Love is... 2 (Gus and Rex) - 8. Epilogue

“You’re gay, aren’t you, Art? So just spill it—your adopted little brother’s gay too, right?” I texted Art the question even though deep down, I already knew the answer.
Art went silent for a moment before replying:

“Yeah, I’m gay. So, what the hell does that have to do with anything?”

“I just figured… you know, ‘it takes one to know one’ kind of thing. And since you are one, tell me if Gus is also gay.”

“If you’re saying that, then what about you? You think he is?”

Now it was my turn to go quiet. I stared at my phone, then glanced at the little rascal who was still sleeping soundly on my bed.
This kid had only just entered my life not long ago, but somehow, he’d flipped everything upside down inside me. I couldn’t help but smile softly. Did he even realize? That he was like a freaking hurricane—just like the storm raging outside right now. But the kind of storm he brought into my heart was one full of light, joy, laughter, and a warmth I’d never experienced from anyone before.

Honestly, I’d known for a while now that he had a crush on me. It showed—in the way he talked, the way he looked at me, his gestures, his actions. I noticed it all. And I couldn’t help but laugh to myself at how hard he tried to get my attention or test my reaction.

Like that time, he clearly dropped his towel on purpose in front of me. I knew.

That day, I had gone over to his house to tutor him as usual.

During our break, he said he wanted to take a quick shower to wake himself up.

I didn’t think much of it and told him I’d wait in Max’s room.

But he insisted—insisted—that I stay in his room instead.

That was the first red flag. Or should I say green?

The second?

He walked into the bathroom but left his bathrobe and large towel hanging out on the rack—in the room.

I did raise an eyebrow at the time, but didn’t dwell on it. Until… When Gus walked back into the room, I froze.

Water still clung to his pale skin in scattered droplets, and the only thing covering his body was a dangerously short towel wrapped loosely around his waist—just above the knees.

“Let me get dressed real quick, okay? Just wait a sec,” the little rascal said, flashing a wide grin.

Then he turned around, and that tiny towel started to unravel. With one more step forward—It slipped.

He quickly grabbed the front in time, but only the front.

The back of the towel flopped down completely, and I got a clear, full view of his bare ass.

“Whoops!!” He yelped, scrambling to wrap the towel properly again.

Then he turned and gave me an awkward laugh.

“Did you… see anything just now?”

“Maybe a little,” I smiled awkwardly, unsure what expression I should be making.

“Why don’t I turn around and you get dressed quickly, alright?”

After that, he got dressed in a flash and we resumed studying like nothing happened.

Well—he tried to act normal. But he kept sneaking in questions every few minutes, like:

“What did you see, really?”

“Have you ever seen another guy naked before?”

“Is this your first time seeing something like that?”

He even told me about how he’d seen his friends naked tons of times—trying to make it sound casual.

All of it just made me more certain: That wasn’t an accident.

He meant for that towel to fall.

And it didn’t stop there.

Another time, the little devil took it even further—wearing only a pair of thin basketball shorts with no underwear underneath. Then he sat sprawled out with his legs wide open, flashing glimpses of his balls the whole evening.

I’m not gonna lie—that time nearly killed me. It turned me on so bad.

I had to keep my eyes and face under tight control just to avoid giving anything away. By the time I wrapped up the lesson and left his room, I had already lost count of how many times I nearly gave in and just pounced on him.

Now, if you ask me: Why didn’t I just act on it? Why all the restraint, when he was being so obvious?

I’d say… First of all, he was still seventeen. And I just wanted things to be clear. And slow.

He was still a kid. And I couldn’t be sure if what he felt for me was real, or just a burst of hormones. Plus, I’d been through a hellish breakup once—my first love. It tore me up. I never wanted to feel that kind of pain again.

So yeah… I held back. Pretended not to notice. Gave him space. Let him slowly get closer.

But in the end, Gus didn’t walk toward me. He launched himself into my heart like a missile.

The truth is—I’ve had a boyfriend before.

Yeah, a guy. Not a girlfriend.

But that relationship ended so badly I couldn’t bear to talk about it. Not to anyone. Not even to my closest friends.

That’s why I never told Gus either. I let him believe my ex was a girl.

“Rex! You still there, bro? Hellooo??” Art’s message snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“So, what do you think, man?”

“About what?” I replied.

“Dude! About Chubby! I already told you he got upset when you lied about that girl from the mall. What do you think that means, huh?”

I smiled.

“We’ll talk later, Art. I gotta go wake him up to study.”

“Wait, hang on!”

That was the last message I saw before put the phone down.

I turned to look at my devious little pupil, still sleeping without a clue. I smiled to myself again, then stood up from the chair and walked over to sit beside him on the bed.

“Mmmmm…” Gus stirred awake. “What time is it?”

“It’s just past one,” I said with a small grin.

Alright, little rascal… Time we finally had that talk.

__________END_________

So this is the conclusion of Love is... vole 2 Gus & Rex. After finishing the story, what do you think their definition of love is?