Me: I'll be there, I guess, in five to ten minutes! Wait for me, okay?

Quentin: No worries. See you!

I put the phone down on the bedside table while I continue preparing myself to meet Quentin. While I put my shirt on, I was startled when I found Austin watching me as he was leaning by the door. He has his hands inside his pockets while putting a smirk on his face. Binilisan ko na lang din naman ang pagbaba ng damit ko. Hindi ko man lang siya narinig na naglakad papunta sa kwarto. 

Maybe I was too focused on how I should present myself to Quentin. 

"Don't show up like that again, Austin. I thought you were something," I muttered.

Napangisi naman ito saka tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng kwarto. He went to his side of bed and sat on it. When I glance at him, it looked like he was scanning me from head to toe kaya tinalikuran ko siya.

"Where are you going?" he asked. "It seemed like you're being so posh right now, Dan."

Natawa ako nang bahagya sa komento niya saka ko siya hinarap. "What do you think where I am going, Aust? I wouldn't tell it to you though. It's a secret."

And then my phone buzzed and notified me of a new message. He took a quick glimpse at my phone when a few messages came by. Napansin ko naman ang ngisi na namumuo sa labi niya. I picked it up and saw Quentin's messages again. He just sent me an exact location where we should meet. I replied and put my phone down again.

"Was that the guy who you met last night?" Austin questioned. "Well, it seemed like he was really interested in you, huh?"

"I think so. . . But I don't know about that. I'll just meet him and I guess, we'll talk. We won't do what you could be thinking right now."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "What do you think I was thinking, Danny? Huh?"

"Whatever, I'll be going now. If Marina looks for me, tell her I went out with my friends."

"Friends?" he questioned then he grinned as if there was something behind those annoyingly cute smiles. "Don't bother answering. Where are you heading? I can give you a ride since Marina told me to pick up something at the shop. Where I'll go might be on your way. What do you think?"

Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot sa kanya. Nagdadalawang isip ako pero ang ending ay si Austin na ang gumawa ng desisyon sa akin. Hindi na ako nakaangal sa kanya dahil bigla na lang din itong lumabas ng kwarto. Napabitaw na lamang ako nang malalim na hininga at hindi inisip kung ano man ang susunod na mangyayari.

I picked up my stuff and walked out of the room. I headed downstairs where I met Austin who was waiting for me. Mabuti na lang ay wala ang iba sa ibaba kung hindi ay magtatanong sila sa akin kung saan ako pupunta. I don't want to get bombarded with questions that regard my sexual life. I'm not comfortable talking about it except Cory who knows what I do and she did the same thing to me. Kahit hindi na tinatanong, one of us would share it out of nowhere. But Cory isn't around, so I thought to keep it myself for now.

Austin and I stepped out of the house and got on the bike. Inihanda niya muna ito bago ako pasakayin sa likod. Nang tanungin niya kung saan niya ako ida-drop off, sinabi ko sa kanya ang lugar na pupuntahan ako.

BARREL: Beachfront Sports Bar.

Napansin ko naman ang pagngisi ng sabihin ko iyon. I didn't bother asking dahil baka may naisip lang siya on a personal level for him. That would be my first time to that bar. Malapit lang din talaga siya sa bahay. I think it would take me five to ten minutes of walking at mas mababa pa kung mag-commute ako. Mapagagastos nga lang ako kung mag-commute pa ako. Total, nandiyan na rin naman si Austin, bakit ko pa tatanggihan?

"Saan ka ba pupunta?" tanong ko. Nagtaka pa ako bakit hindi agad siya sumagot sa akin. Natawa na lamang ako nang ma-realize ko na hindi niya pala naiintindihan ang sinabi ko. "I'm sorry, I was just asking where you will go. What Marina told you to pick up this time?"

"Nah, I was just lying," he said, chuckling. Parang tanga rin talaga. Nauto niya nga talaga ako. "Marina didn't tell me anything, but I'm on my way to meet someone."

Tinusok ko naman siya sa tagiliran niya. Nag-react ito at muntik pang mabitawan ang handle. 

"Who are you meeting, ha?"

"Asked by someone who's going to meeting someone else, huh?" balik naman nitong tanong sa akin. Napaismid ako. Ang kulit din. Hinuhuli niya lang ako. 

He knew that I found Quentin attrative last night. Hindi nga natapos ang gabi nang hindi niya ako kinukulit. Patulog na lang din kaming dalawa ay hindi niya ako tinantanan kung ka-text ko na raw ba 'yo. Kung pwede ko lang siya layasan sa kwarto kagabi, ginawa ko na. But I guess that's just how Austin communicate with me. 

"Whatever, Austin," sagot ko. "But I guess you're going to meet those women who were so in love with you. . . Did you know that there was a saying back in Manila that when a local got into a relationship with a foreigner, they would say May isang kababayan na naman ang nakaahon sa kahirapan! That was hilarious and I think that's what was going on with you."

"I didn't even understand." He laughed. "Every word you said. What does that mean?"

"I won't say it."

"Danny," he swooned, calling my name. May panunuyo pa. "Come on, tell me."

"Hmm?" When I didn't answer him, bigla niyang binilasan ang pag-drive ng motor. Muntik akong bumalentong sa likuran niya at mabilis kong inihagkan si Austin sa katawan at pinalibot ang kamay sa baywang niya. "Bwisit ka!"

He laughed. "I don't know what that means, but would you say it now? We're near to your destination. . . You don't want me to take another route and miss your date."

"It's not a date," pagtatama ko sa kanya. "It just means our fellow countrymen will finally ascend from poverty. That's all it meant so kindly slow it down, please?"

He giggled. "Sure, sure. . . Funny, but what would you say if that was you?"

"I was once," mabilis kong sagot sa kanya. "But who cares? I don't need his money. I just need a dick. . . And his sperm, but I wished I could spit it all out and I'm going to repent my sin of having a relationship with him. I would even love to take a hostia and become a different person."

"You're hilarious, Danny."

"It's just the truth," tugon ko. "Did I regret it? Absolutely. Was I sorry for myself for losing him? Nope."

"Well, do what you gotta do."

"Yup. . . That's why I'm making most of my time here in Siargao."

"Fair enough."

Not that long after we arrived at the spot where he dropped me off. Alam kong naghihintay na rin si Quentin sa akin sa loob kaya hindi na ako mapakali, but Austin seemed trying to stall on me and don't want me to leave.

"Do you want me to pick you up right after. . . You know?" he asked and his smile knew something.

Agad akong umiling sa kanya. "No, but thank you, Austin. I really appreciate it. . . But where are you going now? You told me you're going to meet someone. Be honest with me, who is she?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not just a she. It was a group of people. I think they were all groups of friends. One of my guys at Cloud Nine hooked me up to teach them surfing. I'm going there to meet them. If you want to come and see me teaching them, go there. I could also teach you surfing if you want."

"Hm. . . Maybe next time."

"Sure, I'll take that, alright?" Tumango ako sa kanya. "Alright, Danny. Have fun."

"Drive safe, Austin. Don't speed up."

He didn't listen to me. Binilisan niya pa rin ang pagmamaneho niya, but sooner ay binagalan naman niya. Nagpapakitang gilas lang talaga 'to, e. 

I turned back and went to the place Quentin and I agreed to meet. Hindi na naman malayo-layo ang nilakad ko dahil ibinaba ako ni Austin sa mismong bar na. I texted Quentin na nasa area na ako. Hindi na ako nakatanggap ng message kung hindi ay narinig ko na lang ang pangalan ko.

"Danny, here!" I looked up at him and found him waving his hand at me. When I saw him, I walked in his direction and greeted him as I got close to him. "Wow. . . You look so good."

I tried not to blush, but I couldn't stop smiling. Danny's wearing a tight faded blue T-shirt and white corduroy shorts. I would lie if I didn't glance at his crotch because I did and I think he wasn't wearing any underwear as I could see the head print of his penis.

"You looked so good, too, Quentin. . ."

"Come here, let's settle there. . ." Inakbayan ako nito at naamoy ko kung gaano ka-presko ang amoy niya. Umupo kami sa isang table na may magkaharap na upuan. We sat across each other. "How are you?"

"I'm feeling much good. . . Ikaw ba?"

"I'm great, Danny. I'm so happy you replied to my message. You know what, it was a funny thing because I really didn't know what to do last night, but I asked you for your number. I hope you really don't mind, right?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "No, I don't. . . That's why I replied to you because, uh. . . I really find you interesting."

He smiled. "Me, too. Are you single?"

I nodded. "Yes, are you?"

As soon as he nodded, parang lumandag ang puso ko sa tuwa. Hindi ako nagpahalata dahil gusto ko siyang makilala rin nang mabuti. Knowing that Quentin could potentially grew on me, maybe he was the one or just someone who would be my island fling.

"Do you want something to drink?" he asked.

"Sure. . . What can you offer for me?"

"I'll surprise you."

Tumayo siya mula sa kanyang kinauupuan at pumunta sa counter para um-order ng drinks. He looked back at me and smiled. Kinilig ang kiki ko sa ginawa niya.

Dahil hindi ako mapakali ay sinendan ko ng message si Cory. Hindi ko naman sigurado kung magrereply ba siya agad, but she did. Agad naman ito nag-request ng picture ng ka-date ko. I tried sneaking a picture of him and when I did, I sent it to her.

Cory: Puta ka, Danny! Nakabingwit ka ng pogi, ha? Hindi ko pa kita face niyan pero mukha gwapo!"

Me: Gwapo talaga, sis! Pero hindi ako ang nangbingwit, a? Siya ang bumingwit sa akin.

Cory: Ang landi, kaloka! Balitaan mo ako, ha! Kung maka-home run ba o hindi.

Me: Sus! Ikaw ba, naka-ilang home run na kay Douglas.

Cory: Hoy!

Me: Oh, ano???

Cory: Isa pa lang naman hehe.

Me: Coryyy!!!

Cory: Go ka na diyan, girl! Fail ka sa isa mong afam so diyan ka na lang!

Hindi ko na na-reply-an si Cory nang bumalik si Quentin na may dalang dalawang glasses. He handed over to me ang isang old fashioned glass. Agad ko itong inamoy and the smell of the alcohol was too strong for me.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Margarita, I know at this hour, but you'd like it," he said.

"Yeah, I don't even mind. . ." I took a sip of it and it quickly ran through my throat. Muntik pa akong maubo. "This is nice. . . I really like it."

"I could've got you some rum and coke, but I think you're a margarita person that's why I ordered that for you."

"Well, I drink margarita, but not often. . . But I like the taste of it." It was bitter, sour, and salty, and then the strong presence of lime hits right. "But what would you taste like, Quentin?"

He smiled. "Much better I would say."

I grinned. "Same. . ."

"I would really like you to meet my friends here as well. But they're not around, but maybe you could join us later at dinner? I would love for you to meet them."

"Sure. . . Let's do it."

"Yup, let's call it a date."

I took a sip again on my drink while I made eye contact with him. Quentin's eye became much more clearer to me than last night. His eyes were a shade of brown, his nose was kind of pointy, and his lips were so kissable. I wonder what it really tastes like.

Well, I might've found that out by myself.

***