Chapter Six

Naghari ang katahimikan sa mahabang kalye ng Pracha Road. Wala silang imikan, wala naman siyang masabi, o itanong. Pero panay ang sulyap niya sa payapa’t masiglang anyo ni Hardin. Isang matamis at lihim na ngiti ang nakaguhit sa kanyang mga labi nang inalis niya ang tingin sa mukha nito.

In-open niya ang kanyang cellphone at sinipat ang mga naka-saved na mga litrato. Tumambad sa kanya ang nakuha niyang larawan seven years ago, naka-saved din ‘yon sa kanyang USB.

Muli siyang sumulyap sa tahimik na nagmamanehong si Hardin. Ibang-iba na ang hitsura nito ngayon, guwapong-guwapo, at lalaking-lalaki. He clearly remembered it all. Hindi niya kailanman malilimutan kung paano niya nakilala si Hardin sa Rama VIII, where his love at the first sight happened.

“It animates my thoughts sometimes,” he verbalized. Ang tinutukoy nito ay tungkol sa unang pagkikita nila. “I was lost that night, and I don’t even speak a single Pasa-Thai, and if I didn’t see you that night maybe I wander or stay on the bridge the whole night,” he added with a smile and glanced at Kieran.

“No, a lot of natives can speak English fluently.” He shut his cellphone.

“Such a lovely visage takes me back to that night. Do you know that you didn’t change?” tanong nito saka lumingon kay Kieran.

Hindi, wala siyang dapat baguhin sa sarili niya. He loves his attitude, his personality, the way he wears clothes, and his hobby of taking photos, absolutely nothing has changed. Walang nagbago, si Hardin pa rin ang mahal niya. He was waiting for a perfect time to confess. But he was still scared of rejection, like how society and his dad rejected him.

“You’re still wearing the best smile in the world.”

Kieran thinks if that was a compliment, or if Hardin was being sincere. Kieran rarely smiles. Thinking that he has the best smile, and for Hardin, it was the best smile in the world, his heart rejoices. He smiled and his mind went to a topic that he didn’t want to think about, is Hardin already in a relationship? His mind asks that frivolous question, why not, Hardin is hot and he can flirt with any girl he wants. Hardin’s charming and enchanting personality can lure any woman. Kieran was so curious about it until when he asks that question in his mellow voice.

It took a minute before Hardin answer his question. “Yes.”

A short answer and he wasn’t hoping for Hardin’s whole story. He was not interested in how Hardin met his girl, how he courted her, how nice she was, what was her name, or where she was from. Kieran is not interested. His heart slowly wounded. “Ah, I see.” He babbled. Hardin doesn’t care anyway.

“Do you know what was the first Thai noodles I know that became my favorite?” Hardin glanced at Kieran for seconds.

He shrugged. “How did I know?” Kieran is still bitter.

“Hmm, guess it.”

“How did I know?” Kieran repeated his question.

“Okay, it was Guay Teow, remember?”

“Siguro,” he deadpanned.

Napakamot si Hardin sa ulo. Hindi nito maipaliwanag kung bakit biglang nagkagano’n si Kieran. Ginulo ng isang kamay nito ang buhok ni Kieran. Napalingon si Kieran kay Hardin. “Always put that perfect smile on your lips, ang pangit mo kapag nakasimangot ka,” anito na bahagyang kinurot ang tainga ni Kieran. “Wait, are you disappointed? Oh, I can tell why, is it because I didn’t show up even though I’m in Bangkok? Or is it because I didn’t let you know about my girlfriend? She’s hot.”

“I’m not disappointed Pee. I’m not.” Tumingin siya sa labas.

“Okay, babawi ako tonight.” Hardin smiled.

Hindi siya umimik. Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa labas. Uminit ang sulok ng kanyang mga mata. Bakit niya kasi itanong kanina kung may nobya na ba ito, nasasaktan siya tuloy.

“Have you ever been in love? that was the question you asked me, remember? Now, I want to ask you the same question, it’s fine now, you aren’t a baby anymore.”  Tinapik nito ang balikat ni Kieran.

“Mahal kita,” he said audibly.

Hardin smiled. “I do love you too, Nong. Nagmamahalan ang magkaibigan.”

Eh, higit sa pagkakaibigan ang pagmamahal ko sa’yo.

“Wanna go out for dinner in a fine restaurant? Or dinner date in the yard?”

“Dinner date?” hindi niya mapigilan ang magtanong kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito.

“Yeah, date me, your friend, best friend, it’s been years since we talk for hours. A friendly date. Let’s talk about your life, my life, your special person, and playing favorites.”

“So the yard is in huge space? I want a barbeque.” A disappointment in his chest a while ago slowly dissipated.

“Oo siyempre, let’s buy a barbeque then.”

“I want to grill it.”

“That’s cool, Nong.”

“Pee, the Nong in Tagalog means Uncle or Tito right?” Tumawa siya.

“Chai khrub,” (That’s right) he said.

“Malapit na ba?” Kieran asked, changing the subject.

“Yes,” he said at kumaliwa ang sasakyan nito. Tumakbo ang sasakyan nito nang halos isang minuto bago nito inihinto ‘yon sa tapat ng gate.

Halos ilang metro lang ang layo ng university roon. Maganda ang bahay nito. May mga malahiganteng bulakalak, at maraming pang iba’t-ibang uri ng mga bulakalak. May swimming pool din, and he was excited. Tatlo ang kuwarto ng bahay. Ang isa para kay Ayne, at ang isa ay para kay Pharm, kaya sa silid ni Hardin siya matutulog. Okay lang naman ‘yon sa binata at dahil ito na rin kasi ang nagsuhetisyon niyon.

Wala pa roon sina Ayne at Pharm. Baka mamaya o gabi pa ang mga ‘yon dumating. Umupo siya sa mahabang sofa. Si Hardin na ang naglabas ng mga gamit niya mula sa loob ng sasakyan nito, at ito na rin ang nagpasok niyon sa loob ng bahay.

Hardin was panting as he move close to Kieran and he was kneeling in front of him that almost shocking Kieran. Hardin handed him the white towel. Napailing na tinanggap niya ‘yon. Alam niya ang gusto nito, ang punasin niya ang napapawisang mukha nito.

Kabayaran ba ‘yon sa pagbubuhat nito ng mga gamit niya? hindi na siya nagreklamo pa dahil alam niyang may kabigatan talaga ang mga gamit niya.

Hardin closes his eyes, naglanding ang palad niyang hawak ang puting towel and Kieran gently wipes Hardin’s face, bead of sweats continuously dripping from his forehead. Kieran gently wipes all corners of Hardin’s face, and that makes Kieran’s heart beat faster and faster. Yumuko siya at magkalapit ang mga mukha nila. Naninikip ang kanyang dibdib dahil sa pagpigil niya ng kanyang paghinga.

Kieran looked down into Hardin’s lips, parang may kung puwersang humila sa kanya na ilapit ang labi sa mga labi ni Hardin. Hindi niya maalis-alis ang tingin niya sa guwapo’t maamong mukha ni Hardin. He swallowed repeatedly. Nang nagdilat ito ng mga mata ay tapos na rin ang ginagawa niyang pagpunas sa napapawisang noo at mukha nito.

However, he was shocked when Hardin took off his T-shirt, nababasa na rin ‘yon ng pawis nito. Ngumiti ito sa kanya at tumalikod. “My back, please.” He pleaded.

Agad naman siyang tumalima. Nanginginig ang kamay niyang sinimulang punasin ang basang likod nito, na tila kristal sa kislap ang pawis nito roon. Nang tapos na siya ay humarap ito sa kanya. Kieran cannot avoid glancing in front of Hardin. Napalunok siya at ipinilig ang kanyang ulo para iwaksi roon ang mga kakaibang iniisip niya.

Hardin sat beside him and distanced himself. “Sorry, baka amoy pawis ako.” He sniffed his body. “I think okay naman.” He added.

Hardin leaned his back against the couch and looked at Kieran who keeps looking at the floor. There’s no place in Kieran’s face that Hardin considered odd to him, not even the color of Kieran’s hair.

“C’mon,” said Hardin and he stood up. “I’ll show you my room, and try to figure out things, if you want to change the theme, I mean if the design of my room doesn’t suit your taste and style, you damn freely change it.” Hinila siya nito at pumanhik sila sa itaas. “Let me take care of your luggage later.” He opened the door and a wide room met Kieran’s eyes.

The color of the curtain is blue at isa ‘yon sa mga favorite color niya. There were couches inside Hardin’s room, a computer, and bookshelves. Hardin opened the window, and from the window, their eyes met a green yard down, it was a garden full of roses, orchids, and some other giant flowers. At sa tingin niya ay wala na silang dapat baguhin sa room nito. Perfect. Kieran likes it damn much.

Kieran leaned himself against the window wall and he looked down observing the huge space garden below. In the distance, there was a football field. He enjoys the view and the lovely scenery. He will buy a new camera, his old camera given to him by his dad on his tenth birthday was not functioning anymore.

He turned his back, and he thought that Hardin was standing away from him, ay nagkamali siya. Hardin was just behind him and it was too close, tumama ang labi niya sa pisngi nito. That was a kiss. It was Kieran that was shocked to death, dahil siya ang nakahalik sa pisngi ni Hardin. Pero alam niyang hindi niya ‘yon sinadya. Kieran wants to step back, and move away from Hardin. Pero ano ang magagawa niya? Dikit na dikit siya sa pader and it feels like Hardin cornered him in the wall.

Ang katawan niyang dikit na dikit kay Hardin partikular na ang dibdib niya ay parang tambol sa lakas ang tibok niyon. Alam niyang nararamdaman ‘yon ni Hardin. Yumuko siya but since magkalapit ang mga katawan nila ay natagpuan niya ang sarili na ibinaon ang mukha sa leeg nito.

Hinayaan lamang siya nito. Pero nang dumistansiya ito sa kanya ay saka lamang siya tila bumalik sa tamang huwisyo. Pero kinuwestiyon din niya kung bakit hindi kaagad dumistansiya si Hardin sa kanya.

“Nong,” parang nauutal na sabi ni Hardin. “You kissed me?” sineryoso nito ang mukha nito.

Yumuko si Kieran at pailing-iling siya.

Tumawa naman ito. “Damn, it was just a joke. Don’t take it seriously.” Tumawa pa rin ito at lumapit sa kanya, ginulo ang buhok niya. “Rest, and wait for me here, I will take a shower sa ibaba, and if you want to take shower too, gagamitin mo ang banyo ko. Clear?”

Tumango siya at tumingala sa mukha nito. Isang matamis na ngiti ang sumalubong sa kanya. Hardin pinched Kieran’s cheeks before he turned around and went out.