Steven looked at Carla with a peculiar look. "Brian? We are just friends. Is something wrong? Why do you ask?"
"No, it's nothing," Carla rolled her eyes and answered hesitantly. She kept quiet for some time. Steven didn't ask anything again, continuing to look at the painting that was in front of him. But Carla couldn't keep it in anymore! "Well, I was wondering..." she spoke at last. Steven looked up at her, waiting for her to go on.
But Carla realized she shouldn't have started talking about this at all. Even if Brian and Steven were a couple, that was their private business! She was in no place to interfere.
Noticing the queer look on Carla's face, Steven blinked confusedly and asked, "Yeah, go on. Why did you mention him? You think there's something between him and me, right?"
"No, No. You're overthinking it,"
Carla said sheepishly, letting out a faint smile. The smile disappeared as soon as it appeared, as she decided to continue further, "I know Brian is Terence's friend. I was only wondering how you and Brian met. That's it!"
Noticing her twinkling eyes, Steven lowered his eyes, smiled cutely and said, "Really? I thought you had started to care about me and were worried I might be 'going astray'."
Fidgeting with nervousness, Carla sipped her juice. She hadn't expected Steven to say that. She started coughing with embarrassment, then looked up at him and asked, "So, you know that Brian is..." She trailed off.
"Yes, I know. You must know too, why else would you ask me this question. Am I right?"
asked Steven boldly. He wasn't the kind who could get nervous with such questions. People around him were still learning to wrap their heads around homosexuality, but not him. At the same time, a tiny part of him got excited. 'Is she worrying about me?' he wondered.
Carla put the cup down from her hand, rolled her eyes and answered hesitantly, "Yes, you are right. Honestly, this is why I was worried about you."
Steven smiled gently. In fact, he was almost blushing. "Don't worry about me. I know who I like..." he said, leaning back in his chair and stretching himself.
Carla felt even more embarrassed now. She coughed again, trying to stifle the awkwardness.
"Are you all right?" asked Steven, tilting his head and looking at her coyly. Part of him enjoyed making her feel uncomfortable like this. Many times, the boy could act like such a tease!
Carla waved her hand and answered with a smile, seeing that he was enjoying messing with her. "Don't worry, I'm okay. And it's also good that you are so clear about your choices. After all, you are your father's only son."
Before he could even respond, she got up and started to walk out of the cafe adjacent to the art gallery. It was an outdoorsy place with a lot of green all around.
The sunlight through the trees had lit up the entire place rather aesthetically. Walking through the patches of sun, Carla looked even more beautiful than usual.
"Wait a minute!" he said, fishing in his bag for something. Carla stopped and turned around. "Yes?" she said, her golden brown hair glistening under the sunlight. Steven walked to her with a small gift in his hands. "Carla, I'm so happy you came to attend m
mile, Brian responded, "You know him since you met him last time. It's my friend, Steven."
"Steven? No way!"
Terence's lips trembled. He rejected the idea the moment Brian spoke the name.
Terence had actually planned to introduce Brian to a girl. How could he lapse back into his liking for Steven? It was never going to work!
And if the two of them were left alone. Only God knew what would happen!
"Why not? If I'm guessing right, all the attendees from the company are those who are single, right? The point is for them to come across a suitable partner. Since that is the goal, why can't Steven and I be together?"
Brian bargained. 'If Steven doesn't go with me, what is the point of me joining this show?' he thought to himself.
Terence paused for a while, massaging his head. He was thinking about how he could talk him out of this.
Brian's stubbornness was getting on his nerve. At last, he got so angry that he actually hit his fist on the table. If Brian was in front of him right now, he would've actually punched him right in his face so he could come back to his senses!
There were so many beautiful young women in the world, and all he could manage to do was to be attracted to a man!
That would have been fine too, but to force a straight man to be him? He did not even have enough courage to admit he was gay, let alone confront his feelings for Steven. How could he expect Steven to play along in this charade?
"Okay!"
Terence ground his teeth and sneered. Although Steven was Gary's son, he knew he couldn't hate the young man just because of that. He wanted to help Brian find a partner, and somehow make him give up, trying to be with Steven.
This, in a way, was like contributing to charity.
"Okay, it's a deal. We'll be there next week then!"
said Brian before Terence could say anything else and made his way toward Steven. His hands were sweating as he wondered how to bring it up to Steven, especially because of the exchange they just had a while ago.
'How can I persuade him to go with me?' Brian wondered restlessly, progressing closer to Steven's stunning face little by little.