss anything, Rowan Desmond?" I coughed at that. "Rick, leave the boy alone, please. I am liking this side of him." My mom gushed, and she was also getting on my nerves by acting so cool. "Feisty, I never saw this side of him. Oh god, he is competitive, eager to defeat someone. You always wanted to see him that way." She pointed out, and my dad sighed at that. "Not on the bed, woman." Everyone snickered at that, and I glared at my dad. "Shut up, Rick. Whatever, I don't care as long as he is happy." She beamed with happiness, and it only irritated me.
Why is she so happy all of a sudden? Yeah, she has a point. I was never this on board with any game, but this time, I am looking forward to it. But I am not getting her reason. I sighed more, with more chaos in my mind.
I kind of expected a series of questions from my dad, Davis, and also from my sisters, but they didn't utter a word. I shut the other two, as I had planned, but my mom is an entirely unexpected twist. She is cool and all if it's me, but this is way too cool. I am not getting why I am dwelling so much. I should be relieved at her reaction and breathe a sigh of relief, but no, I couldn't.
My eyes fell on my mom, who was already watching me. As our eyes met, she winked at me, and I rolled my eyes at her. Too cheerful; it's confirmed that something is off with this woman.