CAUGHT (REVAMPED)

11

Elijah Alkie Rivera

"How long have you been here?" I asked my landlord curiously habang nage-eat kami ng brunch namin.

I'm surprised na we have quite a lot of similarities sa lifestyle... more on the unhealthy side. But it's still similar though. Hehe.

"Two years ago. I lived with my boyfriend and when we broke up my brother lived with me but he's gone as well," he answered lazily while ako namilog na ang mga eyes dahil sa biglang pag-out niya sa akin.

"Is that... okay?" I asked carefully, sounding a little confused and worried.

He raised his brow at me. "The what?"

"You know, telling me about your gender?"

He looked totally unbothered. In fact, he looked more confused. "What about it? I know you're gay, Elijah, so what's the point of hiding it from you?"

My mouth gaped open. How did he...

"Stop looking at me like that. Kahit pumikit ako, kaya kong hulaang bakla ka."

I pouted. Why did it sound mean when he said it? I know I act very feminine like your stereotypical gay here in the Philippines but meron din namang feminine guys ah!

"I know what you're thinking and no, you don't look like one. You're just gay, Elijah. Is it that much of an issue? Are you still hiding in the closet?"

Sunod-sunod akong umiling. "Well, you're right naman. But I guess, I still find this kind of talk as something intimate and controversial. That's why I was taken aback when you said it with a straight face."

"If you become comfortable with yourself, these kind of conversations will come more easy in the future," he lectured solemnly.

I nodded my head and smiled. I really did not expect we'd be sharing a meal tapos I can talk and express myself pa comfortably around him.

"How was your third day as my official housemate so far?" He asked after he finished his food.

I drank some water muna before I looked at him and grinned. "It was really great. I just feel bad kasi I judged you from the beginning. I thought you were a killer of some sort."

Mahina siyang natawa at tumango-tango. "I get that a lot. But there's nothing I can do with my face. I'm born with this."

He pointed at his face and I giggled.

"You're handsome kaya! Siguro because of your eyebags?? It's really dark. Maybe you should try like mga eye creams ganun. I have sa room ko, you wanna try?"

"Is that even effective? And even if I put it on, I rarely sleep. My insomnia ako. Sayang lang ng pera."

I gasped. "It's not! It's going to make you look nice and pretty. How are you going to get laid if you don't take care of yourself?"

He gave me a weird look. "Really, Elijah? All for that to get laid? Wala na akong interes sa mga bagay na 'yan."

I was speechless for a moment. What happened that made him talk like that? Healthy, young, gay and fabolous people like us should be out there and exploring life not be bitter about it.

"That sounds so sad po. Sex is yummy if its with the right person. Although, I experienced a lot of bad things, there are times naman na it's super yummy and nice."