Disclaimer: This hasn’t happened in real life, but I definitely can see it happening in my life at some point.

I’m no liar.

I never intended for it to be like this.

I don’t want to lie, so I stay silent.

_Are you straight?_

No.

I shrug in response.

_What are you? Straight?_

It’s none of your business.

I stay silent & let them believe I’m straight. Better than being forced to come out to the whole class, half of which I don’t feel comfortable around.

Where the hell did that question even come from?

_Are you bi?_

No.

That I can answer in confidence. I don’t tell them I’m pan. Just, no, I’m not bi. No more questions asked.

_Then are you straight?_

…Sure.

That’s for you to guess now. I’m not giving any hints.

I dress like I’m straight, & technically, I may not be heterosexual, but I still like the opposite sex. I can like other sexes w/out having to look like I’m gay, in a broader term.

Let them believe I’m straight. There’s no harm in ignorance… for this case, at least. I mean, I do still have a preference for males & people who are non-binary but represent themselves as more masculine (I don’t know the right term for it).

& besides, there’s not generally any harm in silence.

So I plead the fifth.