'A baby, when taking birth in this world, does not have different tastes.'
Some tendencies are inborn, such as curiosity and risk-seeking. However, that's it.
Tastes in things develop due to experiences, personality, emotions, environment, culture, and a whole lot of other things. And all these things shape that person, making him or her unique.
Ryan didn't know if what he thought was true or not, but he just wanted to think about his tastes a little. And starting with an intellectual thought like this made him sound quite intelligent.
Anyway, so, as Ryan was thinking, tastes are something that develop and change due to many factors being involved.
Maybe someday someone liked eating vanilla ice cream, and then some time later their tastes changed, and now they like chocolate ones more. The opposite can also be said.
But...
There are some tastes that we don't quite talk about in society.
Sexual tastes or fantasies.
Sex—the word itself is taken as quite taboo, so fantasies about it, well, will obviously be more taboo.
'Well, these things are meant only to be talked about with people you are comfortable with.'
However, some things are meant to be talked about in society. And now they are.
As changes happened in the world and the world progressed, people living in the world progressed too. In this generation—the internet one—things like this have become more obvious to society.
They have now started to realize the importance of sex education and many other important things, even in countries where these were considered literally forbidden.
Even though the internet had made things easier, there were still some things that people of this generation found quite taboo.
And this was taste in sex and fantasies.
Perhaps there were people out there who did not see them that way. But everyone Ryan had met so far was the same, so he couldn't really say.
Ryan never understood why people hated others with these tastes.
'I mean, we don't really hurt others, do we?'
A thing should be hated only when it hurts others; that's what Ryan's thoughts were. But it's not like others were going to follow his state of mind anyway. Because, as he said before, tastes were dependent on things like experiences, personality, etc.
And...
Experience, personality, etc., also shaped a person as he was.
'But... still. At least don't hate and despise others for just having a fantasy or different taste.'
Ryan still stood on his stance: People should be hated only if they are hurting you while following their fantasy and taste.
Busy with his thoughts, Ryan stared outside the window of the bus. Vehicles were moving past it, some zooming fast, some around the same safe speed.
Shops, children pulling their parents to move fast, couples walking hand in hand—some were fighting too. It was your average nighttime in the city.
The world that was flashing just moments ago started to slow before coming to a halt as the bus stopped for a moment before moving forward again.
And once more, the view of the city flashing by the window started. The city air flowed, hitting Ryan's face and tousling his hair.
"Hey, hello. Mr. Can't you listen when someone's talking with you?"
"Hm?... Oh, sorry, so sorry. I was thinking about something."
Hearing Ryan's apology, the other boy, around the same age as Ryan, shook his head while rubbing his nose bridge.
"Nah, it's okay. It was my fault too for losing control over something this small."
"Thank you." Ryan thanked him before adding as the boy was still standing. "How may I help you?"
"Ah, yes."
Giving a slightly awkward laugh, the boy asked. "Is this seat empty?"
Ryan's eyes followed the boy's fingers' direction to the empty seat next to him, then back to the boy.
'Really?!'
Sighing, Ryan answered.
"Yes."
"Then, can I sit here?"
"..."
"Can I?"
"Yes."
At Ryan's approval, the boy jumped and hugged him.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
"O-okay, okay. Dude, just sit."
'Why the hell is everyone staring at me weirdly? It's this guy who is at fault, you fuckers.'
Screaming internally, Ryan did all he could to free himself from this creature in front of him, who literally was hugging him like a bear. Well, a friendly one, however, still a fucking bear.
'He is strong too.'
After a minute of hassle, Ryan could finally separate himself from the guy. But the creature still didn't stop thanking, even after Ryan's begging.
So, Ryan just let him be. Sometimes, leaving was better than confronting.
Thankfully, after a few minutes, the boy quieted down, and the journey once again became quiet for Ryan.
His eyes once more got busy in capturing the flashing images as the city air hit his face, tousling his hair.
***
'My stop is coming.'
Seeing that his stop was coming, Ryan yawned a little, his eyes watering, as he got ready to get off his bus.
And...
Just before the bus was about to arrive at the stop. A sound invaded his ears. It was the boy once more; his voice has a strangeness in it.
"Are you getting off here?"
"...Yes."
Ryan replied to the question of the boy beside him. Now that he looked at the guy, he looked quite handsome.
'I guess the crazy and beautiful graph thing is really true.'
Interrupting his thought, the boy spoke again. His black eyes had a starry glow in them now.
"Do you know how many people die after getting shot every year?"
"..."
'What the fuck?! Is this guy really crazy.'
Sensing bad premonitions, Ryan tried to stand up. But suddenly, a black metallic gun was pressed against his forehead.
Before he could even react, a loud bang echoed, which brought a blanket of endless darkness with it, covering Ryan's vision in it and snatching the light from his eyes.
That day became the day Ryan left this world at the age of only 18. No one cried or screamed for his death, because he was alone, an orphan.