19. Damn June Jacob June has been hovering around me ever since I came back home. Either she wants something or she has some News aka Useless-School-Gossip. I am not interested... I try to ignore her, but eventually, give up when she enters my room and interrupts my priceless me-time in bed. “What is it?” I snap. It’s exhausting being around everyone all day long. I need a break for God's Sake! “I know you usually don’t like these things… so-called rumors, but...” “Let me stop you right there.” I sit up in my bed. “I am not interested.” “It’s about Natalie.. “she says in a pleading tone. “Jesus! Definitely not interested June!!” “It’s not good Jacob. She isn’t a good person...” “JUNE! What the Fuck.” I practically yell at her. “If she isn’t good, I would like to figure it out myself. You know, these things piss me off.” “Your hockey team isn’t on good terms with her either,” She yells back first, then calms down and adds, “I will shut my mouth now. But I know you like those guys, so I had to tell you...” I glare at her in anger. I hate her when she acts like my elder. Making decisions for me. Then it hits me and I frown, “and how do you know about hockey team gossip? I swear to God if I figure out if you are dating...Scratch that.. Even if you are talking to someone 18+ I will whop your ass June” June makes a face and yells towards the door, “MOM!! Jacob says he will whop my ass and he also said FUCK twice.” Oh, come on! I only said it once. Mom enters my room immediately. How? Was she standing outside my room? Ready to save her little girl all the time. “Jacob! “ She gives me a pointed look with her arms crossed. “Mom! she is probably dating someone way older than her. Check her phone.” “No, I am not… and check his phone. He probably watches porn all the time.” I roll my eyes and hand my phone to mom. Now it’s June’s turn to glare at me. Little does she know I like to read, not watch. Plus, Incognito modes are there for a purpose. Dumbo. Her phone probably is full of dirty chats. I wince, imagining mom going through it. Once they leave, I crash on my bed again. Wondering what it means she isn’t a good person. What if indeed she is outright mean or disrespectful to others? Will I still pursue her? But she seemed nice so far. June will probably say I am too smitten to understand the difference. I stuff a pillow in my face in hopes of suffocating myself. I am frustrated. It’s not easy for me being asexual or whatever this thing is. I am not even sure. Just like everybody else, I seek love & freaking companionship. I cannot go ahead in relationships and expect them not to expect physical things from me. So my desire to know Natalie is a huge deal to me. Now June has planted this stupid doubt in my head. It’s difficult to ignore her personality. Not that I was planning to ignore it, anyway. But it was nice to be unaware. Damn June! I hope mom ground you for a month or something. 20. Nice Weather Jacob ----After a few hours---- “Hi Mrs. Relish, Is Natalie home?” “Natalie!!! Jacob is here... come on in,” she waves me to come inside. “Ahh no.. Actually... Just tell her I am taking Coco for a walk if she wants to join.” I hear thumping on the stairs as Natalie comes downstairs. “Oh, Hi!! I was taking her for a walk. You wanna join?” I repeat myself like a broken record. She looks at her clothes. I realize I should have texted her first, only if mom hadn’t taken my phone. “Wait 5 min”. She takes off into her room again and I stand awkwardly at her door. Mrs. Relish invites me again & I refuse. It’s too much hassle with Coco. After some time, Natalie comes out and we start walking towards a nearby park. “Sorry you had to wait... why didn’t you text me before coming?” I rub behind my head in embarrassment. “mhmm Mom took my phone..” Her mouth goes slack and I defend myself. “I willingly gave it to her… To throw June under the bus.” She chuckles, “For What? I wonder.” “I have doubts she is talking… or worse, dating someone in my team.” Her eyes widen, and I suddenly remember her not being on good terms with the team. She avoids the topic. “Is it normal in your house... Confiscating phone?” I nod in embarrassment. “But considering the cause, it was worth it.” She thinks and says, “I always thought if you have a loving dog in the house... what else you need? But now I realize I need my phone more than a pet ...” she quips sheepishly. “Well... to me, it’s the opposite. Because of her I don’t use my phone much these days and believe me life is way better..” I will choose Coco over my phone any day. “So, how was your day today?” Unsure again, but I answer anyway, “Had a real good hockey practice match today,” I say. Her smile gets uncomfortable again. But she nods. “Nice weather it is..” she says after a while. We walk in silence, both unsure what to talk about. I see my hopes draining. I cannot avoid talking about my team with her. Whatever their differences are. I spend a hell of a lot of time practicing and once I join school, I will probably spend my time mostly with them. June was right worrying about it. I just wish she had given me a week. I could have used that time to know her better. Ignorance is bliss. It’s difficult to overlook her reactions now. Will I ever get to know her if we keep talking about food and weather? Will she stop talking to me, eventually? Or worse, will I choose to stop talking to her? After reaching the park and playing with Coco for a while. We talk about our future plans in college. Her upcoming race. By the time we start heading back, she surprisingly asks me about my upcoming match. Turns out she knows pretty well about hockey. My hopes begin to rise. “I thought you didn’t like hockey. But you know many things about it.” She shrugs. “I have seen many matches.” “Did you see our school play?” “Yes, But It’s been more than a year though. How long have you been on the team?” “Almost 3 years.” She probably saw me play. As if she reads my mind. “Oh! I must have seen you play then... What is your number?” I can see her trying to recall. “13” She gasps and grabs my arm. “Lucky 13!!! You gave a slapshot last summer.” I chuckle and nod. A slapshot in ice hockey is the hardest move one can perform, so it was a big deal. She certainly knows about the game. I wonder if she attended these matches for someone? It’s none of my business, so I do not ask. Rather, I bask in the lingering sensation on my arm while walking back home with her. 21. Seriously! (Asexual) Jacob After coming home, I see June using her phone. I stand at her door in shock. She looks up and smirks. “How?” I ask, dumbfounded. Mom usually doesn’t return the phone until the next morning. Seriously. How? “She thinks she should give her children some privacy and shouldn’t snoop on our phone.” She tells me in a low voice, grinning. After terrorizing in my early teen years! After giving me no privacy! She finally thinks it’s time to do so? “So she returned your phone, but not mine?” I raise my eyebrow. “oh, she didn’t check your phone either. Probably embarrassed.” “About?” I ask. June whispers as I come near her bed, “She thinks she restricted you too much… That’s why you are asexual.” She is trying hard not to smile. I try to stifle my laugh but eventually burst out laughing. So finally mom realized she was wrong. Unfortunately, her guilt is misplaced. “So you gonna tell her?” June asks me, grinning. I slump in her bed, trying to contain my amusement. “hmmm I have suffered so much... It would only be fair if I let her suffer for a while.” “You disappoint me son.” She quotes in Dad’s voice. “Shut the fuck up! You always have things easy. I was hoping you would get some of the treatment I used to get barely a year ago.” She giggles. “You must be pissed... You are cursing today.” I roll my eyes. Mom made sure I paid for swearing at home. I wonder if the rule still stands or not. I haven’t spotted our traditional swear jar at its usual place lately. It doesn’t matter though. I have grown fond of my relatively clean tongue. But I am still annoyed. Why do younger siblings always have it easy? “But seriously June, who are you talking to in the Hockey Team?”, I ask her after a while. “You do understand 18+ is a big no.” She rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry, my lecture with mom is due tonight.” I am pleased to hear that. After receiving my lecture last night, I am glad June will at least get that. “So you ain’t asexual. Right?” June asks after a while. She is smart enough to make a vague guess but barely keeps her mouth shut. So I won’t admit anything to her. Plus, after meeting Natalie, I am even more confused. “Will let you know once I figure it out.” —-Wiki —- Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to others, or low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity.