Chapter 12

The next morning, when Dino and Eric got to the classroom for their first class for the day, they noticed that many of their classmates were gathered as if they were looking at something interesting. This made both of them wonder what it was about.

[What's going on over there?] Eric and Dino thought simultaneously.

"Hey, guys! What's happening over here?" Eric asked curiously.

Their classmates stared at them before letting them through. Eric and Dino realized that they were looking at the phone of their classmate named Nathan, who had read an article and seen a picture of Ivan via Facebook. 

"Hey there, Eric and Dino!" Nathan declared happily as soon as he saw the two best friends. "I'll show you something."

Using his own phone, Nathan showed Eric and Dino the picture of Ivan kissing a guy at the same place of the fan meeting yesterday. Eric and Dino were surprised upon seeing it. Fortunately for Dino, his face could not be seen clearly since they were partially covered by Ivan's hand.

[It's Ivan and me!] Dino thought, feeling nervous that he might have been recognized by any of their classmates. [I hope that none of them has recognized me.]

"Oh! That's...Ivan Sadovsky, right?" Dino asked awkwardly while blushing. 

"Yes," Nathan replied with a nod and a smirk. "I can't believe that he kissed a guy like that on the stage last night. Could he be gay?"

"I...I don't know," Dino answered awkwardly while avoiding to gaze directly at Nathan's eyes. 

[I can't tell anyone, especially Nathan, that I'm the one who Ivan kissed!] Dino thought with his sweat beginning to come out from his pores.

Nathan chuckled and asked, "What's with your reaction? Also, Dino, by any chance...Are you the one whom Ivan was kissing here?"

"What?!" Dino blurted out in amazement. "What makes you think that?! I'm not!" 

[Did he recognize me in the photo?] Dino thought nervously. 

"Oh, is that so?" Nathan asked, obviously doubting Dino's denial. "The guy here is wearing the exact same clothes that you were wearing yesterday, Dino."

[Damn it!] Dino thought, feeling annoyed. [So he recognized my clothes! But still, I can just deny it.]

"Hey, I already told you that it isn't me!" Dino retorted. "And just because the guy there is wearing the same clothes as me doesn't mean that it's me!" 

"Oh, really? Why don't you just admit that you're gay and have romantic feelings for Ivan?" Nathan inquired teasingly.

[Okay, that's it! He's gone too far!] Dino thought angrily.

At that moment, Dino grabbed the collar of Nathan's polo shirt, with the former staring angrily at the latter's eyes.

"What did you just say?!" Dino asked angrily while holding the collar of Nathan's polo shirt firmly. "That I'm gay?!" 

"Hey, Dino, stop that!" Eric declared before putting his right hand on Dino's shoulder in an attempt to stop the latter from hurting Nathan.

"Hey, man, take it easy. I was just kidding, you know," Nathan said in a mocking tone. "And are you really going to punch me? Huh?"

[No, I can't punch him.] Dino thought decidedly. [If I punch him, I'll surely get in trouble.]

At that moment, Dino let go of Nathan's collar and said, "No, I won't! I'd rather not stoop down to your level, you bastard!"

Nathan laughed and said, "Whatever, Dino! But I won't be surprised that this guy in the picture is you. I've known since the beginning that you're gay as fuck!" 

At that moment, Dino was so provoked that he felt the urge to punch Nathan. Fortunately, Eric was able to stop him from doing so by holding the latter's right arm firmly.

"Dino, that's enough!" Eric said in an annoyed tone while firmly holding Dino's right arm. "Let's get out of here for now," Eric declared before he and Dino went outside the classroom together.

[That Dino...I never thought that he's got that short temper!] Nathan thought while smirking while also watching Eric and Dino get out of the classroom. 

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Meanwhile, Ivan was swimming in the pool as he was training together with his Filipino coach Mark. Just like last time, Mark had noticed that Ivan seemed happier than usual. 

[Hmmm...Something's definitely on his mind right now.] Mark thought. [Maybe I should ask him what it is?]

As soon as Ivan rose up from the pool, Mark handed him a towel to dry himself. Mark also noticed that even while Ivan was wiping himself, the latter was still smiling. At that moment, Mark somehow figured out what it was.

[Could it be because of what happened yesterday?] Mark thought as his mind went back to the time when he had read a news article about Ivan kissing a guy during the fan meeting. [Is it because of that guy? Is he the one whom Ivan likes?]

"Hey, Ivan, I have a question," Mark said with his arms crossed in front of himself. 

"Yeah? What is it?" Ivan asked while still wiping himself dry.

"About that guy you kissed during the fan meeting yesterday, is he the person you like?" Mark inquired curiously. 

"Yes," Ivan answered without hesitation while smiling brightly.

"Really?!" Mark asked with a surprised tone in his voice. "Are you gay or bisexual?"

"I'm bisexual," Ivan replied again without any hesitation.

"I-I see," Mark responded while stammering from the shock he felt upon learning of Ivan's sexuality. "But have you had any boyfriend before?"

Ivan shook his head and responded, "None so far, but I've had two girlfriends before."

"Oh, okay," Mark answered while still in the process of accepting things. "Since when did you know that you're bisexual?"

Ivan took a moment to think and replied, "I think I was eighteen years old or so." 

Mark's jaw dropped in amazement and said, "And how did you realize that you're attracted to men too?!"

"Hmmmm...I think it was at the time when a male friend of mine kissed and had sex with me while we were both drunk," Ivan answered while recalling the time of the event. "I could not forget what happened between us that I felt confused about my own sexuality too. And it took me some time to realize and accept that I'm bisexual."

"I see. But do your parents know about this?" Mark asked worriedly.

"Yes, they do," Ivan replied while grinning brightly.

"And how did they react when you told them?" Mark inquired curiously.

Ivan laughed and responded "Of course they were shocked! Although I haven't had any boyfriend before."

"Then what about your friend who had sex with you?" Mark questioned curiously.

"He felt disgusted about it when I told him about what happened, so he went away and I never saw him again," Ivan replied while grinning brightly.

"Oh, my apologies. Maybe I shouldn't have asked you that," Mark declared apologetically.

"No, it's fine," Ivan responded reassuringly while smiling brightly. "It has been a long time since it happened, so it's okay."

"Thank you," Mark answered gratefully. "So, what will you do about that guy you kissed?"

"I'll be going on a date with him this Sunday," Ivan replied while smirking. "Oh...I'm so excited to know more about him!"

"Good luck then, Ivan!" Mark declared cheerfully.

"Thank you, Coach!" Ivan responded gleefully.