The Catch for Love

A Story by TheGayAgenda

You're in college and your mom keeps pestering you about a boyfriend so you decided if she wanted you to have a boyfriend you would have one.

“So, what’s the catch?” This is the line that broke your crush's heart.

It was a typical Sunday at your apartment with your roommate, "Leon". His name is really lendre (Lean-drey) but he hated that name so he “So kindly suggested” ( half forced) everyone to call him some form of the name Leon.

You were on the couch watching some random show that Leo introduced you to feeling okay, not the best you've ever felt but it's better than nothing. You were eating ice cream, cookie monster to be exact; Leon had gifted it to you after he overheard you and your crush having a conversation and he was more proud than he should have been. Yes, you were socially inept and an introvert but that didn't matter, you could have a normal conversation with someone. Probably.

The only reason you were on the couch was from college, you were in your second year of college hoping to become a physical therapist, your grades were high but you were still tired,

*Ding* you checked your phone, it was your mom. It was nearing spring break and you got to go home for a week and got to deal with your mother prying into your love life and other things like the everlasting topic of “How things are going with a male roommate?” and things like your studies.

TEXT FROM “MOM (DANICA)” - Hey! I am so excited that you're coming over to visit us. How is school going? Your father and I have been wondering if you're bringing your boyfriend to come and meet us?”

You audibly groaned. You hated how your mom always implied you had a boyfriend even though you kept on telling her you didn't have a “Secret boyfriend” or anything of the sort. You decided you couldn't leave her on read again.

You decided to respond with - “Yeah I'm super excited to come over, and back home! School has been going great, grades are at an all-time high, my roommate reminds me to study and he is surprisingly smart. And again, I don't have a boyfriend, the roommate is just a nice guy who already has a girlfriend, and I'm not currently dating someone, I could bring over a good friend though if you want the house full?”

Your mother responded immediately. Doesn't she have a job and things to do?

Mom- “Well, it's good that you're ready to come back! And good on the grades, make sure to thank your roommate. And if I want someone to come over I want it to be your boyfriend, I hope you get someone soon honey! I guess it was wishful thinking on my side, well you don't have to bring someone.”

You. were. Pissed. What if you didn't want someone? What if you- well you didn't have many reasons but you were pissed. You decided if she wanted you to have a boyfriend, You would have one.

You picked up your phone 4 episodes aka roughly 2 hours later and you saw your mom had texted you. Again.

TEXT MESSAGE FROM “MOM (DANICA)” - “are you sure you aren't hiding a boyfriend from me..?”

You groaned and your roommate had heard. “Hey queen- whoa what happened that sounds like your mother asked you if you had a boyfriend again?” you responded with a tired “Yeah. I'm thinking I'll try to tell her I have one but he is having dinner with his family and we aren't ready for meeting each other's patents or-” he cut you off “Stop overthinking and just find someone to be your pretend boyfriend for a while so your mom can be satisfied.” “Thanks, Leon”

You told your mother “Well I do have one but I haven't asked him if he's okay with meeting you guys for the first time”

Mom - “Oh I just knew it! You did have a boyfriend, I just want to meet him, he doesn't have to stay the night, just dinner”

“Hm” you were pleased, she wasn't overstepping, at least, not by your standards. You really did need to thank Leon.

Wait. You don't have a fake boyfriend yet. This is going to be an issue. You spent the next few hours looking through your contacts list and asking them if they could, but in the end nada, nothing, no one. Eventually, though, school came.

You remembered what Leo calls the “Cookie monster incident” and you then remembered about a project you and that boy had. You needed to get to know his name.

You saw him walk into the classroom. The professor then spoke after a minute or two “Class, continue on your projects from yesterday.” you were glad that you and he had worked on it after school, you were ahead. You two quickly finished it but HE insisted on hanging out after school anyway so he could get to know you. He was supposed to be your crush- was life finally being kind and giving you the karma you so deserve? Or was it that he was just being nice and wanted to not just be acquaintances? “So how about the coffee shop near here? The one off campus, the one on campus is always expensive.” “hey you good?” you were snapped out of your thoughts. “Yeah, I'm fine just a bit tired, the coffee shop sounds like a plan though.” he responded as if this type of conversation came to him naturally “So if we are meeting up there we should have better communication than a zoom call, so let me put my number in your phone.” you quickly agreed and let him put his number and name in. he realized you never exchanged names. “Oh by the way my name is Donatello, you can call me Donnie though, it's what my friends call me.” You smiled “My name is Jupiter.” he chuckled “Guess your parents are science nerds?” “Well my dad got to name me, and yes, HUGE science nerd, my mom on the other would have named me something like isabella, Lilly, or Jennifer- anyway, I guess your parents are into the…History of art?” “Actually yeah- you know Id still be friends with you if your name was Lilly or Jenifer, it doesn't matter, your a great person and a pretty one at that.” you didn't blush one bit, you were good at hiding that but you thought that he could have been a nice person to play your pretend boyfriend. Even though you liked him for real “I guess I do have an okay personality, and thanks for that, I might have needed it.”

You came home flustered and tired, but you were just interested in getting ready to meet at the coffee shop for what you hoped would be one of many times.

You were annoyed, you had so much clothing and couldn't find one damn thing to wear to a simple meet at the coffee shop. You were desperate. “LEOOOOOOOO-” he came there in the blink of an eye. “Yes? I heard you calling for the great Leo- girl it looks like a tornado came through your room, fashion problems?” “fashion problems.” “I got you.”

About 30 to 40 minutes later you were looking good. You were in an orange plaid skirt and a white top, it just had straps and with a small jacket you had, it looked perfect. He decided to drive you there, his treat.

You walked into the coffee shop and all you thought was, wow. He looked adorable. You talked about your parents, which slowly turned into crazy sibling stories, to just friendly banter and learning things about one another, you wanted to spend more time with him, wait, how long had it been? You got there at 4:30, it was 9:47. “Hey it's getting late, I've got class at 9 tomorrow.”

you remembered, you needed a fake boyfriend before the end of the week, it was now or never. “Wait, before you go, I have something important to ask” “oh, you do?” he looked puzzled yet, intrigued and a bit hopeful. “Well- I- I need a fake boyfriend to show my mom to keep her off of my back, I was wondering if you could do it.” “Oh-” you saw blush but only for a split second, he was silent for a second then you heard a silent but sure “Yes, I'll do it.” you were surprised, you didn't expect a yes but you were glad. “Really?” “Yeah, sure.”

you didn't realize the words that followed would break his heart “So, what's the catch?” you saw his face twitch, his face went blank, then sad. “T-there is no catch. I want to do it for you, I like to help you out.” “don't you want something in return for being my boyfriend? It's not exactly pleasurable, no one would want to do it.” “I would. Sorry for caring.” he had tears just begging to be let out, you felt terrible. He was your crush, he was hurt. “I'm sorry- I didn't mean to make you upset, I was just thinking that someone would want a reward for doing this, I mean, not like I'll have a real boyfriend” “So you don't want one or dont like someone or what..?” he was trying his best to keep a straight face but his emotions got the best of him and a tear ran down his face onto his cheek.

You didn't want to confess, it could add to his distress but you didn't even know what he was sad about, you were unsure. You silently prayed that he liked you back. “I'm sorry” “it's fine, I just- I don't know, I guess I didn't like the fact that you thought so low of yourself, I just wanted you to know that I know a guy that does like you and will be your boyfriend for real” you read enough romance to know where this was going but you didn't think it would happen, he would likely confess, to you. Likely.

“You do? Mind telling me his name because I think I can name about 20 other girls he can take a liking to besides me-” “...I like you, I like you a lot.” you thought of this moment for years, over 100 times, and turns out you still got it wrong. You had imagined it in a bar, his house after a study session, your house after a study session, the school, in class, in this exact coffee shop but you got one thing wrong every time, You thought you would confess first but no, he did. You had to tell him how you felt, you would feel guilty for the rest of your life if you didn't. “I like you a lot too. I have since the beginning of college, but I just never show it because I have problems talking to people and I didn't think you would reciprocate” you both agree that you should date each other and you talk for even longer, not caring for the time you need to sleep for the next day, the school was overrated anyway. Overjoyed and surprised you both decided to head home an hour later. You thought to yourself. Guess you dont need a fake boyfriend when you have the real thing.