《LGBTQIAP+: Sun-Kissed》Choice

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This was it.

I finally did it.

I graduated high school, not just with good marks, but one of the best marks in my entire year. I was even offered the position of Valedictorian, seeing as I'm involved with many of the school clubs such as student council, athletic council, gay-straight alliance (I didn't really agree on the name, I feel as though it should be slightly more inclusive seeing as I'm a fellow pansexual) and a couple sports teams, not to mention I'm the Senior Class President.

People call me the Golden Boy of West High and honestly, I'm fine with it. I don't want to seem self-conceited because I'm honestly not, but I believe that I earned my rank of this school. I worked my butt off and I deserve this diploma.

After I have completed my Valedictorian speech, which I've been working on so hard for the past couple weeks, I sit back in the crowd with my fellow classmates waiting to receive my diploma. Seeing as how my last name is Alvarez I know the wait won't be much longer.

I stand with the peers in my row and we make our way to the side of the stage to wait for our names to be called one by one.

I guess I wasn't aware of my own nerves because as I shuffle closer towards the strain to the stage my left foot gets caught over my right and I almost faceplant on the ground. You know those slow motion falling scenes in those cheesy movies? That's exactly what it felt like, my heart stopped and I felt my hair sweep away from my forehead in the same slow motion, but my dramatic self is stopped when I feel a hand grip my forearm and yank me back to a standing position.

After my heart starts up again, I quickly turn around to thank the person behind me, because that would be really embarrassing and all I'll be remembered as is the boy who fell at graduation. Okay, so maybe I'm being a bit dramatic but life would be boring if I didn't make a big deal over everything.

"Thank you." I smile at the gorgeous boy behind me who still has a grip on my arm. My eyes flit by his soft features; bright baby blue eyes that look so innocent, an angular nose that curves slightly at the end so it doesn't look overly sharp and finally to his lips.

I watch as his lips moved to shape the words 'you're welcome', and I'm practically mesmerized by the pink shade of them.

I open my mouth to say something more, anything more, maybe flirt a bit because he's honestly beautiful, but I'm knocked out of my train of thought when I hear my name being called over the speakers followed by multiple loud cheers from my family and fellow classmates.

I give him one more smile before heading up the stairs to accept my diploma. But the only thing I can think about is him, I recognize him but not enough to really know him, which is odd since I know practically everyone in my grade. He must be relatively new to the school.

As I'm stepping off the stage, I hear "Emerson Ali" from the speakers and I smile.

Well, Emerson, you've certainly gained my interest.

A couple days after graduation and now I'm fully into the swing of summer, I'm determined to make this summer the best I've had seeing as how I'm turning 18 soon and that means I'm going to have to take more responsibility.

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I guess you could say that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. My dad is a successful lawyer and my mother is a famous author. Sometimes this requires them to be slight workaholics but they've always made time for me. They're always supportive of me, especially when I told them that I didn't want to become a lawyer like a dad but instead, a graphic designer, as well as when I came out to them as pansexual. I guess the money made it easier for them to support me financially but they were genuinely great parents.

I know it's only been a couple days, but my mind still constantly remembers Mr. Blue Eyes. I haven't seen Emerson since then, but that doesn't mean I haven't wanted to.

I walk into the coffee shop about 5 minutes away from my house to get my daily dose of caffeine. Before you say anything, yes I'm a slight addict, okay maybe scratch slight. Coffee is basically the only thing that's able to get me on my feet and functioning like a normal human being. It's gotten so bad that they already have mine made before I walk into the shop. I simply walk past the line place my money on the counter, grab my coffee and sit down. Yes, sometimes this can get some dirty looks from customers who patiently wait in line but I'm a loyal customer!

I make my way to my usual table to the right of the cafe with my steaming coffee in one hand and my tablet in the other.

I should've known something was going to go wrong the second I stepped out of my house without the case on my tablet. I didn't think too much about it, I hoped that I wouldn't drop it and I've been successful the whole walk here so I thought I'd be fine, but on the way to my table I felt the tablet slip from my fingers. I gripped it tighter in hopes that I could save it last second and I did. The only problem was since I was so shocked and immediately clenched my hands on the tablet, the hand around my coffee shop cup also squeezed a little too tight causing the lid to pop off and coffee spurts out of the cup.

In hopes of saving my tablet from the scorching drink, I moved the tablet away from my body while bringing the coffee closer. Now, this may sound stupid but at the moment it seemed like the right thing to do. Obviously, I was wrong, because I let out a short yelp when the coffee leaks through my shirt burning my entire stomach and ruining the white t-shirt.

After taking a couple deep breaths, I manage to put the half-empty cup on the table while placing my tablet on the opposite side in case the coffee shop dripping off the edges of the cup decide to travel a bit.

I quickly accept the napkins that the person at the table next to mine offers, I know it won't do much but I'm desperate to get rid of the sting. I clean the coffee off of my hand and arms before dabbing my shirt a couple times knowing that a couple napkins won't help at all.

"Here," I quickly turn around the see a girl with short brown hair, some her hair pulled into a French braid across the side of her head.

She holds a black t-shirt in her hands, thrust in front of me. I look at her confused.

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"Take the shirt, I had an extra one and you look like you need it more than I do," she says with a smile. I take the shirt from her hands with a quick thanks.

Her eyes are what's really getting to me, I guess I have a thing with blue eyes, first Emerson and now her. How is possible for some to have such captivating eyes?

She gives another one of her smiles, and I think 'Damn, she's gorgeous.' But she's gone before I can say anything more.

I watch as the door closes behind her, I should probably change into the shirt because the coffee is starting to get a bit sticky.

I quickly make my way to the bathroom, not before telling the guy behind the counter that I'm leaving my tablet on the table and for his to keep an eye on it. I step into one of the stalls and quickly but carefully pull off the soaked shirt cringing when the now cold, wet fabric rubs on a part of my face.

I look at the shirt that the girl gave me to check for size. It's a size too small but I know it'll only but a bit snug. What surprises me is I notice it's a men's shirt. At first, I think that it might be her boyfriends or something and get quickly disappointed but then I remember her saying that it was a spare that she didn't need.

I would have questioned why she was wearing men's clothes but I honestly didn't mind. Plus I heard that men's clothes are generally more comfortable than women's.

After I make my way back to my table to finish off what's left of my coffee and work on the design that'd I've been wanting to make for a while.

I realize while I'm sitting there that I actually never got her name.

For the past couple nights I've dreamt of blue eyes, call me crazy but I just can't seem to get either of them out of my mind, Emerson and a nameless girl.

It's quite surprising how far my affection goes for these two individuals, I've never been a relationship type guy, I've always struggled to find someone that I really connected with, which is why I'm so surprised that I'm crushing on not one, but two people at the same time.

I've always one to believe that you can't love more than one person at a time, there should only be your one love, but sitting in my bed late at night I struggle to separate my feelings for the two.

I know my best friend Avery would think I'm insane if I told her about this, she would tell me that I've only met them both once and that I needed to get my head out of the gutter and figure shit out. She was just that kind of person.

But how does one choose between two equally beautiful people, I felt that would be unfair. Not in a self-conceited way but I wouldn't want to choose one of them if the other could be my actual perfect match. So how does one decide? Fate. The first one that I see, I'll ask out, there's always a chance that one of them is in a relationship quickly decreasing my chances with them.

With that in my mind, I fall asleep, dreaming of baby blue eyes.

The next morning my mind was a bit clear, sure it was cheesy but I believed that fate would pair me with the right person, whoever they may.

I went to the coffee shop to retrieve my daily dose of caffeine and saw the nameless girl sitting on the table next to his usual one. I should've known that she would be here today, I did she her here yesterday.

As I made my way to the front to grab me pre-made coffee I remembered what I thought yesterday. Whoever I saw first I would ask on a date.

I sat down at my usual table trying to calm my nerves, maybe she already had a boyfriend or a girlfriend and I was just simply going to make a fool of myself.

She looked up as soon as I sat down in my seat, a smile spreading across her face. Damn, that was beautiful.

"Hi," she said from the table beside mine and suddenly it felt like the distance was too much.

"I never did get to thank you for lending me that shirt yesterday." I placed my tablet on the table and turned my body over slightly to face her.

She smiled back down at her laptop causing her short brown hair to fall into her face, she reached up to swipe it across her forehead before looking back at me, confidence spilling into her features. "How about you repay me with dinner." She more so told me than asked, but I could still see a hint of nerves behind her confident smile.

My heart skipped a beat, I guess that solves the mystery about a possible partner. Not to mention, is bring a lot of weight off of my shoulder, I would never admit this but I was scared of rejection.

"I'd really like that," I say.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and hand it to her. At first, she looks slightly confused as to why I'm giving her my phone. "I'm going to need to contact you, or I won't be able to repay you," I say with a small grin.

With a small shake of her head, she reaches for my phone punching in a couple buttons before giving my phone back to me. She proceeds to stand up, shutting her laptop and slinging her bag over one shoulder. Her pink dress flowing as she steps away from the desk.

"I'll see you then," she says and within a couple seconds she's out of the coffee shop but that doesn't stop the smile that's ever growing on my face.

I look back down at my phone to see her contact still on the screen.

Emerson Ali.

I freeze, Emerson Ali. I know that name, it's the name of the boy I've been crushing on.

But how can they have the same name? Unless... They never were different people.

I sit still for a couple moments trying to piece together everything that is going on. The same smile, same eyes, same hair colour, same facial structure. How could I have not noticed this before?

How could I have not noticed, that the boy and girl that I've been dreaming of are actually the same person, the same... genderqueer? non-binary? person.

Never mind their sexuality, I can figure that out later but how could I get so lucky? I don't have to choose between the two because technically I get both. Now I understand why I liked two people at the same time when this whole time I believed that you could only have one true love.

In my defense when she (they?) wears makeup it slightly alters the face like it does to everyone so even though they looked strikingly similar I never thought more about it.

Once again the smile is back on my face, I managed to get a date with undoubtedly the most gorgeous person I've set my eyes on and I don't have to worry about making the wrong choice because they are my only choice.

It's a bit later in the day when I finally decide to text Emerson. At first, I'm unsure how to start the conversation, many people think that I'm so confident but when it comes to relationships I'm less experienced in that department and I was to make a good impression. I also wanted to talk about their sexuality, not because there's anything wrong with it, but because I'm genuinely curious.

You never did let me thank you for saving me from embarrassment at grad. How about dinner AND a movie? -Kai

Luckily I don't have to wait long for a reply

AND a movie? Woah, now you're just crossing a line! -Emerson

Consider it a double thanks and a sorry that I didn't recognize you from graduation. -Kai

Don't worry about it! I understand it can be confusing to some. -Emerson

If you don't mind me asking, what do you identify as? -Kai

Genderfluid. Some days I feel like a girl others a boy. If I'm being honest most of the time I do feel like a boy, as I was biologically born male but as you've seen I still at times feel like a girl. The pronouns work the same way, in case you were wondering. When I feel like a girl I go by she/her and when I feel like a boy I go by he/him.-Emerson

Makes sense. I just don't understand how I couldn't figure out that the 'you' from grad and the 'you' from today are actually the same person. I guess I should blame it on my blinding affection for you. -Kai

Now you're just sucking up! - Emerson

Maybe. <3 -Kai

How about that dinner and movie on Saturday? - Emerson

I'd love to. Now I must admit that I'm disappointed that I'll have to wait 3 whole days for this date, but that doesn't mean that we cannot see one another. -Kai

That is very true. -Emerson

Join me for coffee tomorrow? Same time as today? -Kai

I'll be there! -Emerson

The date we went on ended up being remarkable, as was every other date after that one. I'm still glad that I never had to choose because now I have to most gorgeous partner and I wouldn't change them for the world.

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