Rehaan, are you interested in guys?"

"What? What are you talking about?" I was taken aback.

"I know. Don't keep it a secret from me."

"No, it's not... Let's just go to class." I said as I began to walk, but he grabbed my hand and stopped me.

"Rehaan, tell me."

"No, I'm not..."

Tevin motioned for me to sit next to him. I sat down, feeling nervous.

I apologize for making you feel uneasy, Rehaan. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable.

"If I agree," I pondered, "what will happen? Will you shun me? Will everyone despise me for being different?"

"I can't speak for others, but I won't. I may not understand same-sex love, as it's unfamiliar to me. No one has ever explained it to me."

"No one can instruct you. You must come to understand it on your own."

"Rehaan, I totally get what you are feeling inside. But can you please give me a little time to really understand you?"

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"Why do you even want to understand me?"

"Because you're my best friend, and I genuinely regret what I said that day. I'm truly sorry."

"It's alright, everyone tends to think that way."

"Don't include me in that. You know, Rehaan, you're my safe haven, and now I want to be yours. I promise to keep everything between us a secret." He gently holds my hand. "I promise."

I smile and gaze at him. "You don't hate me, do you?"

I'm not capable of doing that, and you're well aware of it, right?

"Hmm," I respond, "how did you figure it out?"

"About you."

"Hmm."

"The day we argued. It was obvious that you were upset because I spoke negatively about you."

"I am who I am and I..."

"No need to explain, you don't have to. You're perfectly fine. There's nothing wrong with you. It's just love."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I did some investigating on that day."

“For me?”

“Of course, yes, and please don't ignore me from now on”.

I was happy. The person I least expected to understand me turned out to be the one who promised to be my safe haven. I'm not sure if he meant it, but it made me happy.

"Thanks, Tevin," I reply.

"It's okay. Now, tell me who that is. Do I know them?" he asks.

"I'm not telling. No chance," I say as I walk away.

"Hey, what's the big secret? Just tell me. I want to know," he persists.

"Why should I? I'm not telling you. I don't want to," I respond.

"Come on, I'm your best friend," he says.

I smile and say, "So what?"

"You know who I have a crush on. Can't you tell me who yours is?" he stops me. "Tell me, or I won't share my secrets anymore."

"I'd rather not hear about it."

"Come on, Rehaan, act like you care”.

"Alright, you're curious about who it is."

"Indeed," he replies, leaning in to listen attentively.

"Are you prepared to hear the name?"

"Yes."

" Tevin the person I have feelings for is..."

To be continued…