"Is this… some kind of prank?" Aryan asked, his brows furrowed, clearly caught off guard by Marco's sudden confession. His voice wavered slightly as he tried to make sense of the words that had just reached his ears.
Marco stared at him, frustration and sincerity battling in his eyes. "Do I look like someone who would joke about something like this? Especially with you, Aryan? Come on, I'm dead serious. I like you..."
Aryan opened his mouth to say something, but Marco spoke first, his voice shaky but resolute. "I know it sounds crazy. Trust me, I know. Proposing to my best friend? A guy? It's awkward as hell. I've spent nights tossing and turning, wondering if this was just a phase or some kind of twisted confusion. But every time I see you—even from across the hallway—something in me lights up. Like, really lights up. And I can't ignore it anymore."
Aryan glanced around nervously. A few people had started to take notice of their intense exchange. He quickly motioned toward the bench. "Sit down first. People are watching."
Marco sat, still visibly anxious. Aryan followed and took a deep breath, his voice calm and composed. "Alright. Take a deep breath first."
"You don't think it's weird?" Marco asked hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't find me… disgusting?"
Aryan looked at him, puzzled but calm. "Why would I? It's not like you're out here plotting to kill me or something," he said, half-joking to ease the tension. "You're just... confused. Emotions are messy sometimes, and I get it. You probably haven't been able to talk to anyone else about this, right? So tell me—calmly—when did all these 'crazy thoughts' start showing up?"
Marco shook his head firmly. "They're not crazy thoughts, Aryan. And I'm not confused, not this time. I know exactly what I'm feeling. It all started that day… when you dressed up as a girl and tried to flirt with me."
Aryan blinked. "Wait, hold on. Are you telling me… you fell for the disguise and not me?"
"No," Marco replied firmly. "I realized my feelings for you from that day."
Aryan narrowed his eyes, arms crossed tightly across his chest. "Seriously? You've been dating girls for years, and now—out of nowhere—you're telling me you have feelings for guys?"
"Not just any guy. You. I checked, okay?" Marco explained, clearly embarrassed. "I tried being close to Riyan, Firoz, even Mike… Nothing. No spark. I even held their hands just to see if I'd feel something—and I felt absolutely nothing. In fact, it was awkward as hell."
Aryan stared at him, his jaw dropping. "Did you really conduct a self-test to figure out your feelings?"
Marco nodded seriously. "I had to be sure."
Aryan's jaw dropped a little. "Are you stupid or just born this dumb?" he scoffed, exasperated. "Why would you even expect to feel anything for people you're not romantically attached to? And if you did feel same thing with everyone, the only conclusion I'd come to is that you're just a damn pervert!"
"What!!! Forget about that part..." Embarrassed Marco replied.
Aryan's expression softened for a moment, then he straightened. "I understand your feelings, and I appreciate your honesty. But I can't accept your proposal."
Marco's face fell. "Why not? Can't you give me a chance? Just one?"
Grabbing Aryan's hand, he looked at him with pleading eyes, pulling his best puppy face. "Please?"
"N-No… I don't have any plans to be in a relationship. At least not for the next five years," Aryan said, looking away.
Marco's hopeful expression faltered. "Are you just making excuses because you don't want to date me?" he asked with a slight pout, trying to hide the hurt behind his voice.
Aryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're acting like a kid right now…"
Marco lowered his gaze, but Aryan softened his tone and continued, "Marco… I know it sound like an excuse but I'm serious. I want to focus on building my career. I don't want any distractions. I can't live as carefree as you, reality is different for everyone.
Also, I can't keep living under the safety net of my parents forever. I want to stand on my own two feet. I want to become their strength… not their burden." Though Aryan masked it as an excuse, deep down, he didn't want to hurt Marco by telling him the real reason. Explaining about Aaron's existence in his life is not a logical solution.
"Did Aunt Lisa or Uncle Adam say something? Did they hurt you in any way?" Marco asked, his voice laced with concern.
"No," Aryan shook his head quickly. "They're amazing. The best parents I could ever ask for. But that doesn't mean I want to rely on them forever. I want to stand on my own, make them proud. I want to become someone they can lean on too."
Understanding slowly dawned on Marco's face. "So… if I proposed again after five years, would you consider it then?"
Aryan raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Ah… well, sure. If you still feel the same way about me after five years... then maybe."
Marco's eyes sparkled with joy. "You promise?"
Aryan smiled and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I promise."
Marco's grin widened, and for a second, Aryan saw the boy he'd grown up with—the carefree, goofy, ridiculously loyal Marco.
But Aryan added one final condition. "But listen carefully. If, in those five years, even for a moment, you develop feelings for someone else—even a little—you don't come crawling back to me. Understood? I want loyalty, Marco. Not confusion."
"I swear," Marco said, placing a hand over his heart. "In this lifetime, I'll only love you. No one else. And I'll prove it. I'll show you what real loyalty looks like. Mark my words."
Aryan chuckled, shaking his head at his dramatic best friend. "You're such a weirdo."
Marco beamed. "Maybe. But I want to be your one and only weirdo."