MIXED SIGNALS

Chapter 2 - The Dreamboat

Second update today my dears! I'm going to try to update as often as I can pero the most na twice a day but no assurance of two updates on a workday ha? 

Anyway, time to meet our ficAlden, very different from characters of the past  stories I've done. He has a mysterious past, there are many layers to his personality. He's sensitive, he works hard, he's confident professionally but shy with the opposite sex. I really, really hope I do justice to his character because it's really tricky to make him someone you will like for your friend or sister. You'll see what I mean as you read the future chapters.

The one thing this fiction's message hopes to convey: there is always more to a person than what one sees or hears. Each person goes through a series of experiences that make or break them, and the most painful thing any person will ever go through, is to be boxed into a label for a mistake or past that should not define them.

Feel free to share your views, ok? Can't wait to see your comments :) 

There's a new girl in Marketing and everyone is talking about her. Alden shakes his head at the stuff he hears about her, and he's pretty sure some of it is hyped hearsay.

Maine, as she's called, is tagged as Girlfriend ng Bayan. They throw her name around like some Hester Prynne with a red 'A' embroidered on her chest. He feels a little sorry for her even before knowing the story behind her infamy. But he can relate with it, oh boy, he can.

Alden Richards has the makings of a golden boy. He's tall, lean and muscled in the right places. 

His face has universal appeal, meaning any type of woman regardless of age will fall for him, no exceptions. His eyes can be intense or dreamy, his chiseled jaw can stretch in dimpled perfection to show off a million-dollar smile.   

He is also well-liked, gets along with practically anybody he works with, but can command attention and respect whenever necessary. He also loves kids and they love him back.

Now if only he were straight.

Yes, people perceive him to be gay. How can they not? He hangs around with the belles of advertising and sales, even if he's one of the in-house architects under land development division. He wears pastel shaded clothes, is uber-neat in appearance and his things, and is addicted to gym workouts. He's also vain, a trendy dresser and likes watching chick flicks with his belles. Everything about him screams gay, if those were the signs to go by.

Why does he like hanging around with his belles? Since day one, they've accepted him for being him, no questions asked. Even if it meant dealing with his OCD, overprotectiveness, and compulsion to work too hard, to the point of being boring. He hated being bothered by women, and the most effective way to keep them uninterested was to hang around with gays.

But was he really gay? Sometimes even he was confused. He definitely was not interested in men. But was he still interested in women? One of the reasons he liked hanging around with the belles was to keep women at bay. He liked that women stayed away from him, once they deduce he was gay. He had no desire to enter into a relationship with women, his uncomplicated life was good enough for him. He already picked up his friends' fashion sense, their choice of movies, and their lingo. And while his actions were far from effeminate, he didn't mind that his gay friends were physically affectionate with him because they knew where they stood with him. They were his friends after all.

Three years as Head Architect for Horizontal Planning in Phoenix Land taught him that gossipmongers were merciless. He knew they gossiped about his sexual preferences, especially after Kayla, the Business Development Manager, played the victim when he turned down her offer to spend the night in her apartment one time he took her home from a company event. She spread the word that he preferred men over her, and he didn't care. It in fact helped keep women away from him.

"Beshie, have you heard? There's a new Marketing Manager na. Kayla didn't get the role."

"Yeah, I heard. Seems like everybody knows this new girl."

"Eh, well, she's kind of a rebel. And promiscuous from what I hear."

"Bes, you know better than to listen to crap talk."

"Not saying I believe it naman. I wonder how well she'll blend in our team."

"Just give her a chance to immerse, I know it's tough being the newbie."

"Paano yan, you'll be working closely with her on the model units?"

"So? As long as it'll be just work, we'll get along. Huwag lang ako kulitin for......other stuff."

"Suuuuusssss, baklang 'to, arte-arte."

"Gaga.......kaya ako nahahanash eh kadaldalan mo. Balik ka na nga sa lungga mo."

He slaps Cass in the butt to which he yelps and saunters away. His co-architects watched the display and shook their heads. Alden was a decent guy to work with, he was a nice hands-on boss who isn't afraid to pass on whatever knowledge he has to those under him.

But they frown at the company he keeps. He avoids going out on a drink with them at the girly bars they go to with their project contractors. He dislikes playing basketball, even though a former batchmate who used to work with them says he used to be a star player back in high school, and almost got drafted to play for one of the top universities.

He's a nice guy yet not one of the architects want to hang around with him and vice versa. He mostly keeps to himself, and when he does socialize, it's with the belles from marketing and sales. He does not have a single social media account, but is as tech savvy as they come, always updated with the latest games on mobile. He was a walking contradiction, and so many women sigh when he passes by, thinking what a waste of such a fine specimen for him to be gay.

There are reasons for his gayness, one that only the belles know. And he would prefer keeping these things to himself and the belles, even to the point that he himself is convinced he may be, indeed, turning gay. He dislikes women, is repulsed by anything to do with them. And sticking with the belles works.

There's a running bet among the rough and tumble 'barakos' of the office, the engineers from civil works and quality assurance. Some aren't that convinced that he is gay, and some know he is so. A wise guy placed a bet that it would take THE Maine Mendoza to bring out the man in him, and many have joined in the foray.

It was going to be an interesting few months ahead for the 'barakos,' as they watch the two interact with eagle eyes and waiting pockets.

Would the "Girlfriend ng Bayan" make a man out of Alden?