Disclaimer: The following is a story of a homosexual nature and is sexually explicit. Please do not read if you are a minor or if it is illegal where you live to do so. Remember to think smart to play smart. Use protection. In today's story, new college roommates meet, one who has an astounding secret. Is he man or monster? Is the secret dangerous? Only time will tell. If this sounds like something you wish to read, be my guest and read. If it is not, go back and look for another story to read.
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Eyes in the Dark
There are many eyes in this world. There are kind eyes and goofy eyes, confident eyes and cruel eyes. Every one of us is surrounded by eyes of all different shapes, colors, and demeanors. Grandma Lucia said that you could tell a lot about a person by just looking at their eyes. She even once said that you could identify who was human and who was not. Forget I said that last one. We loved her a lot, but she believed all sorts of things.
There was a pair of eyes looking right at me. These were the brown eyes of Lorenzo Justin Cavazos. They were my own being reflected by the mirror. I bared my teeth and gave them a good scrubbing. I spit out the foam and looked at my watch. It told me that it was late and that I should have been in bed over an hour ago. I couldn't help it. I was restless. It was my last day here and I didn't want it to end. Absurdly, I thought that tomorrow wouldn't come if I stayed awake. I was all packed up and ready to go to college. I was both apprehensive and eager about what tomorrow and the days ahead would bring.
Tomorrow arrived, whether or not I was ready. I sat at the table and was presented a marvelous breakfast feast of two tamales and two over-easy eggs, both with salsa and shredded cheese. Next to it was a nice helping of refried beans. In a nearby glass, there was freshly squeezed orange juice. All good things come to an end. I finished eating and brushed my teeth. It was time to leave.
In two cars, we set out. I was in my own which had some of my stuff and my parents were in Dad's with the rest. I probably could have been just fine with everything in my car, but it would have been quite stuffed. Besides, my parents wanted to make sure I got to campus all right. On the way, I wondered what my roommate would be like. I had never shared a room with anyone before. I was an only child and I never had a sleepover. No. Sharing a room with your parents during vacations does not count.
The reason why I never had a sleepover was because I didn't have any friends growing up when I would have been at an age when that might have happened. For many years, I was just some scrawny kid with glasses. I remember those first pair I had received at age 10, but don't remind me about them. The top of the lenses were slightly tinted and the wide frames sported a double bridge. Things weren't exactly peachy during my school years and those of middle school were the worst. There were times when I just wanted to stay in bed and away from my tormentors. You may have known kids like me. I was almost always the last chosen and no one willingly chose to be my partner for school tasks. I was the one that people would make snide comments about. I was the unforgettably forgettable.
Even nature itself appeared to choose me last because I must have been the latest late bloomer in history. While my male classmates got to enjoy the perks of being on the puberty train, I was left behind. I was older than I looked, pretty much hairless and my balls not churning anything out. When would it be my time? It didn't happen until I had started high school and I was put in the express lane. The end result was a lanky guy with glasses that had become trendier over the years. My standing with classmates increased and I was now acceptable.
As I journeyed through adolescence, new thoughts entered my mind. These were the pleasurable thoughts of the flesh in which no girl ever appeared. I had absolute zero in interest in them like that. These splendid imaginings only featured other guys. I wanted to cuddle them, to kiss them. Whenever the subject of girls came up, I deftly managed to come up with convincing answers. Eventually, the subterfuge was too much and I couldn't stand staying quiet.
Last year during dinner, I told my parents that that I liked guys, blurted it out actually. The revelation didn't faze my parents. For the past couple of years, they had a growing hunch. It was a relief that I wouldn't get some girl knocked up, but the notion of me being intimate with another male took much getting used to. Outside my family, I remained in the closet.
The entrance of Bramwell College got closer and closer and looked more magnificent the nearer it approached. The wall that formed the College's perimeter was made of red brick and the name was etched in a marble rectangle inset in the wall. We slowly navigated the interior streets until we came upon Frazer Hall, the dorm I was assigned to. We parked in one of the few slots left and before I could get out, I nearly collided with this guy. "Oof" as I fell back into my seat. It happened so quickly and all I knew at that time was the hurried apology, "Sorry bro. Catch you later." Who was that? I took a deep breath and stood up. I looked around to match body with voice. I saw him at the end of the street, waiting to cross. What a body my eyes found.
He possessed a fine athletic form which suited his frame. Muscular, but not massive like was auditioning to play the Hulk. His hair was jet black like my own, but his was pulled back and tied in a man bun which contrasted with my short cropped hair. My eyes journeyed from his head and traversed down his back until they latched onto his bubble double A, his Asian ass, clad in blue jeans. After he crossed and disappeared around the corner, I closed the door and locked it. Time to get back on track Enzo.
In the dorm's lobby, everyone was busy like a swarm of bees. I got up to the registration desk and introduced myself. They gave me my key and resident packet. I saw them cross off my name and I saw that another name beneath mine had already been crossed off. If everyone wasn't in such a rush, I could have had time to see my roommate's name but "Next!"
I followed the map of the complex I was given with Room 103 circled. It was just around the corner from one of the common areas. I walked down the deserted hallway and looked at the placards affixed to the door: 105, 104, and Bingo. Here it was. Room 103. Was he inside? I inserted the key and turned the knob. No one here. The other side caught my eye and I liked it right away. The single bed was adorned with Pac-Man sheets and there was a blanket draped over the foot of the bed. It had a star field pattern. On the nearby dresser, there was a plush frog with wide eyes and a smile just as big. It sat next to a lava lamp with a black base and bubbling green blobs. Surrounding these were various knickknacks. On the other side of the neighboring desk was a small fridge and above was a corkboard was above with a cluster of photos that I gave less than a sparse glance before I threw the envelope on the bed and went to get my stuff. I had kept my folks waiting long enough.
My parents came back with me and they dropped off my belongings. I would be on my own to set up my side of the room. They embraced me lovingly before we left the room and I escorted them back to the entrance so they could get started on their way home. Back inside, I opened a closet and found that garments already dwelled inside. Whoever he was, he sorted his clothes much like mine. I closed that door and opened the other. I hung up my khaki pants, polos, and full button shirts on the top. I placed my tees and my other casual clothes on the bottom. His casual clothes were on the top rung. I closed the door and in the bathroom, I set my toiletries next to my roommate's.
After placing my personal effects on the top of the dresser next to the desk, it was time to set up my computer and I crawled under the desk to connect the cables to all the apparatuses. I heard the door unlock and a singing voice waltz in. I could hear feet strutting and then that all stopped. There was a presence standing right behind me. The voice cheerfully declared, "Hello there. Again. So, we get to be roommates." It startled me like the proverbial deer in the head. No. It couldn't be. I had to be imagining things. When has Enzo Cavazos ever been this lucky?
I crawled back out, turned around, and looked up from the floor. There he was. It was the same guy I nearly collided with earlier. Same body wrapped in the same clothes. There was some type of unfamiliar emblem embroidered on the left breast which caught my eye. It was a series of four diamonds arranged in a larger diamond pattern. I looked at it, trying to place it. Smirking, "You like my mon?" I snapped out of my trance. Did he think I was looking at his crotch? I had been looking up longer than I thought and I was caught. I had given him the wrong impression. I hadn't been looking at his package, but my eyes drifted down now that he mentioned it. What a fantastic bulge he had. I looked back up and shook my head, "Your what? No, no. Just the logo. Nothing more." My new roommate shrugged his shoulders, "Okay then." He took a big slurp from the straw inserted into large cup he had in his left hand and walked to his desk. He placed the cup and the paper sack he had in his other hand on it so he could prop open a TV tray. He set the foodstuffs on and came back to me.
My new roommate extended his hand and I took it. "Jeffery Yagami" Letting go, he quipped, "However, I can count the people who will ever call me that." He held up his hand and raised his fingers to count, "Mom and Dad. That's all. I prefer to be known at Tetsuya by others, but Tate works also." I offered, "Lorenzo Cavazos, but almost everyone call me Enzo so there's no confusion between me and my dad." He nodded and said, "Sorry again for nearly bumping into you Enzo. I wasn't hungry this morning because I had an incurable case of butterflies in the stomach. My appetite caught up and I went to grab a bite to eat. Speaking of which."
He plopped himself on the bed, pulled the tray over, and set up his meal. He stuffed several fries into his mouth and said with muffled voice, "The mon or kamon is a family crest, but can be used to signify other things." Swallow. "This one represents the Takeda family which my mom belongs to. There's a company that makes all sorts of stuff like mugs, caps and tees. I don't normally wear this tee because I'd rather keep it at home for safekeeping, but I had an urge to wear it today."
I let Tetsuya eat in silence while I continued to set up my computer. I exited from behind the desk and told him, "I came here from Houston". He finished a bite of the barbeque sandwich and said after swallowing, "Cool. I'm not too far away from you then. Sugar Land here. I was one of the first to arrive and walked around campus after putting my things away. I like what I see and satisfied with choosing Bramwell. Not too big of a campus and it is within walking distance of Rosharon State Park. I love being among the trees and the wildlife. My dad and I go camping all the time. City life can be stifling at times for a guy like me. Crisp air, starry sky. The grasses and leaves beneath your feet, the smell running through your nostrils." He smiled and sighed blissfully.
I then shared what drew me here. Sutter, the town that the College was in, was small with a population of about 2,800. On the way to San Antonio, we would pass through town to have breakfast. Sometimes, my parents would wake me early in the morning because they had the crazy notion to come to town for breakfast. There was also a bakery that had been in operation for over a hundred years. Rave reviews about the kolaches and the streusel drew many. Sometimes, we would even spend the night as a quick getaway. I loved seeing all the stars that were normally obscured by city lights. It was mind-blowing. I would even look out the window and marvel until I was reminded that it was time to sleep.
Tetsuya got up and licked the bit of sauce that remained on his lips. He crammed the empty containers into the paper sack and ditched that in the bucket that was next to his desk. He went to the corkboard that he had affixed to the wall and took down a calendar. He jotted down his schedule and dorm events. He looked up and said, "My major's going to be Geology with a minor in Astronomy. You?" I told him that I totally sucked at math, but was just good enough to not have to take remedial classes. Social Studies had always been my strongest subjects. "My birthday is in October. Yours?" I told him that mine was in January and he added that day to the calendar. He then put it back on the board.
"So Tetsuya, what kind of hobbies do you have? I see your Pac-Man sheets." The name felt strange to my tongue. I hoped I didn't make a fool of myself by mispronouncing his name. He looked back at me and his eyes gleamed, "You got it right. You like my sheets? I've had them for years. When I was packing, I was thinking what sheets I wanted to take with me. I only had a few twin bed sets left. I have mint green sheets in the closet, but what should be the second. It was either these sheets or those with the Care Bears. So hobbies. I'm crazy about cooking, I enjoy drawing, and I also played football all four years of high school."
He took off his sneakers and then his socks. He wiggled his toes. "Oh, that feels nice." Looked back up and at me, "Football is related to why I go by middle name. Want to hear?" I nodded. "Rewind back to when I was in Kindergarten. On the first day of class, teacher asks the students what name they like to be called by, unless similar names are encountered. Having a name like mine means you are almost always last. There were two others with the same name so one became Jeff and the other was named Jeffrey. It is my turn and I stand up to face my classmates. I announce to them that my name is Tetsuya. I say the first name that comes to mind because it makes sense. The others start to laugh at me until the teacher restores order. There is one who remains silent. His name is Gareth Cosgrove and we become best buds. For one who doesn't have many friends my own age at the time, his friendship means a lot to me."
Tetsuya's words struck a familiar chord and realizing that he had my attention, he continued. He told me that they stuck to each other like glue throughout the years. "It was because of Gareth that I got the football gig playing for the Augustine High Centurions. I watched games on TV with my folks for years and even went to a couple games, but I never saw myself out there on the field. He took me along for tryouts. The intent that I was tagging along for support. Nothing more. Coach Maxwell noticed me and assumed I was a prospective player."
Tetsuya collapsed on the bed with arms behind his head and looked at the ceiling, "I should have just kept my dumb mouth shut and only said that I was there to support Gareth. That would have been the sensible thing to do, but I don't know what happened to me. It was like I became a different person." Turning to me, "Well, different than usual." He sat back up, "So Coach asked what position I was trying out for and I blurted out the first thing that came to mind was Running Back, which is the position of my favorite player. I suited up and joined Gareth out on the field. The way the gear felt on me, it felt totally rad. One thing led to another and I found myself a member of the squad."
Tetsuya let out a puff of air. "Then came the reality of evening and I told my parents what I had done. Their shock was only outmatched by concern. Oh, boy. I thought I was in for it. I was about to hear that I was to tell Coach that I had to decline joining. Imagine my relief when they didn't. They told me that I was growing up and although they might nor agree with or understands the choices I make in life, they had to respect them. They did come around eventually and I showed that I could handle the responsibility." He beamed with giddiness and told me that his teammates would call him the Terminator because of his seeming unending endurance. "Gareth's quarterbacking up north in Sooner Land."
He leapt onto my bed and showed me a few of pictures in a folder called "School Spirit". I saw photos of him in his letterman jacket with the letter A on the front. The name of Yagami was on the back. It was stylized on the back with J. Tetsuya in the ribbon beneath. There were those of him at what appeared to be a pep rally because he wore his jersey over his school clothes. There were several of these pics. Next to him was a black guy who was just as stunning to look at. Then another with the same guy, and another. They looked so exuberant in that last pic. They had their helmets nestled in the crook of one arm and saluting in victory. "That's Gareth and I when we won state. It was a great spectacle on the scale of a college game with commentators and snazzy graphics. After graduation, I was allowed to keep my named jersey and my helmet because I played for all four years. Fresh set mind you." His smile began to fade. "I was good on the field. Really good. Talent scouts eyed me and I had several scholarship offers, but I declined them all." I was confused and he became quiet for a long second.
Somberness descended upon him. "In life we make choices. College is not High School. I thought about it. Did I want to play college ball? I did, but I didn't want to be caught in a position where I had to choose between that and my studies and my other hobbies. Cooking is practical so it didn't make sense to give that up. I've been doing my art for many years. I thought that maybe I can do commissions to earn some spending money. As much as I like football and as great as playing college ball sounded, I chose to give it up." I don't know how or why, but I didn't think he was being fully honest. I just met the guy, but something told me that that it was something more than not being able to fit it in. I chose not to press him on the issue.
A few hours later, we went through resident orientation. Tetsuya listened with captive ears and focused on the staff. He blocked out the looks that stuck to him. I probably could have left and he wouldn't have noticed. He only snapped out of his trance when the meeting ended and it was time for snacks. He grabbed a couple of ice cream sandwiches and handed me one while I traded him a can of iced tea for it.
By the time the crowd dispersed, it was past 10pm. Tetsuya and I headed back to our room which was on the opposite end of the dorm. He opened the door and we stepped inside before I locked it behind us. He kicked off his sandals and plopped himself on the bed. He had been there for barely a minute before his phone started to vibrate. He picked it up and held it in front of him. He swiped the screen and started to do Face Time, Japanese words emanating from his mouth.
Even though I couldn't understand the words, his optimistic tone came in clearly. I picked up my phone and texted my parents while my roommate conversed. It was only when I heard my name among the sea of words that my attention was caught. Tetsuya looked at me "Yes you" and waved me over excitedly, "Come on buddy, say hi to my folks." I went over and sat next to him. My roommate's parents looked at me warmly. I said, "Hi. I'm Enzo Cavazos and I enjoy your son." I felt a blush come over me. Oh, God. Where's the undo button? What I had in my brain got lost on the way to my mouth. I quickly said, "I mean I like that we have much in common. We both like food a bunch." His parents looked at each other and then Mr. Yagami said, "Oh, then you must come over some day so that our son can treat you to one of his creations." I replied that I would like that and after a few more exchanges, I returned to my side. My new friend slipped back to Japanese for a few more minutes and ended the call. He looked at the clock and looked at his watch, "Time for bed, don't you agree?" Roger that.
Tetsuya bounced off the bed and onto his feet. He took off his watch, placed it on the desk next to his bed, and positioned it so that the face could be easily viewed from the bed. He reached behind his head and pulled off the black band that held up his hair. Once free, his hair flopped down and lightly touched his shoulders. He tossed it onto his desk.
My roommate started to strip without even asking if I was okay with it. We were strangers and I was surprised that he would do this. The friend downstairs started to stir and rise up. I watched without betraying that I was keenly watching. He pulled off his tee and unveiled the firm landscape that had been previously hinted at. It made landfall on the floor and his hands moved to his crotch. Click, clack, snap. He unzipped the jeans and undid the button. He pushed them down and he stepped out. His chest was clear of hair except for the treasure trail unlike the light dusting of hair that covered mine. He bent down and picked up his tee. The garments were dropped in his chair.
I was right. Tetsuya did have a fantastic bulge to complement the amazing buns, round as cantaloupe, which he packed inside blue and grey trunk briefs. He made his way past me and to the bathroom. Some minutes later after he brushed his teeth and emptied his bladder, he climbed into bed.
I waited to give myself time to deflate. I took my pajama shorts and a tee into the bathroom. There, I got ready for bed and by the time I exited, he was on his side with his eyes closed. How about that? Tetsuya didn't even say good night, but then he chimed "Pleasant dreams Enzo." He snuggled against his blanket and slumbered off.
Pleasant was an understatement. That night I dreamed I was in an underwater hotel. Fish and other denizens of the deep swam by the windows. I was wondering why the bed was so big. It was a king sized bed, larger than what I was used to. Off to the side was a cart bearing the remains of a large supreme pizza and kabob sticks bereft of food. The room was dark, only being illuminated by the soft luminescence of the bathroom lights and the bluish glow of the underwater habitat. A hum permeates the silence. Off the bathroom light goes. A shadowy form moves closer and climbs onto the bed towards me, "Mmm. Time for desert." It is the voice of naked Tetsuya. Whoosh! My clothes suddenly vanish and he pounces on me.
I felt a poke. Huh? More poking. Was this a dream or was this for real? I opened my eyes "Wha?" and turned around. There was Tetsuya, still in his underwear. He stood right by my bed, within arm's reach. "I didn't want to go to the grocery store alone. Come with?" I should have turned back over and told him to buzz off so I could stay in bed, but his offer of companionship was irresistible. "Okay then." After quick showers and a light breakfast, he led me to his truck which was closest to the dorm. I've seen people grace their vehicles with many stickers on the rear windshield. I've never understood the appeal. Except for my neighborhood civic club sticker, I had none on my car. He had four. On the left were two stickers about the size three by five index cards: the flag of Japan and the flag of the United States above. On the right side of the glass was the emblem of Augustine High. It was a green plumed helmet facing right and tilted upward. Above it, the image of a football helmet in profile. He strapped himself in and I did as well. He turned the key and off we went.
Tetsuya's music selection was unique. I heard stuff from the 60s through the 80s, but primarily from the 60s. There was nothing past the 80s that I could tell and it seemed that every fourth song was in Japanese. I couldn't understand the words, but the ones I heard so far had a good beat.
With the grocery still several minutes away and a long train blocking the way, he asked me what type of music I liked after he noticed my reaction to the tunes. I told him that I most of my music collection consisted of soundtracks. I bemoaned that while I could find TV and movie soundtracks okay enough, I had to resort to importing to get video game soundtracks. My roommate was in complete agreement. "For my graduation present, my parents and I went to Japan on a guided tour. First time I've ever been over there and my parents hadn't been there since their honeymoon. After the tour, we stayed in Osaka with my dad's sister. It was a surprise that they only let me on when we landed. I thought we were just gong to get together for dinner. I have cousins who are about my age. I had never met them before. One afternoon, they took me to a store." Left hanging, "Yea?" Tetsuya asked, "Ever seen Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? You know, the Gene Wilder version?" I replied eagerly, "Sure." He said, "I felt like the guests did when they see the Chocolate room the first time, the one with the river."
We entered the grocery store and to be honest, I didn't know how this would play out because it wasn't as if we had a regular house fridge. "True. Suppose though we get hungry at night for a little something, but don't want to head out?" We returned with a box of oatmeal packets, a box containing packets of peanut butter cracker sandwiches, some yogurt cups, mandarin oranges, a variety pack of juices, bottles of water, and cans of lemonade tea and bottles of root beer. Once in, there wasn't any room in that squat fridge for anything else.
The days passed and it didn't take me long to know that I had hit the jackpot with Tetsuya. I couldn't imagine my roommate as anyone else. We did have our differences, but nothing so great that they were deal breakers. Take movies for example. We both loved movies and were among the first to appear in the dorm's student lounge for Saturday Night Movie Night. I was okay with most movies, but I love science fiction and fantasy flicks the most. My roommate preferred those that were closer to reality, "I just can't take stuff like Dracula or the Wolf Man serious. Sorry bro, but I struggle to not get the giggles whenever I see movies like that." He appeared to be okay with most other films, but if he had to choose a particular genre, he would pick Westerns. "During my summer days, I would stay at my mom's parents' house where my great-grandparents lived also. Grandpa Tate would watch those flicks all the time. The Dollars Trilogy, True Grit, plus shows like Bonanza and The Rifleman. You name it. Maybe not appropriate for a kid, but my grandparents had just the one TV. My great-great-grandparents would watch those shows occasionally, but they didn't understand too much what was said. I remember that they would be in the dining room mostly. At my grandparents' place, we communicate almost always in Japanese. In my house, about even."
"When I wasn't watching, I was with my grandma in the kitchen where I was her little helper. Well, little helper became big helper." He grinned widely, "I was too young to use certain things like knives or the stove, but I could help with measuring cups or getting supplies. As I got older, I started to help them and my parents more and more. You should come to my place around Thanksgiving or July 4th. I usually do most of the work by myself. It's loads of fun." His nostrils flared and his face shone with intense pleasure, "Ooh, those smells."
Another difference was our outlook towards physical fitness. We both routinely went to the gym, but he went more often and stayed longer. I stuck with the treadmill, the stair machine, or the bike. Tetsuya made use of these machines, but also spent time using free weights and the weight machines. We also liked to go on walks or jogs along the trails of the State Park.
Morning arrives and most days, I wake first. I shower and by the time I exit, he has woken up. Here he is on the floor, doing stretches or sit ups. He jumps up, nabs his briefs, and runs in to bathe. He exits, sprays himself with cologne and puts on his clothes before securing his hair with a band. If it is Monday or Wednesday or Friday, we will have lunch with each with each other. Then it is off to afternoon classes. In the early evening, we will have dinner together always and we sit at in the sunroom which looks out upon the courtyard. Afterwards, it is back to our room to do homework or study.
Saturday morning and he is up early. He slinks out to head to the gym and by the time I wake up, he has returned with breakfast. He moves his chair close to the TV and turns it on. After eating, he grabs a notepad and turns on the TV. He watches cooking shows for the rest of the morning and jots down what he sees. I just watch for the food. Sometimes he'll get my input. This is our primary free day. We play games or walk around town or see a movie at the dollar theater. Sometimes we'll just stay in our room. I'll read or surf the Internet while Tetsuya is doing his artwork. His music provides the background. Some hours later, we treat ourselves and go out to eat. We return with plenty of time to spare for Movie Night at Frazer Hall.
When we are back in our room to stay for the night, we'll change clothes. I swap my clothes for a tee and pajama shorts while Tetsuya chooses gym shorts and a tank top. When it is time for bed, he'll take his hair band off and go wash up. Then I'll go. By the time I exit, the TV will be on while he watches the news. He once told me that he dislikes how many news broadcasts they are in the day because the same stories are relayed most of the time. He sticks with the last one of the day unless there is something major going on.
I'll go to bed clothed as I am, but Tetsuya's choice varies. On some nights, he sticks with the shorts and tank combo. Other nights he ditches one or the other. However, on most nights he'll toss both aside and only be in briefs like that first night. The TV's timer is set and we turn off the lights. We climb into bed and wish each other a good night.
I like to think of myself as a quiet sleeper. Once I hit the sack, you won't hear a peep from me until morning. Tetsuya, on the other hand, seemed restless. Every now and then, I would wake up slightly as I turned over in bed. Sometimes, I would hear huffing noises. The bathroom light would be on and its glow would gaze upon his empty bed. Maybe he was having a late night piss or some hands on time to himself, but it sounded too silent. Did he leave the room? He couldn't have because I would have heard the door. Besides if I woke up again, he would be right back in bed looking content or I would see him exiting the bathroom with a flush in his wake.
In the end, I dismissed these imaginings as the byproduct of a mind that was mostly asleep. I was just like the time that I thought I saw a pair of radiant amber eyes looking at me from across the room when we woke up startled by a fierce storm.
"Are you sure?" Tetsuya looked at me like I had lost my mind. "I've not seen my parents since I left home. They are coming in for a visit to take me out to eat and they clearly told me to invite you to come along." He placed such a strong emphasis on the word you. It had been six weeks since the beginning of semester and he had been looking forward to seeing his parents beyond images on the phone.
Some hours later, I sat in front of the dorm with him. We watched the sun start its descent as we waited for his folks. His eyes darted back and forth looking for sign of their arrival. He jumped up and exclaimed, "They're here."
A black SUV rolled up and came to a stop. My roommate tugged the handle and slid the door aside, "After you." His parents greeted me warmly. His father Keiji reached and shook my hand, "Nice to finally meet you Enzo. In person, that is." His mother Mizuki greeted me also and asked, "So what's good around here boys?" My roommate and I looked at each other and whispered. There was only one solution. We looked at them and said in unison, "Roscoe's." They had never heard of that eatery before but it didn't take much convincing from their son and we headed there.
Roscoe's Corner had a variety of selections. A great option when someone wants one thing and another wants to eat something else. Want salads? They got them. You want a burger? They have six types. Lasagna, fish tacos, chicken fried steak, and more. We waited about ten minutes before we were seated. Going out to eat with Tetsuya has always been interesting. Here he sits with his nose in the menu while his nostrils fluctuate and he babbles to himself on what to get.
My roommate ends up getting meatloaf, I get a grilled chicken sandwich with the waffle fries, his father gets stuffed crabs, and his mother orders the pork chop. The dinner conversation is lively. They ask how the two of us are getting along. No problems here. Tetsuya's folks were great and I felt comfortable talking with them. We ended our evening by sharing a slice of cake. Back to the dorm and to the end of another day.
"Campers and hikers are advised by park rangers to be aware of their surroundings after the remains of a partially eaten deer were found earlier this morning." It was early October, a handful of days before his birthday, and many residents were all huddled around the large television set in the rec room one evening as a local news bulletin was broadcast. Tetsuya sat next to me, but he was engrossed by his phone. He was texting his parents but I couldn't read what he was typing. He appeared to be exasperated. I whispered if everything was okay. He sighed, "Just parents parenting." He turned the screen off and stuffed it back in the pocket in the front of his overalls. An interview with a wildlife expert followed. The consensus was that the culprit was a wild animal like a cougar.
Tetsuya thought the advisory was a joke and made his thoughts known later that night before bedtime. Why wasn't he serious about it? If anything, he appeared to still be annoyed. He picked up on my uneasiness, "Sorry Enzo." As he began to get ready for bed, he attempted to assuage my fears. "There is nothing like that in the park. I've been along the same trails as you and even off the paths every now and then. There is nothing out there like that. I would know it if there was. You have nothing to worry about." I really wanted to believe him. I really did, but the thought of some beast pouncing on me and ripping me to shreds dominated my mind. Despite the heartfelt voice, his assurances were not encouraging.
As he exited the bathroom, Tetsuya let out a puff of air and walked over to me. I thought he was going to sit by my bed, but he had other plans. He lifted the blanket and climbed into bed with me. I was in my pajama shorts and a Buc-ee's tee. For him, it was one of his briefs only nights. He wrapped his arm around me and I tensed up. I hadn't expected to be held by him and certainly not like this. "Shh." I began to settle down. He looked at me tenderly, "Even if there was a, something, out there, I wouldn't let it or anything hurt you." I looked into his eyes which had a strange sheen to it for a brief moment, "You mean that Tetsuya?" He whispered, "You bet."
Tetsuya removed my glasses and placed it on my desk, his hair band quickly joining it. He looked at me and I gazed at him. Was this real or was it a dream? I stayed still as he caressed my face. His head moved closer to mine and his mouth touched my own. For a long while, we were the only beings in the galaxy and our lips were at its center. He broke the kiss and with glad eyes, he reached over me and turned off my lamp. "Good night" as he lowered his body and holds me close to his body as he takes me with him into slumber.
Morning arrived and I was starting to wake. I felt strange. What kind of pillow was I sleeping against? I ran my hand against this pillow. It was firm and fleshy. I then remembered last night and I opened my eyes.
There was Tetsuya, still asleep and his arm still around me. His body stirred and he faced me. He slowly opened his eyelids and smiled, "Ohayo gozaimasu Enzo." We lay in the bed side to side and I smiled, "Good morning to you too."
Yawning, my roommate sat up and looked at me. "Did my company help?" I looked at me and him in my bed. "I, uh." I was hard as a rock and so obvious. "Yes?" His answer was a goofy grin. I asked. "How did you know?" Tetsuya said, "How long have I known that you were into guys? Since we first met, more or less. He gripped my blanket and sheets and pulled them aside. He waved his hand over his body as if he was a game show model presenting a prize. "So what about this do you like?" Trick question? Here goes.
"You're cheery, friendly, and I like that we have things in common. Sometimes we know what the other will say. I did notice this about you first though. I reached around and touched my target. Tetsuya chuckled, "Oh that." He flopped onto his stomach and asked, "That better?" I cupped and caressed the spheres of his glutes for a good minute. Weeks after I spotted it, I was touching his butt. He stared at me while I touched him with a delighted expression, excited by the attention I lavished upon them. I withdrew my hand and let out a puff of air, "Whew!" My roommate then picked up my glasses and set them on my face, "Glad you liked touching my posterior `cause I enjoyed it also. I like guys also and you looked interested, but you seemed rather sheepish so I thought it best to wait for you. Last night though, that didn't seem to be an option anymore. I thought you needed something than just words."
My roommate climbed out of bed with a raging boner equal to my own. He declared that, "While it'd be fun to stay in bed and play some more, we do have things to do. He pointed with his thumb at the two laundry baskets next to the balcony door. "Right." There would be time later to play now that we knew this truth about each other. He opened his drawer, took out a pair of underwear, and headed to the bathroom. "Wait! Can I join?"
What did I just say? Join? I was startled by my exclamation, but it was too late to take the words back. With the gurgle of flushing behind him, Tetsuya poked his head out the door. "Share a shower? Sure. If you want." He dipped his head back in the door and the cascade of shower water began to sing.
I grabbed my own set of briefs and headed in. After making a pit stop at the toilet, I stepped inside. As he soaped up, "First time showering with another guy?" I said, "Yea." He said, "Me too. Well, in this way. You like?" I could only awkwardly smile, "Different."
Here we are. I am six feet two and he is five feet ten. I am lanky. He is muscular. My pubes are short and bristly. His are long and stringy. I am circumcised and he is uncut. His package was larger than mine, slightly but noticeable. He didn't seem to mind me scoping him out as I didn't mind that he glimpsed me also. He squirted out some shampoo and lathered his hair. "What do you think tonight's movie is? I didn't much care for last week's." I didn't either, but we stuck with it. You win some and you lose some. We all can't get what we want. "Dunno, but at least food's provided." He laughed, "True. True." He exited and toweled off. I finished some minutes later.
After having yogurt, we sorted through the laundry and headed to the laundry room on our floor. It was quiet there and we passed the time by looking at various videos: movie trailers, movie reviews, and animal videos. I had a few pets of the years: a couple of hamsters, a couple of dogs, and an old cockatiel that my grandpa gave me. Tetsuya on the other hand never had any pets because his parents wouldn't allow any.
November said hello and it was hard to believe that the time was flying by so quickly. Thanksgiving was a few weeks away. The sharp decent into end of term projects and exams would follow. Afterwards, the few weeks of Winter Break and then it would be time for Spring semester to begin.
One late afternoon, I opened the door to head to the cafeteria. Tetsuya has his attention glued to his sketchpad. "Tetsuya. Tetsuya. Tate?" He jolts, startled. "Wha?" I asked him if he was coming to dinner. "Not hungry." That was a rare occurrence. I couldn't recall the last time he said that he was wasn't hungry. "Take a break and come with me. I hate to eat alone." He gently places the stylus on the desk and closes the pad. He gets up and we leave.
I entered the sunroom where Tetsuya was waiting at our favorite spot. Truthfully, it feels weird to eat when no one else is, but the reverse is also true. However, I would take this over eating alone any day. We talked about usual stuff: classes, happenings around town, current events. He once told me that his mother's family placed importance on public service and awareness. It was natural to talk about the news.
Later that night, he still hadn't eaten anything. He hadn't even had a snack. I had been in his shoes a few times over the years. I would have a late lunch that it kept me until the next morning. We both got ready for bed and went to sleep.
It was a rustle that brought me out. What time was it? It was a sound that I had heard before. It was one of Tetsuya's shuffles. I snuggled in my sheets some more when I heard a thud and an odd yelp followed by a small snarl of annoyance. Was he hurt? I turned my lamp on.
My eyes spoke lies to me, but it had to be true. They gazed upon the being standing before me. Upward, they climbed. It was a wolf, but it was not. It was human, but it was not. It was an amalgamation of the two. What I saw couldn't possibly be real, but it was. The obviously male wolf looked at me with eyes of fear and uncertainty. What would I say? What would I do?
He goes by many names: loup garou, lycanthrope, werewolf. My lips parted and spoke the name I knew him by.
"Tetsuya."
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I would appreciate any comments you may have, but please keep insults or flames to a minimum. I'll try to respond to everyone, but no promises. Please mention the title of the story so I know what you are referring to. You can email me at: chaoswolf04@yahoo.com