Eventide and Amorsolo

The silhouette of their shadow bathe in the purple aura of the night with the yellow and white hue coming from the television left open was scattered along the white walls of his room in the darkness. The noise was a blend of mumble from the low volume and the mechanical hum of the air conditioner that was muffled from the noise they are making. And above all that was their wet lips and body caressing against each other filled the remaining atmosphere loud enough not to make the street wake up but enough for the passerby to be curious to hear a bit more from what they initially heard.

Between the entangle skins was their heat against each other that despite the cold winds of the AC, was nothing to their naked body in fight for dominance as they exchanged kiss and licks. Their minds were tuned to the sweet delight and aroma of one another that the little inconveniences from the room didn’t bother them. 

“What would you do Rodrigo, now that the company is in ruins?” said Melissa to his lover, from the television as a teleserye plays on in a low volume, something they decided to watch just to let time pass before they got freaky with one another.

Rodrigo, the CEO of the meat logistics company like any other teleserye that there is, having a specific and lucrative business that weirdly prompts them having an office in the skyscraper of Metro Manila, has his scandal of having an affair with his wife’s friend be broadcasted all over the tabloid and has to kill the CEO of the rivaled company, something that is for future reference based on past episodes. 

“Let me think,” Rodrigo shouted at Melissa as he sulks at his office chair, crossing his hands and burying his hands over trying hard to think.

He had fucked a lot of men and women, as much as he could count, and each of them were nothing but just to satisfy the missing piece he still yet to figure out. And as he knows it, a touch of another is enough satisfies the gap. A taste all too familiar still lingering on the surface of his senses.The fingers intertwined between his. The heat of their body and the scent it produces after a while. Their touch and how they run their finger over his body, examining his skin. They were all the same to him. Nothing stood out.

Even every time he was looking at the eyes of the person he was fucking, came the flashes of images of different faces in front of him until all he could see was a grey faceless being. Nothing more, nothing less.

But as he looks at hers, he could see it different. Even from the moment they met. And from point on, he could feel fear again, something he was running from, but all the comfort and satisfaction it gives is just something he couldn’t resist. 

“What?” she asked of him as he felt her fingernails dig beneath his skin.

“Nothing,” he said as he closed his eyes and went to kiss her again. Slowly, his lips move away from her own down her body. She could hear her moan silently and for reasons was louder than the mumble of the atmosphere. 

He remembers the first words she asked of him when they met. 

How was it?

To be honest, it was more than he could hope for. After all the people he had meet, there was nothing to it but just fleeting moments of gratifications with exchanges of menial topic about today’s politics, trends, work, and tidbits of one’s self. 

As they only live life at the moment, there was nothing to pretend about. No need to insert one’s self to appear as interesting as they could be when most people are just there pick and choose someone for a moment’s notice. 

But when he was talking to her, it was more than any of those. 

I expected more. 

That was what he answered. 

Albeit about something different, this was his more but it was something he was not expecting. 

“Deeper,” she whispered as he runs his tongue on her more aggressively. Tired from her legs being raised by him, she broke free and wraps his neck in between. He didn’t fight the pressure; instead, he went along to eating her savagely.

After feeling like he had drowned, he finally stood up and inserted his dick inside of her as he begins to thrust slowly. She was drunk with lust and euphoria that her face was painted in red. In fact, her snow skin was not vandalized with blood. 

He lay in front of her as she fondles her breast between his hands. She hugged him close to her with their head resting over each other’s shoulder. 

He wasn’t expecting this kind of night to happen. To her anyways, he told himself. She was far yet magnetic. Every word she spoke of lures him to stay but her demeanor gives him signal to stay off the line. Something he respected to anyone he meets. 

But she kept on calling to him. In the dark alley, she was the only light. And despite how much he runs towards it, it kept on getting farther and farther. 

How he ended up with her is a miracle to him.

“More,” she commanded as soon he found himself pounding harder and faster. With his eyes closed, the dark vision turned into swirl of color and light along the surface of the dark water as he could feel pure ecstasy as he felt her teeth biting his left ear from the pleasures she’s having.

“I am getting close,” he whispered, stuttering as he focuses on the pleasure around his shout.

“Me too,” she said back at him with her grip around his body getting righter and tighter. 

Suddenly, he felt something warm and moist around his penis and the pleasure made him stretch his neck as he bit his own lips and the colorful water turns to the colorful stars along the dark universe. All together they shine and sparkle under the dark. 

After finally realizing it all in her, she pushed him over the side of the bed as catch their breath from the tiredness they felt after climaxing. He looked at her side as she closed her eyes imagining and concentrating to every breathe she took and exhales. The sweat falls slowly down her face and body as if she just went for a run. When she opened her eyes, he found him staring at her again. 

“What?” she asked. He wasn’t sure if she was annoyed or if she was just weirded out, he could not detect. Either way, he let it slide. 

“Nothing,” he answered a generic respond that left no room for follow up. 

He had missed this kind of feeling. The happiness of companionship. Despite the dark night, the warmth coming from her skin felt as if it was of the sun. Suddenly, the room was bright as if it was morning outside. 

His mind drifted to his yesteryears when he was a kid, spending most weekdays with his friends and the weekend with his family. When he was in college, most days he would hang with his friends. When they graduated, they have hopeful eyes beyond they could comprehend. 

Yet as years went by, all of it would be gone. 

And all that he could remember was the sweetness of the warmth that for unexplained reason resonates out of her despite the cold interior.

Her panting has now dominated the static noise enveloping his room. With each breathe that came out was a confirmation of the satisfaction. Even his own breathes where heavy and ecstatic..

She let the band holding her hair tight go loose as she stood up. “I am going to the bathroom,” There, in front of him, her body glow from the little light coming from the TV and the world outside as beads of sweat starts to fall faster with gravity. 

“You could join me if you want,” she said blankly as she marches towards his bathroom. 

He reached for the remote and turned the television off seeing only his reflection on the black screen with his naked body exposed on a messy bed.He stood up as he took his pack of cigarettes on top of his bed stand and went to the balcony for a smoke. He let his naked body be exposed to the sleeping city as he tried hard enough to light his cigarette against the strong wind of the night extinguishing the flame of his lighter. When he was finally able to get it lit, he immediately took a breather in and let the smoke out in the open. The warmth of the cigarette made him feel calm despite the bitter taste and the thin line of grey smoke fused with the clouds drifting steadily along the sky.

He felt the cold surface of the railing touching his penis. When he look down, he could still see that he still have some libido in him. He let out a sigh and continued smoking as he watched the night. 

Some people passed by giving him a hard look. He was not sure if in the dark, they could see his body completely exposed. If not, he didn’t care. If it does, he was more welcome for them to see more. That thought didn’t help him to settle the remaining rage inside his penis. 

Instead, he just gave them a small wave of hello in order to tease them more. He laughed at his own ridiculousness. 

And all the while, half his mind was back to wondering who she was. 

He had met more than enough of strangers he had bed. And more enough of strangers he had bonded more than consuming their flesh. They had deeper connection about what it is like to walk together in this machinery but all too failed in one form or another throwing him back to the deep end. He was used as a tool once. He was not the person he thought he could be. And when the realization of who he was had manifested, he was left alone again. 

But she was different. She was everywhere and everywhen, if it was even a thing, he amused himself. There were no chains and rules to follow except for the standard courtesy you give someone. 

And the more he spends the time with her, the more his memory dabbles to his past. 

He had surrendered into accepting this is what it is like to be adult. As much as you want to change, no one was willing to do anything. Alone, like any other, he played the game by the rules set of the previous generation and this, jailed his soul for an eternity of living in suffering on the surface of earth. To live and exist just to serve.

To be young, he told himself, was such bliss. Warm and open to possibilities only to fall to the cold harsh truth. 

As he was about to enter the room, he felt a cold body wrap around him. Between them was the slippery film of water. Her hand was placed around his chest and down his belly until she was able to grasp his hard on, massaging and stroking it simultaneously. 

“Still got some left in you I see,” she whispered into his ear. 

He wanted to ask her to stay. Get out of his room and spend the night outside as he drives the long empty road to the nearest sea side and watch the stars. To escape the noise of the city that is about to come in about hours from now just so they could talk more. But he was afraid that all this would fade away like everything he knew so he let his other head decide for him.

“I am still up for some fucking,” he answered without lowering his voice. He didn’t care if the neighborhood around him could here. He was having sex and he was proud of it. Childish as it may seem but this was the first time he found complacency in someone’s company so he promised himself to make the most of it. 

“Well,” she began, “I am done.” Hearing this made him frown from disappointment. “But I could give you a treat.” 

Slowly he turned around giving the public a view of his chiseled back and his ass this time. “What is it?”

She grabbed him to the bed and pushed him in as his body occupies the center. His body sank between the comforts and contour of the mattress welcoming his body. At the end, she slowly crawls as her head was just above his penis. She tied her hair again and immediately went to stroke his penis with her to hand. 

His body convulsed in pleasure and his body become rigid and stiff, his feet digging deep to the bed as he let soft moans escape his lips. This treat was alright, he told himself until he felt something warm and wet wrapped around him. When he opened his eyes, he saw her giving him a blowjob. He could feel the transition between the blowjob and the deep throat and as much as he wants to release it, he held on as the sheets crumpled between his hands, controlling his urge to pop. 

He looked at her again only to find her cold and piercing eyes looking back again. From his delirious state brought by pleasure, it was the last thing he saw of her until he passed out to complete darkness.

-

It always begins with his apartment, renting from his parents who are now overseas, as he plays his phone swiping left and right just after he came back from his exhausting work, finding the right person fitting for him to fuck, not that he thinks it will always end up the way he wanted it to be. He imagines himself pushing and thrusting in and would see if it would have any effect on him. But mostly, his desire for a casual intercourse exceeds what is physical and underlines behind what was hidden in the eyes. As soon as he had any reaction, he would chat them up to test the water if it was a match. 

He took a peak outside of his curtain to see what the neighborhood is up to. If few of them are still awake doing they are usually up to, he would invite his match on a place nearby instead. He hated driving at the wee hours but nothing beats the cold and gentle wind of Manila bay. And it opportunity permits, he could fuck his match at the hood of his car. Something he had only done once and has been looking to do again. But if the neighborhood has already gone to their slumber, he would invite his match over. He could make a meal for the two of them and have a more intimate conversation. Sex after this kind of nights is more passionate and intimate. Not that he had any complains for the wild and crazy ones he had. 

But as he looked outside of his curtain, it has always been the same. The lights emitting indicates that they were home. You could hear the faint noise of dishes and silverware from the distant as they prepare for their dinner while the faint noise of the characters from the teleserye overshadow the far distant noise. 

It was all too risky to determine the move he would like to make. 

Gone were the days adults and children would spend their time outside. Some, playing with cards and drinking beer. Some would just use their bike to traverse the nearby street. Now, everybody was consumed by their devices, much like him, he realized.

In the end, he closed the curtain and decided to think of any plan based on their agreed discussion if there would be one. 

Still in his uniform, he would sit in front of the television with nothing on except for his reflection slouching over the couch with his legs spread wide and his body sinking. Or that he would be laying on it as his phone was inches away from his face while leaving his stuff unturned, his shoes in front of the door blocking it when he wants to get out and his bag just sitting in front of the same door, being and obstacle to his path way when emergency comes. He left if there as he would pick it up later when he was about to go to bed, he told himself. 

In both occasion, he would left the television open and on low volume so that he could pretend he had a normal evening like any other evening. It has been a ritual of his to seem like a functioning human despite his lack of care about what other people thinks of him. Yet despite this, he had wasted hundreds of pesos in electricity on something he doesn’t really have to do.

He had several apps open on his phone. On some of it, he would swipe left and right to determine which he thinks best suits his needs. On some, he would browse on an array of profile and chat anyone who thinks is interesting enough. 

“Good day,” he would start the conversation formally just not to let them off once he got notify he had a match. Depending on who engage in the conversation first, he would leave a couple of seconds, or even minutes before even responding just to appear that he has some other plans going on for the night. 

“Hello,” was the usual reply. Or sometimes, hi, good morning, good evening, or whatever time of the day it was. There were times they would mimic his greeting. He was not sure if they took this to a psychology text book where mimicking someone’s body language made you perceive them as someone approachable. Sometimes, they would just leave an emoticon that would make him think hard of what to reply with. 

:)

How would hereply to that, he asked himself as he keep on swiping left and right and leaving messages to those he matches. 

Rarely, he would be reading what they’re interested at. May it be about books, music, movie, arts, or politics, it would be posted on their profile when you swipe up but upon chatting them up regarding their interest, they would just give him a vague expression of apathy which he finds ironic. 

“The Truman Show seems like what today’s vlogging looks like.”

“They have the same kind of system implemented in China like that one Nose Dive.”

“Even for a guy, I like Miley Cyrus. Especially her Plastic Heart album.”

Rarely it works as they find something in common, most times, it would be left unread and at worst people unmatching him. But that didn’t stop him for being a slut.

He used to read and found excitement in finding commonality among strangers you meet online but he had learned that it was nothing but a forefront just to market yourself. It is just that most people online, chances are, you would never be compatible with. For long lasting relationship. Except for fucking, he argued, a good fucking leaves a mark. A taste that would sit rightly on your mouth.

He would then be asking how was their day doing which they are more likely to give up on the information, may if be just watching, doing work, eating. It always makes the other party to talk. 

“So how’s work,” he would leave and after some hours, he would be receive a reply. 

“Nothing busy,” they would initially respond. 

“Really, that’s good. Mine’s a little hectic,” he would break the ice harder just to get the conversation going, “So, what do you do?” he would follow up which would lead for them to talk in a one way narrow street. He would comment on their reply and would ask for a follow up while all they have to do was supply the answer so he could make a conversation out of it. 

As they talk about what they’re currently doing, his mind was out in the open, their voice was coming from one ear to the other but his mind was on auto-pilot asking for follow up which seems to creep him as if he was watching himself do what he does from another realm. There was nothing wrong with being normal and seeking connection but he could see and feel the desperation he is in, he defended to himself. 

He had noted to himself the commonality in all of it. They were more lost than him, as he thought. That despite the presence of another human being on the other side of the conversation, they are still uninterested, as if their hearts are longing for something not found on the application they are using.

But on rare accounts, he would be able to talk someone with just a little spark and the other party would gas it up to make the fire huge. It was always a delight. A fire in the middle of the cold and dark night.

And after establishing a continuous communication, he would ask if they are availablefor the night and proceed with his usual plan but most often than not, they are about to take the night off or just going into it. When that comes, he would offer to meet them up and have a casual date on another day, just strolling about the mall and doing some window shopping.

Who could blame them to have their energy be drain by the huge entity that is called adulthood, he said to the empty air around him. 

But most nights, are nights when he is just too tired to do anything and even when he goes to his phone for pursuit of carnal pleasures, there was no one. 

One those nights where his luck has run out and the misfortune of the dark befallen him, he would be making himself a dinner. 

He would be taking out the entire ingredient he would need and place them on the table. He would submerge the frozen meat in water as he do his evening workout and take a bath. When he comes back, he would check the frozen meat and gauge if he would be microwaving it or let it thaw as he prepares the other components. 

After cooking a batch, he would serve himself and cool the remainder before placing it in the refrigerator for the remainder of the day. 

Some nights, he would eat leftovers or his prep meal that he had done for the weekend. But on special days where he had planned to splurge on himself, he would be having an interesting meal as he watch a movie he has been dying to see. 

That is another movie off the list, he would tell himself as he crosses if of an actual list he kept on this coffee table.

And before his time to sleep, he would continue his previous study, may it be another language, programming, or music theory just to expand his for his hobby until he tired himself out and drag his tired body across the bed. 

He used to do something on the side just to make sure his mind would not rot from the stagnation he has been feeling at his work and the responsibility of growing up. He made sure to lit his dreams aflame before it extinguishes to just ash. But alas, now a day, he would head to bed without eating any dinner and having his phone on his hand. If he ever had any meal, he would just steam chicken tights and cut vegetables and call it a meal. He could still taste food but everything felt mushy and tasteless to him eventually that he had given up on cooking and went to something simple just to give his body nutrients and fuel to burn. 

The silver lining to all this was that he was able to maintain his physique. The only meal he is looking forward to is his meal with his matches. 

Nights like this to him though, are nothing but an endless pursuit for connection that he is still afraid to admit. With a phone in his hand, the bright light illuminates the blue empty room. He had skipped a meal again as he preferred to eat with someone. And as time goes on, he could hear the mumble of his stomach that he chooses to ignore as his tired eyes are fighting the light of the screen only to fell asleep tired and exhausted and to wake up in a worst state.

-

He was strolling around the open Rizal Park as family and student alike enjoy the remaining hours of the sun before night be fallen. In front of his was a girl shorter to him by a foot who casually walks along the crowded path. He never imagined he would be matching with someone with such delicate features. 

“Could you walk any faster?” she mocked him as she stopped by manong to buy some dirty ice cream to fight of the heat. 

He hated heat especially when it is the kind that would make his sweat. He could hide it in the dark by wearing dark clothes but he would sweat a lot more. Any other lighter color, the sweat marks would be visible. He was only left with the color, white which would be susceptible from any skid marks as time went on. He hated dressing especially when he knows he would spend most of his time out in the sun. 

But after all that, he learned a trick to all of this, wearing dark and comfortable short sleeve polo. Anyone would be charmed by him and the sweat would only makes him appear more masculine, as far as consensus inside his mind was able to collect. 

But then again, it was the summer. Anything he would wear would make him like any waterfalls. Besides, he told himself, most people would worry about themselves so he has a free pass. But not girls. For some reason, they always exudes an aura of cleanliness and freshness that he envies. If he ever could pull it off, he would be a walking confidence. 

“What flavor do you like?” she asked him as manong gave her mango ice cream on a sugar waffle cone. Fruity flavor ice cream on summer is the best way to fight against off heat, at least in what he found. 

“Mango on bread,” he said to manong while raising two fingers. After taking the literal ice cream sandwich, his date paid. 

“Your treat?” he asked in awe. 

“You took me out for lunch. This one is on me,” she said with a smile. 

When he took a bite, the amount of bread overwhelms the volume of the ice cream that after chewing for a while, it was all bread. Even the heat didn’t help as it made the ice cream melt faster and be absorb by the mamon. What was worst is that it was a day old bread. 

“Should have gone for a waffle cone,” he said to himself and when he look at her date, ice cream was spilling on the side. She was struggling on he composure that their were tissue layer stuck to her sticky fingers. “You’re a mess,” he mocked her.

“Could you help me?” she asked as she gave him the cone which he ate instinctively as she watched in horror and dismay but even then, she could not contain her laughter. “What the fuck did you do that for?’ 

He looked at his empty hand baffled at what he did and just smiled at her. “Sorry,” was all he could say. “Come on,” he said as he grabbed her sticky hand, “Nothing gonna work on that. Better to get to a rest room.”

After the sudden surprise of what he did, he look at his hand intertwined with hers and shifted his gaze to her face. She smiled at him when she noticed and he smiled in return. He returned his gaze to the open atmosphere and wondered to himself why did he ever took his hand. It was very unlike of him, he commented, that maybe it was just a natural follow up reaction to his initial randomness. Feared he would be chastised for letting go he tighten his grip a little as they find the nearest bath room. 

After finding one, they went their own separate way as he washed his hand from the stickiness of the ice cream. The empty walls of the bath room echoed the noise of the running water. Despite being empty, he could hear the muffled footstep and gossip from the outside. When he got out, he saw her waiting for him, with a devious smile. This time, it was here who took his hand as she lead him inside the women’s CR. 

She pushed him in before looking the door. She turned around to find him surprised and standing idly in the middle of the comfort room. 

“Surprise,” she asked him as she slowly unbuttons the first two of her blouse. 

“Kinda,” he replied as he scratches his head, his eyes now focused on the cleavage behind the slightly exposed bra. 

“You’re not expecting anything?” she asked sarcastically. 

“Kind of something. Wasn’t expecting it now,” he admitted. 

Slowly she pushed him over the counter as he looked up at him with his hands crumpling his polo. Her tiny fingers made their way to the button as he opens them on by one exposing his bare hairy chest. Her hands went inside as she explores his chest finding his nipple and circling her finger around it. 

He closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of her cold finger rubbing against it.

“You like it don’t you?” she whispered and he moaned as a respond. 

After playing, she opened his polo completely to reveal his whole body. “Don’t,” she stopped him as he was about to remove it completely. He nodded without questions. She looked at the chiseled body while exploring it with his hands soon finding it below his waist, groping him from the outside of his jeans. The light squeezes made him hard immediately.

She unbuckled his belt and let him loose the jeans, seeing the layout out his hard dick traced over his boxer brief. As she touched them, the sensation sends him over his edge with another thick layer off. The warm touch gave his ecstasy. Before he could climax just from her touch, he open his eyes and look down only to find the top of her breast. She looked at to him and looked in just eyes. As he gulp and sweat from the sweetness of it, he gulped from the thirst. She nodded in agreement as she pulled his boxer brief and gave him a blowjob. 

At first, he was  holding on by the edge of the counter top but as soon as he descend deep down into pleasure, he slowly thrust his hips only to find himself later grabbing her by the head and burying her head over his dick giving her throat a fuck while he felt her fingers burying behind his legs. He moaned when he climaxed as he let her choke on his cum. After everything was out, she let go of her head and she immediately moved her mouth away from his dick as white liquid run from the edge of her lips. 

“God, I missed that,” she said as she stood up, wiping her lips with her finger and eating the remaining cum not letting anything go to waste. “Ready for round two?” she asked only to be answered by his scarred looks. 

“Two?” he asked in confusion. 

“Of course. I haven’t climaxed yet.”

But when they both looked at his dick, he found that it was already flaccid. He frowned at the thought that he could have climaxed inside of her but when she looked at him, she kept on smiling. She brushed his cheeks with her open palm as she let it feel his clean shave. Soon, he found her hand on his nape as he makes him lean closer to her. Her tongue played inside his mouth as they kissed and exchanged saliva. One of her hand brushing his long curly hair with her fingers playing and spinning it around while another hand was playing his dick, slowly getting hard.

His clothes are now ruined with his sweat and creases on his polo while her clothes are neatly tucked away and folded on the dry part of the counter table. But the image of his almost naked with his chest and stomach exposed and his lower parts are being played while she was completely naked made him feel like he was being serve.

When they broke off the kiss, he found that he was hard again. 

“I want to fuck you in front of the mirror,” he whispered, this time taking the command. She nodded in compliance. 

He bend him over in the counter table as he collect her hair and slap his dick in between her labia majora before inserting it slowly. He could feel the resistance at first but as he goes dipper, he could feel the warm and moist vagina lubing him. 

He put his hands over her hips as she fucks him slowly while she put one hand over her hand to control herself from moaning out loud. As time moves on, she was panting and leaking hard as he switches between his pace and the pressure of his thrust. 

“Take that,” he said as he gave a weak slap on her ass. 

“Faster,” she moaned. And so he did. 

He looked at the mirror in front of them and the image of his body fucking a petite figure made  him hornier. He placed his hands over her shoulder to fuck her aggressively with each pound producing an unpleasant noise of flesh slapping against a wet flesh. 

“I’m coming inside you,” he said as he keeps his thrust faster. 

“Do it,” she shouted softly inside the comfort room. He felt her climax first as he felt her cum run down his dick and down his legs. The warm liquid gave him pleasure which made him release soon after with his thrust going slower and slower savoring the last seconds of feeling on his dick. 

Still inside of her, they both panted to regain breathe and composure. He turned her around and gave her a kiss before they cleaned themselves before dressing. He looked at the mirror as he brush his polo trying to straighten the folds but as much as he tries, it would not leave. Defeated, he just went to straighten his hair and his clothes as neatly as possible. He took a sniff of himself just to make sure he still smells nice. 

“”I have never saw a guy to put much effort to his appearance,” she mocked him when he looked at her. 

“Until you met me,” he replied back, “You took fast to clean yourself.”

“I got nothing much going on.” She took his hands once he was finished to get out of the comfort room to find that there was a long single pile for the women’s CR. When everyone gave them a look, they darted off the place while leaving a trail of laughter in the air. 

They entered a café soon when they found out to rest for a while from the running, and sex, they just had. The place still had empty tables despite the long line and being crowded outside. He ordered a fruit smoothie and a piece of a chocolate crepe cake with a tall glass of water while she ordered and ice Americano with a macadamia chocolate cookies. 

They laugh while slowly finishing their snack, not talking, as they gather energy and strength to go back to their day. When he looked out of the window, the sky was almost purple and the sun bright orange slowly falling below the white line of the sea and the sky. 

Between eating his food and drinking his drink, he was giving her a look reading her to see how much he could see him besides her. But as soon as she looked back, the breaks his stare.

“That was too early,” he kidded as he took a big portion of his cake. 

“Yeah, I thought that we would be having our dessert after dinner,” she answered with no smile written across her face. He felt sudden guilt as it could mean anything to him but he assumed it was just probably due to the lack of energy. Even himself couldn’t get a big smile even after sex, not unless he had been pent up or he had just finished in bed. Whatever more it was to her, he doesn’t like to know. 

“No, I meant the,” he paused making sure that his voice was on low volume, “the,” he tried, to break of the freezing water, to say but imagining the word come out of his mouth made him fell like a guy just losing his virginity. 

“Oh, that,” a weak laugh escape her, “Just want to have try you out before the real deal.”

“The real deal?”

“In bed.” She took a sip from her coffee 

“What difference does it make?” he asked curious to what she meant.

“In bed, we are more relaxed. More focused.”

“Just that?”

“Just that.”

After finishing their snack, they walked ahead to SM Megamall. The night has overshadowed the sky and the density of the streets and walkway has doubled as students and workers are going home. Only the little light coming from the malfunctioned streetlights and being emitted the vehicles illuminated the dark city. But despite the depressing and dead tone of the city, the volume of people around them awake feel as if the night was barely surviving. 

Inside the mall was a sea of crowd that they pushed through only with their hands intertwined to make sure not to lose one another. They always have a phone but he found himself clinging to her tiny hand.

“What a weekend,” she commented, talking to herself. 

“Yeah,” he answered involuntarily.

“What?” she asked confused as her thoughts were elsewhere. 

Soon they find themselves quite in front of the theatre. He was uninterested in the movie showing and when he looked at her, she was already asleep. He placed his arms around her to gave her warmth as he closed his eyes and take the remaining hours to rest instead. When he woke up, he found her waiting for him as the screen was now pitch black and the little light of the theatre was blinding him. 

“You feel asleep,” she said, hiding the offended tone beneath. Instead of being a sass, he kept his mouth shut instead and let a weak response. 

“It was a tiring day.”

“Let’s go.”

As he stood alone watching her leave, he could feel that he was with someone different as if she was afraid not of him but of something that would happen later. As if after they had sex, something guilts her but when she turned around, her fake smile was convincing enough to make him follow her. 

“Where do you live by the way?” 

“Why?” she asked popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth. 

The city of Manila is slowly going to sleep. There were little cars passing by the streets as they lash by with speed because of the empty road. Street vendors are now only speaking instead of shouting but despite that, their voice echoes to the empty void. What escapes the chamber of silence was the loud laughs of students still roaming the city and the laugh of the drunkard. The city that was barely living is now cold dead.

“It’s already dark and I think it best that I drive you home.”

“It’s not because I’m little doesn’t mean I couldn’t handle myself.”

“Not what I meant.”

“You’re expecting for me to fuck you in bed?” she asked her voice now more coarse than her bubble ones. 

“No!” he shouted in defence.

“I could take care of myself.”

He didn’t say another word and just follow her to the train station before he goes back to Manila Bay where he had parked. 

As soon as the train arrived. He waved her goodbye and gave her a kiss on the cheeks. 

“Text you soon?” she said with a genuine smile hiding a fear he still to understand. 

“Text you soon,” he answered. She hopped inside the almost empty train with most seats being devoid of passenger. There were some who still choose to stand despite the spacious spaceone could rest in. The eyes of the passenger where either closed due to exhaustion or looking far away, spaced out in the distance. 

She gave him a warm smile before the door close. On the glass, he could see nothing expect his reflection and the blurring image of her as soon as the train departed. Once the train was gone, he started to walk away. On the giant clock hanging out in the open, it reads nine thirty one. He sighs as he placed his hands over his pocket and reach for his phone to confirm the time he read on the clock. It matches. With disappointment, he sighs and started going down the station. 

The place was now a ghost town, nothing but a remnant, a carcass, of the lively city it was during the morning. Along the street, he saw homeless people tucking themselves in cardboard boxes to warm themselves. Some vendors are packing their supplies ready to go home as the last passengers of the train has already boarded. The few people who had spent their time on an overtime on a Saturday are struggling as they wait for a jeepney to halt on their paras. 

As he walk along the walkway from Luneta to Manila bay, the sound of the screeching tires along the road was replaced by the waves crashing the shore. The wind muffled the noise of the city as his mind went deep into thoughts, each idea he has slowly evaporating.

He took a cigarette out of his bag and lit one up as he sat along the stone hedge watching the dark see the fine dotted line from across coming from the city lights of the opposite city. He let out the smoke and puffs in another as he leaned back and watches the starless sky. 

It was a good day, he told himself deep in thoughts, he had fun and had good sex but his chest hurt from the sudden change in her attitude that despite how much she hides it, but as much as she tries, it was showing in the end. 

Finally, he surrendered to his fatigue and lay at the could stone. 

She’s nice. He said. 

Maybe I want to see more of her. He thought. 

And as he talks to himself, his eyes slowly drift along.  

But it’s weird that they immediately did it. He continued.

Would it ruin our potential friendship?

No one looks for a friendship there. Just for potential partners and quick fuck. 

I’ll text her first thing tomorrow. 

His train of thought was interrupted when he felt a pressure point on his shoulder. When he opened his eyes, he found a homeless girl carrying a baby. Must be his younger sibling, he told himself. 

He gave them a hundred bill and sat up immediately. He had forgotten when was the time the dark sky turned into his eyes being shut. It was a good thing he was woken up. Better that he wasn’t mugged. Best that it was still dark. Despite being only seconds gone, he felt that it has been minutes. He shook his body awake after jumping from the stone hedge to the solid ground. He continued to walk to his car and decided to take a shot nap before driving back home only to find the blinding light and the heat waking him up. 

-

The following week, he had been exchanging text messages to her that most of his attention had been taken away despite their talk mostly about their work, lunch, and dinner. Nothing substantial really, he had noticed, but that didn’t stop him from being in touch. She had been an empty shell right after what happened but she keeps on entertaining him despite it. His head was up in the clouds thinking of what have gone wrong but he couldn’t come up with anything. 

“How’s the layout of the site?” she asked, continuing the conversation they had for last week. He had told him about the site he was working on from an upcoming restaurant from a son of a millionaire businessman. His boss gave him the account when his senior decided to quit on the job. 

“I am waiting for the final approval of the flow but we had settled on their design at least. Which suck. How about you? How’s your event in Laguna?”

“Going well. Tomorrow is the float parade for Congressman Zubili’s win.”

And when he was waiting for her message back, he would be watching the bright blue sky as the cloud slowly drifts away, each time ticking slowly passing him by. 

His day has been spent with morning doing his work as fast as he could before casually just sitting by the desk planning out when they could meet again. 

He was consumed by the thought of her that he had been missing his time on the roof deck. 

Until he texted her to see him that afternoon to meet Cubao. Excited they would be meeting for lunch, he skipped his meal at the office and immediately drove. He went to narrow streets and rushing in between, not caring about the speed limit, just to avoid the inevitable traffic along EDSA but despite all that, he still arrived late. 

After parking in an open area, he speed walk his way towards the open market to find her standing still along the crowd observing  for someone, waiting. Waiting for him.

Her small stature in a summer dress stood out of the crowd as it shines bright. Her curly short hair resting over her shoulder made her look like a foreigner. But mostly it was due to her posture as she clutches her hand bag with her two hands between her legs as if afraid that it might get stolen by anyone at any moment. 

Her cheeks are bright red from the afternoon sun but despite that, she sweats little compared to him. She looks like a fresh wild white rose recently watered in a crowd of grass.

Despite his heart detached, he could feel warm inside his hollow chest that he started walking in the sea of people. When she saw him, she nodded, not even with a smile. His heart sank but he continued to make his way through as his shoulder hits another trying to reach her. 

“You work near?” he asked to break whatever she was putting up. 

“Not really,” she answered as she smiles looking for something around them. 

“What?”

“Just finding the way out of here.”

“Ow. I thought we are going to have lunch here.”

“Lunch,” she chuckled to herself. “There,” she pointed. She grabbed him by the wrist, as they traverse the crowd out the open market. 

As they walk out of the crowd, there are millions questions he wanted to ask of her. 

Did she come off work or did she take a leave for today?

If she came from work, it was weird seeing her in a very casual clothes.

But not unless you are meeting a client for another as an event organizer, he countered himself. 

Soon he found himself sitting in the lounge of a nearby motel as she talks to the front desk about a vacant room. He tucked his cold hand in between his legs as he look around. The dim light made the place feel isolated. 

The silent and empty hallways together with the dimmed white floors and walls of the motel gave a stark contrast to the lively world outside. He couldn’t help to feel a heavy baggage inside if as he tries to taste the air for something wrong. She was that something wrong. And he knew that for a fact but before he could leave, she approached him. Her smile was hiding malice. A sin to someone not him. 

She took his hands as she leads the way to their room. Like a trained puppy, she followed her and any instruction she gave. As he quietly locks the door, she immediately went to the shower leaving her dress laying on the floor. 

“Just stay there, okay,” she said cheerfully. 

“Yeah,” he shouted despite his defeated voice as he sat at the edge of the bed. 

The room was painted orange but despite its bright colour, the room was dark and depressing. From the dimmed light, the windows being covered by blinds, the full blast of the air conditioning, he felt more like a prisoner in the artic than a lover being naughty in a motel. 

The silent was drowned between the hum of the air conditioner and the water from the shower. When someone comes by, their footsteps echoes along the hallway into the room. He could hear the slow movement of water, so he looked around the room as he waits but there was nothing to see except for the low quality furniture and appliance that didn’t enticed him. 

He run his hand across the bed to feel it’s softness. He regretted it after remembering how little care the housekeeping washes the fabric it. They bed was soft indeed but it the sheets wear dry that it would scrap anyone who would sleep. But his tired mind, from thinking deep into what he has placed into and thinking about her, made the bed all too comforting to lay in. But before he could take a quick eye shut, he heard the water stop.

After minutes, she went out of the shower covered in towel as it absorbs the moisture out of her body. She removed it exposing her figure and skin as she runs the towel around her body to dry her completely. 

He stood up as he unbuttons ready to take a bath but she pushed him to back to the bed with a single hand as his body falls quickly, unbalanced. 

“Where do you think you are going?” she asked kiddingly. 

“To take a bath?” he smiled crookedly. 

“From the way you act. I know you’re clean. Besides, I like you a little dirty. With a little taste.”

Her hand was resting on her chest as she slowly unbutton his polo exposing her chest. She run her head over it and gave a quick sniff. His sweat and his perfume mixed together was an aroma that sends her sight of smell over an edge. 

She immediately kissed him with her hand unbuttoning the remaining button of his polo, exposing his chiselled body in front of her. 

“Now this is more like it,” she said to herself, ignoring him completely. 

He watched the ceiling carefully as she undresses him observing how the light created shadow from the multiple vantage points being casted over certain object. Their shadow turning pail as certain light bulbs got farther and farther away, with multiple shadow being produced over laying one another making the nearer shadow to the figure darker in contrast. 

The only sound he heard was the rustling of his work clothes separating between his skin. 

He could feel her cold hands on top of his chest slowly being dragged until it reached his pants. 

“Not hard are we?”she said as she unbuttons and unzip his dick. All he could see of her was the top of her head as her short hair fall down over his stomach. 

“Not really. Kinda not in the mood. I thought we were going out for dinner,” he answered honestly with a flat tone hoping she would hear his weary voice. 

Her sudden shift in attitude their last meeting was something to be wary about but the string of messages left in between the first time they saw each other and today, of ordinary regular talks was rubbing him off. Her guilt of talking about it like a bad joke over coffee sends him in a bad mood. But the fact she was eager to lay in bed with him again. All of these signals was pointing to a red flag that he doesn’t want to be involved with but his body craves the touch and his voice needed the conversation despite how much he hates the arid topics that leaves his mouth dry. Not because he is being thirsty by talking a lot. 

Who likes to talk about what you do about work, he asks himself. 

There could be million ways this conversation could have gone but she chooses to talk about work, he added. Work, plain and boring that it wouldn’t make you respond to it.Neither smile or frown.

So carefully chosen.

He has the answer. An answer he doesn’t want to be proven. So he lay there still and let her control him. 

“That wouldn’t matter,” she said giving him a quick look, dismissing him entirely. 

He felt the cold air of the room from his dick immediately as she exposed it wide in the open. She took her the pouch of the lubricant available with the room and rips it open with her fingers as she pours it out on his flaccid dick. The cold liquid sends shivers all over his body despite it being concentrated on a single point. 

Slowly, she rubs the lube along his shaft and the cold liquid gave him a sensation all too familiar, there was a same addicting wetness to it. 

She had one hand holding the end of the shaft with her fingers playing his ball as her other hand was slowly moving up and down as she changes the tight of his grip. He could do nothing but lay his hand against his head and just enjoy the performance given to him. 

“Tell me when you are about to cum,” she instructed and he groaned in response as she let her stroke his cock. The tight slippery grip travelling from the shaft to the tip, moving with precise speed between pleasure and excitement made him want to bust it out. 

“I’m almost coming,” he said, his voice weakened and his words were shaking as it escapes between his lips. Her grip loosen as and letting all the built up slide down the drain making her second session of stroke too sensitive for him. 

Soon, he felt the same chill coming up his body. When he open his eyes, she was smiling at him with her eyes closed, hiding something sinister. Yet, he went to a kiss and hugged her as he turns her around. This time, he was the one in command. 

Deep beneath her dark eyes and lying smile was a desire of his body that he agrees to give. He dived in to kiss her as he let his tongue play with hers while his hands were fondling both her breast with his fingers circling both her hard nipples. His body was slowly rocking against her genital feeling the wetness coming out of her. The warmth and the wetness made him harder. 

“Come inside me,” she invited him in after he broke the kiss. He looked into her eyes for agreement.

He slapped his dick into her vagina with his hands a couple of times before slowly inserting it. When the head went in, he pushed the remaining parts of him with a thrust. Like before, he went slow. All of his parts where busy.His mouths on hers, moving between her lips and her neck His hands on her breast, playing her still.And his hips thrusting the inside of her going rapidly as the seconds passed by.

The room suddenly became small. He could feel the wall closing in on him that it seems he was hugging her. With their bodies close, he could feel each breathe coming out of her. The heat of their body made him sweat faster that it made his naked body numbed to cold. He could fell her teeth buried on his shoulder and the feel the seering hot red blood fall from his skin to the cream fabric of the bed. The smell of iron fills his lungs. He feared for his life as he knew he would devour him but when he opened his eyes, she was in heaven. Little moans escape where lips, with her eyes closed as if she was just sleeping. 

This was his gut telling him to run away and that his fear was right about something. Even if he doesn’t know, the red flags where all around him that if he does not let go, it would bite him back. 

He didn’t feel any excitement yet his body agrees. When she looked at her, her face was smiling in pleasure. He could feel her tighten every now and then that she almost climax but she keep on asking for him to wait for a little while so he did resist on exploding on her with each thrust. When out of nowhere, she grabbed him tight when he was kissing her. He felt her release which immediately made him cum. He grunted as he empties his ball inside of her. 

The room was now back to normal. In fact, it seems that it was larger than what it used to be. As he lay besides her, he could now feel the cold air. He was controlling his breath as he punts from the exhaustion, trying not to sound like a dog that just run a mile away. When he sat up, she was gone. He heard the shower open and joined her in a beat. 

The cold water that run over his body evaporated as it touches his warm skin. A heavy burden was lifted of him as the water washes down his noodly arms and legs, resisting the urge to suddenly go limp and just lay on the ground. 

“This was your ideal lunch eh,” he started but he was only meant for a disappointed look as she cleans the body. He turned her face towards her to kiss her and continue to fuck for a little while but she dismissed his hands and continue to clean her. 

“We can’t go for round two,” she said with a weak laugh as she turned around, “It’s almost three and I still have to go to work.”

He stood there awkwardly for seconds as she cleanse herself. She excited the shower first and find himself alone the stall. He closed his eyes and let the water clean him, his mind afloat and afar to completely clear his head of what just happened. 

When he opened his eyes, he hopped out and grabbed a towel to dry himself out. He dragged his body to move just to get away from the place, step by step. When he looked at a phone, he saw a text message from her: TYL. 

He sighed as he texted his boss that he would be coming home early as he didn’t feel well. He pocketed his phone and continue to dress himself, hurrying to leave a cage. 

The hallway echoes his filth as he could hear tiny whispers and moans oozing out of the tiny gap at the door. The hallway became darker from the single vantage point of light coming from one end which he found ironic. 

When he got out, the sun was shining bright and the city noises bombarded his ear. It was music. It was life. Despite all of this, there was an anchor wrapped around his chest dragging him to a single point of life but his feet dragged it. A ship must sail, he told himself. 

He walks towards the Cubao Open Marker, remembering where he had parked his car. It felt strange watching a crowd of people pass by him going there own way. To be out in the open during working hours was something he missed instead being copped between the three walls of his cubicle or the four walls of his home. To be out in the sun and walking the surface of the Earth, this should be what living is. But despite all this, these people have chains around their feet as they are being dragged to where they are supposed to be. 

He talked to himself as he heads for the parking just to drown her thoughts of her. But when he found himself alone in his car, question came flooding him. All that could make him distracted was the beauty of the setting sun casting its final golden ray on the buildings along EDSA. Even with the traffic, he find the solemn in the slow but comprehensible predictability of life. 

When he got home, he immediately took a proper shower and hoped into his bed forcing him to sleep leaving all his responsibility for the night to just run amock and be taken care for tomorrow. And when slumber be fallen him, he was not ready. 

-

The world sacrifice its nature for people to build these tall building and the roads that stretches miles away from the city just to reach nature once more and develop it to the liking of the rich, he amused himself over his desk as he watches the neighbouring building across him. The inside was hidden between the bright light being reflected of the sun only being able to see the vague happenings inside. The sun was almost setting and he is only a few hours away before he could punch out and leave but his attention was seduced by lady afternoon. The cloud was almost clear with the light blue occupying the vastness of space, except for the single giant cloud just passing by. 

The tall structures coloured in hues of brown, grey, and white has never been beautiful especially when one could focus on the finish texture of the wall. Despite the destruction to the nature it caused, he cannot help but admire the beauty and marvel of this man made structure. Appreciating the old and modern design, each piece brought him back and forth through time with its faded colour and foggy window whose edges are covered in some sort of grime that the building directors seems to careless in maintaining them. On the other hand, the old buildings of Manila gave an aura of ruins from their columns ranging from the simple Doric columns to the elaborate Corinthian columns with some spot are well of damaged cement. On the other hand, the old buildings of the Metro Manila where more of something found in dystopian places where evil lurks with their pointed, dull, geometric, and uniformed design. Nothing much different from the architecture today but at least they use more shiny finish to reflect the colour of the sky as it they are part of nature themselves. They were also able to use more bold colours that some nail the grand appearance it poses or just tacky like the Lego wannabe building near Mall of Asia. 

That morning, the client meet with them to present the final layout of the website fom their resort located in Ilocos and the demonstration of usage and access to the administration handling the site. The client originally wanted it to have a main theme of blue and green as most people would associate it with nature as it was a resort after all. He had given him sample website to base from and almost all of them are loud with images that takes you away from the real point. 

“So you know that the place is fun and exciting,” Mr. Hidalgo said as he gave him the rough sketches of all the pages he wanted to be on the page as he smiles with glee of how proud he was of himself. He did have a point, he told himself when he peruse between the loose sheet of papers with sketches and notes. 

“But Mr.Hildago,” he said as he shows him his idea for the website, “Those sites are too clouded with visual input that users would have a hard time finding the tab for them to book.”

He slides the laptop and played an animated version of what the website looks like. The website’s home page was with the most elegant shot of the resort in black and brown hues to ease the eyes and reflect simplicity of the place. The text are in slender white font large enough to be read even by those poor vision. After seeing it, Mr. Hidalgo came them his approval and they immediately work on it. 

That morning, they demonstrated to Mr. Hidalgo how a user would be using the website. He only thought Mr. Hidalgo’s subordinate on how to incoming traffic for their website. 

“Hope this would be an excellent tool to boost our customer,” Mr. Hidalgo said as he stood up ready to leave. 

“I am sure it would Mr. Hidalgo. What makes people prepare to go to your resort is because they find ease in access all information need to know about your place and that they could book easy,” his boss kissed ass. 

“But it isn’t based on the quality and quantity of activity on the resort,” retorted one of Mr. Hidalgo’s subordinate. 

“That too,” hisboss blushed from embarrassment when corrected. 

“Anyway, we already have a good marketing of our place so that wouldn’t be needed such worrying,” Mr. Hidalgo interrupted, “what we needed was to have people from far places have an easy way of booking to our resort which has been completed.” 

His boss sighed in relief when Mr. Hidalgo defended them unknowingly. 

“With that, where do want to eat for lunch?” Mr. Hidalgo asked as he stood up. 

“That wouldn’t necessary Mr. Hidalgo, thank you.”

“Non-sense. Never refuse any grace given. You were able to finish the project before our grand reopening which means by the time the renovation is done, we will be having customers from everywhere.”

His boss agreed to eat dinner with them but only if Mr. Hidalgo has a place in mind. When done with discussing where to eat, they left the office with their team teasing the other group about having free lunch. They were in the restaurant for two hours even before lunch, giving them more break hours. 

It was better to hear stories he did not care about than seat in the office doing nothing, he told himself. 

They were laughing at his boss story of how he experience first-hand binge peed on after being stung by a jellyfish. On which the following day, a fisherman was killed by a long stingray in. 

“That’s why I hate the sea,” said another subordinate of Mr. Hidalgo. 

“Then why are you working for a resort,” his colleague asked her quietly trying not to offend Mr. Hidalgo. 

“Mr. Hidalgo is a generous man,” she whispered to him. His colleague just nodded as he gulp a tall pint of beer. 

He sat their quietly with his finished dish out on the table as he stares outside of the restaurant. Soon, they find themselves strolling back into the office as the rest where still having their lunch. 

He sat back at his cubicle as he watches the buildings outside his office, suddenly his mind affix to a subject. The mixture of old and new structures was a history to be told to them. The tall structures coloured in hues of brown, grey, and white has never been beautiful especially when one could focus on the finish texture of the wall. Despite the destruction to the nature it caused, he cannot help but admire the beauty and marvel of this man made structure. Appreciating the old and modern design, each piece brought him back and forth through time with its faded colour and foggy window whose edges are covered in some sort of grime that the building directors seems to careless in maintaining them. On the other hand, the old buildings of Manila gave an aura of ruins from their columns ranging from the simple Doric columns to the elaborate Corinthian columns with some spot are well of damaged cement. On the other hand, the old buildings of the Metro Manila where more of something found in dystopian places where evil lurks with their pointed, dull, geometric, and uniformed design. Nothing much different from the architecture today but at least they use more shiny finish to reflect the colour of the sky as it they are part of nature themselves. They were also able to use more bold colours that some nail the grand appearance it poses or just tacky like the Lego wannabe building near Mall of Asia. 

But the big factor in differentiating them was the worn out in the paint of their roof deck and the water marks and mold it had accumulated over the years. How each building survived numerous storms and earthquake yet it stood still.  How many people, have come and go, stayed at the very office. Some still using it, some had move on. Such stories to tell.

Yet the world sacrifice its nature for people to build these tall building and the roads that stretches miles away from the city just to reach nature once more and develop it to the liking of the rich, he amused himself over his desk as he watches the neighbouring building across him. The inside was hidden between the bright light being reflected of the sun only being able to see the vague happenings inside. The sun was almost setting and he is only a few hours away before he could punch out and leave but his attention was seduced by lady afternoon. The cloud was almost clear with the light blue occupying the vastness of space, except for the single giant cloud just passing by. 

His mind was now drifting as he looks at the pure blue sky being tainted by the orange light as the sun sets with each passing minute. The single cloud floating by started breaking living a little trail of cotton balls over the tangerine sky. The flock of birds flew by aimlessly towards the horizon as the buildings from the other side glitters from light. 

He wished he could join them as they soar the limitless sky and be free from the cage he was in but he put this on to himself as he flew to admire the beautiful maiden only to be locked up and used to sing only when wanted to. 

His distrait mind was broken when his alarm took off filling his empty silent bubble with an irritated bell. He took his phone out of his pocket to turn it off only to notice five missed calls and three text messages. He swiped his finger across the black lock screen as the front camera register his face. When it unlocks, he immediately scroll down the notification bar only to see a random number. He went to the messages and read them. 

I noticed you’ve block me but I want to see you today. Text me when you could. 

From the moment he read the first word, he immediately know who it was. He had avoided her for weeks after their last meet up as he tries to get a hold of himself.

Right after their encounter in a motel near Cubao, they saw each other more usually going straight to fucking or having a lunch together first then going to a nearby motel for some more fucking.

He had grown numbed to it that his mind immediately went to revolt as he could feel his acid rise from his stomach but his body craves it as he could feel her touch going around his neck, down his chest, and straight below the belt. It was his addiction and she was the drug. The more he uses her, the deeper he goes down the rabbit hole. 

He had tried making a sincere relationship out of it as he tries to ask her to join him on his mundane activity. Going grocery shopping.Paying bills.Window shopping.A workout at the Cultural Center. But as hard as he tries, all his effort was met with she’s busy. Except for the afternoons during work week.

It was the only thing she was not able to take away from him. His enjoyment of the afternoon. It was every day that he step out of the cold and artificial environment of his office as he embrace the warm and chaotic city that he felt more alive. But as the time moves to meet her, he felt like he was walking for his punishment. 

There were a lot of things he wishes he could tell her. 

How was her work?

Is his colleague being annoying?

He had a rough start with his project as he design the layout for a big marketing website. 

Had she heard about the latest Paramore album?

They should get some strawberry directly from Baguio someday. 

But all those words are lost, buried deep beneath his pit. That he had lost his will to speak only to follow her voice. He was the rat and she was the piper, as he walks along to the whim of his tune to his demise, fated to drown. 

The office soon became more empty as seconds pass by while he was still holding his phone on his one hand still deciding what to do. 

I should break it off, he told himself as he stood up and packed his belongings. 

I will get downstairs, wait for me. 

It was the last text she send of her before heading down into the elevator to finally confront the devil. 

The calm elevator tunes was suddenly  swallowed by the clamour of people about to take home as they chitter and chatter to one another, some groaning, some laughing. But all together there was a sigh of relief at the end of each break. Outside, you could hear the tires screeching along the asphalt and when a vehicle blocks the intersections, drivers would bust their nuts as they pressed hard on their horn as if they were shouting ‘fuck you’ directly to the driver in front of them who was also unfortunate to get stuck between the sudden change of the traffic light. 

All this with finally facing her made it him feel light and free. But as soon as he hoped out of the building, greeted by rush hour, he found no one. 

It was maybe an act of the supernatural to take her out of existence and that felt more alive as if a thorn was removed from his finger, or more like a needle, he corrected himself. As he walks to back to inside the building to the parking, he saw a man with messy hair and blood shot eyes. Despite his disgruntled looks, his beard was groom. He was wearing a casual shirt and a cargo pants as if he had just got out of bed and heading somewhere in a hurry. Not wanting to confront a stranger in a delusional state, he gave way as he aims for the building only to notice that the man was looking at him, his feet was walking towards him. 

And that moment, he finally got an answer what was wrong with her. 

He felt a hard pressure suddenly hit his left cheeks as he fall down to the pavement. At first, people went on to continue on their way. It was when a gentleman step on his glass and noticed him lying on the ground that everybody took noticed. But no one wanted to interrupt as they might get in trouble or afraid of being hurt. 

He felt a cold rush of blood came out of his nose and tasted iron as if falls down across his chin. The guy picked him up in his collar and punched him straight to his face. He embraced the punch as he closed his eyes than even the tiniest sliver of light can’t pass through. He only feared that when the guy’s fist hits his nose that it would cause a brain abscess that might kill him in the process. 

This is better than being alive though, he said. 

He accepted his defeat as he lay their accepting each blow to his face and kick on his head. He could feel his vision slowly blurring and his ears ringing only to find a security guard controlling the man, dragging him as afr as he could from him. His body and consciousness was not able to handle the blows and he immediately feel asleep. 

All he could remember was darkness. 

-

He could hear the river wild rush as he passed by the green pastures only to find farmers tending on their crops. He waved them hello from a distant and the farmers did the same. He whipped the reins for his horse to run faster. 

The town was alive and busy as they carry boxes and carts of fresh produce to be delivered to neighbouring city. Despite the bright morning sun, the thick and cold air looms over the streets from yesterday’s rain.

He could hear the children laughing as they try to chase one another while some play on the paddle. Their parents shout at the top of their lungs as they scold their mischievous children. 

“Green apple for a quarter of copper coin,” shout one of the local merchant as his horse moves slowly over the thick crowd. 

He put his hands up with a smile as he continues on his way. When he reached the kingdom’s castles, the guard bowed upon his presence as they pass along the bridge. He went down his horse once they reached the castle’s door, creaking as it slowly opens the lobby front. He could feel all eyes on him as he was about to present something for the king and queen only that their voice were muffled as if he was under water. 

All he could remember was the queen was asking him a favour to look for a kid named Laura when a raven suddenly flew in front of himDoin, which was the last thing he could remember before he opens his eyes. The room was dark and the only thing he could see was the light seeping in from the bottom of the door. He could feel the stiffness of the bed underneath the cushion and when he sat straight up, he could feel something prickling his arms. He sigh in deep as to get a clarity of the mind as he touch his face trying to learn which part of his face hurts. The answer was everywhere. 

He sat for a while as he tries to compost himself. After all, he now knew the reason why she was so adamant to his request of having a normal relationship. If there was even one. She was only something she could cheat on and the first time they went on a date and did it in Luneta was her first act of cheating. The sudden shift in her mood was her feeling guilt as the realization of what had happened was already set into stone. 

But he felt relief that it was all over. Tomorrow, he would be at his home taking his break from being in the hospital, assuming he would be permitted to by his boss or by this doctor, whoever he was, he wondered. 

The door opened as he was about to sleep when the door creaked loudly that it irritated his ears, noticing that it was still ringing. He squinted at the bright light as the nurse turned on the light, the brightness blinding him as his eyes slowly adjust to it. He could now clearly see the room which was just his bed, a side table besides his left side, a long bench, and a comfort room at the far left. It was small but it was all he needed, a comfortable and cozy place to rest from the worst case scenario. The dimmed lighting and the cold air conditioner almost made him feel like he was booked in a hotel. 

“Good that you are awake,” said the nurse as he pushed the cart with his food and drinks. He checked his vitals and instructed him to take his pill after eating. 

He looked at the plate in front of him, a cup of rice, a small bowl of adobo, as slice of apple, and a tall glass of tepid water. He didn’t have an appetite, even looking at the food, his mouth would not salivate on how unappetizing a lot. But he needed to have something in his stomach, he scolded himself as he pick up a fork and pierce through a piece of meat. As he chews the food, he could feel the pain along his jaw. He bite thoroughly but in the end, he almost swallowed it whole. The food was bland and all he could taste was his own saliva. He washed his mouth with water, realizing how thirsty he was. He let his rice and adobo be untouched as he finish his sad slice of apple. At least it was sweet, he told himself. Immediately after eating, the took the pill the nurse advise him to take. If it was ever poison, he would never know. 

He felt drowsy immediately after taking the pill. His eyes slowly blurred and he could do nothing to fight it. 

When he woked up, it was the same instance except that the light didn’t blind him as much as it did the first time. His instinct took him over as he reach for his phone to check for what day and time it was. He sat up scanning the room as he looks for his belonging only to find the room empty except for the furniture already in that room. 

He tried to stood up but his legs could not move as it has been a while there was enough blood flow. He shook his legs a little bit to remove any numbness. As soon as he could feel his legs, he slowly hopped of the bed with his hands clutching on the railings serving as his support. His legs wobble as it shakes just from holding his weight. He tried to explore the room looking where they could have placed it only to find it barren as he initially thought. 

“You should be in bed,” the same nurse said when he found him wondering about the room. 

“Do you know where my bag is?” he asked immediately, ignoring the order of the nurse. 

“I will get you it back later. It’s in the storage room being looked after you do not need to worry.”

He nodded at the nurse as he slowly walk towards back to his bed to get himself some more rest as ordered by the nurse. He was given the same order, to finish his meal and to drink the pill after. 

“What day is it?” he asked. 

“Thursday, June 15th.”

“Time?”

“Six in the morning.”

“Thanks,” he said to the nurse before leaving. He looked at the food in front of him. This time, he was given a small serving of rice and humba while given an apple. This time, he could eat better. He finished his meal and took the pill right after. He washed his it all down with a glass of water, this time, he was given one with ice. He took this as his win of the day. 

The nurse came back with his belonging and immediately fumbled all over it checking if anything is missing only to find everything inside. 

“Thank god,” he said to himself as he sighs in relief, “Thank you,” he said to the nurse. 

“You’re welcome,” the nurse said weirdly standing at the side still observing him. 

“When will I know if I could get our?” he asked taking the chance to have answers to his inquiry.

“We will be giving you another MRI scan and if the result show good results, you could leave."

“How about my first results?”

“Doctor Macabaitan will tell you about it when he visits you in four. Is that all you need to know?”

“I guess.”

“I’ll be back at twelve to give you your food. If you need anything, you could always call through the phone besides your bed.” And when he looked up on his upper right, there installed was a wall phone. 

“Actually, if you could send for more water.”

“Sure,” the nurse left leaving him all to himself. He took his phone out to see any messages or call that he has only to find it was dead bat which was fitting as he let it untouched for two straight days. He took his cable in his back and charged it immediately. 

While waiting and have nothing to do, he took his book out and started reading. He was only able to finish a page that he decided it was not doing him anything good, only feeling forced to entertain himself. 

He lay in bed as he tucked himself underneath the thin sheet of blanket about to get some sleep when the nurse came back with a pitcher of ice cold water and an empty glass. He set it on the table to his left as the nurse pour one down and handed him the cold glass of water with one hand below,  preventing the water to drip over the floor. 

“Here you go,” the nurse handed him the glass. 

He groaned under his bed as he breaks of his perfect and carefully laid out position but he needed his water anyway so he gladly accepted it. It was his request after all. 

“So, how did that happened to you anyway?” the nurse nosed in. 

He tried to finish the whole water in one gulped but in only ended up choking him with a drop falling from the side of his face as he wipes it with his hand. 

“Ow that,” he could feel the rush of blood coming from his chin. There was some familiar comfort to the nurse’s voice that he was trying to remember where he had heard it. “From a fight,” he chuckled, embarrass to admit but more embarrassed to give any more information. 

“And you lost?”

“Pretty much so. Who brought me here anyway?” he asked, curious that at least in the end of being beaten to crap, he was immediately taken care of. 

“I don’t know actually. All I know was I was assigned to you. And that was it.”

“Ow,” the disappointment escape his lips as he watch the glimmer of light being reflected on the edge of his glass shine. 

“Do you still want another glass?” the nurse asked in sympathy. 

“No thank you. I could do it myself,” he answered with a smile. 

The nurse left him alone as he place the glass back on the side table, preparing to sleep until the doctor arrive to give him the report. 

When the doctor came, he showed him that his MRI scans showed no signs of permanent brain damage but did felt shock, during the punched he received from the beat up. Despite that, he would be conducting another MRI scan tomorrow just to be sure. 

The doctor was straight forward, his eyes never meeting his and only focused on the paper. He only looked at him when he was done talking and was about to leave. 

The following day, he was assisted to the MRI room. He was naked except for the medical dress. He lay down on the bed and the cold coming from the air conditioner worsten the chill he could feel along his skin. Like needle piercing every inch of his skin. 

He wondered if it would have shrunk his dick so much and if the doctor could see it from the side, he entertained himself. But after the scan and a few more hours of waiting for the reading, he was let go. 

He was given the bill and he paid it of immediately, aching, not from the injury incurred to him but the cost he had to put out just by fucking the wrong person which costs him more than their dinner, lunch, and motel combined. 

He wanted to take her short hair and slam it on the ground. Not because he was used to cheat but because it dented his money. 

But he cannot do anything anymore just than to pay and leave. To get 3to his car and go home.

After forking out, he slowly walk outside the hospital, his legs limping with each step. He was still slow and he could still feel that his leg still struggling to hold his weight. But what is more worst was all the eyes following him wherever he goes. Though, he didn’t feel embarrass around them with his bruises and scars that needed stitching, but more of the fact that he felt naked. As if his weakness was broadcast all over the world with the paint of purple and red smeared across his face. 

As soon as he saw an empty taxi cab from a distant, he immediately called in but most if not pass him by, left hanging. Either the taxi would stop by someone or just leave him be. Either way, he could feel the weight of each stare given to him, until one stopped in front of him and rolled down his window. Finally, he told to himself with glee, someone took pity of him.

“Four hundred,” the driver bargained as he poked his head inside to see the driver. Inside, his heart sank since the office was just a road ahead and considering it was an afternoon on Friday, there shouldn’t be any kind of traffic. 

Wanting to go home soon, he nodded and sat in front clutching his bag as he warms himself from the cold winds despite the sun shining bright and at its peak in the sky. 

The could feel the driver keep looking at him from time to time. He clutch his bag harder controlling the urge to smack him out in the middle of the blue. He sigh and let air out to warm himself. 

“What happened to your face?”  his curiosity finally hatch out of its shell. 

“Could you just focus on driving?” he scolded him as he closes his eyes, trying to sleep all the way to his office. 

When the car stop, he opened his eyes and saw to his right the tall blue building radiating toxic heat. He paid the driver his fee and slammed the door heavily as he slowly walks inside the office. He looked around trying to spot anyone familiar from his office so that he could avoid them potentially but the odds of them spotting him were the same as his. Even with all the attention he is getting, it is easier for people to recognize him than to avoid them all together. 

The guard saluted him as he waves his hi and immediately walk as fast as he could to reach the fire escape. The noise outside where muffled and distant that he felt relief from finally being alone.

There was no shame in being beaten up, he told himself, but why was he so much upset, he wondered as he slowly walks four flights of stairs before reaching the floor where he has parked. 

When he reached his car, he turned it on and leave as soon as he could until he reachedaddrug store to buy the prescripted drug the doctor gave him. 

The store way lax and the pharmacist were just talking over themselves as a noon time show was playing on the background with their loud voice over the microphone, the loud and obnoxious music, and the cheering from the audience. 

He walks towards the counter as he tries to struggle to pull out the piece of paper from his bag. When he got it, he gave it to the person in from of him and he could see a laugh almost coming out from her face. He smiled at her and she left carrying hi prescription as she goes back to the storage room to get his medicine. 

“Each pill is twenty. So that would be six hundred in all,” she said as she plays with the basket holding the medicines. “So, what happened to your…?” she asked as she did a circle motion around her face while he was struggling to free his wallet from his bag. He should have arranged it before coming over, he told himself. 

She gave her a look before speaking. Her blank expression does not seem to contain any malaice but just curiosity. He felt guilt for not at least having a conversation with the taxi driver but when a girl asked, he would succumb immediately. But it was the driver’s fault for asking him four hundred, he justified. 

“Well,” he began as he counts his hundreds, “the girl I’m seeing turns out to be in a committed relationship.”

And as he smile at his own demise, trying to laugh it off any not make any big of a deal, her childish curiosity turned into a frown. He could see the slight contraction of muscles on her face on her contract, especially her brows, her eyes, full of hatred and disgust that she’s trying to control to burst for sermon but she can’t because after all, he was just a stranger to her. 

He placed his bill over the small basket and she immediately snap, turning with anger as she paced herself over the cashier and process his purchase. When she returned to him, he did the same thing and left. 

As he drives home, the sun was slowly setting as the clouds slowly falls the horizon like a feather let go of a great height. The traffic was able to catch to him as sit a while behind the wheels waiting for the car in front of his to move an inch forward. And every inch he gets, the more dreadful the day becomes and the hours seems longer than usual. 

The city lights of EDSA shone bright as if the traffic was the centre of the stage (why would it not be as it would be punch line of a terrible joke everybody is laughing at, he argued). Yet despite being dark only surrounded by the noise of multiple horn shouting all at once and the lights giving false hope, he decided to be hopeful that he would have a rested sleep. 

He put a cassette on and pressed start. A car pressed his horn onto him and when he looed up, he saw that the traffic has started going. But that didn’t bother him, he stood firm to his own conviction. 

“Come hear Jah sound, spreading good vibrations,” he sang as soon as he heard the vocals play. 

And when he was able to get pass the Ayala Station of EDSA, the traffic eases as he had passed by the stationary buses waiting for it to be filled with passenger. He tried to hit on the gas as he swerves left and right trying to avoid any collision but maintaining speed while Better Days was still playing.

“The world is gonna see some better day,” Franco sang over speakers. 

But as soon as he saw the traffic light slowly counting down to turn red, he slowed down. His body was pulled forward as soon as he hit the break and when he looked back, there was no traffic enforcer following him. He sigh and decided to change music as he was now satisfied with the medication he could from the rush. 

For a moment, he felt alive with his speed. And even if he died, he would care. Sorry, he said to ever he was about to hit at the moment of his carelessness. But it was now all over, he told himself as he count each breathe coming in and coming out, regulating the flow of air to calm his nerve suddenly high from the adrenaline. 

When he looked over Buendia, the city lights was now muffled from the low light. The dark complete slow the sky. He drove through an atmosphere of ink. The could feel the stickiness and fluidity of it as he nears Roxas Boulevard. It was good that somehow, he was disconnected from the outside world or else the strong alcoholic scent of the ink would make him more wary than he already was. But despite all of the darkness, there was calmness to it as marigolds bloom in the sea of thick despair. With each flower, blooms the warmest of the colour. 

He parked his car outside of his home and tossed his belongings on the sofa. He stripped his pants down and his polo as he walks over his bedroom to sleep. But before he could, he went to the shower to clean himself only. As soon as he opened the light, he could see his reflection over the mirror and the monster that brought him this. 

In a way, you deserve this, his dark self voices out his fear as it echoes it through his empty chamber. You should have known, you should have known. The words keep on repeating over and over again. 

His right eye shut tight and swollen. Each was as if it was painted with blueberry with his right bigger than another. His eyes are red and dry while his lips have a cut. There were patches of bruises anywhere. Yet all this was nothing compared to the fact that those months, he was betrayed. And an indirect cause to someone’s suffering. 

And all this, he was alone to experience it. 

In his cold room, he slept alone once again. 

-

The resort hotel was empty despite being large as most of the guest where spending their time on the beach to enjoy the summer. Despite being a company outing, he decided that his “condition”, as he lied about by making a fraudulent medical certificate, would not allow him to participate in any of their activities yet despite that, he did not refuse a free vacation and food. 

He walks between the empty hall as he enjoys the silent and the echoes of his footstepsinging together withthe swoosh of the dancing trees by the open field sang as if it was the main vocals. On his left was open field with the blue sky lacking saturation as if the blue was dying from sadness. Was ever it caused him to be gloomy, he knew that it would rain soon. 

With nothing to distract him as he wonders around the empty hotel, he fixated on each floor and walls he could see, which was nothing much, he added. On a beautiful sunny day, the white walls with the dark chocolate wooden accent gave the place a homey feeling. With each variation of color sings in complete harmony with the geometric cobble stone, filling the floor with wide diagonal lines, it gave a calm feeling of serendipity as the hot sun vitalizes his skin and the salted wind coming from the ocean regulates the warm day. 

But on weathers like this, it was more outlandish. The place felt abandoned and haunted with the dull light looming at every corner of the hotel. The only sound accompanying him was his alone and that of nature. It reminded him too much of his old elementary after class where he waits for his mother to pick him up. And while the he was waiting, he would be running around the corridor, much like of the hotel with its ashen walls, chocolate woods, and greyish floor, as the heavy rain fall from the sky. 

He let his hands run through the white wall feeling the scales on its finish as h ***

Before the lobby was a hallway with no lights. Curious, he went to the concierge to ask what was on that hallway. 

“A table tennis room,” the lady said forcing a smile as he broke her out of her focus. As if being on phone scrolling through social media was much to begin with, he said to himself. 

“Is it for use?” he asked hoping he would have a positive feedback that behind his pockets were his fingers knotted and twisted for wishing. 

“Right now, no.”

“No as in?” he pushed his luck. 

“Well, no one is using it,” she answered with annoyance behind her voice. 

“How much it is to rent the room?” he finally drew his ace question in order to have a concrete answer. He had been cooped at his room watching television and reading his book. The four walls had bored him that is why he went down stairs and explore to begin with. 

“It is two fifty for the room.”

“Even when …” 

“Yes,” the lady cut him off as he was about to finish his question. 

“… I am alone?”

The lady did not answer him but just stood there waiting for him to do something. Either cuff up the money or leave her be. He made sure to irritate her as he pretends to struggle pulling his wallet out of his back pocket as he watch her not so subtle face contort with annoyance. 

“Each hour,” the lady added. 

“Each hour?” he asked, examining her face and painted on it was a faint smile trying to one up him. 

He chuckled to himself as he hand her over his payment for the hour. The lady wrote the details on the receipt which he filled out the details when it was handed to him. He followed her to the dark corridor, leading him to the table tennis room and left immediately after turning on the lights. 

The room was painted in bright and clean white that the outside world seems dark and distant as if the room was suspended in another dimension that is not Earth. The floor was finished with a shining concrete that reflects the strong light of the room. In the centre of it all was the table with the storage of the paddle and the balls underneath a long bench on the wall besides where the glass door was. 

All he could hear was his own breathe and his footsteps with the low hum of the air conditioning. Despite being near a beach, the air around him felt artificial. 

He pushed the table to one end leaving a gap big enough for the ball to hit the wall and back to the table enough force. Soon, he took a paddle, expecting the quality of rubber attached to it. He tossed the paddle low in the frigid air to test its grip and when he found one to his liking, he took it. He dragged the basket with all the orange balls and kicked it under the table after picking on. 

He let it bounce over the surface as he catches it with his palm, doing it over and over again until he tossed it from under the table and released it in mid air before giving a served. The ball bounced once over his court and landed perfectly on the right side of his opponent’s table hitting the wall. The ball bounces back to with enough force to land back to the opponent’s side to his court until he hit it again before falling into his side. It repeated multiple times until the wall redirected the ball out of the table or he was too tired to hit it back. When he looked at his watched, he had spent five minutes pass half an hour playing all to himself yet it only felt like minutes have just gone by. When he looked around him, the floor was littered with orange plastic ball that he picked up to prevent any missteps that would injure him. 

The artificial cold was nowhere to be found as his own body steam up from the heat coming from his game. He could feel every sweat falling out of his head like a waterfall leaving a salty aftertaste on his lips. His head was heavy from all the sweat that he had accumulated just by warming up, if thirty minutes is considered a warm up, he told himself. Even his shirt was sticky with all his sweat that his skin could feel the irritation of the fabric grating over his chest. But what is worst is that he could feel the cracks along his throat from thirst. It was as if he had walked a mile in the desert. He wanted to quit and take a break but all the adrenaline he was able to built up pushed him over to play more as he turned his head and arms around for some light stretching. 

He lowered his body, almost squatting as he watches the orange plastic ball rest on to his open palm. He tossed it up immediately and when the ball as in line with his sight, he gave his serve. The room was filled with each ticks and tocks of the ball bouncing of his rubber paddle, the table, and the wall each in harmony and appropriate interval. There was no noise hanging in the air after each has sung. And even then the screech of his sole to the floor gave him a little delight as filling in the rhythmic and predictable pattern. Almost like a saxophone to a jazz music. 

The sweat falling over his head was spraying all over the floor as he dances around. It was all going too well when he heard a knock on the glass door breaking the concentration and missing the ball entirely, rolling off to the farthest side of the room. When he turned around, he saw that the lady was pointing her to watch, indicating that his time was up. 

He smiled all to himself as he picked up his wallet and pulled another two hundred fifty. 

“Another hour,” he told her as soon as he opened the glass door. The lady took the cash swiftly and leaves, with each of her step putting pressure on the floor irritated by him. 

He rubs his head with his shirt to clean off his face and went back to his game immediately just to keep his tempo going. But when minutes has passed by, he looked around and found more orange plastic ball littered around the room. 

He has lost it, he told himself. 

But that did not matter to him anyway as he stretches his body one more time and went on to continue. But before he could serve, he heard the glass door creaking. He turned around to see a young gentleman peak his head over, which was useless as the glass was transparent, he mocked the guy. 

“How can I help you?” he asked curious about the gentleman. 

“Is this room taken?” the guy asked, his head still poking around the door while his body was leaning over the glass. 

He looked around the place sarcastically and nodded in annoyance. 

“Right,” he answered finally dawning to a conclusion. “May I watch?” Finally, the man opened the door wide enough for him to enter as he stood in between, either proceeding to sit if he was allowed or to leave if rejected. He did not see anything wrong with it so he pointed him towards the bench. The guy sat over the bench as he took his phone and play with it. 

Probably waiting for me to finish, he noted. 

He went back to play his game as he gave a serve but with each hit and toss, he could feel his muscle over his shoulder and his knees getting a bit sore. When he looked over the guy, he was now watching him. 

“Are you here to play?” he asked as he rubs shirt again over his face to remove the sweat, walking down over the bench to sit and rest for a while. 

“No. Just watch.”

“But do you know how to play?”

“I do.”

He tossed his paddle to the guy and caught it by surprise. 

“I don’t want to use this sweaty paddle,” the guy revolted as he gave his paddle back. 

“But this is the best one,” he said as he pull out the bin where the others were stored, “Here, you go pick yours.”

“Thanks. So, how long have you been playing here?”

“About two hours at least.”

The guy looked around the room only to find the table, the storage of orange plastic ball below it, and scattered along where the balls. 

“You didn’t bring any water in you?” the guy asked, more worried than curious. 

“I didn’t know that there was a table tennis room here. I just played here on a whim.”

“But they got a phone there,” the guy pointed over him, near the door. When he looked around, he found a telephone blending over the white wall. 

“I didn’t see that,” he said as he stood up and went over it. He saw a list of all the foods and drinks he could order and immediately called when he had decided. “A bottle of a litre of water, a cheese burger, an ice tea, and chips,” he said over the intercom. 

“That was plenty,” the guy commented as he stood up. 

“Well, I need to refuel after a long game. I didn’t know I would be here for quit some time.”

Together, they moved the table back to its original position, perfectly centred on the room. He tossed the ball to the guy and nodded to him, giving him a signal to have the first turn. The guy served without any dillydallying and it landed on his side perfectly. He returned it with a forehand drive, giving a light force over when he hit the ball with his paddle but when the ball was on the guys side, hanging in mid air, he positioned himself. He  moved his hands a bit away from his body, bend his knees a little to lower and support his body from the bounce as he give his full force when he hit the ball.

He went to a defensive stance as he predicts the movement of the ball. He step back giving a clearance between him and the edge of the table in any case it landed over the white border. The ball entered his court on the left side but it was too low to answer with another smash. The orange plastic ball hit the edge of his table as he predicted. With his right hand over his other side, he answered it with a back hand chop giving it a little bit of force enough to go over the net. 

The guy immediately went closer to the table as he gives it a forehand push hoping that he wouldn’t be able to reach over in time to make a hit but when he stood up, he head a ball bounce over his side. 

“One, zero,” he said. 

“I thought this was a friendly match,” the guy kidded as he toss the ball to him. 

“That’s what I thought at first but then you decided to smash.”

“What kind of smash, Hulk smash or…” the guy made a vague thrust movements. 

Without any waiting, he gave a serve that the guy missed. 

“Two, zero,” he said as he controls his laugh from escaping. 

The guy picked the ball over the table and tossed it back. 

“I wasn’t ready,” the guy said with a huge smile written all over his face, this time, getting ready to play. 

“Well, I thought that this is a friendly match.” 

After playing for a round, they ended up with a score of seventeen and sixteen with him in the lead but they soon decided that the game was over when his food arrived. He shared his burger and chips with him but decided to keep all beverages to himself. 

“Go order yours. I have dying to drink,” he said as the guy stood up and order through the intercom. 

“That was some game,” the guy said as he sat and picked a piece of chip out of the back. 

“Your decent, at least,” he teased. 

“Not bad for yourself. You’re from around here?”

“No. I am from Alabang.”

“Another city boy,” he noted to himself but he accidentally said it out loud. 

“How about you?”

“Pasay.”

“Eh. Too far.”

“Too far for what?”

“Nothing.”

And they sat there talking about from where they are and what do they do despite the itch and dryness of their throat. The rest of the hour was spent for just having a conversation that costs him two hundred fifty. But it was a two hundred fifty worth spent on. 

“Bruce,” he noted, “I never knew anyone named Bruce.”

“Yeah. Sound like brusque, don’t you think,” the guy said as he flexed his biceps in front of him. 

“But a major wimp in the game.”

“You only got the lead because I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Yeah right.”

They laugh together. 

He could feel the exhaustion of his body as his limbs want to detach themselves and his body to fall over and lay on the cold ground but with the guy and the conversation he was having, there was warmth and kindness to it that he want to stay longer. Just sit down and have a casual talk. 

The distant and cold room was now bearable. Despite being distracted, he was glad it was due to the company he has. He gave him a smile as he watched Bruce munch over his chips and burger. Bruce almost snorted from controlling his laughter at how awkward it was. 

It has only been three hours at most but it felt like a lifetime. 

He did not care how dramatic it feels to him. After the last month that went by, he would not take solid chances like this for granted. 

They clean up the room after eating as they tease each other by throwing a ball around the corner for someone to fetch but they got tired of it eventually finished tidying up the place. He was the last to leave the room after closing the light. The room was now more pitch black than the corridor they went into. 

The humid air envelops the atmosphere with the salt still lingering above the high winds. The brushes of the tress are now louder and the sky was golden to perfection. The empty hallways he roamed this morning are now full of voices. Some children laughing or crying.Some adult complaining, mostly about the kids or their kids. But most adults are on their own bubbles talking to one another of how their day went. Given the good sun and the cold wind at the beach, it was probably a nice morning and a pleasant afternoon. 

They laugh at themselves over how sweaty they are with their shirts now darker than what they appeared to be. They gave themselves a smell check up only to almost barf and vomit on the scene. They laughed at each other as they were welcomed by a new change of scenery. One that is alive and moving. 

“So, what are your plans for tonight?” Bruce asked him as they stood still over the counter, absorbing the sudden chaos. 

“Well, we will be leaving tonight, sadly.”

“On a Saturday?”

“Yeah. We got here on Friday morning. It was a free vacation leave, sort of.”

“Well then,” Bruce said as he tries to pull something out of his back pocket. “Here,” he handed him a calling card that he pulled out. He tap the calling card repeatedly over his hand as he smiles at him. 

“Thanks. We’ll, I guess I will see you then.”

“Sure.”

He waved good bye to Bruce as he went upstairs back to his room. 

For the day after this weekend, he finally has something to look forward to. 

-

He had been meeting with Bruce for some time though rarely they saw each other because of their busy work eating their time. And the days he had spent with him has been nothing but just like the old days he was trying to forget but the familiarity of it all was what made him stay. After all, there was nothing wrong by having a friend. 

Life’s greatest misery when being an adult is having your friends find their path and walk it. That was not the misery as each one has their own paths to take and story to tell. It was not that. It is that you are now all alone while you try to figure out everything on your own. To be walking aimlessly as you figure out everything and make sense of what has life given you. To have questions left unanswered for far too long. But with Bruce, all of his worries are on a stand still. It is not perfect but he would take it anyway. 

On the chance they do meet, they would be spending them over billiards, bowling, the arcade, the bookstore, the movies, and anything they might feel like doing. If not, they would meet one another over lunch or dinner when one is available, depending on who asks. 

Bowling tomorrow morning? Bruce would leave him a message on the night before. 

Sure. He would respond. 

Got plans for dinner? He would text him out of nowhere on weekday. 

Where? Bruce would reply and he would send him the details of the place. 

There was nothing on their message threads except of the plans they do agree on. And even then, they rarely say no to one another except when work catches on or Bruce has to take care of some family matters. 

He had tried asking him more about his parents, siblings, and his relationship but all he got was a one shot answer. There was no sense in poking about his personal life, he told himself. Despite just talking about their monotonous routine and the little spark they give to it to call if living. 

He learned that Bruce was a shop keeper of a well establish car maintenance somewhere in Alabang that his father has starter when he was still in elementary. Being the eldest guy amongst his sibling, he was forced to take up mechanical engineering so that he could take over the shop one day. After graduating, he was employed to a motorcycle manufacturing along the east service road of Alabang just to learn more about automotive. And when he had learn enough, his father gave him complete control over their shop. 

It was the only think Bruce was comfortable to share to him. 

Today, they were walking along the crowded mall of Greenhills as Bruce is looking for a rare Magic card while he was looking for some wooden antique chess set.

The morning was full of life and vigor as chatters spread the thin air of the mall, filling every nook and cranny. Everyone was wearing their happy faces as they walk along the narrow halls of the central market. The place was well lit despite being inside a very old establishment. There were no air conditioning and if ever there was one, they could not feel it. Yet despite all of this, they did not sweat one bit. They walked around along make shift stores selling various items from clothes and handbags to make up products. Some even offering other merchandise that you could by somewhere else for a better quality like jewelry and other kids’ toy. But then again, Greenhills is known as an upscale Divisoria. The only distinguishing part is that most of electronics and gadget shops around Greenhills offer authenticity at an affordable price. 

He was looking around a selection of phone cases as Bruce asked for direction to one of the shop owner. After deciding for a fake leather case, he paid for it and went to follow Bruce on the next stall, standing still looking around where the best exit was. 

“Ate?” a customer asked behind him, “Do you a have a case for this brand?” and she showed the lady her phone. 

Soapy air mixed with oils, floral scent, and other various fragrances made him nauseated as he continues to follow Bruce looking for the exit. He looked around to find second hand PS4, X Box, Nintendo, and PC games being sold with lower price with one game having multiple copies. 

“Do you think they are legit?” Bruce asked as he leads the way. 

“The phones and tablets?”

“Yeah.”

He looked around to see that the phone has a generic price tag attached to them. “Could be.But mostly not. And if they were, they would be probably be stolen.”

Aside from that, most of the obscure find for collection are found their which is why Bruce asked him to join for any card shop. This was what Greenhills was known after all. He had seen from various forum threads of all the nerd and geek culture items you could find when you found the right shop. He could remember that the stores where next to one another but it has seem that they had moved it to a new location. 

Additionally, the number of electronic shops and computer parts seller around the main mall of Greenhills was the go to of gaming enthusiast but ever since the rise in the popularity of customized PC, the owners of the store along New Manila has branched out to new places, accessible to where the demand is. 

But aside from that, the main attraction are for those collectors looking for board games, books, cards, figurines, you name it and it would be found it here. Hopefully, he told himself as they walk aimlessly between stalls of various knick knacks. 

They had taken a couple of stairs and turns over to find themselves back from where they came from. The smell of meat from the open flame and the spicy seasoning blending in the open air made his mouth water. 

“Well, I for one am wanting to eat so where to big boy,” he said as he cajoled Bruce for lunch as he looked around where the scent was coming from. 

“Fine. But next thing we do after this is look around again,” Bruce irritated,lead the way to the food court.

He ordered himself a yangnyeom chicken, his go to Korean food, and a cup of kimchi fried rice. He has been dying to taste the sweet and spicy sauce of the chicken that just imagining it, he could hear his stomach growl. Bruce on the other hand went to a plain and simple subway sandwich. 

“Just that?” he asked as he dug into his food. 

“So that we could look around for the shop immediately,” Bruce answered, biting a huge piece of meat, vegetable, and bread in one bite.

“Well, why don’t you just check the address of the shop and look what building it was?”

“Then how could we explore Greenhills then?”

“We had explored Greenhills. Four times.”

“Three. Just going four,” Bruce answered almost laughing. “Fine. I will check it.”

After they had finish eating their lunch, they immediately packed their belongings and went to the building suggested by his search. Bruce went in happily like a kid going to a candy store. He followed him and as he opens the door, he was greeted by the smell of newly manufactured cardboard and chemical from the foil packaging. The pleasant smell of book like pages and unknown chemical made him want to hurl. But he fought it. He walked around the store looking at boxes of boxes of various trading card games from Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, and some other lesser known card game having a niche and small but knitted community. 

“God,” he said upon seeing a Yu-Gi-Oh card in blue boarder, “what happened to Yu-Gi-Oh?”

“You play?” Bruce asked as he shuffles a bundle of cards on his hand looking for the one he went there for. 

“Used to. Until the Pendulum shit happened. You?”

“Old school Magic all the way.”

“God, I miss playing Commander.”

“You play Magic.”

“Yeah.JaceArchmage and the Big Bois. That is my main deck anyway.”

He looked around the shop to find customers defining their stereotype that he wanted to laugh at himself. There were a couple of oversized man, which he has no issues with as he does not know any of their medical history, with unkempt facial hair, which has what was bugging him out, that their looks give an aura of stench. God, he hates to be a judgmental prick, he told himself. 

There were students and kids roaming accompanied by their parents besides the adult customers. He could see that the parents were giving the same nasty look to the other patrons as he did but when the parents turned to look at him; he could feel the judgment weigh on him. 

Karma, he quipped. 

“This,” Bruce said as he hold a card up to the cashier. The card was in blue boarder and shines under light giving a rainbow glow.

“Really, that’s it?”

“What?” 

“We went all the way for a single piece? Spend all entire afternoon just for a single piece?”

“Yeah?” Bruce was almost nervous to speak but at the same time was sweating from controlling his laugh. 

“You owe me a snack.”

“Fine.”

As he waits for Bruce to settle the payment, he looked around the figurine display. There were multiple variation of Batman and Ironman displayed on the shelf. Must be the most sought items, he hypothesized. He looked around the display to find for any price tag only to find nothing. He step back and look at the collection entirely as the dimmed yellow light illuminates on top of them, giving a gloomy and serious tone. 

“This are for sale?” he asked own of the shop keeper who walked to him as he glances over them. 

“They are.”

“But they’re outside of the box. Why is that?”

“The owners actually sold them to us like that but considering their limited release box or no box, the price is still dictated by its rarity,” the shop keeper said. 

“Okay,” he said as he crosses his arm and went back to Bruce to check up on him. 

Bruce grabbed the card and put it on a sleeve and places it inside his binder before leaving the store. When he got out, he found him waiting by the corner just watching people come and go. 

“Where off to next?”

“Burger and ice cream.”

“We just had lunch.”

“I am actually still hungry,” he admitted. The lunch they had was not able to satisfy his hunger for the amount of walked they had done around the mall early in the morning. 

In order to make up for the lost hours, they went to a McDonald’s to rest and eat. He picked up the cheapest place he could think of so that Bruce doesn’t have to shoulder that much considering he just bought an expensive cardboard paper, as he teased him. 

Bruce lends him a deck for them to play for a while as they wait for the food to come. He gave him a blue control deck while he chose an aggro one. They played a best of three matchin which he lost two of the game. 

After finishing their food, he asked for the binder to check some of the cards. He saw some Alpha cards and his collection of all the Moxes. Some are the first edition of the released Planeswalker, and others are just some of his valued card with his most liked artwork. 

“I will steal this binder from you, worth a lot” he kidded as he turns a page to check more cards.

“Give me that,” Bruce took the binder back as he could see him smile at his panic. 

“Such a kid.”

Bruce give himself a stretch as he twist his shoulder around waiting for to hear a pop but nothing came out. He twisted his other shoulder and turned his waist around both sides to give a stretch. After having his muscles move, he relaxes back to his seat as he slouches on the bench. 

“All that walking got me tired.”

“And whose fault is it?”

“Mine. Well, it has been a long time ago since I was able to work out.”

“Yeah right.”

“By the way, you go to the gym right?” Bruce asked as he puts the binder back.

“Used to,” he said as he looked at his stomach. There was a little fat building up, he noted as he pinches his belly and wiggle it. “Why?”

“How about this Saturday, are you free then?”

“For a gym? Sure. Where?”

“Maybe around MOA?”

“Sure,” he agreed. 

He finished his drink before leaving. They went to the parking and go their separate ways when they got inside their car. 

He waited all day go pass by so just Saturday could come. He remembers nothing of his work but all he could tell that he had done his job well enough to keep them off his back. And when Saturday came, he woke up with an energy unparalleled than he had from the days that had gone by. 

-

The warm that welcomed him that morning was as gentle and thin like the wind. Nothing too bearing for him to worry.

He went out of his bed and organized it immediately. He looked around his room to see if there are any more mess that needed cleaning and he did just that when he found something crooked and askew to what defines clean to him. After setting and finalizing his bed room, he looked around his house only to find it spotless. He wondered to himself when he had done all the cleaning as he stood up on the end of the stairs. 

With nothing else to do, he went to make himself a small breakfast. He poured some grinded coffee beans and water on his coffee maker and let it sip through as he cooks for his breakfast. 

He went to his refrigerator and took two eggs, his cheese, a tomato, and some greens as he struggles to carry them all in one go. He placed them all on the table and went to his cabinets to take out all the needed kitchen ware. Scrambling the egg on a metal bowl, he tossed seasoning over it with salt, pepper, and chilli flakes. His finger was coated with egg as he submerged a slice of toast deep to let the egg mixture soak in. On a pan, he let oil be heated until it boils a little before placing both slices and the remaining egg mixture. The bread slowly turns golden brown, where he placed on top of one slice was the sliced tomato and greens and his cheese. 

He went to his balcony and served himself a French toast and a black coffee as he listens on the radio. His morning was going well as he expected. The sky was clear from the pollution set forth by yesterday’s sunset yet the light of the sun was not too overbearing as it painted the city yellow with its golden rays. He could feel his skin blanketed by a thin layer of warmth yet the quite winds made his hair dance. 

The bitter coffee runs over his body as he took a sip, waking every sleeping part. The smoke floats away, dancing as it bid farewell. 

He eats his savoury French toast as he watches morning sky give glory for today when the cheese almost burn his tongue. Luckily, he was able to swallow it on time as it burns every surface of his throat. That was much luck as he could have, he told himself. 

When he looked down the street, it was as if he was taken year back with the children playing patintero on the street. Some parents where having their coffee and pandesal in front of their house as they read today’s newspaper. The mix of the laughter and the morning gossip made their once dead neighbourhood alive. 

He took out his phone to capture the moment, noticing after the shot that he had no internet signal. Maybe that’s why everybody is out and about, he kidded. 

The only ironic part was that the radio was playing We Didn’t Start The Fire by Billy Joel. Looking back, it was more appropriate years ago when the government was in chaos handling the pandemic but at least the country has been able to breathe after the end of that administration. 

Either way, it was all too fresh and refreshing to have a change of phase and to have a hopeful morning. 

After having his breakfast, he  went to wash the dishes as he listen to the radio for today’s news, sadly all relevant information came from one ear to another. 

“Ten o’clock sharp,” he told himself as he reads the clock. He still got time, he told himself as he went to his bedroom to do some light reading. When his phone alarmed, he hopped inside the shower for his to leave.

On my way.

The text read when he checked his phone when he was about to call him and asked where was he. He decided to use his bike instead of driving to MOA as it was just a few meters away from his house. 

He starts to strap his gym back around his body as he gets ready to make his way. The sun shines brightly and the warm became intense that he felt like a rotisserie as his skin became glue and his sweat evaporates upon contact with air. But he went on with it anyway. 

The road was almost empty, only passing the usual private vehicle. There were plenty of jeep passing by but all of them where half full. Family and friends on the other hand made their way towards the Cultural Center of the Philippines as seen by their picnic basket and the usual tell of having either badminton or tennis and volleyball or basketball. 

He continued to bike along Buendia Avenue when he took a left turn over the DiosdadoMacapagal Boulevard where he stopped for a while over the Libertad Channel to rest and appreciate the day. The sky was blinded from the shouting rays of sun as the river forms diamond on the surface, ever so sparkling with the wave reaching the vast ocean of Manila Bay. When he was done resting, he continued to pedal to the gym, the sun watching him carefully from a safe distance. 

He arrived at the gym to find it almost empty except for the receptionist. There were a few who came out of the facility, he assumed doctors and nurses who were scheduled for night shift are now about to go home. 

The hot air coming from the previous batch still lingers in the air while the cold wind tries to fill in the gap. The faint smell of sweat and musk dances around with the hormones from those who exercise. 

The receptionist smiled at him as he approaches the desk. He showed her his ID and nodded at her as she permits him to enter the facility. He swiped his ID to the scanner and the platform screen door opened up, letting him in. 

He frowned after finding a few of the weights lying around. He could tell it was from the previous visitor he had passed before entering. He called the receptionist about the incident to have it clean up in order to prevent possible accident. Other than that, the room was organized, not that he was expecting it to be clean in the first place as each inch was mark by someone’s sweat. 

One the air was the faint music of jazz music which was ironic for a gym. He was expecting some rock to boost and amplify the intensity of the patron’s adrenaline and to keep them upbeat but jazz, he told himself, it would only make people drowsy put them in an unwarranted accident. 

But he could not do much about it even if he does complain. Some people would be okay with just a background noise to keep their mind of bay, maybe that is why the music was so faint, he told himself. 

He went to the lockers area and put all his belonging inside expect for his phone that he would be using to track his routine, his bottle of water, a towel to clean himself every now and then, and his old Sony MP3 player he got from his dad a long time ago when he was still in college. The metal door echoes between the four walls of the empty changing room when he closed his locker. He was snapping his finger and stomping his feet after he had put on his earphone and played his music instantly making him more animated than the morning before.

Isn’t this exactly, where you’d like me? I’m exactly where you’d like me, you know. 

Nothing could go wrong with Panic’s first album. He walks over the water fountain as he empties his water bottle and refills it immediately. Outside, the world moves as usual as cars pass along the road next to the gym. Friends hanging out as they decided to watch a movie together which would lead to them going straight to Comic Alley just to browse for what new merchandise is there from the current seasonal anime. He twisted his fingers around his index remembering how he used to obsess with the Vongola Rings. 

There were also families taking their kid to grocery as a form of hang out. Why do kids enjoy doing grocery, he does not know but perhaps to family belonging to middle to lower class, grocery in a super market is a privilege worthy enough to be considered as pamamasyal, he said to himself. He should know, he reminded himself. 

The world seems to move so slowly outside as he watches it all transpires when he suddenly felt a hand pressed over his shoulder. He almost jumped only to find that it was Bruce when he turned around. 

“You seem to be in a deep thought,” Bruce said as he throws his towel over his shoulder. 

“Just appreciating the view.”

“Appreciating the view?” Bruce over looked on his shoulder trying what he meant. All he could see was stranger walking by the sidewalk, cars slowing down the pedestrian and speeding once they got pass it, and the horrendous abomination they called modern architecture. “I don’t get it.”

“Come on,” he pulled him over the stationary bikes and treadmill to being their routine. 

“You could still to some cardio even though you bike from here?” he asked as he began doing light stretches. 

“Well, doing bike and running are two different things. Besides, my ass is sore from biking.” 

Bruce clear his throat from choking as he control his laughter from the double entendre. “So you are a …” 

“I will never bottom,” he cut him off before he could finish and he felt his cheeks warm up as it was painted with rose. 

“So you have …” Bruce continued to tease him. 

He never felt more ashamed by being open about his sexuality to a stranger yet here they are discussing it in the open. 

“It doesn’t matter,” he throw his towel directly at Bruce’s face, “We should start now.”

“Okay,” Bruce stood up having a smile all to himself after doing some bench sit up. 

He went to the nearest open space and did some warm up. On the list was a seat of twenty jumping jacks, a minute of arm circles, hip circles, and foot circlers, thirty push ups, and thirty sit ups. It took him roughly ten minutes to finish all of it as sweat turned his shirt dark. 

He had lost a part of his endurance, he noted from noticing how long it took for him to finish his routine while normally it would take him around five or less. 

The acid building inside his stomach upsets him, regretting to drink coffee earlier that day but he could not do anything about it but to continue. 

He was just glad that after months of being inactive, he could still sweat like a waterfall despite doing little motion.

He hopped on to a treadmill after taking a minutes rest and hyrdrating himself. When he looked at Bruce, he was doing some biceps and triceps workout on the far end of the gym. He was moving the dumbbells with relative ease which was natural for his built. Moving on, he played Save Rock and Roll on his MP3 as he set the speed or the machine. He began running slowly and after sometime, he would increase the speed, his step after each run getting heavier and heavier that the stomp echoes throughout the room. Not wanting to destroy it, he turned it down and went for an average run. Running and biking on a stationary place made cardio more of a task than something to enjoy but it was his first step when he promised himself to give his future a chiselled body. It was an insult to running and biking outdoors. But then again, some people could only afford one or the other. This was the start where he would count every step, every breathe, and every second that passed by. When his MP3 was done playing the album, he gradually lowers the speed until he could stop it and hopped out. 

An hour of running, not bad, he said as he checks his timer. He could feel his throat coarse with every swallow that he had forgotten to take a drink every after fifteen minutes or so. He grabbed his water bottle to drink and let a huge breathe out from consuming the bottle empty.

When he looked at Bruce, he was getting off the stationary bike and approaching him. Both of their shirt was now drench in sweat but still has dry spots on it. He could feel himself exhausted but his body was still ready to do more. 

“An hour just passed by eh,” Bruce said as he drinks his own water. 

“Yeah. So, what are you planning to do after your arms and some cardio?” he asked as he dries himself with a towel. 

“Well, it has been an hour,” Bruce said as he scratches the back of his looking at his watch, “So I might be going to the shower.”

“Shower already?” 

“Yeah. Why?”

“I was still planning to do some arms and core,” he said as he sat down to rest and gain balance as he could feel the numbness of his legs set in. 

“You could still go?”

“Yeah.”

Bruce sat beside him as he rest with him while thinking of what to do. He cleaned his face with a towel still, some sweat from his hair falls to the floor. “How about tomorrow then, we continue?”

“I got plans tomorrow. But if you are tired already, we could do this again next week Saturday?” he asked hoping it would be a yes. 

“Sure.”

“It just a waste though to let all my remaining stamina go to waste.”

“Don’t worry, we will two hours next week.”

They both stood up and immediately head to the locker. He took his towel as he wraps it around his waist and undress. He placed his dirty clothes in a small laundry back and took his shower essential. He could feel his sweat continue to fall down his body and a thick film of oil covering every part of his skin. When he closed his locker, he saw that Bruce was already gone. On a far off distance, the water hitting the floor echoes the entire room. 

He went straight to an empty shower cubicle and let the shower run. The cold water immediately reawakens his sleeping muscles resting from his work out. The water slowly evaporates as it hits his skin fogging up the space. He runs his hands over his body just to let every parts be cleaned by water before soaping it. 

He was able to relax as he raised his head, water falling directly over his face. With his eyes closed, all that there was was the sound of a waterfall and the void. After letting himself soak with just water, he went ahead to clean his body with soap making sure that every surface was cleaned and polished. He went to shampoo and conditioner his hair after. And when all was done, he went to rinse himself closing his eyes again as he let the cold water rule over his mind with serenity and calmness until his composure was broken when he heard his door open and find out that Bruce has entered. 

Bruce pushed him deep inside the cubicle and locked the door behind them. He immediately kissed for a couple of second and broke it off just to his reaction. His gaze was fixed on Bruce as he reads his intention, waiting for him to speak up before he could do something. 

“Is this okay?” Bruce asked as he felt his hand wrapped around his waist pulling his closer that their skin and genitals are pressing one another. His mind was still above the clouds that it still has to make a decision but his body was welcoming the warm and the contact of another person. 

He nodded in silence; it was after all what he could only do. Bruce went again with a kiss but this time he could feel his tongue play along. He wrapped his hands around Bruce, running them from his upper back moving lower ever so gently. His muscles were well defined but he too has a figure that the sense of touch could enjoy. 

After minutes of kissing, Bruce lowered his kiss that he was now playing with his neck, tasting the mixture of both water and salt while his hands was now playing with his ass fondling them as if  massaging a ball of dough eventually spreading each cheeks apart. 

“We will get there,” Bruce whispered softly to his ear as it was being muffled by the falling water. But he did not stop. 

Bruce went on to bite his neck again, savouring the taste of his flesh but slowly, his mouth moves lower to his nipples. He could feel his warm tongue play with it while his hands massaging his dick, now fully erect from all the pleasure he was receiving. He let a loud moan fill the quiet room to which Bruce break his play time and laugh. 

He then kneel in front of him stroking his cock as with his two hands until Bruce to decided that is was now time to give him a blowjob. His warm mouth immediately send shivers along his skin feeling the thousand needle pierce his skin slowly. He grabbed his head as he has began to more active, slowly moving his hips back and forth. Saliva falls down on his commissures as he tries to swallow both his saliva and his dick but he cannot let go as he enjoys the taste. 

Suddenly, Bruce heard the door open but he kept being deep throated as his mouth was not in control. Soon, his mouth broke off with the dick when he pulled his head away. 

“You want to do it now?” Bruce asked and all he got in respond was a nod. 

He pushed him over the adjacent wall where the door was installed as he slowly strokes his cock. He spit on it and rubbed it more to feel how slippery it was from the previous blowjob. Bruce voluntarily spread his cheeks exposing his hole for him to breed. 

“Did you clean it?” he asked as he slaps his dick between the cheeks. 

“That is why I went to shower first,: Bruce proudly declared.

As he put his dick in, he could hear footsteps coming in but that did not stop him from going in deep. When he looked who it was, it was another patron staring at them with a smile. He flexes his muscle to their viewer as he slowly thrust his hips. 

“Fuck,” Bruce moaned as he felt his ass being stretched by his dick. 

“Glad I ended my workout early,” said the guy watching them as the guy walks in and touch his muscle. The guy has not any defined muscles on his body except for his arms and legs. The dark colour of his skin and curly hair on every inch of his skin made him look more matured than he was. 

The guy then took his cock out in the open as he spit on it and slowly rubbed it as he watches them both fuck it under the open water. Soon, he found himself holding Bruce over his hips with his thrust getting harder and harder as he felt his ass tighten over his dick. 

“Fuck,” Bruce shouted, not hiding the fact the they were fucking in a public area and the idea of more people watching them made him more all aroused. 

Finally, he released it all inside him. Now, all his energy has been drained, his body felt, as he slowly pulls out his dick out letting the cum drip over the floor. Bruce cummed after as he felt the dick moving out of his ass. There was now panting echoing the room, louder than the dripping water. When he looked at the guy, he was stroking hard until finally he cummed all over the floor. 

“Thanks for the watch,” the guys said as he walked to his cubicle to shower. 

Bruce smiled at him as he gave him a kiss, finishing cleaning themselves over the shower. 

“Still hard eh,” Bruce teased him as he cleaned his dick for him. 

“You could just rubbed it out for me,” he winked as he continues to clean his body. Bruce obliged as he stroked it slowly with his grip and speed getting tighter and faster with the fleeting second until he popped it over the wall. His dick slowly sleeps after releasing for a second time. 

Bruce finished his shower and left him alone in the cubicle. He finally rinse all the cum out of the wall and off him and head out of the shower as soon as he was done. He found Bruce already dressed and waiting for him in the locker room. They exchanged smile, still gauging on the aftermath after the so called post-nut clarity but to him, it was just nothing more than a friendly and casual sex. He dressed as usual while Bruce waited for him. 

“Should we do it here next time?” Bruce kidded to break the awkward silence.

“Next Saturday,” he teased back. 

As they walk out of the locker room, they found that there were quite a few patrons in the middle of their workout. They could see some eyes following them as they left the gym together. The sky has now turned into a brittle and muted orange with the clouds slowly falling from the horizon. The streets are now littered with people about to end their day as they catch the final light of the sun hoping to reach home before the dark sets in. The lower ground was now illuminated by the yellow city lights and the red lights coming by cars passing them by. You could hear the thousand voices singing along with the hum of the vehicles along the busy streets. 

“See you on Saturday,” Bruce waved good bye as he headed to the parking lot. 

“See you on Saturday,” he repeated as he run off to go home. He felt something new all the while strange yet familiar. He went the same way as he did when he went to the gym, as he stopped by the Libertad Channel to see the setting sun again. This time, the sun was as yellow as a yolk and the sky was more tangerine than the tangerine itself. The sea was blue, like the flower but it was still the raging waters he had saw earlier that day, never missing its glow and sparkle. After sometime, he continued biking on his way home reflecting on the change in dynamic of their relationship. It was after all too soon to call themselves friend but rather a close acquaintance. Yet, all this change, he was not sure what to made of it and how it will end out. 

Yet it was a change he welcomed. 

-

The television flickers under the dark room as he watches his series while eating his salmon and drinking a can of seltzer. His hair on his skin stood firm from the cold wind passing by that he could almost hear their secrets. Outside, was dark enough to be lost that even under the purple sky and the glowing moon, nothing could be seen. The stars had vanished from under the thick polluted air and the street has gone quite as if keeping him away from a secret he need not to know. Yet there he was all alone, resting from the day’s work enjoying the meal he had cooked for himself. It has been a while, he told himself as he took a bite of his salmon, the television still flickering. 

Days had gone by so fast that weeks had become seconds and those months had become hours. Most of which he spend between work and hanging with Bruce. They would be doing their usual hang out. Billiards and bowling here and there.Accompanying him to look for a certain Magic card. Their weekend workout, may be it a gym, or just in a park doing some biking or running. 

But all of it ends on the same note with Bruce’s mouth wrap around his dick. 

Mostly, it would be Bruce to ask if he could. They would do it in the shower. On a cubicle a nearby comfort room.Or besides a corner far from the public could see. The signal was that Bruce would tap him over his shoulder and he would nod in response. He would follow him walk towards a secluded place watching carefully that no eyes were following them, and there, he would lay his back over any solid wall to gain balance. He would feel Bruce taking a cup over his crotch, his grip tightening. His sensation of a warm touch was enough to made him shiver but the longer he places his hand over it, the harder it grew. 

He would watch over Bruce kneel over him as he slowly unbuckles his pants and planting his mouth over his boxer briefs taking playful bites over the fabric. Soon,precum started to appear over and it was when Bruce would pull his boxer brief down exposing his hard on wide and open. 

Bruce would wrap both of his hands over his dick moving it back and forth, taking his time on stroking it. When he would see precum on the tip, he would play with it as he rubs it all over his head. He would be giving it a stroke until he could feel it hard enough for him to take on a blowjob. 

He closed his eyes as he enjoys the head he was given. He could feel his cock his the back of his throat. The best part of it all was when Bruce puckers his lips over his head, gentle sucking his shaft like a lollipop. The tightness and wetness made his body convulse from the sweetness of the pleasure. Soon, he would find himself holding Bruce’s head as he bury his dick deep inside his mouth and pop his load. 

He could see the mixture of saliva and cum drip over the edge of his mouth from the build-up the fluid but he would swallow them all together. 

But they when have more time on a more secluded space, Bruce would spread his ass for him as he breeds him and empty his nuts. 

There were times people would catch them but they would still continue with their session as the viewer started to masturbate, join them, or just caress his body in adoration. 

Yet in all of their escapades, the ones he likes the most is watching Bruce kneel in front of him, ready to take his dick on his mouth. 

There were times he would be the one initiating it and Bruce never declined. He never asked to return the favour but he would help Bruce get off by jacking him. He would hug his from behind and jack him off with his two hands. He could feel it pulsate as he was about to explode. When he heard Bruce pants, he knew that he has pop it all off. The ground was soak in a puddle of cum every time he climaxed. 

Right now, as he looked at his crotch, he could see that his bulge was throbbing from just thinking his recent escapade with Bruce when his idle mind was interrupted by his vibrating phone, seeing Bruce left a message. 

Change of plans tomorrow? 

Wym?

Let’s spend the day on your place. 

He paused for a while thinking on what he meant but after further thought, he took it as it is. After all, he did not want to move away from his seat and that he prefer to just sit around all day tomorrow while catching up with watching his series. A company would be fine, he argued to himself. The thought of getting a head on the couch as he watches the television on a lazy day felt hot. 

After sometime, he washed his dishes and went to bed only to find morning come earlier than expected when he was woken by the doorbell. When he got down to open the door, he saw that Bruce was standing wearing a plain black t-shirt and cargo shorts holding a six packs of beer. 

“You’re too early,” he said as he scratches his eyes to see better. 

“It’s eleven in the morning.”

“Eleven.”

“Uh huh.”

He opened the door wide to let Bruce enter. He removed his shoes and has his gaze wonder around his home. 

“This is your home?” Bruce asked in astonishment. 

“Yeah. What about it?”

“It looks expensive.” Bruce continues to walk around the place until he reached the kitchen and placed the beer over the breakfast nook. 

“It’s small.”

“Not that I could remember,” he kidded, “But for a townhouse, this place is well design.”

“Thanks.”

Bruce jumped on the sofa as he sat spreading his legs over with his arms resting all over the back cushion. “This is nice.”

“So, what do you plan to do anyways?” he asked as he took a chair and sat on it from the front side resting his head over the back rail with his arms crossed. A yawn escapes him as his body slowly awakens. 

“Just watch and eat?” Bruce suggested with a shrugged. 

“Then let me clean up first. The remote is underneath the coffee table,” he said as he walks up the stair, dragging his body still like a rag doll with no life. 

As he reached his bathroom, he could hear the muffled noise of the television. He went on to open the faucet and wash his face with soap and water. After drying himself, he went to brush his teeth taking his time as he looked at his reflection over the mirror. His eyes were loopy and his skin was melting. His messy hair didn’t help with the fact that his face already looked more tired than he was hours ago. He rinsed his mouth and continues to groom his hair. He straightens his tank top and turned around as he examines his physics. 

He jogged downstairs to find Bruce with a bottle of beer on his left hand and the remote on the other, the bottle almost empty. 

Rays of flight slits through the thin layer of the blind illuminating the entirety of the room. Outside of his house was nothing but the blinding white as if they were in some of vast future star forgotten by time. 

Bruce looked at him as he went down the stairs and raised his bottle of beer to him. 

“Isn’t it too early for you to get hammer?” he asked laughing to himself. When he stood in front of the television, he was that Bruce was still in the middle of browsing a series to watch. 

“Just a bottle. It’s not even empty.”

He sat down besides Bruce as he took a bottle of beer and open it with his mouth. Bruce looked at him with wide eyes and jaws drop, amazed at how he open it with his teeth. 

“God!” Bruce exclaimed still frozen to his seat, “That didn’t hurt?”

“The first time I bleed but I just went and wash it with this,” he said as he shakes the bottle gently. He took a sip as it washes down his dry throat only noticing that he still has to drink a glass of water. He got up to drink water and went back to the couch with his phone in his hand. 

“What do you want for lunch?” he asked Bruce as he scroll down looking up at places open. Bruce put down his beer over the coffee table as he went down. 

“That would stain the wood,” he scolded as he took a coaster out of the coffee table and placed it underneath the beer. Bruce raised his leg as he scoot up in between his legs with his hands all over his short. He could feel that his dick is now starting to get erect. 

“Is this really your plan?” he asked all the while smiling as he drinks his beer, losing himself to the alcohol. 

“Maybe, maybe not,” he teased as continues to play with his bulge. 

“Then I will order for some pizza and chicken then.” 

He spread his arms over the back couch as he browse for something to watch. He finished his first bottle of beer and opens his second as he let Bruce play with his thing for a while. The noise of the television became whisper with each beer coming down to his guts. Bruce slowly lowered his sweat pants revealing him wearing his dark grey boxer briefs. He went to continue his drink his beer until he feel the alcohol runs through his body until he felt a familiar sensation of something warm and slippery over his dick. 

He let Bruce give him a blowjob as he watch an episode but with the change of the tightness of his lips and his speed, he could not hold on to it any longer. 

“I’m gonna cum,” he said as he buries Bruce head over his pelvic. As he released his shot, he heard the doorbell ring. “Come in,” he said in a hurry not realizing the situation. The delivery man out of shock open the door only to witness a guy receiving a head. He could feel the rush of his blood run to his cheeks and made him hard for the second time. 

Bruce stood up as he wipes of any excess liquid of his mouth and greeted the delivery man. Right there in the open, he was expose for everyone to see. 

“Wh-where should I place this?” the delivery man asked, stattering as he looked around avoiding any eye contact. 

“Just place it on the table,” he said as he put his boxer briefs and sweat pants back on. When Bruce open the pizza, the savory and sweet smell floating the corners of the room jolted through his nose as it made his eyes open wide. 

“What?” he asked as he sat up looking around. 

“What what?” Bruce asked as he looked at him, noticing a bulge along his sweat pants, “Someone was having a nice dream,” he teased. 

“I fell asleep?”

“You said you would take a nap until food arrives,” Bruce took a napkin and piece himself a slice. He took a bite immediately but had to let go as the cheese burns his tongue. “So, what are you dreaming about?”

“That I got a blowjob from you as I was watching when I accidentally let the delivery man in the house,” he said as he sat up straight and fixing his hair. 

“How do you let the delivery man inside the house by accident?” Bruce blows over his pizza gradually bending from the heavy onset of the tip, the smoke leaving his slice. 

“I don’t know. It’s a dream.”

Bruce laughs, taking a successful bite, “Don’t worry, I will take care of that later,” he said as he winks at him. 

“So, what did you do while I was asleep anyways?” He stood up and took a napkin as he pulls a slice over the pie, the cheese stretching as he gave it a tuck. His stomach growls louder for food as the hunger grow. 

“Just on my phone waiting for food.”

“What do you want to do anyways?” 

But all he got was a shrugged. 

He pulled out his controllers and a selection of video game to choose from that they could either play against one another or as a team. Bruce peruse over the selection only finding a few familiar once like Tekken and Mortal Combat. Need For Speed. Gran Turismo. And a lot more fighting, racing, and arcade games. 

“Is this all the game that you have?” 

“The only game we could play. I got other games but mostly for single player.”

Bruce game it a thougth until he saw the Nintendo Switch resting on top of his PS4. 

“Let’s Go Pikachu or Eevee?”

“That would work.”

He set up the game and made a new profile to have a completely new and separate save file. The game being with the nostalgic Game Freak logo with Pikachu’s ear poking out of the television as he invites the player inside of it. The Pokémon logo appears with the Pikachu walking over the grass field. 

“I’ll be the girl,” he offered to Bruce. 

“Want something to admit?” he teased back. 

“I will give you some win for me breeding your ass every so often,” he snorted at his own remark. 

As the game starts, Bruce immediately joined the co-op mode with him having an Eevee. Together they made their way with the introduction as they take the parcel from Professor Oak and received their Pokéball and their Pokédex. They discussed their about their team and who gets to pick which starter. 

“But it’s only fair that you could have Squirtle and Bulbasaur as I take Charmander.”

“Oh no, you’re not taking Charmander.”

“I am already a girl though.”

“Fine.”

They made their way together to Viridian forest as they catch as many creatures they could and turning the excess into candy. They battled gyms and trainers and defeat Team Rocket until they got bored, reaching up to S.S. Anne. 

When they took their break, the sun was already golden and the house has gotten darker. He tried to open the ambient lights as the glare from the television was enough to brighten the room. The pizza has gone cold, with still plenty of slice left. They had forgotten about the chicken that when they opened the box, the crispy skin now has been soggy. There was only a beer left. His third bottle has gone stale while Bruce’s second beer was still more than half. 

He went to the kitchen to drink some water and pissed after hydrating. When he come back, Bruce was on his phone, scrolling over his social media. 

“So, what’s next?” Bruce asked as he put his phone down over the coffee table. 

The outside world has gotten darker with the minutes passing. He could hear children still outside playing as they enjoy their weekend. The city lamps started to light up the dark street. There was nothing but the faint noise of the voices and the running footsteps of their neighbourhood with the news telling the most stressful update of their nation. 

He looked at Bruce and he saw a weak smile forcing over the surface of his face as it tries to drown something into the depths of his eyes. He wanted to be alone and enjoy the idleness of the day but he could tell that Bruce was not having it, as if he was hiding from something. 

“We could just rest for a while before we could do something else.”

“I am tired from gaming. But I could go for a watch.”

“What?”

“Something comedic. Like Friends.”

“Do you know Malcolm in the Middle?”

“I do but I don’t think I could watch it tonight.”

He looked at Bruce and for a moment, he saw that he broke his own barrier. His face was screaming, asking to escape the dark place as his eyes beg him to let him stay. His eyes glow under the dark, almost watery. 

“You know,” he began as he open the last beer and offered it to Bruce, taking the stale one fort himself, “You could tell me anything.”

Right then and there, Bruce let out a high as some of worries started to fade into nothingness. Bruce looked at him, examining his sincerity as he tries to open his mouth only to find it glue shut. 

“What?” he insisted. 

“Nothing. I just don’t want to go home yet,” Bruce said as he took the beer and take a sip, sinking over the sofa with his legs wide open. “It’s just that,” he began but he trailed off. He did not say any other word as he let Bruce master the courage to speak up. “My dad and I had a fight. That’s all.”

“Well, if you want, you could stay here as long as you like for a while until you feel better,” he consoled him as he give him a reassuring pat over his shoulder. He took the remote and search for Friends as he look up the episode where Monica and Rachel bet the apartment to Chandler and Joey on the account that if the girls win, they would have to give up the chicken and the duck. 

As he played the episode, the room suddenly became alive from the laughter coming from the audience despite it being pre-recorded. And between the darkness surrounding them two, the sound of someone else voice felt like they were one with the live audience watching it. 

“Do you like your life?” Bruce suddenly asked out of nowhere in the middle of the episode where they girls and the guys one up the other with their wages.

“What?” he asked Bruce again, not that because he did not hear what he asked of him but he wanted to gauge what he meant.

“Like,” Bruce began to elaborate, “Do you always think that this life, the one you are right now, in this time, is ever you have hoped for?”

“Not really,” he answered without skipping a bit. It was after all a no brainer question. 

 “Dad said that I should have been someone matured and responsible by know,” he laughed at himself as he heard how ridiculous he sounds expressing his vulnerable self to someone he vaguely knew, “I mean, I run the shop. It’s going well. But he had all this questions about me. When will I try to have my own business? When will I stop buying kid shit? When will I settle and get married?”

The air has now become colder and the silent heavier as it rings around his ears. 

“Are you a hundred percent gay?”

“What?” Bruce laughs at his candidness. 

“Like gay gay and not bi?”

“I am gay.”

“Do they know?”

All Bruce could do was shake his head in disappointment and despair. “They don’t even know anything about me. Much less what I like to do about my life.”

“What is it that you want to do?”

“Be a lawyer,” Bruce let all his defences down as he had given all he ever was to a stranger. “But that is not going to happen anytime soon.”

“Sorry,” is what all he could tell him. 

“Life sucks ain’t it.”

“You tell me all about it.” He gave a hard look at Bruce deciding whether he would share his sympathy in silence or in similarity but he was much more of a coward than he knew. He zipped his mouth shut and let Bruce air his grievances. 

“At least when I’m with you,” Bruce look at him, his eyes glowing from the little light, “I could be true to myself.” 

Bruce pushed him over the sofa. Under the dark, all he could see was the shadow and contour of his face. He could feel his breathing on his face and his heavy heart over his chest. He was after all being taken over by Bruce’s heavy body. Without any pause, Bruce went in for the kiss. He could taste the alcohol on his lips and his warm body dominates him. 

Bruce hand slowly reaches inside of his tank top feeling his muscles and chest as they both got deeper in the far end vastness of the kiss. He could feel that to Bruce, this time, it was not for fun. He was giving all his emotions and feeling to it, after all, he had become open and vulnerable that there was no point in going back. Something he could not do. 

His warm hand played his nipple and all he could do was wrap his free hand around him and pull Bruce closer. When Bruce broke off his lips against his, they could feel each other’s heavy breathing. 

“I’m the hostess,” Monica said as the show has moved on from the next episode, “Not those guys. I’m always the hostess.”

“Should we turn off the television?” Bruce asked

“Then how would I be able to see our hot make out session?”

“Just a make out session?” Bruce teased with a smile. Bruce continue to kiss him as he wraps his arms around Bruce’s body exploring every deep cuts of his back. While their lips and arms were entertwined, busy pulling off the notches, he could feel Bruce bulge over his. Bruce slipped his hands over his sweatpants as he take a grope of his raging hard on. 

He let a moan escape, breaking off the kiss. 

“Did that do it?” Bruce whispered, teasing him over his ear as he went to his neck after biting hard. 

“Oh god,” he almost shouted as he pressed Bruce closer to him. 

The dig his finger over Bruce chiselled back, now moving it lower until he it was over his ass, massaging it. Bruce broke of his lips over his neck as he lifts his tank top drag his face over his chest, smelling his sweat over the surface of his skin, with his left hand feeling the subtle hair on it, appreciating the fine definition while he brush over his Bruce hair that felt like cotton under his touch. 

“This is nice,” he said as he closes his eyes, almost drifting. 

“What’s nice, me exploring my hand over your body or my other hand playing with your dick?” he kidded. Bruce kneeled up as he removes both of their shirt and. Soon, he stood up and pulled his sweatpants and his boxer brief, making him completely exposed. 

“Over dressed, aren’t we?” he said as Bruce unbuckles his cargo pants. As soon as they were both naked, they went back to cuddling. He could feel his dick touches Bruce’s which they never had done before together. 

After feeling a little numbed by being pinned by Bruce, he pushed him so he they could both stand up. Bruce spat on his hand as he pulled him closer, rubbing both of their dicks together. He had never felt another man’s cock touches his. It was stiff and hard all the same but it felt warm and nice like a smaller version of them hugging. He laughs at the ludicrousness of his own thought. 

“What?” Bruce asked with a curious smile on his face. 

(TO BE CONTINUED)

The sun was shining through the coffee shop as he drinks his coffee little by little just to be there for a few more minutes and as he reads a book he has been putting off for a while as he waits for his recent match to arrive. From above the coffee shop, he could see people walking idly over High Street as if they had all the time in the world. 

Parent’s spoiling their kids. 

College kids on weekend blowing of their rich parent’s money. 

Lovers who was just passing by.

Workers who are ill-faithed to have work on weekends. Considering the number of call center agency around the place, he thought himself, it was nothing out of the ordinary. 

All the same, they enjoy the warmth of the morning sun. The newest and freshest light that there is where the pollutants of the air is not as thick as the air of the afternoon.

All the same, they are smiling. 

He continued reading the book as he began again from the very first word of the page as he had forgotten where he has left off. The kids were given help by peculiar adults that despite the good nature of their service they offer, hides malice they still yet to understand. But if they are to save the Peculiardom, they would do anything. 

As he trudges on for a few more days, placed his book back in his back and carried his drink as he decided to wait home any do something more productive just to wait for someone who wouldn’t show up. As he stood up, he saw her sitting by the opposite table looking at him cloyingly as if she was mocking her. 

There was no doubt about it that it was his match. He could remember her cold piercing looks and demeanor from her profile and yet the way she mocks his like he was one of her old friends who he have not seen for years. 

“And I thought I was your date for the day,” she mocked him as she nears the door to exit the coffee shop.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” he asked, his head posing ahead while his eyes were waiting for her reaction. 

“You were so deep in the book. I don’t want to disturb you. How was it?” she looked at him blankly waiting for words to escape out of him. He could feel the intensity of her looks at he could feel the cold beads of sweat forming from his forehead. 

“Honestly, I am expecting more.”

(TO BE CONTINUED)