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“Shaun”
Shaun glanced at Dr. Glassman as he sat infront of Shaun. “Good morning Dr. Glassman” he greeted as he cut his pancake.
“You didn’t go to the date I set up for you” Aaron said before taking a bite of his food.
“I’ve told you before” Shaun looked at Aaron “I’m not interested in love”
Aaron sighed. “Would it kill you to go on at least one date? Even if you don’t think you could work out as a couple you can still have fun and maybe become friends. What don’t you like about them? Are- are they not your type or?” He asked. Shaun looked at him as he continued “would you...prefer men?” He asked.
Shaun shook his head vehemently “their gender isn’t the reason I won’t date them” he defended. “Shaun if you are attracted to men it’s fine” Aaron assured him.
“I know.” Shaun said as he put down his knife and fork neatly. Neither of them were eating now as they talked almost argued.
“You could go on a date with a man if you want”
“I know”
“I could help you find a date”
“I know”
“So do you want to go on a date with a man”
“No”
Aaron sighed. “Shaun you don’t want to be with a woman. You don’t want to be with a man. What do you want?”. Shaun shook his head “I didn’t say I didn’t want to be with a man or a woman I just don’t want to be in a romantic relationship” Shaun answered.
Aaron was confused. Weren’t those the same thing? “What?” He asked.
“I’m bisexual aromantic” Shaun sighed. His eyes widened when he realized what he just said. His head shot up as he looked at Dr. Glassman nervously awaiting for his reaction.
Aaron just stared at him with an unreadable expression. After a few seconds of deafening silence between them he asked more confused than before “you’re what?”.
Shaun exhaled deeply. Right. It’s an uncommon term. “Bisexual means I’m attracted to women and men and aromantic means I feel little to no romantic attraction” he explained.
“How can you be attracted to men and women when you don’t feel romantic attraction?” Nothing Shaun was saying made much sense to Aaron.
This might be a long explanation Shaun thought. “We both have work soon. Let’s talk about this later” Shaun said as he got up to leave expecting Aaron to do so as well.
Aaron watched Shaun leave bottle getting up as well and walking to his office.
—————————————————————
Aaron sat next to Shaun in the bench in front of the hospital where Shaun usually waited for the bus.
“Can we continue our conversation from this morning?” Aaron asked. “Okay. Where do you want to talk?” Shaun replied. As much as Aaron wanted to get an answer as soon as possible it might not be the best idea to talk about Shaun’s sexuality right in front of the hospital. This was a personal conversation between them. Not new gossip “Have you had dinner?” Shaun shook his head “let’s talk about this over dinner” Aaron said as he stood up with Shaun following suit.
-
They ordered food at a restaurant and as they were waiting they decided to continue their conversation from this morning.
“So Shaun you didn’t answer my question earlier. How are you attracted to men and women when you don’t feel romantic attraction?” Aaron asked
“Romantic attraction isn’t the only kind of attraction. Sexual attraction is one of them which I feel for men and women” Shaun answered.
“Oh. That makes a lot of sense actually” Aaron said. So he doesn’t feel romantic attraction specifically. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be attracted to people. Aaron made sure to keep a mental note to do more research on what being bisexual and aromantic was.
He looked up surprised to see that the food already came. How long did he just sit there thinking?
He looked back at Shaun who had already started eating. He smiled. He was glad Shaun trusted him enough to come out even it might’ve been an accident. Aaron hadn’t known what bisexual or aromantic meant so Shaun could’ve easily lied or told Aaron to forget about it. But he didn’t. So Aaron was going to consider that as Shaun trusting him.
“Shaun I hope you know I’ll always support you” Aaron said. Shaun didn’t reply and just smiled.
They both ate in silence happy with the way the day had ended.