PERSUASION

Chapter 1

Note: This story is mostly in English but since it is set in Manila, Philippines, some Tagalog words are inevitable. For the benefit of my non-Filipino readers, translations for the Tagalog dialogues are provided and are enclosed in brackets [] and are in italics. Please let me know if you need explanations for any cultural references or such throughout the story.

It is a usual Friday night in Manila. Rush hour. The streets are filled with cars, buses, and jeepneys all stuck in traffic. Jeepney barkers shouting for passengers compete with the sound of car honks from impatient drivers. At the sidewalks, people are hurriedly walking to their destinations, side-stepping the vendors selling anything from fruits to cellphone chargers. The darkness of the night is eased by the lights of the establishments lining the streets. The cacophony of this urban city is even more pronounced with the blaring speakers of some stores hoping to catch the attention of potential consumers.

Even the trains are nearly full tonight, filled with the general chatter of people with their companions or on their phones, joined occasionally with the announcements over the train speakers.

In the middle of this noise stands Kit, a man in his mid-20s, dark-haired and medium-toned skin. He remains unbothered by the chaotic environment, with his earphones muffling the sounds. He knows he is catching quite a few eyes in his outfit - tight ripped skinny jeans, black boots and a crop hoodie that shows his midsection with even the slightest lift of his arms. But that is the point of the outfit - a tease of what's on offer.

Kit reaches for his phone and sees a notification. It reads: Had fun last time. Are you free tonight?

He rolls his eyes and instead of replying, switches to a music app and switches the song to an upbeat Thai one. He has just put away his phone when he notices a man staring. That man sitting on the train chair just in front of Kit is trying to be subtle about it but Kit knows the look of interest when he sees one - especially one that is masked with disapproval and laced with contempt.

Ah good old internalized homophobia. Isn't it wonderful? He thinks with a wry twist of his mouth.

He could have let it go. There are plenty where that came from here in the Philippines. But Kit wouldn't be Kit if he didn't somehow mess with this person's brain.

And he's utterly bored anyway. Might as well have some fun.

So he pretends to yawn and stretch, further lifting his hoodie and revealing sculptured muscles he worked hard for (he did not pay those gym memberships just to flirt, contrary to popular belief) and then with a seductive twinkle in his eyes, smirks at the guy.

I know you want me.

The guy looks properly scandalized and glances away with a frown but not before Kit sees the tinge of red in his cheeks and ears.

Getting hot under the collar there?

Kit wants to laugh. But instead he shows mercy by keeping quiet and concentrating once more on the music he was listening to.

At his stop, Kit still has his earphones on when he joins the already crowded streets. The tempo of the music had just reached its crescendo when someone he passes by tries to stop him with a stuttered "Excuse me-".

He doesn't hear it, too engrossed in the music and the thoughts in his head. It is Friday night again, time to party, to get drunk, to take a stranger to bed for some amazing sex. It should be fun after nights of being bored out of his mind in his night shift job at a BPO company. The job pays well but ultimately, it gets too repetitive. He should be glad for his day - technically night - off. But somehow, he can't muster the same enthusiasm for it as he had before.