08:17pm | 12/20
"daddy this actually isn't half bad" Cai's sister said
She's right, I was expecting far worse since Cai's always saying his dad can't cook. it's not five star but it definitely is tolerable. it's a normal meal if I may.
"thanks. since the boys helped you and Tavian are in charge of dishes" He smiled
She didn't seem pleased by that but her boyfriend on the other hand didn't really care.
"Bernie bought bun and cheese...help yourselves. uh Masai come upstairs with me, I have some house business to discuss with you" Cai's dad said standing up
I stopped caressing Cai's thigh under the table then stood up.
"Jakob you too" He said then started to walk to the stairs
I followed behind him and so did Jakob. We walked up the stairs and to his room.
"sit" He said pointing to his bed
I didn't feel comfortable sitting on it but Jakob had already taken the only other chair so I just sat. He went over to his messenger bag and pulled out his laptop.
"after the security system incident happened Jakob here decided to have our friend double check, just in case" He started then walked over to me
"yeah?"
"nobody actually went in apartment, it would physically be impossible with all the measures I've gone through, but someone was very persistent on making it look like they had broken in"
"I'm sorry sir but what does this have to do with me?" I asked not finding any correlation
He opened his laptop then did something on it for a few seconds before turning the screen to face me.
"you see, after removing the code on the security footage of our apartment he found this. you see these two people walking around right? we'll they're not really there, just edited to make it look like they're there. but here's the interesting part, watch"
I watched as the two people randomly walked around the living room. finally one of them walked over to the corner where the camera was and waved. after waving he removed his mask and looked back up at the camera and smiled. it was me...
He paused it then looked up at me.
"now obviously I know it's not actually you, you're here with us. so then I started thinking, obviously someone wants to paint you as the bad guy, but who?"
"oh you mean other than every male in your family? hmm I don't know" I said sarcastically
"yeah but we're all here so that makes no sense. but then something more interesting happened" He said then hit play
The guy—me—started to walk over to the other guy. He brought him over to the corner where the camera was and then removed his mask too. Once again me.
"whoever did this knows we're not gonna think it's you, unless you have a perfectly identical twin. what we don't understand is why they're projecting your face on these people"
"well I don't know, the only people who dislike me and would care to make me the bad guy are once again the males in your family. I can't think of anything else, I keep to myself so"
He walked over to Jakob and started whispering something to him. They talked for a whole minute or so before he turned his attention back to me.
"okay that's all. oh and don't mention this to anyone, not even Micaiah" He said
"so you want me to lie to my boyfriend—your son"
"nah don't lie, just avoid conversation. by the way I just had the living room of your dad's house carpeted"
"uhh okay?"
"see, we talked about the house. now it's not a lie"
I shrugged and got up. Cai's whole family is shady as far as I can tell. this is probably some kind of test. what father tells you to lie to your boyfriend which is also their son. maybe I'm really supposed to tell and they're just trying to see what I'd do.
"oh and Masai..."
"yeah?"
"good job in school—Caiah told me—I know your dad would've been proud. if you have any questions about med school or anything you can always ask me"
"oh thanks" I shrugged then left the room
I went back downstairs and sat down next to Cai. He was talking to Jakob's son now so I just ate the piece of bun he cut for me I assume.
"you good, what was that about?" He finally asked turning to look at me
"yeah valid, he was just asking bout some carpet ideas for the house that's all"
I guess I failed.
⏭
10:26pm | 12/25
"home sweet home" I said as we walked through the doors
"I'm going to sleep, y'all will get your gifts tomorrow" My dad said walking right upstairs with his and Bernice's suitcases
"night boys" Bernice said as she followed behind
They both went upstairs leaving just Masai and I. Storm went to go spend the night by Tavian's and everyone else went back to their own homes. Originally we were supposed to get home this morning but plans changed after we missed the ship. Then we had to wait at the port when we got back to get our stuff.
"I should get some sleep too, I got a long trip tomorrow" Sai said while crashing on the couch
"do you really have to go?" I asked
"babe you know I'd stay in a heartbeat, but I have work in two days. plus I gotta spend some time with my family during the holidays"
"why do you have to work anyways, you have money"
"yeah but I still like making my own money, plus I like my job back home. you'll be alright without me for a couple of weeks. we need some space anyways, been together basically everyday since August, we gotta spend sometime apart"
He's right. I honestly don't remember my life without him in it. Being in a relationship in college is much different than in high school because we basically live with each other. We either sleep over at my room or his, then once in a while separately.
"okay. can we at least exchange our gifts?" I asked
"of course, leggo"
He stood up and followed me as we went upstairs to my room. I brought my stuff upstairs but he left his in his car since he would be leaving early in the morning anyways.
Seeing my room was weird to me, not only because of the cruise but we were gone at school for months too.
Masai went straight to my closet to get our gifts. Before we left we wrapped up our gifts for each other and left them here so we wouldn't have to worry about it when we got back.
"big gifts first or little?" He asked as he set the wrapped boxes on my bed
We both got each other five gifts, two had to be small cute things, two medium, and one grand gift. It was either that or I'd probably end up with a car knowing him.
"little then lead up to big" I said
"okay. I'll go first" He cheesed
He started to separate the gifts and searched through his. He then handed me a huge box which I found surprising since this was supposed to be the small cute gift.
I started to unwrap it neatly while he just sat there smiling mad hard. I finally tore apart the wrapping paper and opened the box to see a peanut M&M's pillow.
"oh lit" I said as I took it out of the box and fluffed it
"I know it doesn't really match your room but I couldn't help it when I saw it"
"nah it's dope, I love it. my turn" I said
We kept on going like that back and forth until the final gifts. For his small gifts I got him a controller with the headset and 2k19. For medium I got him AirPods and a Playstation for his dorm room. For my other small gift he got me a lot of velvet durags. Then for my medium gifts he got me a Burberry scarf and a gold and diamond chain matching the bracelet he got me for my birthday.
"finally, the moment we've been waiting for. who first?"
"I'll go" I volunteered
I stood up then went over to my backpack. I left it in there so he wouldn't try to get a peak.
I walked back over to the bed with a brown envelope and handed it to him.
"uhh Cai, this was supposed to be the grand one" He said staring at the brown envelope
"I know, just open it"
He looked skeptical but then looked down and opened it. He pulled out the flyer inside and looked at it for a second before turning it to show me.
"am I missing something?" He asked
"how do you have a higher gpa than me?" I asked confused
"anyways, read it"
"Pot of Gold music festival 2019..." He started "March 15th, 16th, and 17th. Saturday Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, Lil baby—wait wait wait wait"
His eyes widened and he looked up at me slowly.
"are you serious?" He asked
"yeah. I know it's all the way in March but that's the same week of spring break. I thought maybe we could—"
"marry me" He said cutting me off
"okay let's not get carried away here. I just know how much you love Lil Wayne and remember you wishing someone would do the same thing Tay did for me so...here it is. It won't be the same experience but—"
"I love it, I love you. this is the best gift ever"
"yeah well you better love it, I already got our tickets and planned the whole trip. Nicki won't be there so there's not much in it for me. I guess Gunna's alright, plus Lil Baby too"
"wow I don't even think my gift can top this. fuck!"
It made me smile to know that he enjoyed my gift. I don't like giving or receiving meaningless gifts, I love symbolic gifts and since Lil Wayne is his favorite rapper I thought that'd be a good fit for him.
"let me warn you now, if it's a car take it back" I said
"nah nah, I can't live without you...I wouldn't put you in danger"
I was kind've insulted but at the same time he was right. I know I'm not the best driver so I won't take it seriously.
"okay before I give you it, let me just say. finding a gift for you was so hard, there's nothing you really need or can't buy for yourself. the one thing I could think of was jewelry but I already got you that"
"Sai you didn't—"
"let me finish. now this—like your gift for me—is not exactly for the now, but that just goes to show how much of a future I want with you"
He then slid the smallest present there was over to me. I smiled then looked down at it nervously. I took off the bow first then gently removed the wrapping paper from it leaving the white cardboard box.
I looked up at him and smiled which earned me a smile back. here goes. I popped open the top of it then turned it upside down so whatever was in it could fall onto my bed. There was a soft thud and when I looked down it was a doll wearing a coconut bra, grass skirt, and a flower crown.
"Aloha" Masai said
I picked up the doll and looked at him weirdly. I think the M&M's pillow was more grand than this.
"oh so you're the only one who can give a gift that you have to read between the lines?"
"Hawaii?" I asked
"ugh, you're wack. yes, Hawaii. I know we just came from vacation but I want us to have our own you know...baecation. just the two of us"
"ohhhh" I said finally catching on
"I know it's crazy to think too ahead into the future when shit happens, and I understand we're only about four months in, but I'm crazy about you. I want us to be that couple that travels the world together, I want to see new things with you. I want us to be the De'arra and Ken of our generation.
"I always think of how your dad and mine used to be together and things didn't work out, but what if this is really fate? How else can you explain it? maybe they were meant to be together but screwed shit up? I mean is it really possible for the son's of two gay men to then be gay and also end up together. We both live on opposite sides of the country yet we found our way together, doesn't that mean something?"
"now that I think about it, my dad's dad was gay, so was he, and so am I. I'm actually starting to believe it may be genetic"
"uhh Cai, wrong time" He said shaking his head
"oh right, continue"
"anyways. that being said, I want our first of many vacations together to be in Hawaii, this summer. all on me of course"
"well I'd be honored. thank you, I really appreciate it" I said with a genuine smile
"oh really, you tryna prove it?" He asked before licking his lips
"nice try buddy, I'm going to sleep now"
"come on, we not gonna see each other for a month" He whined
I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"fine. but you can't enjoy it" I teased
"yeah okay" He said sarcastically before lunging on top of me
"ouu...animal, I like"
"grrrr"
"okay tiger let's not get carried away"
"sorry"
"don't be. I love you" I said looking up into his eyes
"I love you too. now let's fuck"