"Edrian!!" rinig kong tawag ng isang matinis na boses mula sa baba ng tinutuluyan kong apartment. Oh, my mistake, nakikituloy lang pala ako. Pinalayas kasi ako sa amin for some stupid reason. Well, ano bang magagawa ko kung gusto na akong paalisin ng mga magulang ko sa aming bahay. Maybe its all about me trying to be a grown up, pero ang totoo? Wala pa akong alam sa buhay.
Napabalikwas ako mula sa maliit na couch na aking hinigaan the night before. Nag-init ako and someone down there was also trying to work his muscles. Napangiti nalang ako and I concentrated on turning it down. Nakakahiya kapag nakita akong may morning wood ni Claire. Napakasensitive panaman ng kaibigan kong iyon na akala mo naman ay hindi pa nakakita ng burat. Well, technically she is a virgin, sabi niya. But why do I even care? Kailangan ko na talagang mag-ayos and try to find a new place to stay.
"Ed!!" tawag pa ni Claire nang nasa pinto na siya ng kwartong bakante sa kanyang apartment.
"I'm awake, Claire. Quit shouting.." saway ko sa kanya bago siya walang paalam na pumasok sa loob ng kwarto. Agad naman siyang napatakip ng kanyang mata once she found out that I am naked.
"Edrian?! Please naman? You can't be like this everytime? Babae parin ako alam mo yan diba?"
Natawa nalang ako sa kanyang pagkaaligaga. Parang ewan talaga itong kaibigan ko. She is such a baby.
"Claire? Ilang beses mo na akong nakitang nakahubad? What's the big deal? Bata palang tayo alam mo na lahat ng kung anong meron sakin.." sagot ko nalang sa kanya ngunit hindi parin niya inaalis ang kanyang kamay sa kanyang mukha.
So I grabbed my boxers and I wear them para naman mawala na ang kanyang "womanly code" that she keeps on pressing on me.
Nang linapitan ko na siya ay siya palamang niyang pagtanggal ng kanyang kamay sa kanyang mukha. Para talaga siyang inosenteng bata. I just can't help but be curious kung bakit ganun nalang ang hiya niya when she is in front of me?
"So what is it? Bakit kanina ka pa sigaw ng sigaw? May naghahanap nanaman ba sakin?" tanong ko sa kanya na kinasingkit ng kanyang mata.
"Eh kelan ka na ba kasi lilipat doon sa sinabi kong apartment na ready to be occupied na? Alam mo namang ayaw ni Peter na nandito ka.. He is still unsure about you being gay!" sambit niya sakin na kinatawa ko lang ng malakas.
"Napakainsecure talaga ng jowa mong yun.. Let me suck his dick at malalaman niya kung ano ba talaga ang sexuality ko.." panunuya ko kay Claire na agad naman akong binigyan ng kurot sa aking tagiliran.
"Stop saying that! Alam mo namang mahal ko yung tao.. So please, please do this for me. Lumipat ka na doon sa apartment na yun. Ako na ang nag-asikaso ng advanced payment nun. Wala ka nang proproblemahin. Just get out of my place, okay?"
"Damn! Ganun talaga kahalaga sa'yo ang relationship niyo ni Peter? Well, hindi naman na talaga ako pwedeng magtagal pa dito. Kailangan ko naring magsimulang ifigure out ang gagawin ko sa buhay ko. Dad and Mom is still cold hearted towards me."
Hindi naman napigilan ni Claire na lumapit sakin at pisilin ang mga balikat ko. She knows what I am going through. At siya lang sa lahat ng taong may kinalaman sa buhay ko ang nakakaintindi sakin.
"They will soon understand that you only wanted to do what your heart is telling you.. Hindi ko man alam kung paano nagawa nila Tito at Tita na talikuran ka just because you don't want to marry that bitch.. Sana maintindihan nila that you want to live your life the way you want it." pag-alo pa niya sakin na kinangiti ko lang.
"I sometimes wish you and my parents have the same amount of understanding and tolerance. I guess I am just the son they don't wanna have. But I am fine with it. Life has to move on. And I need to hop on that ship."
Tumango nalang si Claire sa mga sinabi ko and she asked me if I want her help in getting my things ready.
Kailangan ko ring pumunta sa aking scheduled job interview sa kompanyang inapplyan ko. Well anything that will come in handy will do good. I know my skills and I know what I can offer so alam kong maipapasa ko lahat ng interview na aking haharapin. I just think na ganun ako ka confident para makuha ko ang gusto ko without forcing them to myself.
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I felt so underdressed nang makapasok na ako sa loob ng Andromeda Corporation. The whole building was just unbelievably huge at lahat ng lumalabas at pumapasok dito are dressed with sophistication. Okay, I never had any research about this company to begin with. Kaya hindi ko na napansin ang maliliit na detalyeng ganito. I am overwhelmed actually.
Nang marating ko na ang reception desk ng company ay agad namang napako ang tingin sakin ng receptionist. She was checking me out and I know she is hitting on me. But I just smiled at her and asked politely.
"Miss.. I am here for the Final Interview. I applied for the Marketing Position." saad ko sa kanya ng deritso whiles she can't take her eyes off me.
"Ah---Yeah right.. Can I have your application form please? Just for confirmation." bawi niya agad ng tingin sakin na kinangiti ko lang ng palihim. Girls like her always fall for a trap. But I really don't pay much attention. Nagiging masiyado na akong observant sa paligid ko. Good looking guys are always an eye catcher. And I am one of those guys.
Who happens to like guys too.. But its hard to tell.
"Yes-- Mr. Aragon, The HR Head will be the one to handle your interview. I will call in now so she can accomodate you right away. Please follow the directions in the third floor and you will find her office." explain naman ng receptionist sakin once she finished reviewing my application form.
And just like that, I am walking towards the elevator para sa aking final interview. This better be good dahil masasayang lang ang pagod ko going here kung di rin lang nila ako tatanggapin. Which is ofcourse, impossible to happen.
I am confident.. Iyon ang meron ako sa sarili ko. Hindi ako insecure that makes me more outgoing and playful at times. But definitely I grown up to be bold and risk taker. I do everything I want to do and no one has ever stopped me on that sense.
Nang marating ko ang third floor, the elevator door opened wide and my eyes just started to focus on the person that was walking right in front of me. My eyes can't stop staring at the man's face.
Damn! He is gorgeous as hell.. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapalunok ng laway. He made me thirsty. I felt like my insides were churning. Napapaawang ang bibig ko na hindi naman kadalasang nangyayari sakin. But this man, is goddamn hot and sexy and gorgeous. I can't resist him.
"Are you going out of the elevator?" bigla nalamang siyang nagsalita and I was taken aback dahil hindi pa pala ako nakakalabas ng elevator and he was right in front of me.
"Ah-- Uhm--- Yeah I was about to get out.. Sorry for that." tangi ko nalang nasabi and he smiled and everything inside me was just bursting out like crazy.
Gosh!! He was freaking handsome.. He is a definition of irresistable.. Because I can't get my eyes off him.
"You are a new face here.. Haven't seen you around here?" and his voice just makes it even harder for me to keep my composure. It was so sexy.
"Yeah-- I am-- Uhm-- I am here for the final interview.." hindi parin ako makapagsalita ng maayos. Knowing myself, this is not normal. This is the first time I ever stuttered in front of a man.
"Well, goodluck then. I think you are something that you reached this far. Only few people can get into Andromeda without failing on the pressure exams." saad pa niya bago siya tuluyang pumasok ng elevator at namasdan ko nalang ang pagsara nito. But our eyes were gazing at each other na para bang may nais siyang iparating sakin.
Fuck! Bakit ko ba kasi nararamdaman 'to? I want to stare at him for a very long time. That's all I wanna do. Amd maybe kiss him or touch him and feel his everything. I was enchanted. He just made me want him without even trying?
That's why I rushed towards the directory of the third floor at hinanap ko ang office ng HR. I have to pass this final interview. If I wanna see him more, kailangan kong makapasok dito no matter what.
I never felt this way to another man. Yung ako mismo ang naghahabol. And this is a real challenge for me. Absurd to think of but I want this growing feeling inside of me to be fulfilled.
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"You really did? Nakapasa ka sa final interview?" masayang tanong sakin ni Claire at napatango nalang ako sa kanya bilang sagot sa mga tanong niya. Ofcourse, I did everything I can to pass that interview and using my charms.. Napadali sakin ang makuha ang trabaho sa Andromeda Corporation.
"Wow! That was so unexpected of you.. Kelan ka pa naging ganyan ka sure sa buhay mo? You really made me fround, Ed!"
"I just need to prove my parents wrong.. Kaya kong mabuhay with my own skills and my own way of life. And this is also for me. I need to grow. And somehow make things right." I said to my best friend and she just smiled at me.
"Maiintindihan karin nila Tito at Tita. Just give them enough time. Lahat naman tayo dumadaan sa mga ganyang pagsubok. You can't let them accept you right away. Especially, you are their only child."
Tumango nalang ako kay Claire. I will never take away the fact that they are still my parents. At alam ko namang darating din ang araw na magiging maayos ang lahat sa amin.
"So what is with this glowy eyes? Bakit kanina ko pa napapansin na natutulala ka and you just smile like some crazy shit? Nakadrugs ka ba, Edrian?" she asked and I just laughed so hard with her observations.
"Grabe talaga ang assumptions mo noh? Di pa ako ganun kabaliw para magdrugs. And isn't it great to just feel good and smile all the time? May mali ba sa ginagawa ko?
"Edrian.. Knowing you for a very long time, dalawa lang ang ibig sabihin ng mga matang yan. Its either you just fucked someone that was satisfying. And the other one is you meet someone interesting enough. So alin sa dalawa?" she blurted out na kinatawa ko nalang ulit.
The couch we were sitting on was starting to get messy dahil sinimulan na niya aking kilitiin and I just let her do that to me. Ganun siguro kami magharutan noon paman.
"Hey! Stop it okay? Sasabihin ko na." I was still giggling while she can't stop tickling me on my sides.
"Sino ba kasi yan? Don't tell me may sabit nanaman ang napili mo ngayon?" she asked and I waggled my head. She really knows what I haved been through for the past 14 years of my existence.
"No, I am sure he is not. But there is one thing I am sure of. I like him a lot." saad ko sa kanya and she raised her eyebrows telling me to explain her everything.
"Okay.. The thing is, he is older than me."
"Gosh, Edrian?! May daddy issues ka na ba ngayon? Older? Okay, how old is he particularly?"
Napatawa naman ako sa expression niya. She is just unbelievable sometimes. Kaya nga minsan ayokong magkwento sa kanya ng mga nangyayari sa buhay ko but its impossible. She will always find a way for me to open up.
"Claire.. Calm down okay? I think he is in his 40s.. I am sure of that."
"Shut up! Itigil mo na yan.. I am telling you, complications lang ang ibibigay niya sa'yo.." biglang sabat sakin ni Claire which is not unusual for her to do.
"And look! 24 years old ka palang.. Ano bang nangyayari sa'yong taste pagdating sa lalaki? Eh dati naman ang galing mo mamili. What's wrong with you?"
"Claire? He is not what you think he is. Hindi ko pa siya kilala but I know, I know he is a good man. I really want to know him so just stay out of this for now, okay? At hindi pa naman ako sigurado kung may mangyayari nga?"
Tinaas pa niya lalo ang kilay niya and she crossed her arms and told me something that I have to think about.
"Sinasabi ko lang, what if he is a family man? Straight guy siya? Hindi mo ba naiisip na kapag nalaman mo na ang lahat sa kanya, masasaktan ka lang? So better get off that love train now, my dear." sabi pa niya bago niya ako iwanan sa couch.
Maybe she is right.. Who would possibly want an older lover for himself?
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