BURN [Short story] √

Eight

30 minutes before the time na sinabi ni Jared ay bihis na ako. Nainip ako sa kwarto kaya bumaba ako at naabutan si Kuya sa may living room na busy sa laptop niya, nakakunot ang noo at parang may kaaway. Sinilip ko ang ginagawa niya at napansing nakikipagpalitan siya ng email sa isang company. I am not familiar with it kaya tinanong ko sya.

"What's that?" he jumped a bit in his sit at tumingin sa akin na parang nakakita ng multo.

"What the hell Levi! Don't scared me like that!" he bursted out. Tumawa ako ng mahina bago umupo sa tabi niya. He continue what he's doing while answering my question.

"It's actually a partnership email sa isang Software development company and the CEO is giving me a hard time. Damn him." he gritted his teeth while typing. Tinaas ko ang isa kong kilay kahit hindi niya kita.

"And what about him?"

"He wants me to be the representative of our company sa meeting. Well, you know me I don't like crowds and such. And he even talked to our dad na doon ako mag-office kapag sinimulan na ang Project!" he exclaimed.

He's overacting about this? I smell something fishy but I didn't have the chance to ask him kasi I heard a car horn in our gate kaya tumayo na ako at nagpaalam sa naiinis kong kuya. He muttered a small "goodbye" habang nakikipagpalitan pa rin ng argument. Nagmamadali akong lumabas at napasinghap ng makita ang suot niya.

He's wearing a black nike T shirt and rugged jeans na fitted sa kanya. He's wearing all black that's why lumitaw ang kulay ng balat niya. He's glowing. Damn. When he saw me ogling, he smrik then spread his arms..

"Where's my hug?"

I ran through him and hug him. I smell his Axe Gold perfume and I feel his nose on my hair sniffing. Can we stay like this, forever?

"Hey. Come on. Masasayang yung prinepare kong gagawin natin for this day." tumatawa nyang sabi habang kinakalas ang yakap namin sa isa't isa.
I pout but I went to another side of his car.

Sumimangot naman siya bago pumasok sa driver seat. I put my seatbelt on, and turn to his side to see him sulking.

"I don't like being treated like a girl Jared. I'm not a damsel in distress." I told him. He sighed then start the key.

"I know but you're my damsel in a beast form." he laughed. Receiving a smark from me.

The whole drive was fantastic. Kinuwento ko sa kanya ang nangyari sa amin ni kuya and he's more than happy than me.

"I'm glad at nagkaliwanagan na kayo. How about your parents?" doon ako natahimik at napatingin sa ibaba.

What about them? Do they matter? I sigh. Kahit anong gawin ko, magulang ko pa rin sila, pero hindi ko pa kaya ulit magreach out. I doze of my thoughts when I feel a hand grasped my fingers. Kinuha ni Jared ang kamay ko at itinapat nya sa kanyang mga labi.

He kissed it, that made me relax. He's really my safe haven.

Kaunting kwento lang about sa amin, we started as friends way back, we met at one of the party of our company when we were ten. Diyan ko narealize kung ano talaga ako, kung sino talaga ako. I wrote a letter for him na ibibigay ko sana sa kanya sa eleventh birthday niya but my dad found out and sumabog siya. My brother was 18 years old that time and he's the one to talked to dad. Later on, hindi niya ako pinayagang sumama sa kanila sa party but little did they know, after the party. My kuya and Jared sneaked out on my room, and then we talked about everything. And when I said everything, about us. Our sexuality and our feelings.

And here we are, always sneaking out and doing things with our hearts out. Open siya sa family niya about his gender and they're like good with it dahil ang kuya niya ay may sarili na ring pamilya to continue their bloodline. Heterosexuals and their families. Ugh.

Naputol ang pag-babalik-tanaw ko sa nakaraan nang makita ko ang pamilyar na structures sa may gilid. Nasa Mall of Asia kami.

"Okay, first is we need to eat muna. Let's get some fast food first?" he asked at naramdaman ko rin naman ang gutom kaya um-oo ako.

We ordered some burgers and fries because it's just afternoon at sabi niya may hinanda raw siya sa dinner. After that, we look for some movies and ang susunod pa na palabas ay 7 kaya napagdesisyunan naming magskating rink muna.

"Oh God. Phoenix Jared I swear kapag nagkasugat ako dito malilintikan ka sakin." he just laughed at my statement and continue flying around me.

"You look like a penguin." he mock me kaya naman hinabol ko siya.

At dahil nga master ako ng tadhana, i almost fell but luckily someone catches me. A man, probably at the age of my kuya, put me up. He looks like someone na kilala ko pero hindi ko maalala kung sino. Nabaling ang isip ko sa nagsalita sa likod ko at sa malakas na paghila sa akin.

"Get off him." madilim na sabi ni Jared. Tinaas naman ni Kuyang tumulong sa akin ang kanyang dalawang kamay habang nakangisi.

"Chill man. I've already eyeing someone. And he's too young for me." muli akong tinitigan noong lalaki kaya humarang sa harap ko si Jared.

"I said back off!" nakaagaw ng atensyon ang sigaw niya kaya umiling na lang ang lalaki at umalis.

" He looks like someone I know.. " he whispered before going out of the rink. Bumaling naman ng tingin sa akin si Jared while making his jealous face. The duck face.

"Iwan iwan mo kasi ako tapos kapag may nakita kang kasama kong iba magagalit." I crossed my arms on my chest while examining his face.

He just continue his pouting that's why I kissed him softly. Ngumiti naman siya kaya naparoll eyes naman ako. Napakamoody naman ng kabalyero ko.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pagskating at after that, nanood ng sine. He's just clingy and annoying dahil sa kanya hindi ko naiintindihan ang palabas kaya nagyaya na lang ako magdinner. Mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi nya at hinila ako palabas ng mall, sa may seaside. Iniwan nya ako sa may wall habang nakatingin sa dagat at sa papataas na buwan para kunin ang makakain namin. In 20 minutes bumalik sya with  korean foods and drinks at sabay naming pinagsaluhan iyon. Inilabas niya ang phone niya para magpicture kami, at magpatugtog.

"I wish this will never end." sabi niya habang nakatingin sa langit at pinaglalaruan ang kamay ko

"Trust me, this is only the first book. Marami pang chapters bago.ito magtapos." I said while resting my head on his chest. I can feel his heartbeat, his warm.

I just wish, this will stay forever.