Luto na ang barbeque. Nakabili narin ng drinks, at ice.
They were seated like a circle, and nagkwekwentuhan sila, sharing their own stories.
Some of them, malala, habang ang iba naman, simpleng problema lang.
Si Valerie, confused parin sa gender issues niya. Si Rustin, hindi alam kung makakapasa o makaka-graduate ba.
Si Mark, his parents were on the bent of annulment.
When it was Daniel's time to share his story, nakinig ang lahat.
All of them have noticed Daniel's down mood. Kadalasan kasi, he was very lively and cheerful.
Although alam na ni Carlo, Conrad, and ni Cecille ang problema ni Daniel, they listened parin intently.
"Well..." sabi ni Daniel. "Im pretty down."
He was handling a glass in his right hand. "And...I just found out na si Brian, yung lover ko...may iba pala."
"Kanino mo nalaman?" tanong ni Valerie. She was smoking and drinking at the same time.
"He confessed it to me," sabi ni Daniel. "Siya ang nagsabi sa kin."
"And?"
"Naka-inom daw siya and nakipag-one night stand siya sa isang babae," sabi ni Daniel, emanating sorrow in his voice.
"One night stand lang pala," sabi ni Rustin. "May masma ba doon?"
Among their group mates, Rustin was the most insensitive. Probably because he was straight and single at the moment.
"I was actually thinking if papatawarin ko siya," sabi ni Daniel.
"Eh nagsorry ba siya?" tanong ni Carlo.
"Oo, he confessed it to me, and then he said sorry," sabi ni Daniel. "He's sincere naman."
"Kung yung reason lang niya is nakainom siya, ang lame naman," sabi ni Valerie.
"Iyon nga eh," sabi ni Daniel. "Im confused. Anong...anong masasabi niyo?"
After emptying his first glass, Rustin talked.
"Well, I say you forgive the dude. Ano bang naramdaman niya having sex with a girl? Nandiri ba siya o nasarapan?"
"Gosh Rustin, watch your words," sabi ni Conrad, half-irritated.
"Dude, hindi," sabi ni Rustin. "My point is, did having a sex with a girl made him straight or did it just confirmed his gayness?"
"Yeah, pero na break yung trust," sabi ni Cecille.
"Well, lets just say na break nga yung trust," sabi ni Valerie. "Pero mahal mo parin ba? If he's sincere, pwede siguro mapatawad?"
"Well, point ko," sabi naman ni Mark. "This dude, he didn't really crossed the boundaries, right?
Nagpatuloy pa siya. "I mean, yeah he had sex, but may point si Rustin. Malay mo, hindi naman pala nag-erect."
Medyo natawa sila. Pati si Daniel, natawa rin. Nag-fist bump si Rustin kay Mark.
"Nice one, dude," sabi ni Rustin kay Mark.
"Pag-isipan mo," sabi ni Cecille. "Think about it deeply."
"Well, he's gay right?" tanong ni Carlo. "He's straight?"
"Anong straight wala namang straight na magkaka boyfriend," sabi ni Rustin. "Patawa ka, Carlo. Baka bi pwede pa."
Carlo and Conrad stared at each other. "Hayaan mo na, makitid utak niya," bulong ni Conrad kay Carlo.
"Sex with a guy, I would never ever forget. Sex with just another girl, depends on the situation. Sex with Madonna, Cher, or Britney, I would totally forgive," sabi ni Conrad. "Because that only makes him ten times gayer!"
