Chapter 18

Isinama ako ni Heikenz sa dinner niya with Miles tonight. I don't know how Miles would say about my stay here pero for sure, magtatanong 'yon on why I decided to stay. Hindi rin naman ako pwedeng magtagal dito. I'm only here as a tourist, not a resident o kung ano man. Pwera na lang kung may gustong magpakasal sa akin, but that's another thing and I'm far from getting into that point. May iba pa akong bagay na kailangang gawin.

"What do you think Miles would say?" I questioned.

He creased his forehead. "About you staying here in Bangkok?" Tumango ako sa tanong niya. Lumapad naman ang ngiti nito sa mukha at bahagyang natawa pa. "He sounds so happy when I talk to him earlier. I don't think he will make you feel bad about your decision. He's happy to invite you for dinner so I think there's nothing to be worried about it. You're in good hands, Andrew. You'll be good."

Pinatong nito ang kanyang kamay sa ibabaw ng kamay ko and that gesture assured me and that he was right about it. Lakas na lang din talaga ng loob ang kinukuhaan ko ng lakas kung bakit koi to ginawa.

I wouldn't have done this idea in the first place kung wala rin akong mga kaibigang nagpu-push sa aking gawin 'to. Hindi ko sinabi kay Cely itong plano ko, but I guess Caro already did tell her. Alam kong susuportahan nila ako kung ano man ang mangyari sa akin dito. If anything goes wrong, e 'di kasalanan ko, mga babaitang iyon.

Pero kinakapitan ko ngayon ang mga sinasabi sa akin ni Heikenz ngayon. Wala pa akong ideya kung ano nga ba talagang mangyayari sa akin ngayon dito sa Bangkok, pero ready ako—hindi magpa-opera pero kung ano mang hamon ang dumating. Napaka-drama ko naman.

Nagpaiwan lang naman talaga ako kasi baka mutual feelings kami ni Heikenz. Well, ang assuming ko sa point na 'yon. But I was looking for a sign and the moment he has kissed me, I knew that was the sign I was looking for.

Iyon nga ba ang sign na hinahanap ko?

Not that long when we finally reached the place he was talking about. Kami ang nauna sa restaurant just around Bangkok pa rin naman. Malapit na raw sina Miles at ang asawa nito pati na rin iyong isa nilang babaeng kaibigan.

"Kinakabahan ako..." aniko.

Heikenz chuckled at what I said. Umiling naman ito at pinatong ang kamay sa braso ko. "No, you're not. And you don't have to be scared of them. They're good friends. If Miles didn't tell you about me then that's the part you should be worried about, but then here you go."

I feel good—that's what should feel, but I'm still worried and shaking inside. Hindi ko lang pinapahalata sa kanya 'yon. I never really planned to stay in Bangkok, biglaan ito. BIglaan ang lahat so I'm adjusting to this new setup of mine.

Ilang saglit lang din naman ay may itinuro si Heikenz and then we saw Miles and his husband, I guess walking towards our direction. Nanginiginig ang labi ko sa pag-ngiti nang makalapit sila sa amin. They hugged us—like a normal hug and they've asked me what I'm feeling. Naging totoo naman ako sa sagot ko na kinakabahan talaga ako.

"I'm glad you stayed, Andrew. Hindi ko in-expect na gagawin mo 'to, but I'm happy for you."

"Thank you..."

"So, where's your friend?" he asked.

"Oh, she left just a moment ago," sagot ko. "She needs to go back to Manila na. Hindi pwedeng pati siya mag-extend din ng vacation niya. Pupunta rin kasi 'yon sa Las Vegas so she has to leave..."

"He didn't tell her about that though," singit ni Heikenz.

Napangiwi na lang ako.

"Oh, really?" he sounds so surprised. Tumango na lang din ako. "Well, if you think that your stay here will benefit and help you, then that's a good decision for you. Wala namang mali kung sa tingin mong makabubuti ito sa 'yo. And I'm sure Heikenz will keep you company at all times."

Heikenz chuckled, nodding. "Yup, sure thing!"

Pinakilala naman sa akin ni Miles ang asawa niyang si Calvin Carver. They looked so cute together at deep inside ay inggit na inggit ako sa kanilang dalawa. They were married the fact that they don't listen to what people around them said, 'yong peace of mind talaga ang habol ko kaya nandito rin ako sa Bangkok.

A moment later ay dumating na rin ang isa pa nilang kaibigang babae. Pinakilala rin naman nila sa akin si Tanya Gregorio—isang Filipina naman na limang taon nang nagwo-work dito sa Bangkok.

"Alam mo isasama ko sana jowa ko pero naalala ko, pinagpalit nga pala ako sa ibang lahi kaya nevermind na lang," ani Tanya.

"Gaga ka, hindi na jowa ang tawag do'n. Ex na girl, ex na!" Pagpapamukha ni Miles sa kanya.

"Ay, grabe siya sa akin! Alam ko naman. Saka ayos lang na hindi kami nagtagal. Maliit ang uten, bakla. Hindi man lang sumasagad sa kaibuturan ko. Walang saya. Parang sumasayad lang, gano'n!"

Nagugulat na lang ako sa usapan nilang dalawa and Heikenz seemed so into it as well. Nang mapansin nila na sobrang tahimik ko saka sila natawa rin.

"Oh, pasensya na, Andrew. Ganito lang talaga kami mag-usap kapag nagkikita kaming magkakaibigan. Minsan lang kasi 'to kaya labasan na ng bago at kung ano-ano pa. Masanay ka na rin!" ani Miles.

"True lang!" dagdag ni Tanya. "Hindi kami nangangain, a. Though alam naman natin kung anong kinakain natin so yeah, pero may exemption sa circle natin so 'yon. walang subuan!" Tawa pa nito.

"We should get dinner na inside baka iba pa ang makain ko," sagot naman ni Calvin. Mas lalo pang nanlaki ang mata ko nang tingnan niya si Miles.

Kapag naaalala ko na magkasasama kaming magkaibigan at ganito rin kami ni Caro kawalang hiya sa kung saan-saan man, nakahihiya nga talagang pakinggan! Ngayon ko lang na-realize kung gaano pala talaga ako ka-dirty. But that's the reason kung bakit happy ang love life ni Mareng Cely ngayon—pampalubag loob, yes.

Sumunod na naman ako papasok sa loob ng restaurant. We were assisted by a staff then Miles and his husband just started picking orders off the menu. Tinatanong naman nila ako kung ano gusto kong kainin at bigay lang din naman ako nang bigay kung anong pwedeng kainin and they were just listing it together with their orders.

Siniko naman ako ni Heikenz.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked.

"I'm good..." tipid kong sagot.

"See? There's nothing to be nervous about. They already like you."

"Thanks for inviting me here though..."

He smiled. "No, problem. And I don't want you to stay at home alone so might as well bring you here and to make friends. There's more to do tonight so I hope you're not tired yet, alright?"

Napangiti na lang ako bilang sagot sa kanya.

"So, Andrew, how's your week in Bangkok?" tanong ni Miles. Napunta na sa akin ang atensyon ng lahat nang matapos ang pagbibigay ng order sa crew.

Napalunok ako ng laway. Hindi ako ready sa pang-miss universe na sagutan, but I have to nail this lalo na't kasama ko pa si Heikenz. Kapag sinabi kong hindi ako nag-enjoy, it would make him feel so bad dahil siya ang naging tour guide namin for a week and to be honest, I enjoyed every single thing we did.

"It was great," panimula ko habang iniisip ko pa kung anong idurugtong ko. "Super enjoy kaming dalawa ni Caro. No'ng nasa plane kami, we really don't have a plan kung ano-anong mga gagawin namin. Basta nag-base na lang kami kay google kung anong best destinations ang pwedeng mapuntahan sa Bangkok, but you happened and told us about Heikenz. There are a few instances na may mga maliliit na problema, but it all sort out. Everything happened for a week was memorable and thanks to Heikenz for making that happen."

Heikenz blushed, out of words and he's totally cute with his kind of reaction.

"Good thing talaga na nagkausap tayo sa airport no'n," ani Miles. "And you know what, babe." Lingon nito sa kanyang jowa. "Hindi ko 'to nabanggit sa 'yo, but they were actually hitting on me. Kung hindi ko pa sinabi na may asawa na ako, they would probably chased me palabas ng airport."

"For real?!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Tanya.

Natawa na lang din naman ang asawa ni Miles and I felt so embarrassed with that. Plano kasi iyon ni Caro na lapitan namin siya dahil bet niya si Miles for me. Halos gusto ko na lang magpalubog sa lupa nang mangyari 'yon. Akala ko nakalimutan na niya rin 'yon kaya ito na naman ako, hiyang-hiya na naman ako.

Hinagingan ko ng tingin si Heikenz at natatawa rin ito.

"Is that why you called me?" Heikenz asked.

"Yup!" Tawa pa ni Miles. "After that scene, I had to call you and it was hilarious. Remembering it now feels so good. But thanks for hitting on me, Andrew. I appreciate that."

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" Calvin asked.

Umiling ako. "Wala, e. I've been single for years na rin. Puro hook-ups lang."

"Ay,girl! Tigil ka na riyan sa hook-ups, 'di ka talaga magkaka-love life niyan," babala ni Tanya.

"Ay nagsalita ang puro hook-ups ang ginagawa," gatong ni Miles kay Tanya.

"Shh ka lang!" usal ni Tanya.

"Single 'yang si Heikenz." Turo ni Calvin kay Heikenz. Nilingon ko naman siya. Hindi pa rin naalis ang ngiti sa labi niya. Para bang naka-glue na 'yon sa mukha niya. "Jowain mo na 'yan."

"Straight 'yan si Heikenz, e," aniko.

Natahimik naman sila sa sinabi ko kaya naman nagtaka ako kung bakit gano'n ang reaksyon nila. I was looking back and forth to see their faces, but then they all had the same expression and it felt like I said something wrong.

"Oooh..." Tanya swooned. "So, hindi mo alam?"

"Ano 'yon?" tanong ko saka tumapon ang lahat ng tingin kay Heikenz.

"Ah... yeah, I'm gay... I just didn't say a word about it since I don't wanna make a scene and make it all about me, sorry..."

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig ko. I feel like the given sign I had the other night was really for me. I contained what I'm feeling inside. Kinubli ko na lamang muna at hinayaan ko kung anong sasabihin nila. Tumango-tango na lang din ako. I'm still shocked.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked.

Muli akong tumango. "I didn't know... well, hindi halata."

He chuckled. "I get that a lot, but yeah... I like boys."

"We all are!" sagot ni Tanya.

Nang dumating naman ang order naming pagkain. Tahimik lang ako. Hindi ko alam kung anong reaksyon ang ibibigay ko. Nang magsimula kaming kumain, I was just eating my part. Para ang dami kong kagagahan ngayong gabi at parang gusto ko na lang bumalik sa kwarto namin at palipasin 'tong araw na 'to.

I feel so embarrassed pero ano nga bang ikahihiya kung kalandian goal nga naman, 'di ba?

"I think this is the right time to ask this," Heikenz said. "I'm wondering my Andrew keeps calling me Ketchup and I'm still thinking about it until now... so why?"

I chuckled. "It sounded like a brand of ketchup kasi. Mas madaling banggitin."

"Ahhh!" He was so amused upon realizing that. "I get that now. I was so slow. I'm sorry for that."

"No worries, trip ko lang talaga tawagin ka no'n hangga't sa nakasayanan ko na."

"Tingnan mo 'tong dalawang 'to," ani Tanya. "May nickname na agad sa isa't isa. Ikaw ba, Heikenz, may tawag ka na ba kay Andrew?"

He shook his head, "As of now... not yet. I'll think about that, don't you worry."

"I'm happy for you, guys." Miles said, smirking. "Anyway, after our dinner here, we'll be going to have some party, right?'

"Absolutely!" Calvin said.

"Sana may boys!" Tanya crossed her fingers.

"Sasama ka sa amin, Andrew, ha?" Miles said. Napatango na lang din ako sa kanya.

The next thing I knew, I felt Heikenz hands on my legs and he just caressed it for just a few seconds and then remove it.

I'm still wondering how my stay here in Bangkok will go dahil hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin akong ideya kung saan man ito patutungo, but hearing everything now, all are surprised... and I'm kinda happy that Heikenz and I have some mutual likes to boys.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much

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