Touch ☞☜ Phan

Chapter Ten

There's a new kid in Phil's and my art class. His black hair has been styled perfectly, and he's wearing a fashionable black jacket.

"Hi, welcome to my class. What's your name?," Mr. Doug asks the new student.

The new kid says, "The role has 'Suravi' on it, but my name is Reo." He has a Japanese accent.

Mr. Doug nods, smiling. "I'll change it to your name."

"Thank you," Reo says, sitting down beside Phil.

"Reo is a foreign exchange student," Mr. Doug announces to the class. "I want you to create drawings that reflect different cultures."

"Hi, Reo," Phil says to the new kid, smiling.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Phil."

"I'm Dan," I say.

Reo nods. "Do you guys know of anything fun to do in England, Dan and Phil?"  Reo's English is pretty good for somebody who isn't a native speaker.

"The pastry shops and museums are cool," Phil says.

"I'll be sure to check them out then."

"Mr. Doug's a nice teacher. You'll love him, Reo," I say.

"I already do," Reo says, grinning. "Mr. Doug uses my name. So do you guys. I appreciate that. I hope that the other people here will use my correct name and pronouns. I'm taking advantage of my time away from my parents right now. I'm not out in Japan. The people back home don't know that I'm trans. This is a nice escape."

I feel bad for Reo. It's upsetting that he has to keep his gender identity from his parents. I realize that my own parents don't know that I'm gay and in a relationship with Phil. My mum and dad are rarely around. I wonder how they feel about me. I wonder how they'd feel about me if I were to come out to them.

Should I find out?

"You should sit with Dan, me, and our other friends at lunch," Phil suggests.

Reo nods. "Okay."

***

The bell dismisses us from class.  Phil, Reo, and I begin to make our way over to the cafeteria.  Amelia has already dashed out the door. 

A girl in front of me in the hallway drops her earbuds and speeds away before I can return them to her.  Why is everybody rushing?  I guess I'll have to watch out for the girl later.  I slip the earbuds into my pocket.

Phil, Reo, and I sit down at our table once we enter the cafeteria.

"Who's this?," Asha asks, taking her seat beside Imani.

"Hey, I'm Reo," the new kid says. He's sitting on the other side of Phil again.

"Hi, Reo," Asha says. "I'm Asha. This is Imani, my brother."

"Hi, Asha and Imani."

"Hi, Reo," Imani says.

Lacie sits down. "Hey," she says.

"Hey, I'm Reo."

"Hi, Reo. I'm Lacie.  My girlfriend Amelia will be joining us.  I don't know where she is right now," Lacie says, her face ridden with concern.  Amelia always sits with us at lunch.