Closeted freshman student, Aries Buan, falls in love with his senior after getting partnered with him during their freshman orientation. Afraid to admit his feelings, he kept his emotion in check and watched his first love from afar, swearing to him...
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ARIES REMOVES HIS SHOES before entering our house even though I've constantly told him that he doesn't have to do such a thing. He was quiet when he got inside, but his eyes were obviously curious. He couldn't help but look around, trying to understand the exterior design of our humble little home.
"It's not much, but I hope you don't mind," I say, following behind him nervously. I don't even know why I'm so nervous. Maybe I'm just anxious that he'll comment about my lifestyle, and I'd end up feeling shitty about it even though I know full well that Aries isn't the type to say such a thing.
"It's a wonderful home," Aries simply says, turning to face me. "Thank you for having me."
Aries looks back at me with a shy smile, and for a quick second, something inside me stops. The noise outside becomes completely silent as I stare back at him. Everything went in slow motion, and I swear that I started seeing rose petals falling in front of me. But unlike in the movies, Aries looks away, and the fantasy instantly stops.
I couldn't help but touch my beating chest at the sudden outburst of emotion.
What the hell was that anyway?
"Dom! Help me set the table," mama shouted from the kitchen, quickly making Aries look back at me again.
"I can help," he tells me, but I immediately shook my head and gestured at the living room that didn't really look much like a living room because it was literally just a couple steps away from the dining table.
"My mom would riot if a guest lifts a finger while they're in our house, so I insist, take a seat first. You can turn on the television if you like," I say, and Aries slowly nods his head and awkwardly takes a seat on our old sofa.
When Aries was finally feeling at home, sort of, I rushed to the kitchen to see my mother frying the fish that we had in the freezer.
"Ma, let me do that. You should rest."
Mama, who was basically immune from the oil that was jumping out of the pan, puts her hand on her waist and tells me, "This is the least that I can do. Your friend drove us home. Do you even know how expensive the gas is right now?"
"But—"
"No more buts. Just set the table and then prepare the rice after you're done," mom then commands, and all I can do is follow her.
I got the plates and other cutlery, which didn't exactly match each other. There was also the glass that had different logos because my mom likes buying products that have free glass and thumblers attached to them.
After setting the table, I went to the kitchen counter and prepared the rice while mama started cooking some vegetables to partner with the fried fish.
"You didn't tell me you were friends with such a guy," mama suddenly says in a soft voice so Aries wouldn't hear us. "Wasn't he the same senior you were ranting about last time?" she then asks, making me forget the number of rice that I had already put inside the rice cooker.
