I could've easily denied the fact that I was gay, I could have explained the whole situation to them…so why did I not make an effort?…no, even if I lied they were going to find out later on and even if I did come out in the near future the outcome would still to be the same wouldn't it?
He bit his lower lip quivering. "….no family would remain the same if they suddenly found out something like that about their child…or is it just my own family?" He whispered to himself.
Glen was overwhelmed in his thoughts and didn't realize tears had began plopping down from his eyes. Huh?, why am I crying?… He clenched his lips depressed trying to hold in his cry.
The cloud soon turned dark. He showed up at Charlotte's house with his bag and a nose mask on his face to cover the bruising on his cheek and mouth.
"Glen?"
Charlotte looked confused as she opened the door.
— — -
She let him crash in her house that night but he felt guilty having to lean on her because she was already going through a lot as a teenager. She lived with her grandmother who was often sick and it would put her on edge.
He hung his head low filled with guilt. "I'm sorry for bothering you at a time like this."
"I'm not bothered." She smiled handing him a cup of tea and sat on the bed with him as she watched him.
He took of his nose mask and took a sip of the tea sniffling.
"What happened?" She inquired concerned seeing the bruising on his face.
Glen was quiet with a brooding eyes as he stared into the cup holding his tears. "My parents found out that I liked men."
Charlotte cover her mouth in disbelief. "What? How did it actually happened!?"
He narrated his unfortunate encounter with Phil, but he didn't tell Charlotte that he actually complied with some of his wretched demands.
Charlotte felt revolted after hearing Phil's atrocities. Her brows creased furiously. "What sort of bastard does shit like that?! And You never told me such thing was happening!" She said, her voice rising.
He lowered his head, more guilt tangling his chest. "I'm sorry." He said. Tears swelling up in his eyes.
She pinching her forehead stressed from the story Glen told her and crossed her arm. "Hey, if something is bothering you, please tell me…there are ways to resolve problems like this."
He hung his head even more and his voice cracked. "…im sorry."
She let out an exasperated sigh and pondered for a moment.
"Please let me stay for a while… I'll find a place then move out." He requested in a pleading tone.
Charlotte smiled at him sympathetically "I don't mind if you live here with me, you're like my brother."
"No, I don't want to be a bother, not especially to you… it's going to be temporal."
She sighed softly. "…Okay then…do whatever you want."
— — - —
Afterwards Glen blocked Phil's contact and cut ties with him but Phil kept contacting him with different numbers. He just had to keep blocking him.
Was he that shameless? He fucking ruined my life and he is still unfazed? Self centered bastard!
Glen worked multiple part time jobs to not fall behind in his education since his father had disowned him and didn't care if he lived or died.
His father stopped contacting him entirely, but his mother would still reach out to him to send him money but he always refused the money and returned it back to her.
He wanted to be independent and to stop living to the expectations of his family. If his parents could easily disown him without trying to understand him first, then it meant that he had to live for himself alone.
He saved a lot of money while staying at Charlotte's house and eventually moved into a studio apartment around school. To him it was a great accomplishment.
— — —
Phil managed to find out Glen worked in a cafe after numerous attempt to contact him. He kept showing up to Glen's work place and a simple go away was not enough to stop him from pestering Glen.
— -
While Glen was cleaning up the cafe he worked in. Phil showed up again to plead with him, the mere presence of him was mentally wrenching for Glen.
He crinkled his brows frustratingly and enquired. "What do you still want from me?"
"Please let's talk, I'll make it quick." Phil pleaded advancing toward him.
"What else do you want to talk about? Please leave and don't ever come find me again. You already got what you want so please..." Glen said with a downcasted expression.
How could he sit and talk to a boy who made his life like that?
"Glen, I'm sorry I'll go and tell your parents that I set you up…I'll explain everything please…" Phil continued his imploring desperate to stop Glen from cutting ties with him.
Glen frustratingly took his phone from his pocket about to call the cops, but Phil hastily grabbed his wrists obstinately and his phone fell to the ground. "Glen please let's talk this out!" He tightened his grip on Glen's wrists even more still imploring.
"Let go of me!" Glen bellowed and soon people began to gather around to know what was happening.
Glen noticed the crowd that was slowly forming and became wary lowering his head furiously. "I'll call the cops if you don't leave for real!" He whispered sharply.
Phil slowly retracted his grip and glanced at the people who were whispering with concern. He looked at Glen in anguish before turning to walking away shame faced.
who is to blame here? I already lost my family because of you, don't look at me like that!
— — —
After that day Glen switched to another cafe job, worried that Phil may show up again, but Phil stopped showing up.
***
Glen returned to school sparked with anxiety that Phil may have done worse only to find out he had transferred schools. He braced himself for gossips and stares believing Phil would out him like he said. But nothing eventful happened in the first three days that he attended school.
He actually disappeared quietly?
A smile of relief crossed Glen's face. He felt like a heavy load was pulled from his shoulders. Seeing he was finally free, he continued his routine of staring at his crush who he never got the chance to talk to.
— — —
After school, Glen saw off in a cab and continued his walk home. Just around the corner, his eyes unexpectedly caught around Henry kissing a girl.
He hastily hid behind a fence to avoid getting caught. What am I doing? I definitely look like a stalker right now…
He peeked from the corner of the wall.
The girl didn't look like the one he was rumored to be dating in school. The girl this time looked a little bit older than him.
A luxurious black car screeched to halt near by. They both embraced each other and got into the car which zoomed off swiftly into the distance as Glen watched.
He always has different partners…isn't he too young to be doing stuff like that with anyone?
His faced flushed from his thoughts and he paced his steps to his direction.
— — —
Glen and Charlotte finally graduated high school but Glen still never got the opportunity to talk to Henry let alone confess his feelings. He didn't know what or how Henry was doing and thought his feeling was pointless and he should probably get over it for real this time.
**
After a night's study in his apartment, he turned on his tv. His gaze stunned at a familiar face in the clip of the news headline that read: Craig Benjamin launched his new company.
The familiar face was Henry wearing a suit and stood sideline with the Craig's family.
No wonder…I saw him get into a car like that that day…his father is Benjamin Craig.
Henry Craig is the son of Craig Benjamin a renowned rich business man who owned one of the most successful construction companies in the country. In the headline his father was launching his company's new branch.
Glen immediately took out his phone and looked his family name up on the internet.
Henry was the last son of the family of three children.
Craig Benjamin his father was rumored to have had three children from different women, he was also rumored to be a man who indulged in an endless womanizing scheme and there are other kids who were never heard of.
Henry Craig did not have control over his surroundings as a teenager, he blended in as a normal boy to avoid the complications and surveillance that came with his father's high status. It was only after he graduated that people got to find out He was the son to the wealthy and famous man.
— — — -
Glen and Charlotte succeeded in getting into the same College but different majors, it was a very big celebration for them. They bought alcohol and celebrated their entrance at Glen's apartment chugging down beers.
"We made it." Charlotte yelled as the beer hit the spot as it washed down her throat.
Glen chuckled and together they cheered in fufilment.