Denial is the Way

Ender looked for Nevan, only to see him sitting on the patio in the backyard. He sat down on one of the couches rather than the chairs tucked into the square table. 

 

The couch rested on the vast door window as Nevan leaned back on it with his legs stretched out. He was strolling through his phone as Ender could not see the content through the window. 

 

Ender shivered, even though he was not outside. It was cold while the snow had already started falling. He could not see how Nevan could sit outside with no problem, especially since the man is in pajama pants with a long sleeve shirt. 

 

Walking away for a second, Ender came back with a thick blanket wrapped around him as he stepped outside. Nevan did not notice Ender coming out as he seemed glued to his phone. 

 

Ender made his way over to Nevan, sitting down on his lap. Nevan finally looked at him, raising his arms so that Ender could rest his head on his shoulder. Once Ender situated himself, Nevan put his arms down and over him. 

 

Ender could feel the heat coming off Nevan, not understanding how the man could still be hot in the cold weather. 

 

"You shouldn't be outside," Nevan commented as he turned off his phone. He kept his arms wrapped around Ender. 

 

"You were out here," Ender commented. He looked around the house for Nevan because he was bored and wanted some attention. 

 

Nevan hummed, "Are you bored?" 

 

Ender nodded his head. The wind blew by, causing Ender to shiver. He moved closer to Nevan, holding the blanket tight on himself. 

 

Nevan tightens his hold on Ender when he sees him shivering. "Do you want to go out and eat?" 

 

"Is it a date?" Ender jokes as he chuckled. 

 

But Nevan's serious tone after he asked made him stop, "It could be if you want it to." 

 

Picking his head up, Ender looked at Nevan, who stared back at him. They did not say anything, only looking at each other before Ender was the first to glance away. His cheeks were red. 

 

Instead of saying if he wanted it to be a date or not, Ender asked instead, "What do you have in mind?" 

 

"Whatever you want, I will take you there," Nevan responded. 

 

"I do not know what I want. But how about we drive out and go to the first place we see." 

 

"Okay." 

 

They did not move. Ender felt comfortable in Nevan's arms, while Nevan did not want to let go of Ender. They stayed in the same position for a few more minutes, not saying anything, before they finally moved. 

 

Nevan and Ender stayed in the same clothes. They grabbed a trench coat to cover themselves. Ender pouted when he had to leave his blanket behind. He was starting to enjoy walking around with it. Plus, it hid his growing stomach better than his sweaters. 

 

They drove in Nevan's car. Ender rested his head on the window, not paying attention to the outside until they made it to where places began to appear. 

 

Ender caught the first restaurant that appeared, which was a barbecue place. He pointed towards it, "We can go there." 

 

Nevan glanced over, nodding as he turned the car into the restaurant's parking lot. 

 

When they reached the place, parking the car, Nevan and Ender stepped out. Nevan locked the car doors as they walked to the restaurant's entrance. 

 

Once they entered, a host greeted them, asking them how many people. Nevan told her two as the host grabbed their menus, walking them to a table. 

 

They sat down at a booth positioned near the restrooms. The host set the menus on the table, "Your server will be right with you." They walked off. 

 

Ender leaned forward in the booth, grabbing the menu as he flipped to the drinks. He looked at the different lemonade choices, wondering which one he should choose. 

 

Nevan was already looking at the food as he usually got water when he went out to eat. 

 

Only two minutes passed when the server came to the table; she set down utensils as she started speaking, "Hello, I am your server for today. What drinks can I start you off with?" 

 

"Water," Nevan answered first.

 

"Uh...half tea-half lemonade," Ender responded after a while.

 

The server smiled, "Okay." She walked away to get their drinks. 

 

Ender flipped back to the food choices, wondering what he should eat. Ever since he reached four months in his pregnancy, he has been more hungry lately. 

 

Nevan decided on what he was going to eat. He looked up at Ender, "Your mother told me that your family does Secret Santa for Christmas, and there is a two-gift limit." 

 

Ender chuckled, remembering why his mother started that rule, "Yeah. After receiving many presents that took over the Christmas room, my mother decided on a limit and having a Secret Santa. 

 

"My siblings hate it because they all want to get my name, but I am relieved. My mother will text a name to everyone three days before Christmas." 

 

Nevan nodded. He could practically imagine a room full of presents just for Ender. Sometimes, he wondered how Ender survived getting spoiled by his siblings. 

 

Then, he mentioned something else that Ender's mother told him, "On New Year's Day, she wants to add me to your family’s group chat." 

 

Dropping the menu in his hand, Ender sharply looked up with wide eyes. "What?" 

 

Before Nevan could continue, the server came back with their drinks. She set their drinks in front of them before taking out her notepad. "Are you two ready to order?" 

 

Nevan looked away from Ender as he glanced at the server, "Can you give us a few minutes?" 

 

The server nodded her head, putting up her notepad. "I will be back." She walked away to another table she was working at. 

 

"Nevan, she said what?" Ender asked. He heard what Nevan said, but it was hard to take in. 

 

Meeting the family and getting to know them is one thing; joining the family group chat is something else entirely. 

 

Ender's family had two group chats: one with his parents and siblings while the other was the same, but the other had the siblings' partners added to it. To enter that group chat, the family has to accept the partner. 

 

There is a voting process, and if there is more yes than no, then the partner is added. And it is not a more than once thing; the partner has to be someone you are willing to spend your life with; there is only one chance. 

 

It is a rare thing because not all the siblings have found the one for them. But only George, Kay, and Thana found their ones that are on the group chat. (The partners do not appear at Thanksgiving dinners, but they do come for Christmas and get-togethers.)

 

For his mother to want to add Nevan to the group chat, Ender felt his heart beating too fast. We are not even together (yet), so how can mother already think of this! Ender anxiously thought. 

 

"Your mother wants to add me to your family’s group chat," Nevan repeated, raising his eyebrow. He did not understand why Ender reacted this way. "Is something wrong with that?" 

 

"Nevan," Ender swallowed as he felt his throat was dry, "can we talk about this back at home? This conversation needs my mother in it too." 

 

Nevan nodded, "That is fine."

 

It was silent as the atmosphere felt awkward. The server came back, asking the same question from before. 

 

"Yes, we are ready," Ender answered instead, keeping his head down as he stared at the menu. 

 

---

 

Yan 

 

Yan walked around his classroom, or more like a studio, as he looked at the other students' drawings. They were preparing 50% of their portfolios for the midterms. 

 

Yan first started as a math professor, but after some students failed because they listened to him talk rather than pay attention to the lesson, he became an art professor. 

 

Even though he had to talk here too, fewer people were failing since they mostly drew. Although, teaching them art theory and history is a struggle at times. 

 

Glancing at the drawings, he sighed, wishing that his looks were average because, once again, most of the class is doing a portrait of him. 

 

"Professor Long," a student called from the back, "there is someone at the door." 

 

Yan looked at the door, glancing out the small window on it, and saw Kori's face. He could not help the smile crawling towards his face. 

 

The other students, seeing Yan smile, wanted to take a picture. He earned the name delicate flower because his beautiful features knew how to pull everyone in. 

 

Some students erased their pictures, wanting to draw and paint Yan smiling. 

 

Not noticing the students’ reactions, Yan told them, "I will be back." He walked out of the classroom, closing the door behind him. 

 

Kori was now leaning on the wall by the door, looking at his phone like usual. 

 

"What is so important on your phone that you are always on it?" Yan asked as he stood next to the man. 

 

Kori's hands did not stop typing as he responded, "I am a freelancer for different things: proofreader/editor, photographer, writer, advertising and marketing, and tutoring." 

 

Yan's eyes grew wide as he opened his mouth, "Wow, that is amazing and sounds time-consuming. How do you have time for our dates and other things?" 

 

Kori put his phone down, looking at Yan, "I make my hours. I usually like working, but I started freeing more time to be with you." 

 

Yan's heart skipped a beat as he blushed, growing nervous. A beautiful smile graced his face once again as he looked down. 

 

He and Kori were not together. They have been on many dates and kissed a few times. But they never moved past that or made things official. Kori told him from the start that he does not do relationships. 

 

Yan initially felt stupid for agreeing to this because he wanted something serious. But his feelings could not stop him from going back to Kori each time. And now, his feelings only continued to grow. 

 

"Don't get my hopes up with your words, Kori," Yan responded. 

 

Kori moved closer, grabbing Yan's chin so that he could look at him. He leaned forward, their lips almost touching as Yan's breath started to pick up. Yan's eyes kept falling on Kori's lips. 

 

"What if I want you to?” Kori answered. 

 

It felt like someone turned up the heat as Yan grabbed Kori's shirt, kissing the man hard as he forgot where they were. 

 

Their kiss was different from the others as they deepened it when Yan slipped his tongue in Kori's mouth. He moved their bodies, pushing Kori into the wall he leaned on. 

 

Kori moaned as Yan swallowed it down. He would have continued if he did not hear people wolf-whistling behind them. 

 

Yan quickly separated, moving back as he covered his wet lips. He glanced at the students walking the halls, remembering that he was still inside a school. Yan's face was utterly red. 

 

Kori's eyes were dark and heated as he bit his bottom lip, looking at Yan. 

 

Yan had to look away because if he didn't, he might end up attacking again. "I will see you later." Yan quickly spoke.

 

Kori nodded as they both stared at each other a second longer. Yan looked away first, quickly entering his class. 

 

He kept his head down when his students looked at him. His hair hid his red face as his heart did not calm down yet. 

 

Yan hoped his classes would end faster for today because he wanted Kori in his arms right now.