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Charlie and Pim. Two coworkers, or “best friends” as they may call it. With almost every single job they go on, they’re together. Unless the other is sick, of course.
Allan and Glep were surprisingly not at work today, so it was just the duo alone in the break room. It was a few moments of comfortable silence before Charlie spoke up.
“Hey, Pim, you wanna go get some ice-cream? I’m, like, craving some right now, dude.” He said, putting his phone in his hoodie pocket. He’s already about to get up, whether Pim wants to or not, he’d just get ice cream.
“Ice-cream sounds lovely, Charlie! Let’s go!” The critter responded— his ecstatic demeanor bringing a smile to Charlie’s face. Charlie couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle as he walked out the door with Pim. He found it rather endearing that the pink critter was always so responsive and energetic.
As they walked down the street, Pim was inquiring which ice-cream flavor he should get, giving Charlie different options. Charlie simply just nodded and gave a quiet “yeah, man.” He was not listening at all, just focusing on the critter’s excitement and how cute he had looked when he was smiling so brightly.
..Hold on, he shouldn’t be thinking about that. They have ice cream to get. Just normal co-worker bonding activities. He just cleared his throat to distract himself from the growing flush on his cheeks.
“Well, we’re nearing the ice-cream shop anyway. You better decide quickly, dude.” He said, teasingly, just to watch Pim let out a huff in response.
“Oh, don’t rush me, Charlie! They’re all just such good flavors!” The pink critter responded, throwing his hands in the air for emphasis on how good the flavors are. Charlie let out a chuckle in response.
But why was he suddenly feeling so flustered? Maybe it was just the fact that he’s hungry.. for ice-cream. Totally nothing else.
Once the duo had finally gotten their ice-cream, they just decided to take a small walk around town for a while since they hadn’t any jobs to do. As Charlie ate his ice-cream, he couldn’t help but notice how.. adorable Pim looked when he was happy. It was.. contagious, to say the least. A smile crossed his face as he watched the critter mindlessly talk and chatter about different things, whether it be what he likes about the day, or something as simple as his favorite flavor of ice cream.
Charlie’s heart fluttered at the sight, a smile crossing his face as he watched the other critter. He couldn’t help but give a soft chuckle at the critter’s excitement and ecstasy.
Until, suddenly, Pim stopped.
“Charlie, you’ve got some ice-cream on your face.” Those words alone snapped Charlie out of his thoughts, letting out an embarrassed chuckle.
“Oh, sorry, man, let me just-“ Before he knew it, Pim had already stepped closer to him— reaching out to wipe off the smudge of ice-cream away from Charlie’s mouth with a smile. Charlie stammered for a moment, his face flushing out of fluster.
“Yeah.. yeah, thanks, dude.” He muttered, letting out a flustered chuckle. Pim just let out a small giggle in response, nudging Charlie playfully with his elbow.
“You really need to learn how to be less messy.” The critter said, with a soft giggle. Charlie just let out a quiet, flustered chuckle in response. Damn it, he was becoming so flustered for no reason.
“Hey, man, I think we should uh.. head back now. It’s getting late, and I know the boss wouldn’t like us out of the office without a job.” Charlie says, obviously flustered. At this point, he was just making excuses to go back to the office.
Pim let out a soft hum in response, nodding in agreement— taking Charlie’s hand in his gently, smiling brightly. “Well then, let’s get going!”
Before Charlie knew it, Pim was dragging Charlie back to the office, leaving Charlie flustered and confused. He couldn’t help but study the other— the way he smiled, the way he held onto that ice cream so that it wouldn’t slip out his hands, the way his warm hand held onto his; it drove him absolutely crazy with.. what was it, love?
No. He shook those thoughts out of his head and just let the shorter critter lead him back. They were only co-workers. Nothing more.
But still, he couldn’t help but glance one more time at that adorable smile. He wished he didn’t find it so adorable. He had a girlfriend, after all. He was straight. He liked girls. He tried all he could to just shake the thought of Pim’s cuteness out of his head, to replace it with Zoey’s smile— but his mind kept flickering back to Pim.
Damn it. Why was he suddenly thinking like that of Pim?! He’s not attracted to men! He’s straight!
————————————————
The day was over already. Charlie waved Pim a goodbye, beginning to walk to the bus stop.
“..Fuck.” He muttered. He couldn’t help but recall the day, the way Pim smiled when he was offered that ice-cream, the way Pim held his hand, the way Pim blabbered on and on about the things he likes, the way he wiped that damn ice cream off his face— his heart fluttered at just the thought of the other critter. But it also pained him that he viewed his co-worker— no, friend— like that. He knew Pim was a sweet person. This was just his usual behavior, right?
But why was he suddenly feeling so flustered over the critter?! He had a girlfriend, he’s straight, he loves her— he loves Zoey with all his heart. Besides, being gay is an abomination anyway. It’s against God.
But he couldn’t shake the thought away. Pim’s smile. The way he talked. The way he was always so happy and energetic. The way he always looked out for.. him.
“Screw this, man.” He muttered to himself. He’s not gonna throw away 3 years of friendship just because of some stupid feelings that he convinced himself that he didn’t have. He just let out a small sigh and began to text Zoey about his day. After all, he still had to check up on her, as her boyfriend. He loved her, he knew that. But for some reason, he couldn’t help but feel like his love with her was.. slowly draining. No, no. He still loved Zoey. He doesn’t love Pim, he loves ZOEY.
When he got home, he just let out a sigh— taking off his hoodie and throwing it on his mattress, opening up his laptop to play some games to distract himself. But he wasn’t even motivated to play games anymore. He should just text Pim instead.
No, no, no! Just play some games. Why should he bother texting someone he doesn’t even love?
He picked up the phone anyway. He went to an unsaved number, which was obviously Pim. Why didn’t he save Pim’s number?
Right. Because he never even bothered to by the time they were friends.
He went to the contact information and saved it as “Pim.” He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to save it as just that.
He reluctantly placed a heart next to Pim’s name. The same one he had for Zoey.
..But why? He didn’t have any real feelings for Pim, right? He’s not.. gay, right? That would send him to hell. That would make him an abomination to mankind.
He couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh, running a hand down his face in pure frustration from why he was feeling like this. He couldn’t deny it anymore. He loved Pim, and he hated it.
“Fuck. I’m disgusting.” He muttered to himself. Why was he acting this way? Towards his friend of all things? Why did he have to feel love for his friend— no less, the one he’s known for a while? The one he works with? The one that’s the same gender as him?!
He just exited out of Pim’s chat. He couldn’t stand to look at that damn name anymore. He just couldn’t. Just looking at Pim’s chat made his heart flutter in hopes to talk to him.
Instead, he texted Zoey.
Charlie: ‘hey do u wanna come over to hang out’
Zoey 💘: ‘sure lol ill be there in 10’
Charlie: ‘k love u’
He hesitated when sending that ‘love u’ text. Did he really love her? Was it all just a coverup for his actual feelings? Maybe it was.
After a while, Zoey came over. She was wearing a nice, red dress. Charlie couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Zoey in that beautiful red dress. However, his heart didn’t flutter the way it did with Pim. He just thought spending more time with Zoey would fix everything.
Until, that is— a notification from Pim popped up. He panicked, trying to grab the phone before Zoey did, but it was a tad bit too late for that. Zoey had already seen the notification, even worse— what he had Pim saved as.
“Charlie, why’s there a heart next to Pim’s name?” She asked, her tone full of confusion— and maybe just a tad bit of hurt. Charlie stammered at the blunt question.
“Look, Zoey, I can explain. I— Pim’s just.. my best friend, is all.” He says, trying to downplay the actual reason of why that damn heart was next to Pim’s name. He loved Pim. He could deny it all he wanted, but he really did love Pim.
“Charlie.” She said, sternly, preventing Charlie from saying anything more. Charlie just shut his mouth and listened to Zoey’s next words.
“It’s okay if you like him.” Charlie paused at that. He didn’t know what to say. He was expecting anything else— for her to lash out, for her to accuse him of cheating, not this. However, he couldn’t help but feel a tad bit guilty for the look of slight hurt crossing Zoey’s face.
“If he really does make you happy, then I won’t get in your way.” She said, a soft, hurt smile forming on her face. Charlie felt a huge pang of guilt— and slight relief hit him. He was relieved she understood, but.. he felt guilty for letting her find out this way. And he didn’t want her to leave.
“.. No, wait, Zoey..” He muttered— his tone soft. Zoey just let out a soft sigh, already turning to walk out of Charlie’s room.
“It’s okay, Charlie. Just forget about us. You love him.” Zoey said, a frown appearing on her face as she walked out the room. Charlie wanted to reach out to her so bad, to tell her that he still loved her— but he knew that was a lie. He just felt guilty for making Zoey feel so terrible all because of a little crush.
Once he was left alone in his room, he just sat down on his bed, running a hand down his face in pure shame, regret and frustration. He loved Pim, he knew that, but he couldn’t help but feel so guilty that Zoey technically broke up with him just because of a few small feelings.
“I’m so disgusting.” He muttered, burying his face in his hands and letting out a soft sigh. Why did he need to experience these feelings?
He couldn’t help but glance one more time at that damn phone. He was curious to what Pim had sent. After all, that was the notification that had ruined his and Zoey’s relationship— or maybe it just freed Charlie from the shackles of shame.
Pim 💘: ‘Hey Charlie!!! Wanna hang out? :) It’s okay if not haha’
Charlie couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle at the message. Sure, he was feeling guilty, but seeing Pim’s message did cheer him up a tad bit. It distracted him from his previous instance with Zoey.
Charlie: ‘yeah sure’
He sent the message with a soft sigh— getting up from his bed and closing his laptop. He then grabbed his hoodie from the bed and put it on, beginning to walk out the door. Yes, he still felt disgusting for his feelings towards Pim, but as long as he got to see the other critter, it would all be okay. He couldn’t help but still feel a bit guilty at the memory of Zoey’s face, but when he thought of Pim? Suddenly, everything just felt a bit better than before.