Page 140 of Waiting for Ru
There was a ripple of conversation and Jasim carried on talking. “It was absolutely the right decision and I fully support Paolo. The other issue is a personal one. I’m telling you first, I’ll tell the staff shortly and I’ll also be issuing a statement to the press.”
His heart was going crazy and Jasim struggled for the words.
“Are you ill?”Nicolás asked.
“I’m gay.”
“Thank fuck for that,” Nicolás said. “I thought you were going to say you had cancer.”
No one else said anything. As Jasim was trying to think of what to say next, Marcelo called out, “Do you fancy me?”
“No.”
“No problem then.” Marcelo laughed.
“Have you only just found out?” Nicolás asked.
“No. I’ve known I was gay for a long time, but in my country, no one is allowed to be gay. My family consider their honour threatened by my sexuality and my father told me he’d kill himself, and my brothers would then kill me and anyone I was with if I chose to live as a gay man.”
There was a chorus of shocked exclamations.
“It isn’t an exaggeration. Their reach is long. I’m a Saudi prince. There are rules beyond rules for me. So, I’ve not had any relationships. I couldn’t risk it. Mike threatened to out me, and that might happen. It’s not the reason he was dismissed; his threat came in response to his dismissal. A stab in the dark that hit its target. But instead of my sexual orientation remaining a secret, I now need everyone to know. I want it to be common knowledge before the match on Saturday. Once the polo journalists are aware, it’ll be all over the web. You might be questioned and I’d ask you to be careful in your response. My private life is just that. Private.”
Jasim cleared his throat. “I said I hadn’t had any relationships and that’s true, but I’m trying to start one with Ru. Be kind to him. He deserves better than me, but we’re both coming from a difficult place and I like him. A lot. And he doesn’t know I’ve told you that so don’t freak him out. I need to speak to him first.
“I’m sorry I haven’t felt able to say anything before. I should have had the courage to talk positively about who I truly am. I hope that doing so now will make a difference. I have no idea how my family will react. They may choose to back off, but I can’t be sure that they will. I think that’s it, unless anyone has any questions.”
Mary made her way to his side and hugged him. Jasim was shocked.
“I’m really glad you told us,” she whispered. “Maybe now you can be happy.”
She stepped back and one after another everyone came up to him and gave him a hug. Jasim didn’t take in everything they said, but the comments were supportive, his teammates telling him they would be there for him, thanking him for telling them, asking if he needed anything, and he felt the weight on his shoulders begin to lift.
