WHOOOA!
Everyone cheered and yelled when the bottle stopped spinning and was pointing at Bright.
It was at Julia's birthday about seven years ago when Bright and Win first met. A friend of Julia's from college brought Bright along at their rest house in Batangas where they celebrated.
Win had to admit he was already attracted to Bright when he first saw him. Hello, ang gwapo kaya.
He was the epitome of tall, though not-so-dark, but absolutely handsome. His eyes were so deep and telling you would totally get lost in them. He had lashes that were so long it flutters on its own. And that quiet little smile that just makes your heart melt? Inexplicable.
Win got all that with just one look at Bright so yes, he was really attracted to him. His tipsy state didn't help for he was already staring shamelessly at him while they played this silly game.
Everybody in the group already had one too many drinks on them, and so a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven was in order, cliché as it may seem.
"How does this game go again?" Bright asked as he took a swig of his drink.
Julia stood up giddily and went behind Bright to put a blindfold on him. She helped Bright stand up and led him towards the closet.
"Just wait in here for your seven minutes in heaven," she whispered to Bright as she pushed him inside.
"Ay sa aparador talaga?" Bright whined.
"Shh. Maghintay na lang kasi!" Julia said as she closed the door and went back to the circle.
"Kung kanino tatama yung bote, siya ang ka-seven minutes ni Bright! Game?" Julia told her friends excitedly.
Spin!
Bright heard another round of cheering and yelling as the bottle spun. And then everyone screamed, as in palakat-scream.
Win's eyes grew wide when he saw the bottle stopping and pointing at him. He beamed though. Pagkakataon nga naman!
"O walang maingay guys, hayaan natin hulaan na lang ni Bright kung sino ka-seven minutes nya," Julia said.
Bright shook his head, smiling. He then leaned on one side of the closet, trying to remember how many people were left outside. 10? A dozen? There were only a few women, that he was sure, so he wouldn't be surprised to spend seven minutes with a man.
He heard the door creak open, and everyone hooted once more. Within seconds, the door closed, and Bright could feel the person who just came in almost a few breaths away. While whoever this was reeked of alcohol, the perfume he or she was wearing still stood out, and it somehow intoxicated him.
There was really not much room to move inside the closet, so Bright just stood there steadily.
Win had both of his hands on his chest, like he was trying to calm his heart down.
Up close, even with a blindfold, Bright looked divine. His lips that were shaped like cupid's arrow formed a pouty kind of sly smile, and it was driving Win crazy. He tried to breathe as calmly as he could.
"So you're really not going to say anything, huh?" Bright asked.
Win just smiled at him.
"Pwede ba humawak?" Bright asked out loud.
"HINDE!" Everyone hollered back.
"Sabi ko nga eh." Bright was defeated.
Then he cleared his throat. "Pero feeling ko bro ka eh, we're almost the same height o."
Win saw Bright smile to himself.
"That's okay, I can go both ways," Bright said naughtily and rather bravely.
Win closed his eyes. Lord, lakas maka-rupok.
Then Win was surprised to see Bright lean closer. "I can almost feel your breath," he whispered, their noses almost touching.
Win tried to take a step back but there really was no room. So he just stood there almost frozen, but was in sheer heaven for being this close to this man he was so attracted to.
"Last two minutes!" Julia cried out.
Bright tilted his head, still wearing that cute pouty smile that made Win melt.
"So. Shall we kiss?" Bright asked, whispering.
Putang ina! Win was screaming to himself. Is this how this game really goes?
"20 seconds!"
Win didn't know what came over him, but he knew he had to do it. He had to kiss Bright.
"10, nine, eight..."
Slowly, Win reached out to touch Bright's face, and then leaned in for that beautiful kiss.
Bright was surprised to feel whoever this person was touch his face, and before he knew it, his lips were on his for a kiss that was so gentle and so sweet.
"...four, three, two, ONE! Time's up!"
Win opened his eyes as they parted after the kiss. He could feel himself flush, and even in the dark, he could see how Bright blushed, too.
Then the door was opened.
"Uy it's getting hot in here!" Julia teased. "O diyan ka muna Bright, hintayin muna natin makalayo si seven minutes mo." She then pulled Win to get outside of the closet.
"Shuta ka badet, ang pula mo. Naka score ka 'no?" Julia asked as they went back in the circle and sat down.
"Wag ka magulo diyan. He can't know that it was me."
"O eh bakit naman, as if magkikita kayo ulet after neto."
Win only smiled. "Malay mo."
Bright was thankful for the few minutes he had to stay inside the closet. That kiss grew his knees weak, and he wasn't sure he'd be able to walk decently once he stepped out. He took out his blindfold, ran his fingers through his hair, took a deep sigh, and slowly touched his lips.
Putang ina. Sino yun? Bakit ang sarap?
And if he just kissed a guy?
Putang ina pa rin. Bakit nga ang sarap?
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