Chapter 3 Entre Vegeta Breigh.
I hurried through the swinging glass door, late as usual. I expected to be greeted by mayhem, as was the case every other Saturday. Mr Roshi running around like a headless chicken trying to serve customers and get the shop sorted out all at the same time, newspapers all over the floor, paper work everywhere, but not today. Today the shop is calm, every newspaper is neatly stacked, perfectly in place, a customer passes me with a smile on his face.
Behind the till is a man, whom I have never seen before. Who is he? I start to panic. Had my tardiness finally got me fired, is this man my replacement. My mother is going to kill me.
"Ah, you must be Goku. Uncle said you would be late" the strange man says in a velvety smooth voice, a small smirk spreading slowly across half of his face.
"Who are you?" I ask rudely. He seems completely unfazed by my abrupt manner.
"The names Vegeta Breigh, Uncle Roshi needed a weekend off, so I'm running the place for today" he explains, shaking my hand formally.
A customer comes to the till and buys a few items, Vegeta smiles politely as he serves them and makes small talk about the weather. I noticed that he called Mr Roshi uncle. He certainly doesn't look like he could be related to Roshi in any way. His flame of jet black hair a total contrast to Roshi's pure white straggles. Vegeta's features are sharp and pointy, but still nice. His large, dark eyes were….nice. I can't think of a better word to describe the guy, he just looks good. I stand there like a statue, not really knowing what to do, just staring at him. he gives me a lazy smile which softened his features a bit.
"You gonna jump on the till? Or you just gonna stand there gawking at me all day? either way suits me" he asks in a playful tone, shrugging his shoulders.
"Sorry, sorry" I mumble as I slide out of my coat. I get behind the counter, ready to work the till.
"No worries" he drawls his eyes running up and down my body "How's the football going?"
"Good, how'd you know I play football?"
"I will be attending your collage as of Monday, I came for a tour last week and principle Saunders was singing your praises, I can see why." I'm not sure I understood his sentence but I nod anyway.
"Yeah he always does that. Do you play?"
"Errr, no footballs not my thing". I feel a little disappointed.
"What college did you go to before?" I ask, there's no way he is just starting, he looks way older than me.
"I didn't. I've been living abroad for the last couple of years, but I've recently broke up with my boyfriend so I've moved back in with mum, decided it was about time I enrolled" he explained. I feel my cheeks redden, boyfriend? Did he say that by accident or was he … gay. Surely if he was he wouldn't openly admit it like that to a complete stranger.
"Boyfriend?" I ask, he must have said it by mistake.
"Yeah, he was cool when we first started dating but over time he became more and more of an asshole" Vegeta continued, unfazed by my obvious embarrassment at his confession.
"Sorry" I mumble, I'm not sure if I am sorry that his boyfriend was an asshole, or because he had a boyfriend.
"Ha-ha, what are you sorry for? I bet you're not an asshole" he chuckles.
"I…. I… don't know" I stutter stupidly, my face flushing. Where has all my fake confidence gone, I literally have no idea what to say to this guy, he's got me all flustered for no real reason. He pulls that little half smile again
"You're cute Goku, I'll be in the office if you need me" he informs me and disappears through the little door leading to the cash office.
I am left alone, there are no customers in the shop so I start to tidy up the already tidy magazine racks. I don't think I've ever met a gay man before, at least not one who would admit it. My poor mother would have a heart attack if she knew I was alone at work with what she calls a faggot. She would make me leave this place right away and look for a different job where there were no disgusting gays. I decide not to tell her, I don't want to leave and besides, Vegeta probably won't be here again anyway. I sigh at this thought, I realise that I hope he will be around more. Something about him intrigued me. His whole unapologetic honesty both surprised and amazed me. I want to know more about him. I stand back behind the counter, bored, I lean against it and stare off into space waiting for a customer to come in.
Vegeta comes out of the office, pushing the heavy wooden door open with his butt because he has a cup of coffee in each hand.
"You looked like you needed some company" he says gesturing towards the CCTV camera. "You want coffee?" he must have been watching me, I suddenly feel self-conscious hoping I didn't pick my nose or anything. Mr Roshi doesn't allow me to drink on the shop floor but since he's not here I accept the beverage. Coffee isn't my favourite drink but I take it anyway, I don't want to appear rude.
Vegeta swings himself up to sit on the counter, I looked him over, taking in his appearance. He didn't look gay, in my mind gay guys are feminine and speak in girly accents, Vegeta is all man. He is dressed in black, a colour that suits him. his body is muscular, even under his black shirt I can see his biceps bulging. He is quite a bit shorter than me, despite the way his hair seems to grow up rather than down. His skin is tanned and smooth. It feels good to look at him. my eyes slowly make their way back to his face, he is staring back at me, trying not to laugh. I suddenly realise how obviously I am checking him out, and how that must look to him.
"Finished?"
"Sorry," I mumble again, feeling like the world biggest idiot.
"Any time, no worries" He answers confidently, taking a sip of his coffee. As he speaks I notice a small diamond in his mouth, it takes me a second to fathom what it is.
"You have your tongue pierced?" I ask. By way of answering he sticks his tongue out then runs it along the front of his teeth making a clicking noise.
"You like it?"
"I…..guess. did it hurt?"
He shrugs "Lil bit, were you thinking of getting it done?"
"No way, my mother would never allow it, it does look real pretty though."
"How old are you?" he asks, almost suspiciously.
"I'm nineteen," I answer, a little puzzled.
"Thank fuck for that, why does your mum still tell you what to do?" I'm not sure why he is thanking fuck for my age, I decide not to question him about it because I have a funny feeling I won't like the answer.
"Well…. it's not just my mum, it's kinda against my religion too. God says we shouldn't disform our bodies with piercings and tattoos". I see his shoulders drop slightly as I mention religion.
"Ah…. I see. I have tattoos too; does that make me a bad boy?" he asks with a mischievous little smile. I look him over again, all the skin that is visible is clear and flawless, but that is only his face neck and hands.
"Can I see?" I ask, letting my curiosity get the better of me. I don't know what I want to see more, his tattoos or his body.
"Sure." he answers casually unbuttoning his shirt. I bite my bottom lip as he slides his shirt of. his left arm is a work of art to say the very least. Not just the tattoos either, the shape of it is perfect too. Were he shirtless on the front of one of the magazines that I just tidied he would still resemble a god amongst men.
His entire left arm is totally covered in amazing pictures and patterns. It is beautiful, I could stare at it for hours and still find things that I didn't notice before . there are spiders and birds and flowers, it really is stunning. I run my finger across his bicep. He doesn't seem to mind the contact. His skin feels soft, the tattoos don't feel any different to plain skin.
"It's gorgeous" I whisper
"Thanks, I've got another, you wanna see?" I nod enthusiastically, he starts to unzip his jeans.
"Whoa, where is it?" I enquire, looking away.
"Ha-ha, relax Goku, it's not on my dick" he assures me. I look back and see that he has pulled his waist band down just enough to show me an intricate green dragon wound across his hip. I want so badly to touch it but feel uneasy about touching such a personal area. I war with myself for a moment, the need to touch him eventually outweighing the need for propriety. My hand moves toward him, then I hesitate.
"It's ok, you can touch it," he urges. My fingertips gently brush against him, I can feel his hip bone hard beneath his skin. I swallow. A strange feeling spreads throughout my body making me tingle all over, especially between my legs. My face is hot and I know I must be so red. A young red haired woman enters the shop at that moment and gives us a confused look when she sees Vegeta half-naked behind the counter and I bent over touching his hip.
"Oh, sorry" she stutters.
"Ha-ha, no problem, nothing dodgy going on here, just a tattoo inspection," he explains pulling his shirt back over his shoulders. "Looks like I passed!" He adds gesturing to my flustered face, I avert my eyes, embarrassed. I don't know why I have that reaction. The woman giggles, making me even more mortified.
"What can I do for you?" he asks zipping up his jeans and grinning. His confidence shines more than that diamond in his mouth, he jokes casually with the girl and compliments her dress. She is totally at ease with him. he is a cool guy, interesting and funny, far from the demon my mother paints gay men as. I watch his movements and mannerisms, there's nothing girly about him, he just looks like any other man, well better actually, he looks amazing, desirable even. He knows I'm staring at him, he keeps glancing at me from the corner of his eye as he speaks, but I can't take my eyes off him. he is mesmerising.
It feels as though my shift has just started and already its five thirty and time to close the shop. It was busy today, much to my annoyance, usually I prefer a busy day, but not today. Today I wanted all the customers to bugger off so I could speak to Vegeta, I have questions to ask him, I want to hear him speak, the click clack of his tongue stud. Mr Roshi always takes ages to get the shop ready to close, but not Vegeta, he is efficient, the moment the clock struck five thirty he is ready to leave.
I don't want to leave yet, I want to spend more time with him. I wracked my brain trying to think of some excuse to hang out with him but I had nothing, luckily, he saves me
"Where do you live Goku?" he asks.
"Not far, just a bus ride away" I answer.
"You want a ride home?" he offers, I can't keep the smile off my face as I accept.
His car is small, black and immaculate. A fluffy air freshener hanging from the mirror. I cringe slightly as I notice one of those bumper stickers which reads "so gay I can't even drive straight" in neon pink letters, I will have to be certain my mum doesn't see me in this car, ever. He must see my facial expression, he follows my line of vision and chuckles a little.
"My mum bought me that, you don't approve?" that same smirk is back on his face.
"Erm, it's not that, it's just if my mum sees me get out of this car, with that sticker…." I trail off, I don't actually know what she will do, but it won't be good.
"It's ok Goku, I'll park around the corner from your house, that is, if you still want a ride? I understand if you would rather get the bus" he looks kinda sad as he says this, I realise that he is used to feeling unaccepted, he takes it as normal.
I shake my head "I'd love a lift," I say sounding sure of myself for the first time today. He opens the car door and gestures for me to get in. once I'm in he closes the door behind me and runs around to the driver's side.
As he starts the engine the radio blares to life, screaming out gangster rap music at top volume, he swiftly grabs the dial and turns it right down.
"Sorry, I like my music loud" He apologises.
"No problem, your car is real nice" I say, impressed, none of my friends have cars yet.
"This thing, I've had it six years, I got it when I first passed at seventeen, and it wasn't new then, but it still runs good."
Vegeta is a very good driver, he drives fast but I don't feel at all worried, I feel safe with him. his bumper sticker is wrong.
"You said you've been living abroad?"
"Yeah, I've been in Venice the last two years, it's where Fabrizio, my ex, is from. Beautiful country but I'm still glad to be home. I'm up on Boveny road now, d'you know it?"
"Yeah, I know it, my friend Tien lives there, are you in the houses at the beginning?" I ask wondering if he lives close to Tien, if so I might run into him sometimes.
"Nope, I'm in the flats at the end". I know the flats, or the council estate as my mother calls it, I'm not allowed there, it's a bit rough apparently, I don't mention this. We talk all the way home, he tells me he does martial arts for a hobby, I'm not surprised his body is that of an athlete. He asks me questions about myself. There is no awkward silence, his confidence and honesty make conversing with him as easy as breathing.
"So, you said your mum is religious? Are you also a man of faith?" he asks. I can tell he is not a religious man, everything about him is immoral, but I hear no judgement in his voice whatsoever. I tell him I am Catholic and he asks what that means. I'm not sure how to answer that really, so I just tell him it's a type of Christian. He seems happy with that answer.
We park just out of sight of my house. I don't want to say goodbye, he sees my hesitance.
"How about we go for coffee tomorrow?" he asks casually "I don't know anyone round here anymore, it would be nice to have someone to hang out with," I really want to tell him yes but tomorrow is Sunday, and Sunday is worship day.
"I'll be at church nearly all day tomorrow" I tell him, the disappointment clear in my voice, I can't hide it.
"We could go after, but that won't be until about six thirty" I tell him hopefully.
"That's fine, what about we go for a proper drink instead then?" he suggests.
"like my mum would let me drink alcohol" I laugh
"Ah…of course not" he rolls his eyes "What would you say to dinner?"
"I'd say, dinner, get in my belly". He laughs loudly.
"You're real cute Goku," he tells me for the second time that day, it makes me happy, he makes me happy.
"So where do you want to go?" he asks. I shrug, my family never eat out. The only places I know round here are the places my friends hang out and I don't want to go to them places with Vegeta. I wonder what Yamcha and Tien would say if they knew I had made friends with a gay guy, I don't think any of them would be ok with that. he senses my worry, he is good at picking up on my emotions I notice
"What's the problem? Talk to me" he urges, no anger in his voice. He puts me at ease and I know I can tell him my worries, he will listen.
"I really do wanna hang out with you, it's just if my friends see us together they will be mean, because you're …." I trail off
"Gay" he finishes the sentence for
"Yeah, and if anyone tells my mum she will kill me"
"Just for having dinner with me?" he raises his eyebrows
"Yeah, she will think you're trying to tempt me, she'll think it's a date…wait….. it's not a date, is it?" I suddenly panic, my heart pounding in my chest with worry, or was it excitement?
"Hmmmm, am I asking you out on a date? I suppose that depends on what your answer would be?" he looks at me expectantly, eyebrows raised, that pretty little half smile back on his face.
"I…. I…I don't" I stutter
"Ha-ha, relax Goku, I'm kidding, it's not a date. Just two pals having dinner, nothing romantic about it, for now" He adds with a wink. I feel my face redden and I try to think of some clever response to his blatant flirting but I have nothing, he turns my brain to jelly, so I just give him my number and tell him to call me tomorrow.