Chapter 334: _One Of Them Gays

Blue Diamond Academy

[... Okay, so I was wrong.]

The second Ambrose and Devon stepped into the large classroom where the PTA meeting was being held later that day—both men instantly felt the heavy air.

At the centre of the room were seats arranged in a large circle, multiple parents and teachers on them. Many turned their heads to the pair.

Some stared judgementally.

Others whispered among themselves, pointing out to anyone who wasn’t aware that these were the ’trouble magnet’s’ parents.

Ambrose’s right fist clenched in his pocket when he heard a parent say that about Orion.

Fortunately, he was able to control himself quite well, especially with Devon walking beside him.

Unlike his other system titles, ’Vessel Of The Five’ was always active and didn’t require his EP or physical strength to stay that way.

It was an upgrade of ’Heart Sanctuary’, working on not just Devon and Viktor but his other partners as well. So far he knew it brought mental clarity and calmness when around any of them.

He just hadn’t gotten the time to check out its other effects.

[Saying that like you couldn’t have that done in a matter of seconds.]

"Mr Hale. Mr Ferguson!" Mrs Sullivan, the principal, waved from where she sat, slowly getting up. She wore a welcoming smile. "Please, join us. We’ve been expecting you."

They walked to the empty seats she was pointing at.

Ambrose barely flashed a smile before sitting, clearing his throat when Devon did the same.

’We just got here, and I already feel like teleporting literally anywhere else.’ The Guide echoed in Devon’s mind. ’I’m not imagining it, right? These other parents were giving us the stink eye.’

Devon’s lips lifted in a smirk. ’You definitely weren’t imagining it, love.’

’It’s fucking crazy. They’re acting like it’s Orion’s fault the Void Entity and that mad woman did what they did.’

’You can’t blame them for wanting to keep their kids safe.’ Devon reached for a hand, squeezing gently. ’The only reason we haven’t pulled him away from this school is that he keeps insisting he stays. So keep that in mind. This is for him, Rose.’

Ambrose’s jaw flexed.

Ugh, he was right.

’I’ll behave.’ He finally heaved, carefully withdrawing his hand. ’No promises though.’

Mrs Sullivan crossed one leg over the other, adjusting her black pencil skirt. "So," she began, "now that we’re all here... I’d just like to say good day to all of you. I understand most of us would’ve preferred spending the summer in vacation spots with our children... or alone."

Her eyes swept past everyone, parents and teachers alike.

This was clearly not everyone in the school, but they were the most important parents. The ones who invested the most or had been with the institution for years.

That naturally included Ambrose and Devon—who both donated to the school after the Void Entity’s attack.

"We are, however, gathered for a good cause." Mrs Sullivan went on. "One that’ll help us ensure the safety and wellbeing of our wards." Beneath those glasses, her eyes wandered briefly to Devon and Ambrose. "Especially the Awakened ones."

Ambrose sucked a breath through his teeth.

Here they go.

★★★★★

Hale-Ferguson Residence

Far away from the tense atmosphere brewing inside Blue Diamond Academy, a peaceful silence settled over the Hale-Ferguson residence.

"And that’s the last one."

Gabriel carefully pressed the final blue brick onto the little spaceship Orion had insisted needed "more lasers." The boy gasped dramatically, golden eyes sparkling as though Gabriel had just completed an engineering miracle.

"It looks cooler now!" Orion beamed, proudly lifting the finished creation toward the sunlight spilling through the living room windows.

"I’ll gladly take all the credit."

"No fair! You only helped."

"I’ll gladly take partial credit."

Orion giggled, hugging the LEGO model before darting off to compare it with the dozens already occupying one corner of the room.

Gabriel smiled to himself.

Moments like these made everything else feel... quieter.

His phone vibrated inside his pocket just then. He reached for it absentmindedly—only to frown when he saw the contact.

Mum.

Gabriel sighed. "Seriously?"

She hadn’t called in weeks. He hadn’t called either.

The only reason he even knew she was still doing alright was that his younger brother occasionally sent updates whenever their parents became particularly unbearable.

The phone stopped ringing. Then immediately started again.

Gabriel watched it buzz, eyes twitching.

He sure as hell wasn’t in the mood for answering her calls.

When the second ringing stopped, another vibration came.

This time it wasn’t a call but a text:

"Gabriel. I know you’re seeing my calls."

His thumb hovered over the screen without replying.

Another message arrived, followed by images, screenshots and videos.

His smile disappeared.

The first picture showed him laughing as Ambrose kissed his cheek during the Pride parade.

The second captured him stealing a quick kiss from the Guide while the crowd around them erupted into cheers.

The third...

Gabriel’s brows knitted together.

Someone had zoomed in on him holding Valentine’s hand while Devon wrapped an arm around Ambrose’s shoulders.

Another message appeared beneath them.

"Someone from church sent these to me this morning."

Dear God.

"Your aunties have been talking about you all day. They’re saying you’ve become... One of them gay folks."

Gabriel stared at the screen for several long seconds.

Finally, he typed.

"I don’t really care what anyone thinks."

The typing indicator appeared almost immediately.

"Gabriel... is it true?"

"Are you gay?"

He blinked once before answering without hesitation.

"Yes."

He added one more message.

"I thought those pictures made that obvious."

The reply took longer this time.

When it finally arrived...

"Your father hasn’t taken this well."

Gabriel let out a quiet breath.

As if he didn’t see that one coming.

"He’s angry. He says you’ve embarrassed the family. I’ve been trying to calm him, and I think he’s beginning to look past all of it."

His fingers hovered over the keyboard for several seconds. He was torn between switching off the damn phone and responding.

The latter option annoyingly won.

"I’m happy, Mum. That’s all that matters to me."

No response came for almost a minute.

Instead... His phone rang again.

This time, he answered for the first time in over a month.

"Hello?"

Silence greeted him first.

Then his mother’s voice came through.

"Gabriel..."

He closed his eyes. "What is it, Mum?"

There was another beat of silence, this one long enough to make something twist uncomfortably inside his chest.

Finally, "We’re in Aurelia."

His eyes snapped open. "What?"

"Your father and I arrived this morning. And we’d like to see you."

Every muscle in Gabriel’s body stiffened.

Sweet dying Jesus...