Michaels in Love (BoyXBoy) English

Chapter 7 - Season 1: Tangled

The clock read 8:30 PM as I boarded the LRT heading to Legarda Station. Exhaustion weighed heavy on me, not just from the intense tryouts earlier but also from the other tryout with Mike in the men's locker room. Needing a moment to rest, I leaned back, holding onto the pole, and soon felt my eyes close. Sleep claimed me as the train hummed along its tracks.

In my brief slumber, vivid scenes from earlier played in my mind—the heat, the urgency of our shared moment in the locker room. My heart raced even in my sleep. The sudden announcement over the speaker startled me awake: "Arriving at Legarda Station. Paparating na sa Legarda Station."

I opened my eyes to find the group of women seated across from me and a trio of flamboyant men standing nearby staring intently—at me. Or rather, at my lap. A cold realization hit me. The bulge. My bulge.

"Your abs and belly button are showing. They've been staring at you for a while now," whispered the man sitting beside me, his tone suggestive, almost indecent. I glanced down and quickly adjusted my shirt. Too late—the damage was done.

Before I could make my escape, the train doors slid shut.

"Next station: Recto. Ang susunod na istasyon ay Recto."

Great. I missed my stop. Flustered and embarrassed, I resigned myself to waiting for the next train back to Legarda.

As the train neared Recto, my phone buzzed with a message. It was from Mike.

Let's just forget what happened. I got carried away. Don't think this means I like you. I'm sorry. I'm not gay. And don't you dare reply because I'm with my girlfriend right now. Let's keep things casual, like nothing happened. Okay?

His words stabbed at my chest. I stared blankly at the screen, the weight of his rejection sinking in. As I left the LRT and re-entered the station to catch the next train, my mind swirled with memories of his lips on mine, his touch, the momentary euphoria. My heart raced not from exertion but from an ache I couldn't suppress.

By the time I arrived at Legarda Station, the pain had transformed into an overwhelming longing. My steps were slow, heavy, as if my emotions weighed me down.

And then I remembered the one place I could unburden myself: the internet café. Without delay, I headed there, hoping that niceguy87—my only confidant—was online. As luck would have it, he was.

"Hi, how are you, niceguy87?" I messaged, my fingers trembling.

"I'm okay. Just got home," came his reply.

"Can you help me with my problem?" I typed, desperate.

"I'll try. What's going on?"

"I feel sad and happy at the same time."

"Mixed emotions, huh? Hehe," he teased.

"Yeah, something like that. I'm in a situation where I really, really like someone—a guy. I admire him so much, and I fantasize about him every day. But he's already taken. I thought he was straight, so I figured there was no chance for us. Then one day, out of nowhere, something happened between us. We kissed. Things went further. But now he's telling me to forget everything like it never happened. I don't know what to do. Niceguy87, please tell me—what should I do?"

He paused before replying.

"Hmm... Maybe he's not ready for this. And he's straight, right?"

"Maybe," I replied, unsure. "Or maybe he's questioning himself? Bi? Curious? I mean, why would he kiss me if he's really straight? But then, I've heard from his coworkers that he used to be quite the ladies' man before meeting his girlfriend."