By Zephyria “For Thanksgiving?”
Koi repeated Ashley’s words, caught off guard. Ashley chuckled and added, “Yeah.”
“Unless you have other plans.”
“Oh, no. Of course not.”
Koi spoke too quickly and then, embarrassed, lowered his head.
“You know you’re my only friend…”
“Friend?”
Ashley latched onto the word immediately, and Koi quickly corrected himself.
“Boyfriend. I mean, boyfriend.”
Only then did Ashley smile, turning his gaze back to the road.
They passed the line of cars waiting at the main gate and entered the residents-only gate. As Ashley drove toward the mansion, he asked, “What should we do for Thanksgiving? Anything you want to eat?”
“Um…”
Koi paused, then spoke cautiously.
“Could we, um, have turkey?”
“Sure.”
Ashley agreed readily, then chuckled.
“Isn’t it kind of gross?”
“Um…”
He didn’t really know. Koi had only seen it in pictures and videos; he’d never actually had it.
“Well, you have to have turkey on Thanksgiving, right?”
“Like cake on a birthday? Okay, got it.”
Ashley chuckled again, but Koi didn’t respond. He hadn’t experienced “cake on a birthday” either.
What will Ash think when he knows everything about me…?
The thought suddenly occurred to Koi, but he quickly shook his head. Ash wouldn’t judge someone based on that. He’d told him he liked him, like, a million times.
It’s rude to doubt Ash.
Resolving to be more positive, Koi mustered his courage and spoke.
“I’ve never actually had turkey before.”
“Really?”
Surprisingly, Ashley didn’t make a big deal out of it.
“You’ll probably never want to eat it again after this.”
Ashley glanced at Koi with a smile, then turned back to the road, leaving Koi momentarily speechless. A smile soon spread across Koi’s face as well, and he said, filled with emotion, “Really?”
“Yeah, just don’t come crying to me later.”
“No way.”
Koi giggled. Ashley glanced at him again, still smiling as he looked ahead.
Koi’s never had turkey before.
He felt another wave of tenderness toward Koi, but it was quickly replaced by a different emotion. He’d just have to give him more experiences. He’d share all his firsts with him.
“Should we get a cake too?”
Koi nodded immediately at Ashley’s question.
“Yeah, I like chocolate cake.”
“Okay, we will.”
Ashley agreed readily again. He loved seeing Koi smile. He’d do anything to make him smile and be happy.
Anything at all.
*
“Thanks again for today, Ash.”
Koi thanked Ashley as always as Ashley dropped him off on the street.
“Thanks for inviting me to Thanksgiving.”
Koi spoke before they could kiss goodbye, and Ashley smiled. Koi reached up to hug him, but Ashley, still holding him, spoke first.
“Want to stay over?”
“Huh?”
Koi’s eyes widened at the unexpected question, but Ashley just smiled and said, “We can watch movies all night and hang out. What do you say?”
Of course, this was another event Ashley had planned. He wanted to make Koi’s first Thanksgiving unforgettable. Koi, unaware of Ashley’s thoughts, just blinked blankly for a moment before cautiously nodding.
Ashley smiled again and kissed him tenderly, and Koi closed his eyes and eagerly responded.
“See you later.”
“Drive safe.”
They reluctantly said their goodbyes, fighting the urge to stay together. They kissed two more times before finally parting. As always, Koi ran off without looking back. If he turned around even once, he’d want to run back to Ashley.
He finally caught his breath when he got home. As always, he quickly showered before Father got back, washed and hung up his clothes, and then collapsed on his bed.
Only then could Koi calm his racing heart and start to think. But as he replayed the day’s events, his heart began to flutter again.
Thanksgiving.
Koi couldn’t fall asleep easily and tossed and turned in bed. It was the first time he’d ever spent a holiday with someone. He thought he remembered being with his whole family when he was very young. But it was so long ago, and he barely had any memories left to call it an “experience.”
With Ash.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, and his heart pounded. But that wasn’t all.
“Want to stay over?”
Ashley’s voice echoed clearly in his ears.
That must mean…?
He couldn’t think of anything else. They’d already been dating for two months. All Ashley had done so far was kiss him and touch his butt.
He’d known the time would come when he’d have to make a decision.
Koi couldn’t control his churning stomach and rolled over again.
Maybe Ash is trying to take things to the next level this time.
It was a very plausible theory. Koi knew that Ashley had been holding back too much. Besides, they’d already promised to get married, hadn’t they? It didn’t make sense to drag things out with just kissing. They hadn’t vowed to remain virgins until marriage, and was there really any need to wait until they were adults?
Besides, Koi had already seen with his own eyes how healthy a teenage boy Ashley was.
Even touching the anaconda…
Koi swallowed hard and clutched his pounding heart. If you love him, you shouldn’t be afraid. Ash has been holding back for me all this time. I need to be brave now too.
“Hoo…”
Koi took a shaky breath and finally made up his mind. Thanksgiving was just next week. He had to hurry. He nodded, determined.
I’ll buy condoms tomorrow.
*
The next day was Saturday. Wearing a mask and a hooded sweatshirt, Koi rode his bike to the next town and went inside the store he’d scouted out.
The item he wanted to buy was right in front of the checkout counter, of all places. He didn’t have the courage to pick it out in front of other people, so Koi wandered around the store several times. Of course, he looked suspicious to everyone.
“Hey, kid, what are you trying to buy?”
A huge shadow suddenly blocked his path, and Koi gasped and stumbled backward. A store employee was glaring down at him with a menacing look.
“W-w-well, um, you see.”
Koi stammered without realizing it. He saw the wall clock behind the employee. Time had flown by, and his part-time job was about to start. He had to buy them and get back.
He swallowed hard, but no sound came out. The employee looked ready to call the police at any moment. He couldn’t let that happen. If he got caught trying to buy condoms and ended up at the police station, he’d be humiliated, and Father might beat him like a dog.
Say something, say something, say something!
“W-w-well, um, I mean.”
“What?”
The employee growled again. Koi’s mind spun even faster, and his vision blurred. I have to say it, I have to say it, say it now!
Just then, the bell above the door jingled, and Koi, in a panic, blurted out, “Please, condone me!”
“What?”
The customer who had just entered the store and the employee both frowned. Koi’s face turned ashen, and his eyes widened.
*
“Hahahahaha!”
The employee clutched his stomach and pounded on the counter, laughing. Koi stood in front of the condom display, his face bright red, sweating profusely.
The customer who had just come in was a white-haired old man, who was standing next to Koi, kindly explaining each product.
“This one is strawberry-flavored. The texture is very good, and it’s a well-made product. I didn’t like the banana one. You can try the ones with the bumps later. The basic ones are best for beginners. That’s how it is with everything…”
“Mr. Ferguson, you don’t have to explain it in so much detail.”
The employee said, wiping away tears. Koi just kept his head down and mumbled, “Yes, yes.” The old man asked kindly, “So, which one do you like best?”
He didn’t really know anything about them. He hadn’t imagined there would be so many different kinds. He’d just thought he needed to buy a big one. Koi recalled what he’d learned in sex education class and asked, “Um, well… the right size is the most important thing, right?”
“Of course. Don’t be shy, just pick one. It’s okay, using condoms is a very responsible thing to do. You have to reassure your girlfriend.”
Mr. Ferguson patted Koi on the shoulder. His encouragement gave Koi some courage. Recalling his kind explanations, Koi looked at the condoms on display and finally made a decision.
“Oh, good. You picked a good one.”
Mr. Ferguson praised Koi for choosing the strawberry-flavored condom. Koi gained a little confidence and asked the employee, “Is this the biggest size?”
The employee glanced down at Koi’s crotch for a moment and replied, “That should be big enough, don’t you think?”
Of course. If Koi was the one using it, that would be enough. But that wasn’t the reality.
“Um, well…”
Koi swallowed hard and opened his mouth. It took an enormous amount of courage to say the next words.
“…Do you have any condoms big enough for an anaconda?”
Suddenly, silence fell, and both men’s gazes focused on the front of Koi’s pants. Koi felt an overwhelming urge to run out of the store and hide somewhere where no one could find him.