1 The Usual // Conan

It was another family gathering with the grandparents, uncles, and aunties. The usual question arose, "Why don't you have a girlfriend?" "You are so handsome--I'm sure girls like you at school. Is no one good enough for you?" "Do you have a secret girlfriend?"

"No grandma and grandpa. I don't have a girlfriend... I'm too busy with school I guess," I replied back.

"Oh yeah. Yeah... Good boy. You don't have time for girls because you are president of student government! My grandson is so involved and has a 4.0 GPA! Amazing!" Grandpa said proudly.

The numerous conversations with relatives, friends, roommates, classmates, and strangers, the questions of why I don't have a girlfriend pop up.

I excuse myself from dinner and go to the restroom. I look in the mirror. A six foot and one inch figure, dark course Asian hair, grey eyes, tan/golden skin, and a swimmer's "Dorito" build as my umma (mom in Korean) calls it. On paper, I'm doing well with academics, extracurriculars, and sports. I'm swim captain and president of student government. I don't have an issue hooking up with girls on the weekend or any weekday for that matter too. But there's something about me that I can't tell my Asian mom or white dad, or any of my friends from swim team. I'm asexual.

Asexual doesn't necessarily mean I can't like girls. It's just that I don't experience sex the way other people do. I don't get that chemical in my brain that shoots up doses of excitement and relief as the internet tells it. Sure, I can tell if someone is attractive, but what else? I've also never had a girlfriend, mainly because I really don't have time, but because I'm confused as to how this all works. If society says it's normal to have sex with your girlfriend and to desire them sexually, then how would that work for me? I mean it doesn't. So it seems like the logical reason to stay single and avoid explaining why I don't act like a horn dog.

"Grandson, since it's winter break, you have extra time, right? I set you up with good girl. Very beautiful. She is full Korean like your mother. You will like her. I give you her number and I told her you will text her later today. Okay? Good boy," nodded my grandma with her already convinced grin.

"Grandma, you really didn't have to... And I still have work over the break, so I might not have time," I replied as politely as possible.

"Ah yah. No. You text her okay? I already told her. Do this for me and grandpa. We want to see you with someone happy. Okay?"

"Okay... Fine. Thanks," I said back with a half smile.

After dinner, I laid on the couch, full from Korean bulgogi and samgyupsal. I search for my phone on the coffee table and I see my grandma taped a sticky note with the girl's number on my phone. Ah, what the heck. I might as well text the number. My grandma didn't even give me her name, so I'll just have to send a creepy text saying that I got her number from my grandma and ask her for her name.

Text from Conan:

Hey. My grandma Yuseo Oh gave me your number. I'm Conan Conrad and I don't know what else to say besides, what's your name and did you consent to my grandma giving me your number? If not, feel free to ignore this text and we won't ever have to contact each other again. Thanks.

Text from ?

*typing...*