Birthday Surprise (2/2)
Matthew poured the remaining whiskey into his glass. This would be his eighth shot.
"Is everything okay?" asked Gordon.
Matthew nodded.
"I don't normally see you drink this much."
Although he was genuinely concerned about the kid, Gordon couldn't stop staring at Matthew’s package. He silently prayed for a glimpse of what was underneath.
"Except for this, I’m not wearing anything else. Once I finish this drink … I’ll take it off too.”
Gordon swallowed hard.
“I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning. I'm going home."
"What … happened?"
"My stepfather had a heart attack. He didn’t make it."
"I'm so sorry, Matthew. My condolences to you and your family."
"I have to drop out of school to help my mom run the farm."
"Are you sure about dropping out? You worked hard to get in."
"There's a community college near the farm. If I have time, I can continue my studies there. Sorry to leave so abruptly, but I can’t afford to fly back and forth.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Actually … could you lend me 2,000 pounds?"
"Yes, of course."
"I need to buy a last-minute plane ticket. I promise I’ll pay you back."
"Don't worry about it, Matthew."
"Also, I have something to tell you. Do you have a yearbook from your senior year in high school?"
"Yes … why?"
"Can you bring it out? Also, bring more alcohol."
"I'll bring the yearbook, but I don't think you should drink anymore."
"The alcohol is not for me …."
* * * * *
Gordon left the room to look for the yearbook, but Matthew's comment lingered in his mind. What did the kid mean by saying that the alcohol wasn't for him?
Was Matthew implying that they were related? Also, why did the kid want to see his yearbook?
Gordon only did it once with a girl. He was in high school and didn’t pull out in time. But she was average looking. Where the hell did the kid get his genes from? Matthew couldn't be his son. It wasn't possible.
* * * * *
Gordon returned with the yearbook and a bottle of red wine. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
"Dude, you look worried. I almost feel bad about giving you a clue."
"Matthew … tell me we're not related."
"Alright, we're not related," laughed Matthew.
"Please don’t joke about this."
"You're not my father, if that's what you wanna know. I was just messing with you so you would bring more alcohol."
"I should take that bottle away!" threatened Gordon.
"Please don’t … I'll make it up to you. Be a good sport and open this up for me while I look for the page, will you?"
"Were you close with your stepfather?" asked Gordon.
"He was good to my mom and treated me like a son. I’ll never forget that. In high school, did you have a crush on anyone?"
"I had a huge crush on the captain of the football team. He was really good-looking but did bad things to a lot of students."
Matthew took the bottle away from Gordon and began to drink from it directly.
"What did he do?"
"He and his friends used to bully all the nerds like myself. I think he knew I liked him, so he was particularly cruel to me. He would constantly throw things at me, slap my face, pour drinks on my head, stuff like that.”
“He sounds like a jerk.”
“And yet I was foolish enough to have this intense crush on him."
Matthew pointed to a photo in the yearbook.
"Is that him?"
"Yes, that's …."
Gordon was shocked to see the resemblance between Matthew and the high school jock that he tried so hard to forget.
"You knew him as Daniel Law, the rich surfer kid from California. I know him as the creep that went out with my mom when she was a sophomore in high school. He dated my mom and didn’t use protection. That's the main reason why he transferred to your school, to get away from responsibility."
"Damn … you really do look like Daniel.”
Gordon was still in shock and at a loss for words. Father and son looked too much alike. They even had the same sex appeal.
"How do you feel?"
"What … do you mean?"
"Back in high school, you would’ve done anything to get in his pants. How does it feel to know you’ve been in his son’s pants?”
Gordon: “...”
“What would my father think if he found out you had sex with me?”
"So you knew all along and didn't tell me?"
"Whatever, dude. If you knew the truth earlier … you would have hit on me even harder."
The attorney in him wanted to argue back but couldn’t.
"You're right," admitted Gordon.
Gordon felt a bit of pride in knowing that he had slept with the son of his high school nemesis. In some ways, it was a consolation prize for how badly he was treated.
"I'm only telling you now because I'm leaving tomorrow.”
“Damn … what a secret!”
"To be honest, right now I don’t wanna think about my stepfather or what I must do tomorrow."
Matthew continued to drink from the bottle, taking sip after sip.
"Matthew … are you okay?"
"Not really. Maybe I need a distraction. Do you wanna help?"
Gordon nodded.
“Tonight, you’re not allowed to drink anymore," instructed Matthew, as he himself continued to quench his thirst.
"Your wish is my command."
"No, I don't want you to listen to me. Tonight, I want you to listen to that big thing of yours down there.”
Gordon: “...”
"Thanks for lending me the money. I know it’s not a small amount. Instead of paying you interest, I'm letting you have my body tonight."
"You don't have to do this."
"I don't take charity, remember? Besides, I haven't given you your birthday present yet."
"Matthew … you’ve already given me a lot."
Matthew refused to argue. Instead, he walked over to the pile of clothes on the floor and pulled out a pair of metal handcuffs.
"Tonight, you have the opportunity to do what you wanted to 18 years ago. Here's the key. You can cuff me to anything you want. Happy birthday, Gordon."
“If I paid for your return ticket, would you consider coming back?”
Instead of answering the question, Matthew emptied the eighth and final shot of whiskey down his throat. Then he walked over to the bed and got underneath the sheets. At last, the kid pulled his boxer briefs off and tossed them out the side of the bed.
Gordon visibly swallowed. Was this even real?
“What are you waiting for?” teased Matthew. “Come and get it.”
As Gordon approached the bed, the teenager passed out with a drunken smile on his lips.
* * * * *
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