Chapter 6

- I hope the restaurants I used to know still exist. says Sebastian, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

- I don't know, I don't know anything outside Cornell University. I haven't left Cormell since I arrived 2 months ago.

- Have you been in the dorm for two months? And you didn't leave campus? Jesus, it must have been really boring.

- Ya! But it's okay.

- What do you like the best? American? Asian? Italian?

- I'm not weird, but I miss Asian food.

- Asiatica will be then. – He says starting the route out of the University. – Let's see if Jon's Asian Cuisine still exists. It's not far from here.

They followed a short distance in silence. When Sebastian stops the Tesla, he unbuckles Theo, runs out of the car and, like the gentleman that he is, opens the door for him.

- You don't have to open the door for me. I'm not a woman or we're on a date.

Sebastian laughs, takes Theo's hand, who blushes, and leads him to the restaurant, which, despite not being fancy, does a very good job of serving the delicacies it sells.

- Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Sebastian Jones is here again – a young woman says, and runs towards them completely euphoric.

- Hi Lei. You're still beautiful as always.

The woman turns 360 degrees and bows.

- Can you get a table for two, over there in a corner?

- Of course. Everything for you Sebastian. – she looks at the two men holding handsand says softly, close to Sebastian's ear, but loud enough for Theo to hear. 

- I didn't know you'd broadened your horizons. You have good taste, he's gorgeous.

Theo blushes and tries to pull his hand away, but Sebstian tightens his grip, and Theo gives up.

- I always have good taste, Lei, but this is not what you think. This is my new friend Theo, and I'm not holding his hand, I'm literally preventing him from running away.

Lei laughs and leads the two to a table by the wall. More private than the rest.

- Is this good?

- It's perfect, honey. – Sebastian answered, while making Theo sit down.

He sits down opposite Theo and Lei starts talking.

- Myself and I will be your personal and happy hostess – she says, while literally shooing away a boy who was coming to assist them.

Before starting the function, she pulls up a chair, sits down close to Sebastian and placing her hand on top of his, says:

- I hear you're a big shark in New York now. Is that true?

- I'm successful, against all odds and bets around campus – he says laughing – as for being a shark, I don't know. I don't have as many teeth as they do.

Lei laughs, gets up, takes the chair away and says:

- I'll bring the menu, but for now, what do you want to drink?

Sebastian and Lei look at Theo and Theo flinches.

- If he want wine, I'll pretend he's 21. But if you tell anyone, I'll hand your body over to the chef and we all have Sebastian's sashimi for dinner.

The two men laugh.

- What do you want to drink, Theo?

- Coke if any. I don't like Pepsi, it's too sweet - He says, embarrassed

Sebastian looks at Lei and very seriously says:

- 2 cokes. For me, with lemon and ice. - he looks at Theo.

- For me, just coke and a glass of water with ice, please. I'm thirsty..

- I'll be right back with the drinks and the menu. - she says, going to the bar.

Sebastiam doesn't take his eyes off Theo, and Theo feels naked under that intense gaze.

- Stop looking at me like I'm going to explode at any moment.

- I'm just waiting to hear your story, but for now, tell me, what happened this morning? Why were you covered in leftovers and crying in hiding?

Theo lowers his head and squints to keep from crying.

- Do I really have to talk?

- No, it's not really my business, but I would like to know everything about you.

- Why? - Theo asks, without looking up.

- Because you're a Cornell student, and that makes you family.

Theo scoffs, and Sebastian pretends not to notice.

- Some jocks from the dorm decided to clear the breakfast trays on top of me. The whole canteen saw it and laughed at me. Even the cooks, and I, cowardly, did not defend myself, and ran away from there and went to hide where you saw me. I forgot my backpack there..

- Surely someone kept it. – Sebastian pauses - Don't tell me, they did that because you're gay?

- I never told anyone that I was gay, but it seems that I have it written on my forehead. They hate that I'm in that dorm. There are a lot of gay people on campus, but I sleep next to them.

- Why don't you just join a sports team?

- I was thinking about trying lacrosse. I used to play it in high school. I wonsan't bad. Or rowing, but I'm out of shape.

- Thats good. Just go for the lacrosse tryouts. It's a popular game here and they look for good players.

- I don't know if they will accept me. By now, everybody knows I'm gay.

- I don't think the lacrosse coach cares about that, but if you don't want to try it, why don't you ask the dean to change dorms? Surely, with an effort, they can find you another space.

- Only double rooms are available, and I don't want a double room. I don't know who will be in the room with me.

- Campus LGBT+ groups can certainly help you find someone gay-friendly or even a gay roommate.

- I know. But I don't know.

- That's confusing, - Sebastian replies.

Lei arrives with the drinks, and Theo drinks the water, as if he hadn't had a drink in days.

Lei leaves the menu and says she'll be back in 5 minutes.

Sebastian looks at Theo, who keeps his head down but is visibly crying, because the tears that fall on the table are making a small pond.

Sebastian reaches out and cups Theo's chin with two fingers, lifting his head and runs his fingers under Theo's eyes, wiping away the tears.

- Don't cry and, especially, don't lower your head. You are free to choose where you sleep and who you sleep with. Nobody has the right to point the finger at you or make you cry.

Theo sobs, takes a deep breath and fights back stubborn tears.

- Why did you say you weren't part of the Hanson family anymore?

Theo closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and decides to tell him the whole story. He tells how he always felt different, but that he always had friends and an easy life. That his parents, even though they were absent, as they spent more time at work and at charity parties than at home, always gave him everything, that he never lacked for anything, neither he nor his older brothers. The last years of high school were very difficult for him, as he tried to date girls, but could not feel any interest in them. Which found him admiring other boys' bodies, and having impure thoughts at night. He said that in the last year of high school, he finally had the courage to go to a gay bar, using a false identification, and that he met a boy two years older, a Harvard student, who he fell in love with and with whom he shared his first kiss with someone of the same sex. He said that this man was proudly gay, and that everyone knew and accepted him in the environment he frequented.

Sebastian listened intently, and gestured to Law to wait longer.