It's a bar chord for Liam Ramirez whether Leo Quintero's shift from hater to fan is genuine or conceals darker motives─hard to play, so he simply goes along with it.
A-Side: from rival bands in high school, Liam as a newfound vocalist of the reignin...
WARNING: This chapter contains mature content with explicit language which may not be suitable for very young readers.
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NAPAKO lang ang mga paa ko sa kinatatayuan ko, nagdadalawang-isip sa sasabihin. "A-Anong gagawin natin pala? You just made up 'yong about sa thesis, 'di ba? Your brother was right." Sinundan ko siya nang tingin.
"Netflix and chill," he said, pushing the door to close without even looking at it.
I just watched Leo reached for the remote control of the TV, which he had left on the bedside table. With a quick flick, he powered on the TV and settled himself comfortably on the bed. He patted the space beside him, inviting me to join him. As I sat down, he navigated through the Netflix categories until he found what he wanted—Hunter x Hunter.
I didn't mind; I was fine with watching anything. He seemed confident that I would enjoy it too. As the episode began, he leaned in and whispered, "You'll like this one."
We watched intently as the story took place, he occasionally pointing out interesting details or sharing his thoughts on the characters. Suddenly, he remarked, "You're like Gon Freecs, always curious and adventurous," he said with a grin. "And I'm Killua Zoldyck, the loyal friend who's always got your back."
I couldn't help but smile at his comparison. Did he think about these things every time he watched it? The fact that he noticed those details or saw us—or me—in the things he did or watched. I didn't want to assume, but maybe he has feelings for me?
"Ang ganda, 'di ba?" Nakatingin siya sa'kin at pinagmamasdan ang reaksyon ko kung nag-eenjoy ba ako o hindi.
"Oo," sagot ko at makailang ulit niya na 'yang naitanong every opening and ending credits ng episode.
"Gusto mo pa manood? Baka may gusto kang panoorin?" I love how he consistently checks in to see if I'm still enjoying myself and having a good time, and even willing to switch what we're watching just to keep things enjoyable for both of us.
"Wala, sige, okay lang." Nginitian ko lang siya but deep inside there were millions of words I would like to say to him like how I appreciate him and all of the things he did.
"Food? Nagugutom ka?" tanong niya ulit sa'kin at kinuha ang phone niya, may tiningnan siya pero nag-focus lang ako sa pinapanood ko.
"Hindi, okay lang, busog ako." I just continued watching dahil na-ho-hook na ako sa mga nangyayari pero seriously, paano nagagawa ni Colleen na hindi ma-appreciate ang isang Leo Quintero? Like, what the fuck? For me, he's the man! But is he doing those acts of service with Colleen or is it especially just for us two? That's the question. Well, hindi ko alam. Hindi ko pa naman na-experience maging third wheel sa kanila.
Matapos ang isang episode, umalis si Leo sa kama. I asked him kung saan siya pupunta.
Sabi niya, may kukunin lang daw siya sa labas.
Naiwan akong mag-isa sa room niya. I paused at exactly where he left para hindi niya ma-miss ang ibang scenes though mukhang kabisado naman na niya ang buong kwento ng HxH.
What happened lately still hasn't sunk in to me. We jerked each other's cock, he fingered my ass, we touched each other's bodies and we even watched each other naked. The fact that I'm wearing the boxers that he made me wear tonight, hopefully it's mine, pretty sure he won't take it back, I mean, those made me feel that there's something awaits but I don't want to be led by my thoughts. Maybe, I'll just go with the flow, it is what it is.
Naisipan kong ilipat sa iba ang pinapanood namin. Nag-navigate ako sa remote at pumili nang mapapanood. Natagpuan ko ang sarili kong napahinto sa paborito kong BL movie na 'Call Me By Your Name', pero hindi p'wede, hindi 'to magugustuhan ni Leo.
Ibabalik ko na sana sa Hunter x Hunter kaso bilang bumukas ang pinto. "Sabi mo, wala kang gustong panoorin?" Nakita na ni Leo ang naka-flash sa screen ng TV.
"Hindi, ano... napindot ko lang," palusot ko at pagtingin ko ay hindi ko pa pala na-e-exit 'yong Call Me By Your Name.
"I know that movie," aniya at kinabig ang pinto. Napansin kong may mga dala siyang brown paper bags.
"Napanood mo?" I asked, watching him looking at the screen of the TV.
He nodded, "I love Timothee Chalamet's works, he's such a good actor."
"Perfect actor," I rephrased what he had just said.
"He is," he agreed, giving me slow head nods. "But I don't like that one, medyo bata pa ako no'ng napanood ko 'yan sa pagkakatanda ko. You know, hindi pa ako open sa mga gano'n dati. Maybe, ngayon magustuhan ko na? Who knows?"
"You're okay with it? I-play ko na 'to?" tanong ko sa kanya at naka-ready na ang kamay kong pindutin ang play button.
He just shrugged his shoulders, "No problem, mukhang gusto mo, e."
"Don't get me wrong," I called in, clearing my throat as if my soul was against on what I was about to say.
"Bro, I didn't say you're not straight..." he responded defensively, "that's fine, you can watch whatever you want to watch."
But that's not what I exactly meant, but sort of. "I-I mean, yeah... what's that?" I asked as I found a way to change the talk.
"Oh, right!" He seemed to be delighted that we shifted into a new topic. "Food. Binilan kita," he said, raising those brown paper bags na food pala ang laman.
"Sa'kin lang?" tawang sambit ko.
"We'll share, of course." Natawa siyang lumapit sa'kin. Sinabi pa niyang alam niya raw na tumanggi lang ako kanina pero he knew gutom na rin ako at apat na oras na rin kaming nanonood. Itinuloy niya pala 'yong pag-order online kaya pala nag-scroll siya sa Food Panda app kanina sa phone niya no'ng tinanong niya ako.
"Thanks, come here," sabi ko pa at sinalubong siya para tulungang ilagay ang mga food sa ibabaw ng kama.
As we settled in to watch "Call Me By Your Name," Leo had prepared a feast fit for a king. He laid out a spread of mouthwatering treats, including cheesy pizza, crispy fries, juicy burgers, and an assortment of snacks like mozzarella sticks, potato bites, and onion rings. To wash it all down, he had a refreshing supply of Coke and pineapple juice in can, ensuring we stayed hydrated throughout our movie marathon.
"I'm getting hard, Liam." Napatingin siya sa'kin at sinilip din ang bumubukol sa kanyang ibaba.
"Really?" gulat kong tugon, napalunok ako nang makita ang malaking umbok sa pagitan ng kanyang hita.
"Yeah, I don't know why..." he said, his breaths too airy.
"Maybe, you're liking it," sagot ko. Maybe dahil din nakarami siya ng Snickers at M&M after niyang laklakin ang pineapple juice.
"I think I am, especially since you're here with me," he said. Did he mean he's imagining me while he's watching? I was sure I'm Elio in his mind and he's Oliver.
"Are you straight Leo?" I asked. Isang libong beses kong pinag-isipan kung itatanong ko ba 'yon.
"Hell yeah, I am," Leo said, he seemed sure, or so I thought. "And you too, right?"
"Yes," I said, but that's a lie. I wanted to punish myself for being such a liar. It's for my own good, though. For now.
But then, he suddenly spoke, causing my thoughts to pause abruptly. Imagine my surprise when he asked me.
