Caleb knocked on the door three times and waited on the front porch. He just didn't know what to say to his girlfriend. He just knew that he should have apologized as soon as she discovered the truth. The eighteen-year-old Thai man had grown silent. He stared at the front door before anyone could even open it. He almost shivered at the possibility of losing his own girlfriend. He slowly tapped his feet against the floor. He slid his fingers across his short black hair. He silently rehearsed what he wanted to say to Priscilla. Even if it proved to be useless in the end, he just needed a resolution for a crucial mistake.
Caleb was so nervous. Waiting for the front door to open felt like it lasted for a few minutes. Eventually, the door did open. Caleb stood straight, anticipating another appearance from his girlfriend. But it wasn't Priscilla who answered the door. Instead, her father did. Caleb held his breath for a moment. Woodrow was a forty-one-year-old single father who shared his tremendous success with his one and only offspring. He was indeed a tall and handsome white man, with brown hair and broad shoulders. It would seem to be a stereotype, but Woodrow would be the type of person to appear in a fiery romantic tale.
Suddenly, Caleb remembered what he wanted to say.
"Hello, Woodrow. Is Priscilla here?"
He almost stuttered twice when he said that.
Woodrow smiled. "Sorry. She's somewhere else right now."
Caleb nodded. "Do you know where she is?"
"She mentioned that she'll with her friends all afternoon."
That statement made Caleb tremble with dread. Gossip would spread about his secret pastime. He would be the laughingstock in 12th Grade. The new year started with an unfortunate accident.
Caleb sighed. "I see. Well, I'll come back later."
But Caleb didn't leave just yet. Woodrow opened the door wide.
"Why don't you come in?"
Caleb grew even more nervous. "Are you sure?"
"It'll be okay. I think it's time we get to know each other."
For some odd reason, Woodrow's smooth baritone voice made Caleb lose most of his anxiety. The young man was barely conflicted with this simple invitation.
"Okay."
Caleb was let in by his girlfriend's father. He had already grown familiar with the house when Priscilla invited him in a few times before. This was indeed a clean and spacious house in such an affluent neighborhood. Living in the city of Dana Point was a smart decision for Woodrow. A successful man like him would be living in such a prosperous city in Southern California. Furthermore, living in a two-story house situated alongside the coast made Caleb a little jealous. He stood in the living room and looked out the window. He could see the beach during a calm and cold afternoon. After a few days of rain, Dana Point experienced a welcome change when the sun came out. The middle of January would involve low temperatures, which explained why only a few people visited the beach today. And when they did, they wore jackets and pants to keep warm.
Caleb took off his jacket. Woodrow had the heater turned on in the house. That, however, didn't stop Caleb from fearing the worst from his girlfriend. He didn't want any negative consequences.
Woodrow stepped inside the living room. He currently wore brown pants and a blue shirt. Just one look at the older man, and Caleb quickly calmed down once again.
Woodrow was immediately sincere when he said, "I'm afraid Priscilla doesn't want to see you again."
Caleb raised his eyebrows. "She told you that?"
Woodrow slowly nodded. "That's not the only thing she told me. She said something about you that's really interesting to say the least."
Caleb breathed through his nostrils. He now wanted to leave the house.
Woodrow stepped closer toward him. "She told me how she caught you wearing something that's not really for a man."
Caleb shivered again. "Did she, uh...did she specify what it was?"
"A dress."
Caleb closed his eyes. Woodrow must have thought less of him for that.
But as soon as he opened his eyes again, Woodrow smiled again.
"She wasn't too pleased with what she saw."
Caleb accepted his fate. "Maybe it's time that I just leave."
Woodrow calmly denied his request. "Don't. Stay here a little longer. I have a present for you."
He started to leave the room. "Follow me upstairs."
Caleb had his doubts. "Are you sure about this?"
Woodrow chuckled. "I'm not going to hurt you. That's the last thing I would do to you."
As the older man disappeared from sight, Caleb took a deep breath. With everything that happened today, he now just had to get it over with. He officially lost his girlfriend, but her father didn't seem outraged by the results. Leaving his jacket in the living room, he followed Woodrow upstairs.
The two of them reached the master bedroom, which had a king-sized bed and a flat screen TV standing above a wooden dresser. It also had a clear view of the beach. Anyone standing on the balcony would be delighted to see the coast on a regular basis.
Caleb immediately noticed a small box on the bed. Woodrow opened it up and showed Caleb what had been lying inside it.
Caleb's eyes widened. Woodrow showed him a white dress. It was a simple design, with a skirt and a sleeveless top. Caleb couldn't keep his eyes away from it. It appeared to be a dress specifically designed for him.
Woodrow raised it up with his fingers. "Try it on."
Caleb hated to admit it, but seeing that white dress made him grow attached to his secret hobby a little more. But then again, he realized what would happen.
"You want me to try it on now?"
Woodrow chuckled. "Yeah, that's right."
"I'll have to take my clothes off first."
"Of course."
Woodrow didn't leave the bedroom. This gave Caleb a clear signal to do it in front of Priscilla's own father.
The young man looked down at the white dress, and then back at Woodrow.
"You want to see me take my clothes off."
"I don't mind."
Knowing that it would be inevitable, Caleb took a deep breath as he unclothed himself right in front of Woodrow. Within seconds, he only wore his underwear.
But Woodrow stated, "Take that off as well."
Caleb froze. "Uh...Why should I?"
"You don't have to wear it when you're wearing that."
Woodrow pointed at the dress. Caleb received a mixed feeling. He desperately wanted to wear Woodrow's gift, but he still felt nervous at the thought of another man seeing him naked. Despite his search for a convincing answer to this situation, he only discovered emptiness. Shivering like an actor with stage fright, Caleb ultimately took off his underwear. Now, he was completely naked in the room.
Woodrow's smile never left his face. "Good. Now, put it on."
Caleb followed the simple instruction. He slid the dress onto his body.
It was a perfect fit. The skirt ended right above his knees, and the sleeveless top made him feel more delicate than usual.
Woodrow pointed at the mirror hanging on the wall. Caleb gladly stood in front of it. He saw himself wearing the white dress. He was astonished. He looked so good in this dress. It reminded him of the various times he wore something similar in his own bedroom. Embracing a more feminine mystique had been his favorite pastime. He never thought he would be caught.
Fortunately, however, he no longer felt humiliated by Priscilla's unexpected discovery. Because now, her father showed no signs of a negative reaction. After all, he did give him this dress as a gift. He never showed any disgust with this new revelation. Seeing him smile with delight gave off the impression that he already accepted Caleb's secret passion as a positive lifestyle.
Caleb almost laughed with glee. He already loved this dress. It made him feel more girly. The skirt made him show off his hairless legs, and the overall attire made him look ever so adorable with his black hair and light brown skin. He couldn't stop staring at himself in the mirror.
He even altered his voice by giving it a more womanlike tone. "Oh, I love it. It's a great gift."