"Come in," Zeke goes straight to the note on the refrigerator, reading what his mother left him for dinner. She also mentioned she won't be back until after Sunday evening shift, telling Zeke to take care of himself.
He tears the note off, putting the crumpled note in his back pocket.
"Stop looking around, let's go to my room," He gently pushed a perplexed Mylo towards his bedroom, regretting it immediately as the walls of the bedroom were covered with naked male posters.
An emo rock band. Another poster of two men kissing at the beach, under the sunset. His favorite fem-boy character from his favorite movie. His bed is packed with pornographic books between two men and in groups, with vivid descriptions and pictures.
"Ahh… I think you should wait outside," He tries to push Mylo out but he has already seen it all, his face pale.
He contemplates… he has to run away and avoid Zeke for life. He likes men… The holy book… His father has preached it, he has said it time and time again that it is a ferocious sin for a man to lay with another man.
His stepmother accuses him of it all the time and also hates him deeply for it even though he will never commit such a sin.
But… Zeke has not hurt him even once… He gives him his food… He sees him… He is his only friend… Maybe if he can talk to him and help him out of it.
Zeke doesn't stand still, he rips off his poster, clearing his bed. Moving his laptop to his desk, while stretching out the bed sheet, a large bottle of lubricant falls to the ground.
Mylo tries to pick it up curiously.
Zeke slaps it out of his hand, "Sorry, don't touch that. Sorry, sorry for the mess. You can sit on the bed."
"You don't need to do all of this, hide your likes and all that."
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, knowing how you react towards gay people."
"I don't react in a bad manner," Mylo fretted, "It is a sin, Zeke. You can't do that thing with another man."
"Why?" Zeke is offended, his tone harsh, "Give me a reason."
"God doesn't support it, Zeke. You are going to hell if you continue on this path."
"Except your God, what do you think of it?"
"I think… I think it's not okay at all."
Zeke shoulders slumps, he takes off his glasses, "Does this mean… we can't be friends?"
"What?" Fear washes over Mylo at Zeke's words, he fears Zeke doesn't want to be friends with him anymore, "I didn't say I don't want to be your friend," His voice is low. He immediately regrets his actions, he himself is a big sinner.
Not only did he disobey his parents, he is also quick to judge his only friend when he is supposed to love him as himself.
"You need to understand that even as humans living in Northern City, we worship the Moon Goddess alongside the Moon children, Werewolves. But the thing is, Northern City has been open and accepting of other religions for more than 50 years. That is why you and your parents were able to find a footing here. And that is because we humans are only made up of 20% of the population of Northern City, that large 80% are occupied with millions of wolves."
"What does that have to do with you liking men?" Mylo asks, his lips tight even though he has learned a lot about this city and all he can conclude is that it was absolutely a wrong idea for them to come here.
"You are the first person I have seen in the whole of Northern Lantern City who is against what anyone likes. We are ruled by wolves and in their lore and ways, they can mate with anyone their heart desires. This simply means the Moon Goddess is a loving God and gender is too little of a barrier to love."
"We are different," Mylo marveled, his expression crestfallen, "My parents will never… forget it."
Zeke lets out a deep sigh, putting the lubricant bottle away in his cupboard.
"There is nothing wrong in being different, Mylo. We all are."
Mylo nods, looking around curiously, feeling comforted to be in Zeke's space. He doesn't have a bedroom of his own and he can only dream, he doesn't have a mobile phone, or a computer of his own. He doesn't have his own bed, his chair, his wardrobe, his own study desk.
He realizes how much he doesn't have these things.
"Do you want to stay with me for the weekend? I have the house all to myself. We can watch movies and play videogames."
"Can we do that?" Mylo rejoices for a few seconds and then he remembers within him that he is playing with a sharp knife. One that will cut him into pieces, "I can't do that, I have to go home before 10 pm."
"I can make my mother call your parents and…"
"You can't!" Mylo raised his voice and then lowered his head tiredly, "You can't do that, they can't know I have a friend."
Zeke opened his mouth and closed it, "Okay."
A few seconds later, Zeke's mood instantly changes as he drags Mylo to his wardrobe, "Stand there," He takes out his expensive shirts placing them on Mylo's body to see how the color fits him.
He even placed a beach transparent floral shirt that Zeke himself has never gotten the opportunity to wear before.
Mylo deadpans immediately he sees it, "There is no way on earth I will wear that."
Zeke laughs, holding his stomach. He continues searching until he finds a deep blue shirt with a button down collar which fits Mylo so well, making him look polished. Zeke finds dark colored jeans and the pair of new shoes his mother bought for him for the new year.
Mylo couldn't believe the image of himself in the mirror.
Soon, Zeke blasts the speaker with music as he and Mylo play around, cutting each other's hair, following some tutorials. They finished all the food Zeke's mother left in the refrigerator.
Mylo couldn't help but be in a good mood.
They began watching a movie, eating snacks and chocolate. Something he never thought he could do. That was not all, in a few hours, they were inside the taxi heading to the party at 8pm.
Mylo rubs his hand together, feeling nervous he could shit in his pants.
"Don't sweat it, it's just a party."
"I have never been to one," Mylo muttered quietly, mentally preparing himself for the worst possible scenarios.
"Just stay behind me," Zeke and Mylo join the queue, strolling in a straight line into the big hall.
It's totally a different world when Mylo steps in. The upbeat music fills the air with steady bubbly vibes, strong danceable rhythm. There are people clustered everywhere, some drinking and talking. Some were dancing, while some were kissing and making out with each other.
Someone was stumbling upstairs, already drunk.
Mylo waves his hand in his face, trying to clear the smoke in his face. People were smoking and inhaling white looking powder into their nose.
Mylo stood to watch curiously but Zeke pulled him away.
Anya notices Mylo and Zeke from upstairs, with a smile on her face she hurries downstairs to receive them, "You made it, Mylo."
"Hi… yeah," Mylo stutters, feeling a little too breathless to be here.
"Nice party," Zeke comments.
Anya smiles, dragging the both of them to the table he prepared for them, "My parents said I could have the party I wanted. After all, I'm 18 now. How old are you, Mylo?"
"I'm turning 18 in a few months.
"Turned 18 last month," Zeke brags.
Anya smiles even more brightly, "That means we could drink a little alcohol right?"
"No," Mylo blurted, laughing awkwardly. He clenched his fist under the table, "I don't drink alcohol," Mylo laughed, knowing he has never tasted alcohol in his life and he really hates it as his father drinks one everyday.
"I know my limits," Zeke chimed in.
Anya pouts at Mylo, "You are no fun, I want to drink with you."
Zeke rolls his eyes, pouring himself and Anya a drink. He pours water into Mylo's glass, "You can't force him to drink, okay?"
"Did you finally choose a club?" Anya leans closer and closer to Mylo, ignoring Zeke's words.
"No, how about you?"
" I might join the debate club. A lot of girls are applying to be in the basketball club," She chuckles at the real reason, "You know one of the Alpha Twins is in the basketball club."
"Yeah," Mylo sips his glass of water, nodding.
"It's funny because that doesn't mean they will get to play with him. Anyway, how about you join the Debate Club with me?"
Mylo thinks, nodding. He doesn't bring himself to look Anya in the eyes, "Okay, I will apply."
Zeke shakes his head, standing up, "I will use the bathroom."
Anya couldn't stop smiling, "Really?"
"Yeah, I didn't plan to join a club anyway."
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Anya leans forward, her gaze settling on Mylo's lips.
Mylo gasps at the sudden question, his face flushed, "No."
"I don't have a boyfriend either."
"Really?" Mylo rubs his hands on his laps with a nervous laughter, "You are beautiful to not be taken."
Anya's face flushed, "What do you mean by that? Do you want…"
"Am I too late to join this party?"
Mylo and Anya turned their heads in the direction of the voice.
"Alpha?" Anya is surprised to see the last person she expected to see at her party.