CLARK
"SHOT pa!"
Sigaw ni Clark sa table nilang magka-kaibigan. Then he handed one shot of tequila to Ruby and a glass of beer. That's how they drink. And drink means, drink hard. Beer as chaser, straight tequila shots – double straight shots if they are getting tipsy.
It's 10PM at nasa Boogie sila ngayon, isa sa mga paboritong lugar nila sa Poblacion. Maaga pa ang gani ngunit pangatlong bar na ata nila itong magkakaibigan. Earlier, they went to Ancestral and Agimat. That night, they got the chance to be wasted. Biyernes at wala silang klase bukas. This was their way to let off some stress because of their academics. And that's what Clark loved about his circle. They all knew how to balance their academic life and this side of their life. There's too much that life can offer. So why just revolve it around studying? Walwal responsibly nga kumbaga.
In the middle of Xavier and Ruby's taking tequila shots, there was someone walking towards their table. From the looks of it, this guy has some drinks on his hands. He looked down at the guy's hands and he frowned upon of what seems a green poison.
Jägermeister, he tsked.
Nang makarating ito sa kanilang lamesa, pinakatitigan niya ito. He has this smile that can melt, an aura of full confidence and oozing sex appeal. Hindi niya alam kung sa kanya ito nakatitig o sa mga ibang kaibigan niya.
Iinumin na sana niya ang baso ng alak na hawak niya nang magsalita ito.
"Hi! Hope you're fine on this lovely night. Would you like some drinks?" the guy offered, still smiling, this time, it was a sexy smile.
Looking at this piece of meat in front of him, he thought, yum. But he knows too well. This kind of guy will never, as in never ever have hots for someone like him. Clark knew a thing or two with this kind of guy. These guys are off limits. No trespassing.
Though, he can't stop staring.
Mestizo with a proud nose, bushy but sleek eyebrows, deep dark eyes that glistened under the lowlights of the bar with long eyelashes and thin red lips that looked delightful when tasted. His hair is a bit messy, but in a sexy kind of way, lean and muscular in the right places and cheeks that are a bit flustered maybe because of the alcohol. Wearing a relaxed Uniqlo black cotton shirt, faded straight cut jeans, 70's chucks and a Frédérique Constant watch, damn, this guy is too hot to handle. Sporting a basic outfit but damn, still delightful. And that watch? A guy with a taste. Definitely yum.
"Oh! Sorry, the name's Timothy," smiling friendly to him like he was the only one in that table. Ngayon niya nakumpirna na sa kanya nga ito nakatingin noong kaninang papalapit ito.
Clark did not respond. He pretended not to pay attention to him even if he knew himself that he cannot take his eyes off of him. He was still staring at the guy with his mouth slightly apart.
"Sooo.... would you like? I mean the drink?" Timothy offered him again.
He was lost in his trance when Ruby nudged his elbow to his side and whispered, "Hoy! Ano ka na jan, tatanggapin mo ba o kami na ang tatanggap?"
He just let out a grumble.
"Thanks, but I'm good." Sabay taas nito ng baso ng beer na hawak niya. "Maybe my friend here, Ruby would like some," he said while smiling awkwardly.
That was rude of him, but he didn't care. Wala siya sa mood makipaglandian. He just wanted to blow some stress off. And as if this guy will flirt with him.
"Oh is that so. No worries. Nice to meet you, hmmm what's the name?" The guy drank the two shots he's handling. After that, extended his one arm to shake hands.
"Clark" he said while trying to avoid Timothy's gaze.
"Great! Nice to meet you Clark. See you around and have a great night!" The guy smiled.
Papatalikod na ang lalaki ng bumaling ito pabalik sa kanya, "By the way, you look lovely tonight Clark." Pahabol ni Timothy sabay kindat sa kanya at tuluyang umalis na sa lamesa nila.
He felt his cheeks heated a bit but he thought that it was just due to the alcohol he drank. He just let out an annoyed sigh before immediately returning love making to the alcohols they bought habang tinutukso siya ng mga kaibigan niyang haliparot na ngayon ay may kanya-kanya na ring kausap. Hindi na siya nagtaka dahil ganito talaga ang mga ito. Matitinik sa lalaki.
Mark interrupted his trail of thoughts. "Hoy bakla ka! Anong hindi into that drink?! Anong I'm good ka jan? Tingnan mo nga halos maubos na yung bote natin dito. Halos lahat na ata ng klase ng alak ay nandito na sa table natin. And THAT drink you fucking declined from that eye candy guy, parang ginawa mong efficascent oil oh! Instead na ipahid mo sa likod mo, hinahagod mo sa diyan lalamunan mo. Nakakaloka ka!" He just rolled his eyes at Mark and just continued drinking. Pumipilantik pa talaga ang mga kamay nito habang nagsasalita kanina.
That night went by too fast. It was already 2AM but he was not still wasted. Although they settled themselves in Boogie at hindi na nag-hop sa iba pang bar. He just drowned himself with alcohol while most of the people around him -- college kids, young adult, and everything in between, dancing to the sound of music. DJs here were so good, that he admitted.
After some time, he felt that his head was already spinning. He also felt like his kidney was about to burst so he excused himself from their table then went to the bar's bathroom.
Fuck! He mumbled as he saw the line when he reached the bathroom. He suddenly thought that there's still a bathroom downstairs.
Even if his head was spinning, he managed to bring himself downstairs. Pero bago pa siya makababa ng tuluyan, muntikan na siyang masubsob sa sahig ng bar dahil hindi niya napansin ang huling hakbang ng hagdanan pababa dahil sa pagkahilo at kadiliman ng paligid.
Ngunit, bago siya tuluyang masubsob, there was a pair of strong arms that immediately catch him. But before looking up, he thought the smell of this man was fucking hot. That Hugo Boss perfume that he wanted but he cannot afford. Mixed of spice and mint. The smell filled his nostrils. Damn fucking hot. He looked at the man straight to the eyes. And as much as to his surprise, those are the same set of eyes that looked at him earlier, now with unknown intensity and desire.
But looking at those pair of dark beautiful eyes this close made him feel different types of emotions. Desire was flashed in Clark's eyes. Hindi niya alam kung gawa ito ng alak ngunit biglang dumoble ang pag-iinit nang kanyang katawan. Ang pakiramdam ng pagka-ihi ay biglang nawala sa kanyang sistema. Alam niyang hindi papatol itong kaharap niya sa kanya pero wala na siyang pakialam.
He wanted to feel and taste those lips. He wanted to feel the warmth of the guy in front of him. He wanted him.
Walang isip at inhibisyon, ikinawit niya ang kanyang mga kamay sa leeg ng binata at bigla-bigla na lang niyang inilapat ang kanyang mga labi sa mga labi ng lalaking sumalo sa kaniya.
And the moment he settled his lips on him, he tasted heaven. He felt euphoria.
TIMOTHY
GAGONG dare 'to! Pagmumura ni Timothy sa isip niya.
Paano ba naman kasi, itong mga kaibigan niya, nagbigay ng dare na magbigay daw siya ng inumin sa isang lalaki. Fuck that! Why would he offered a drink to a fucking guy? His friends are fucking insane!
Kung hindi naman niya gagawin ito, kakailanganin niyang ibigay ang kanyang dala-dalang 1968 Ford Escort. Fuckshit! Ayaw niyang ibigay itong isa sa mga paborito niyang vintage car.
"You can buy another car. That Ford Escort is just cents to you." His friend, Daniel said to him then drink the tequila shot
"Fuck you!" he retorted.
"Kung ayaw mo ng ganyang dare, drink this Barik, bottoms up!" Norman dared him.
Hindi naman siya gago para i-bottoms up ang isang bote ng lambanog. Shit talaga, kapag may maisipan talagang kagaguhan ang mga ito! Sigaw ng isip niya.
"Out of all the fucking dare, why did you all chose me offering a drink to a guy? Mga gago," sambit niya ngunit tinawanan lang siya ng mga ito.
"It's just a drink, hindi naman yan babae na papatulan ka kapag inofferan mo. Just do it for the dare. It's simple"
Luminga-linga siya sa loob ng bar, tumingin rin siay sa mga nasa labas ng bar dahil may veranda dito na ginawa ring inuman at may mga lamesa. Nakita niya ang isang lamesa ng pitong magkakaibigan sa bandang kanang parte ng katapat ng mesa nila. And a guy caught his attention because of his smile. A kind of smile when you see, even if you were having a bad day, that simple smile could make it go away. Samahan pa ng mga dimples nito, that guy's smile really is something. Napailing na lang siya sa binubulong ng isip niya at hindi ito pinagiintindi.
Ilang segundo siyang nakatitig pa rin sa lalaki at nag-iisip kung lalapitan niya ito. Hindi talaga niya alam kung bakit ganon ang isip niya ngayon. Fuck it! he mumbled in his own thought. Napag-pasyahan niyang pumatol sa dare ng mga gago niyang tropa. He knew those kind of dares are lame and not fun but seryoso talaga ang mga tropa niya at hindi niya ipapamigay ang sasakyan niya.
Kinuha niya ang dalawang shot ng Jägermeister at tumayo paalis sa table nilang magto-tropa. Nairinig niya pa ang mga itong nagsigawan pero pinukol nalang niya ito ng masamang tingin.
Nang makarating sa lamesa ng lalaking nakakuha ng atensyon niya, agad niya itong binati, "Hi!" Mukhang hindi pa ito makapaniwala dahil tiningnan niya pa ang mga kaibigan nito. Napangiti siya sa isip niya dahil sa hindi maitagong pagkalito ng lalaki. Cute, he thought.
"Hope you're fine on this lovely night. Would you like some drinks?" He offered the drinks in his hands. The guy still was not taking the shots and just staring at him like he's lost in this crowded bar or he just lost his head. Ilang segundo pa na hindi tinanggap ay napatitig nalang si Timothy sa lalaki.
The guy was sporting a dark mullet hair which added appeal, heart shaped face, cream complexion, bushy sleek brows, eyes with long eyelashes, a proud nose with septum piercing. But the thing that caught his eyes was the guy's damn lips. Those thin red lips that attracted him to taste.
Fuck what am I thinking? Is this alcohol taking over my senses? He questioned himself again. He never felt like this to a man before.
Bigla niyang naalala ang dare at ini-offer niya ulit ang alak. "Oh! Sorry, the name's Timothy." He smiled friendly like the guy was the only one in that table.
But the guy was still staring at him and it made him conscious a bit. "Sooo.... would you like? I mean the drink?"
He thought the guy will accept the drink but in his disappointment, the guy declined. Fuck, 'yung dare, his mind suddenly mumbled.
"Thanks, but I'm good." Sabay taas nito ng baso ng beer na hawak nito. "Maybe my friend here, Ruby would like some," the guy said while smiling awkwardly.
"Oh is that so. No worries. Nice to meet you, hmmm what's the name?" He drank the two shots he's handling. After that, he extended his one arm to shake hands.
"Clark" the guy said while trying to avoid his gaze. He wondered, why?
"Great! Nice to meet you Clark. See you around and have a great night!" He smiled.
Nagpaalam na siya dito at sa mga kasama sa lamesa nito at nagpasensya dahil baka naka-istorbo siya sa mga ito. The guy's friends just offered if he want to join their circles. A usual thing with places like this.
Bago siya tuluyang maka-alis, lumingon muna ulit siya kay Clark at sinabing, "by the way, you look lovely tonight Clark." Giving a sexy smirk and a wink to the guy before officially leaving the table of what seems like to be a cool set of people.
Pagkabalik niya sa kanilang lamesa, pabagsak siyang umupo sa isa sa mga couch at tinungga ang naka-handang shot ng Barik. Dahil biguan, kailangan niya ng mamaalam sa pinakamamahal niyang vintage car.
Nagpatuloy ang inuman nilang magkakaibigan. Medyo umiikot na ang paningin niya kaya naman nagpaalam na muna siya sandali na magyoyosi sa baba sa labas ng bar. As much as he wanted to take a smoke in the veranda, kasama na rin ang dahilan niya na he would bid his good bye with his baby car.
Matapos ng masisinsinang pamamaalam niya sa kanyang sasakyan na muntik niyang ika-iyak na dahilan ng pag-ubos niya ng tatlong sticks ng Marlboro red, napag-pasyahan na niyang bumalik sa itaas. Nang paakyat na siya ng hagdan at pabalik na sana ng table nila, bigla niyang nasalubong ang lalaking nakakuha ng atensyon niya sa di malamang kadahilanan at kaninang tinanggihan siya -- Clark, what a good name, he thought.
Nakikita niya itong pababa na pasuray-suray. Magyoyosi rin ba ito? Saan ito pupunta? Tanong ng isipan niya.
Hinintay niya itong makababa ng hagdan dahil hindi sila kakasiya sa makipot na hagdan. Nang isang hakbang na lang ang kulang ng lalaki para makababa ng tuluyan, nagulat na lang siya nang bigla nitong nilakwatawan ang huling hakbang. Clark was on his way to the ground.
Dali-dali niya itong sinalo upang hindi tuluyang masubsob at napakapit naman bigla sa kanya ang lalaki at tumaas ang tingin at sinalubong ang mga mata niya. The floor doesn't deserved to kiss Clark's beautiful face, his mind whispered.
Sa ganitong malapitan, mas gumwapo sa paningin niya ang lalaki. Clark's outer frame seemed so strong. But looking at him this close and into Clark's eyes, he can see the fragility of his sould. Like he needed someone beside him to take care for him. I do want to take care for him, sabi ng isang bahagi ng isip niya na ikinagulo niya. Tanginang alak, sabi niya sa sarili niya.
Itatayo na dapat niya ang lalaki upang maka-akyat siya ng hagdan ng bigla-bigla ikinawit ni Clark ang mga braso nito sa leeg niya at idinampi ang mga labi nito sa mga labi niya.
He frozed. He was caught off guard by the kiss. But Clark's lips were tasty. It tasted sweet. Clark tasted sweet.
Ilang segundo muna niyang tinitigan ang nakapikit nitong mga mata at pinagmasdan ng buo ang maamo nitong mukha habang pinakiramdaman ang gumagalaw na mga labi nito sa kanya bago niya tinugon ang mga halik ni Clark.
Once he responded to Clark's kisses, he automatically and unconsciously wrapped his hands around Clark's waist. He then pulled him closer to him and deepened the kiss.
Clark let out a soft moan which gave him access to his warm inside. As soon as Clark parted his lips, he entered his tongue and felt the warmth he never knew he needed. They responded to each kisses with the same level of desire, lust, and heat.
Fuck it, he thought. Wala na siyang pakialam kung dahil ba ito sa mga alak na nainom niya. Basta ang alam niya, masarap sa pakiramdam ang mga halik nito at ang katawan nitong kayakap niya. Pinutol niya ang halik at tinitigan ang lalaking namumungay ang mata na nakatingin rin sa kanya habang inaalam niya ang hindi maipaliwanag na nararamdaman niya sa kalooban niya.
But he settled on one thought. This night was definitely one for the fucking books.