He Doesn’t Know That They Know That He Knows

He stood there at the door of his room wondering if it was right thing to do. He could hear his parents talking in the living room. They had just finished dinner, and were catching up on the events of the day. 

It was eating him that he had to keep this from them. This was his secret. He had never ever kept anything from them before. Thus it was even more difficult. He couldn’t just go out there and blurt it out, as if it were nothing. This was important to him, the discovery of which had left him confused, though it did answer a number of awkward events, questions and feelings. 

Would they accept him knowing this? Was that even a question, he was their “Medical Marvel”! They couldn’t be upset with their baby boy (a name that he distinctly didn’t like, but was willing to use it to his advantage)!

But this was no ordinary thing. It wasn’t like flunking examination, getting sent to the principal’s office, getting detention. It would be easier to tell them this, cause he knew what their reaction would be. But there was no way of telling how they would react to what he had to share with them!

He had to tell them, he had been quiet for way too long. But di they accept him, a question that was nagging, and it frightened him that he didn’t know the answer to question. And to make it more frightening, they were quiet devout, and took part in the activities of the church. Faith, always played a hug role in their lives. This made the prospect of telling them his truth even more frightening.

Just then his phone buzzed. It was a message from his best friend Hannah, who had been his biggest supporter in this discovery process. It was she who had always been encouraging and supportive of this process. 

So he took a deep breath and stepped out of his room. His parents were in their usual spot in the hall. He hesitated for a bit, but he was determined to do it. It was now or never.

“Mum, Dad, I’ve something say to you,” he said, rather hesitatingly.

“What happened, son ?” His father asked.

“Well nothing quite happened,” he continued  nervously, “There’s something I want to share with you.”

“Yes, you can share anything with us ,” said his mum.

“It’s something I only recently discovered, and don’t know how I can share it with you”, he said trying to muster all the courage he could.

“Go on son, we hear you!” His father chimed in.

He wanted to tell them but he was too nervous and scared. He could feel their boring into his skin.

“I am in love with Hannah!” He blurted out.

“Huh!” Said his parents in perfect unison, seeming disappointed.

Their response took him by surprise. This was not the response he was expecting, but this was not the response they would have if he had told the truth.

“Well,” his father finally said, putting end to an uncomfortable silence, “we are happy for you both!”

“We always thought you and Hannah would make a beautiful couple,” his mother, “with all the time you two spend together!”

He should felt relief but instead he felt all the more burdened for not being able to speak the truth. 

Just them door bell rang, interrupting a very awkward moment.

When opened it , it was Hannah at the door. This wasn’t his lucky day.

Before he could say anything his mother grabbed Hannah and hugged her, taking poor Hannah by surprise!

“Our son just told us everything,”his father said to a very confused Hannah, “we are very happy for you both.”

“Your welcome!” Said a bewildered Hannah, not quite knowing what exactly was happening.

“Hannah dear, would you join me in the over here!” Said his mother with a mischievous grin, and a wink which he didn’t notice.

He was now very confused with all the happening. He could not make what was going on. What he once again failed to see is his mom whisper in Hannah’s ears, “He doesn’t know that we know that he knows, so play along!”

“So tell me Hannah,” asked his mum teasingly, “how has our son been treating you!”

To his surprise Hannah answered cheerfully, “so far he’s been a good boyfriend.”

He response and her change in body language took him by surprise. What exactly was happening here!

“So is our son a good kisser?” Asked his father.

Now he was even more embarrassed. He turned into million shades of red.

“Dad, how could you ask such a question,” he protested, “Hannah, you don’t have to answer that!”

“No, no, that’s perfectly fine, “ replied Hannah, “the fact is your son hasn’t even kissed me yet!” 

“What!” said his mom looking at him sternly, “let’s put an end to this. Son, you need to kiss her soon!”

“Yes maa, I will do that soon,” he protested!

“Why not do it right now, “ his father suggested with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“That’s wonderful suggestion”, she said, much to his surprise, leaving him very surprise s and embarrassed. He couldn’t make what to do of this very strange predicament he found himself in.

“Come now son,  you don’t have to hesitate,” his father said playfully. “Don’t make the beautiful young lady wait!”

So they puckered up and tried to kiss each other. It was,  perhaps, the most awkwardly embarrassing kiss, he had ever had. Not that he had kissed anyone, guy or girl. So he had to soldier on.

As they tried to get closer, it became all the more awkward.

“I can’t , I can’t, i can’t! I can’t kiss Hannah!” He exclaimed.

“I why can’t you kiss Hannah?” His mum asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

“Because I am gay! I can’t kiss Hannah because I am gay! He cried out, and waited for the worse to happen. Instead he heard both his parents say, “We know!”

Once again they took him by surprise.

“You knew? How? And yet you let me go through all this!” 

Be notice that his parents and Hannah were all in on this prank.

“Son we always knew! We knew you were different,” said his father.

“What kind of parent would we be if we didn’t realise our boy was beautifully different, after all you are our medical marvel!” His mother said.

“So you are not upset that I am gay?” He asked.

“Of course we are not.” Said his father”We are not upset about who you are. We would always want to live you truth. And no son of ours is going to live a lie.”

“Son we love you no matter, no matter your choices, or your orientation. God made you perfect!” His mother.

Now he couldn’t hold back his tears. He ran and hugged them both tightly and started sobbing. They completed  the hug by pulling Hannah into.

He was finally happy to know that they knew that he knew that they knew and was happy for him!