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Written by: “Irene Naridza”
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Photo USED -----------------------------------------------
IA PIC
MADE BY HOTPOT: https://hotpot.ai/art-generator
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Ian always had more than one secret when he was a child. One of them was that he liked boys. His intolerant father would not have taken it well. His mother, trying to protect him, told him to avoid talking about love and romantic partners.
Years went by and Ian met Derek in the last years of high school. He was
a tall, brown-haired jock. He also had photography as a hobby.
Ian worked at a store specialized in cameras. They sold everything from
lenses, memory cards and gadgets for modern cameras to photographic film and photographic
paper for classic cameras.
Something
that really caught Ian’s attention was when Derek walked into the store wearing
a t-shirt featuring a white heart with the phrase ‘Love Wins’ written in
multicolor. “(Is he gay? Why does he wear that
in public?)” He questioned
himself, unable to stop watching him. Ian got distracted several times while serving
him, which made Derek feel weird and leave the store with an excuse.
The next day in the high school, Ian went straight to Derek in the
cafeteria. Between apologies and the jock’s calm gaze, Ian felt something
unusual. It wasn’t a negative feeling, but rather a safe one.
That made
him take a risky step. Trying to be discreet, he confessed that he also liked
boys. “Why are you whispering?” Derek raised an eyebrow. “Because the others might hear me.” Ian
replied, leaning in closer.
Derek let
out a giggle. “I think they have better things
to worry about.” he said, keeping
that warm stare. That’s when Ian realized how different his and Derek’s lives
had been despite being in the same school and the same city.
Since that
day, Derek and Ian started getting closer. The jock frequently visited the
camera store to buy his camera gadgets. Ian, now calmer, gave him details and
advice that helped him improve his skills. They even started chatting about photography
during recess.
In the blink
of an eye, it was the senior year. A University gave Derek a sports scholarship.
Ian gave his best effort to get the best grades on assignments, tasks and
school projects so he could be eligible for a scholarship too, at the same
university for the degree in Photography Sciences.
It was the
night before the scholarship application responses. Derek had stayed at Ian’s
house. Ian’s mother let him in quietly through the backyard door while his
father slept.
In his
bedroom, Ian talked about how he dreamed of becoming a photographer for fashion
magazines or similar publications after graduating. “If
you succeed in the national league, you might end up on the cover of sports
magazines.” Ian said
to hearten his friend. “I like that idea.”
Derek answered, feeling
comfortable on the mattress on the floor.
Ian wanted to
give Derek an extra blanket. He walked to his closet and took out a big lilac
one. As he extended it to him, a lilac bra fell from it. “What’s that?” Derek asked with a smirk.
“This?... erm…” He avoided looking at the jock as he hid the bra back in the closet and
closed the door. “Sometimes… sometimes people
pay me to take photos for local boutiques… Yes. That’s what I do. It’s a good
way to make some money.” he stuttered.
Derek
nodded. “If you say so.” He knew that it was hard for Ian to open up and
express his preferences. He didn’t want to force him. He wanted him to feel
safe next to him.
When the application
response arrived early in the morning, Ian couldn’t hold back his happiness as
he read the words; “You have been selected for
the scholarship system…” Both of
his parents were proud of him. Derek congratulated him when he got back to the
bedroom.
Moved by
the moment, the jock dared to kiss him on the cheek, apologizing the next
second. Ian couldn’t help but blush and freeze. When he moved again, he stood on
his toes to reach Derek’s face and kiss him back.
The next Thursday,
during recess, Derek noticed Ian being more nervous than usual. He stared at
him for several seconds before shifting his gaze elsewhere. When he asked about
it, the skinny guy said that it was nothing particular.
They were walking
back home through the park, as they usually did. In that countryside area, the
leaves were already falling from the trees.
“Michael Ken University is the most prestigious, not only in the city but the whole state. Our education will be of the highest quality.” Derek said, walking slowly. “Uh-huh” Ian answered, walking faster to keep up with his friend. “I still have to get a college degree so I can join the national team that pays for it. The good thing is that I’ll have less homework.” He commented. “Uh-huh”
The leaves cracked under their feet. That and the wind
were the only sounds for a moment. “Is everything okay, Ian?” the
jock asked, turning his head to look at his short friend. “Uh-huh” he said
while staring at the path.
“Do you want some ice cream?” Derek offered.
“The
weather is cold, but… yes, thank you.” He nodded. They both went to a nearby ice cream shop at
the park. Derek asked for vanilla flavor and Ian chose chocolate.
As they enjoyed their cold and creamy dessert with small
spoons, the silence accompanied them. Ian was deep in thought, digging his
spoon into the ice cream a couple of times before taking a bite. Derek ate more
cheerfully, never taking his eyes off his friend.
“Would you like to go to the prom with me?” Derek finally
said. Ian froze, his spoon in the air and his mouth open for another bite. They
exchanged glances for a second. The aspiring photographer’s inexpressive face made
the jock start regretting his words.
“OF COURSE I WANT” Ian answered, smiling and leaning
over the table to hug him, attracting the attention from the other couples at the
outdoors parlor. Derek removed his friend’s long hair from his face and smiled.
“Your
mom told me this would be the best way to ask you for prom, she was right.”
After finishing their ice cream, they left the park
holding hands. Ian spoke about how he couldn’t wait not only for prom and the
graduation ceremony but also for the day they would start the university together.
The prom night finally arrived. Derek slipped into his
best suit and went to pick up Ian at his house. He no longer cared about what Ian’s
father would say; He was determined to make that night something very special and
unforgettable. A pleasant surprise was that the old man didn’t put on that unfriendly
face when he answered the door and saw him waiting for his son.
“Do you own a car?” the man asked from his couch
while watching a baseball game. “No, sir.” Derek answered,
sitting in the nearest sofa. “At your age, I already own one.” He answered
as he opened a beer can for himself and offered one to the jock. “I’m fine, Thanks”
Suddenly,
the sound of high heels broke the silence. Derek turned to see Ian's mother
coming down the stairs alongside an unfamiliar girl. She was wearing a green
dress, white heels, and her blonde hair was curled. It took him a moment to
recognize the timid smile and those sky-blue eyes. “Ian?
Is that you?” he asked, confused.
“Milla. My name is Milla. But yes, it's me.” she said with effort. “I'm sorry I didn’t tell you… The thing is, I didn’t know
how…” She nervously played with
her thumbs, where her manicure and green nail polish stood out. “Aside from my mom… you were the only one who never
judged me, my only friend…” She
avoided looking at Derek, focusing instead on the floor or the walls.
“I wanted to tell you when you asked me to be your date for the prom… I
didn’t want you to turn away from me, but I also didn’t want to spend this
special night as… as him…” Her eyes landed on a family photo resting on the living room shelf. “If you want to leave, I won’t be mad.” She
lifted her gaze to the jock, their eyes meeting. “You’re
wonderful. You deserve another man who will make you happy.” She
struggled to keep from sobbing.
Derek stood
up and went straight to hug her. “It’s okay,
Milla.” he said in the warmth of
their embrace. Even with heels, she still wasn’t at his height. She looked up,
her eyes glistening, while Derek gave her a smile.
“I didn’t tell you, but I’m not gay. I’m bisexual.” Milla let out a gasp “Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t find a reason to walk
away from you.” He leaned in, and
Milla closed her eyes, letting their lips meet, filling them both with warmth
and a tingling sensation in their chests. When they pulled away, a few tears
rolled down her cheeks.
“Oh, look at the time! You’re going to be late!” said her mother, her eyes also
watery. “I’ll call a taxi.” Derek said as he reached for his phone. “That won’t be necessary.” The deep voice of the older man in the room
resounded firmly.
He pulled a
set of keys from his shirt pocket and tossed them to Derek. “I want you both home by 11:00 PM.” he said as
the young man looked at the keychain, which bore the logo of a three-pointed
star. “And more importantly… take care of my
car… and my princess.”
Finally, he
looked away from the television to see them. There was no resentment in his
gaze, only resignation. Milla approached him and kissed his cheek, leaving a
trace of her pink lipstick. “Thank you, Dad.”
her voice cracked from the tears. His approval meant the world to her. He
nodded silently. He still needed time.
Derek and
Milla got into the 1985 Mercedes, its elegant black exterior shining under the
streetlights. The engine roared majestically as Derek started it. Milla’s
mother waved goodbye from the doorway, while her father watched from the
window.
The
headlights illuminated the road as they laughed inside the car. Milla still
couldn’t believe her dream had come true.
Ten years
had passed since that magical moment. Derek and Milla went to university
together, working as photographers at their own graduation ceremony. Their
institution had allowed students from their program to immortalize their
achievement.
With his
degree in hand, Derek became eligible to join national football teams. When
given a choice, he didn’t hesitate. He picked his childhood favorite, the ‘Red
Lions.’ Milla, on the other hand, started working for various fashion
magazines. One of them specialized in sportswear, where she eventually
photographed her own boyfriend to promote his team’s jerseys.
Not long
after that, their wedding took place. Neither Derek nor Milla could wait to be
united by that powerful bond. It was a beautiful ceremony, attended by all
their family members. Milla’s mother couldn’t stop crying with joy, and her
father finally accepted her completely.
Milla felt
like the princess who had found her happily ever after, and Derek felt like the
luckiest man in the world.
Milla
launched her own website, where she uploaded all her photographs. She had
hundreds of followers who were mesmerized by the way she captured landscapes in
a single image. It also served as her digital portfolio, helping her stand out
and solidify her name in the world of photography.
Derek’s
team won a second consecutive national championship, thanks to his efforts.
This made him one of the most recognized sports figures in the country. Some
American football teams had already made him tempting offers with better
benefits, but Derek turned them down.
He was
happy shining in his home country. He wasn’t earning a fortune, but he made
good money. More than anything, he loved inspiring his own people, proving that
they didn’t have to change who they were or emigrate to achieve their dreams.
It wasn’t about rejecting opportunities. It was about making the most of the
position he had.
Now, they
were on vacation in England, specifically in Liverpool. Milla had been
captivated by pictures of St. John’s Gardens she had seen online and wanted to
take her own photos when the opportunity arose.
“You’ve taken so many pictures of this place.” Derek said. “It’s a beautiful place. I want to capture every detail.”
Milla replied. “At this rate, you’ll
fill up your memory card without photographing the most beautiful view.” He wrapped an arm around her.
“Which one?” she asked,
ready to aim her camera. “You.” Derek
said, his smile standing out through his beard. Milla handed him the camera and
positioned herself so that St. George’s Hall loomed impressively in the
background.
The End
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