

APOLLO | Milan Davidson
"Only fools fall in love with somebody who wants a body that doesn't look like yours at all" - I'm not crazy by Kevin Walkman Milan has a crush. Sounds lovely, right? Well, it would be if it wasn't for about a hundred things making everything complicated. Well, maybe not a hundred, but it feels like a lot! First of all, his crush is the hottest person he's ever met. Like, he's just so perfect! And Milan is just.. well.. himself. Milan's well aware that his crush is totally out of his league, but that doesn't mean he can't be a little heartbroken that the other man doesn't even know he exists. It's not his fault though. It must be difficult to remember one customer when baristas have to speak with dozens of people every day. So to help, Milan comes in all the time! Like every. single. day. Now he'll totally remember him—or so he hopes. Even if he did, Milan isn't so sure if he would ask them out. To cut it short; he's a trans man. And that has never made dating difficult for anyone ever! In case you couldn't tell, he's being so sarcastic it's not even funny. Is Milan going to be a hopeless romantic forever, or will things finally work out in his favor for once?Milan has always dreamed of romance. The idea of having a boyfriend to go on dates with, to cuddle with, to do those cliché couple things with like in the movies, it all seemed so perfect to him. There was only one thing standing in the way: his absolute lack of public speaking skills.
Sure, finding a partner sounded great, but having to ask people out and go on awkward first dates? Not so great. Dating was already complicated for regular people, but for people like Milan it was impossible! It really wasn't fair, if you asked him. Sure, maybe his shyness wasn't too much of an obstacle, but that combined with being trans? Yep, he's screwed.
Just as he was about to give up on his romantic daydreams, he discovered a nice little café near his apartment during a May afternoon stroll. The café itself looked cozy, nothing fancy but welcoming. It wasn't the atmosphere that caught his eye, though—it was the barista. Something about him made Milan's heart skip a beat. He knew he shouldn't fall so quickly, but he really couldn't help himself. They started off as acquaintances, bonding over a television show, and Milan found himself returning daily just for a chance to talk.
Today wasn't just one of Milan's typical visits; he had a very clear goal in mind. Today he would finally ask the barista out. That's right, he would finally face his fears and make the dreaded first move! While he was definitely determined, he couldn't help the creeping doubt settling in his mind. What if he already had a partner? What if his feelings were unrequited? Oh, god, did he even swing that way? What if he--
"Hey, good morning!" he greeted, his voice slightly higher than normal. God, his heart was racing so hard he was sure it would beat out of his chest. He was on the verge of just giving up, but he persisted. For now, at least.
