The Embarrassment Deepens

Jason shifted uncomfortably on the couch, his eyes scanning the room as he tried to make sense of the lingering gazes. He felt like he was under a microscope, and it was making him anxious. He glanced down at himself, wondering if he had something stuck to his shirt or if his shorts were somehow on backwards. But everything seemed normal. As the staring continued, Jason's mind began to wander to all the reasons why these handsome men might be gazing at him with such intensity. He thought back to his childhood, growing up with the nickname "ugly duckling" due to his gangly limbs and crooked teeth. He had always assumed that he was just... plain. Not ugly, exactly, but not exactly handsome either. Maybe that's it, Jason thought, his cheeks growing warm with embarrassment. Maybe they're staring because I'm just so ugly. The thought made him feel like crawling under a rock. He turned to Ron, who was still grinning at him with an mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, Ron, can I borrow a blanket or something?" Jason asked, trying to sound casual. "I'm feeling a bit... chilly." Ron chuckled, his grin growing even wider. "Blanket? Sorry, Jason, but we're all out. You'll just have to tough it out." Jason's eyes widened in dismay. "What do you mean you're out? You're not going to leave me freezing and embarrassed all night, are you?" Ron shrugged, his shoulders rising and falling in a lazy motion. "I'm not leaving you, I'm just not going to cover you up like a baby. Besides," he said, his eyes darting around the room, "I think everyone is kind of... enjoying the view." Jason's face grew even hotter as he realized that Ron was enjoying this. He was actually enjoying Jason's embarrassment. The thought made Jason feel like he was going to die of mortification. As he sat there, feeling like a specimen under a microscope, Jason couldn't help but wonder what he had done to deserve this. Was he really that ugly? Was he that awkward? The questions swirled in his mind, making him feel like he was going to lose his mind. The staring continued, with Jason growing more and more uncomfortable by the minute. He just wanted to disappear, to crawl under a rock and hide from the world. Little did he know, the truth was exactly the opposite of what he was thinking...