Klay listened Jakko walked out of the restroom.

He swallowed hard as it only processed in his mind what happened between them. Lumabas na rin siya ng cubicle para bumalik sa pwesto nila kanina. They might be wondering already what happened and how long it took them to get back. Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya kinakabahan, but because of how Jakko was known by everyone else, they could easily guess what happened.

He pulled the hem of his shirt and fixed his posture as he walked out of the restroom and found his way back to the group. Napansin naman nito na wala si Gin. Wala rin naman si Jakko sa pwesto nila kaya nakahinga siya ng maluwag.

Looking at what happened, he couldn't get it off of his head.

Sa lahat ba naman ng foreigner na naka-hook up niya, Jakko was the best, but almost, as he didn't finish himself.

Sobrang bitin na bitin si Klay. Jakko could only get himself half hard so that pissed him off, but it already made his mouth full as it reached his throat already. Gusto niyang maduwal, pero binigay niya lang ang best performance para makaulit, but to what just happened, he believed he wouldn't ever get a chance na maulit 'yon.

He only had one job. Ang blow job, pero hindi pa niya nagawa nang maayos.

Klay was startled when Ashton placed his hand over his shoulder. Bigla rin naman nag-sorry si Ashton dahil hindi niya inaasahan na magugulat ang kasamahan. He laughed a little at it and Klay was a little embarrassed by his reaction.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to do that. Tulala ka kasi masyado," pagpuna pa nito. "Ano namang nasa isip mo?"

Napakunot ng noo si Klay. "Hindi naman, 'no? Assumero ka, Ashton."

He chuckled. "Wow, ha?! Ako pa talaga nag-a-assume ngayon. Anyway, kung hindi ka sanay sa ganitong klase ng party, you can watch naman. No one will judge you."

"Hindi naman bago sa akin 'to," sagot pa ni Klay. "Sanay na ako sa mga party. Laking BGC 'to so alam mo na kung anong mga ganap do'n. Meron din sa Poblacion sa Makati kung nakapunta ka na ro'n."

"I've been there," sabi pa ni Ashton habang tumatango. "But partying next to the beach is the best I would say."

"True naman," sagot pa ni Klay. "Anyway, nakita mo ba si Gin?"

"I'm not sure," he answered, scanning the crowd as if he would see her instantly. "She could be just around. Wala si Giselle at Jakko rito. They could've been mingling with some people around. Alam mo naman, sa sobrang friendly nila, lahat na lang ata ng mga taong galing Manila ay kinakaibigan nila."

"It's a good thing naman, 'di ba?" ani Klay.

"Yes, it is. Lumalawak ang network mo," sabi pa ni Ashton.

"Network na naman. Baka umabot na naman tayo sa networking na usapan, ah?" sabi pa ni Caira.

Hindi napigilang matawa ni Klay sa sinabi ni Caira. "Bakit naman? Alam ko 'yong networking. Scam daw 'yon, as most said, pero bakit? Anong konek kay Ashton?"

"Well, isa siya sa mga na-scam no'n kaya gusto niya may matulad din sa kanya," sabi pa ni Caira. Ikinagulat naman ni Klay 'yon dahil may gano'n pala siyang intensyon. "But don't take it wrong, kapag pinasok na niya sa usapan 'yon, isa lang ang ibigsabihin no'n, lasing na siya kaya sakyan mo na lang din."

"Ibang sakyan ang nasa isip ko," komento pa ni Klay.

Natawa si Caira. "Loko. Well, marami kang pwedeng sakyan diyan, oh."

"I'm not drunk yet," depensa pa ni Ashton kahit na lumayo na sila sa usapan. "And be careful if you're planning on hooking up with anyone else, I'd rather be picky whom I would fuck than getting some diseases."

"He's not lying," Caira agreed. "Since you came here, have you hooked up with anyone? Okay lang if you're not comfortable telling it. Saka tayo-tayo lang naman dito. As if naman after this trip niyo sa Elyu, magkikita pa tayo next time."

Umiling naman ito. Ayaw niyang sabihin sa kanila na na-blow job niya si Jakko. They might knew Jakko was straight and would never swing to the other side. Halata namang hindi bibira si Jakko sa katulad ni Klay. He was a little drunk and playful. Ginawa niya lang ang sinabi sa kanya ng lalaki. Kung mauulit man 'yon, it would be the best thing that had ever happened, pero at this point, he knew it wouldn't ever happen.

"That's okay kung wala pa," sabi pa ni Caira. "You don't have to rush it. Weekend bukas, mas maraming turista so I think you should take your time. I know maraming DL sa grindr and to someone like you, may hitsura ka so I think a lot of men would fall for your charms."

"Sana nga, chos!" Tawa pa ni Klay. Natawa rin naman ang mga kasamahan nito.

"But I would admit, since the day I lived here, hindi tataas ng sampu ang body count ko," pagmamalaki pa ni Caira. "Most of them are foreigner pa."

"Sana all foreigner," komento pa ni Klay.

"Alam mo 'yon, they are good. Alam nila kung anong ginagawa talaga nila, pero for me, hanggang hook up ko lang sila. I don't know. . ." She shrugged off her shoulder. "It could be just me, but let's see what would happen in the future. We wouldn't be able to tell that. Bet mo mga foreigner, 'no?"

Napangiti si Klay.

"Iba titig niya kay Jakko kanina, e," natatawang sabi pa ni Brian.

He was surprised sa sinabi ni Brian at hindi niya madepensahan ang sarili dahil totoo naman 'yon.

"True ba? Bet mo si Jakko?" tanong pa ni Caira.

"Foreigner, e. Sino bang hindi?" Hagikgik na sagot ni Klay.

"He's straight," sabi pa ni Ashton. 

"True 'yan," sabi pa ni Caira. "But he never tell about his hook-ups or body counts. Hindi ma-kwento kapag tungkol sa sexual life niya and that's okay. Wala namang sapilitan. I'm not sure where he is right now, pero baka may nag-take out na sa kanya ngayon."

"Baka nga. . ." komento ko pa.

As they were talking, the table next to them threw a celebration and everyone closer to them got invited to take a shot. On the other hand, Gin was standing near the exit with someone she was holding hands with. Walang ideya si Klay, pero hindi rin naman sinabi ng kaibigan niya ang totoong intensyon sa pagpunta sa Elyu kaya gagawin niya rin ang gusto niyang gawin.

"I'm staying kasi sa hostel. No privacy. Pwede ba sa inyo?" tanong pa ni Gin.

The girl pulled her hand back from her. "Hm. . . Kasama ko rin kasi friends ko sa hotel namin so we won't also have the privacy. Taga-Manila ka naman, 'di ba? Maybe we'll just connect once we're back there. . ."

"Oh, okay. . . Sige, sure," sabi pa ni Gin na may ngiti sa labi kahit na ramdam niya kung saan na ito papunta.

"I'll go back na with my friends. Nice to meet you, Gin. . ."

Pinanood ni Gin ito maglakad pabalik sa loob. Napabitaw na lang din siya nang malalim na hininga dahil kahit kailan ay never na niyang nagawang magkaroon ng hook-up with a girl. Mas madalas pang may magtanong sa kanyang foreigner na lalaki na kinaiinggitan naman ni Klay. Baliktad ang nangyayari sa kanila, but she has been in a relationship before. Nagtagal nga lang ng one month, but at least, she knew how to be in one.

When she went back inside, dumaan muna ito sa bar counter at nag-order ng isang shot ng vodka. She doesn't like to take shots, pero kung na-reject siya ay ginagawa niya pampaalis lang ng sakit. As soon as it was served to her, she quickly took it down like a champ. Natuwa pa ang bartender sa ginawa niya kaya binigyan siya ng free shot. She showed off and didn't care what others would think. Kumusot ang mukha niya nang lunukin ang pangalawang shot. It was worse than the first one, but she knew it would make her passed out sooner.

Bumalik si Gin sa pwesto nila. Nakita naman niya ang mga kasamahan kaya tumabi ito kay Klay.

"Saan ka naman galing?" bungad ni Klay.

"Diyan lang," tipid na sagot ng kaibigan. "'Wag ka na magtanong. Hindi naman kita tinanong kung may naka-sex ka ba o wala, 'di ba?"

Bahagyang hinampas ni Klay sa braso ang kaibigan dahil napalakas ang boses nito at narinig nina Ashton, Brian, at Caira. Natawa na lamang sila sa kanya at naisip na normal na sa magkaibigan ang mag-usap patungkol do'n. It wasn't really a big deal kaya kahit pag-usapan nila 'yon buong araw ay wala namang malisya. Only people who find it weird would make a big deal out of it. Ang mga nasa isip nila, iyong mga taong pa-inosente, pero kung magpasundot kulang na lang abutin ang Mars kaysa sa langit.

Later on, Giselle went back to their table and asked where Jakko was. Hindi sumagot si Klay at inabangan lang ang sasabihin ng mga kasamahan nito, pero lahat sila ay hindi nila alam kung saan ito nagpunta. 

"I've got a gut feeling na may tinake home siya," sabi pa ni Caira. "Do you think he would do that?"

Napakibit balikat naman si Giselle. "He just arrived here a few days ago para sa annual surfing competition. I think he was in Siargao a week ago para mag-practice. This Dutch man. Ang tinik kasi sa mga babae, e. Alam mo na, gustong-gusto ng iba na magkaroon ng AFAM—"

"AFAM for angat buhat," sabay na sabi nina Ashton, Brian, at Caira.

"Loko kayo! Maraming may jowang afam diyan sa paligid, oh," sabi pa ni Giselle. "Anyway, hayaan na lang muna natin siya. Let him have fun. . . Tayo naman—"

Giselle was about to finish her sentence when Gin called for help as she had a feeling of throwing up. Mabilis namang sinamahan ni Klay si Gin papunta sa restroom dahil baka magkalat pa ito, but good thing, they were able to got there on time. Nanghina naman si Gin at napag-isipan na bumalik na lang sa hostel nila. Hindi na nakapagpaalam ang dalawa sa mga kasamahan at diretsyo na silang umalis ng jetsam.

"Ano ba kasing ininom mo? Hindi ka nangsha-share, a?"

"I only had two shots of vodka," sabi pa ni Gin. "Bago ka umangal, libre lang 'yong isang shot from the bartender. Cute 'yon, pero hindi ko siya bet. Lalaki, e."

"Ay, ako na lang sana lumapit do'n. Na-chupis ko pa sana siya."

"Try mo bukas," suggestion pa nito. "Gusto ko na lang matulog."

"Bakit ka naman kasi uminom pa ng vodka? Nanglibre na nga si Jakko ng beer, e."

"E, basta," sagot ng kaibigan."

"Sus! I feel like something happen. Kwento mo na."

"E, kwento mo na rin nangyari sa inyo ni Jakko."

"Ha? Wala naman."

"Sus ka rin!" balik pa nito sa kaibigan. May ngiti pa ito na pang-aasar sa kaibigan. "Matulog na lang tayo nang maaga. Dapat nga uminom ka rin nang malala since hindi ka sinipot ng ka-hook up mo, e."

"Nah, bahala siya sa buhay niya," sabi ko pa. 

Napangisi naman si Gin. "Nakita mo titi ni Jakko, 'no?"

"Puta ka talaga, Gin! Lasing ka na talaga."

Natawa na lang ang kaibigan nito habang papunta sila sa kanilang hostel. Hindi naman kalayuan ang paglalakad nila at narating din naman nila agad ang hostel ng mabilis. Pagkapasok ng dalawa sa building ay naabutan muli ni Klay ang lalaki na nagyaya sa kanya kanina sa men's restroom. Nagkatitigan sila sa hallway saka niya ito nilagpasan. He couldn't look back to see him when Gin was with him. Nang marating nila ang kwarto nila ay pumasok sila sa loob, pero nagpahabol ng lingon si Klay at nahuli nitong nakatingin din sa kanila ang lalaki.

Nang makapasok sila sa loob ng kwarto ay inalalayan niyang makahiga si Gin sa kama nito at halos wala pang ilang segundo ay bagsak na ito. Sa puntong iyon ay hindi na nagdalawang isip pa si Klay. Sinarado niya ang kurtina sa bunk bed ni Gin at saka nito binuksan ang pinto kung saan bumungad sa kanya ang lalaki.

Klay was surprised, but the man wore a grin on his face. They looked at each other until the man slowly leaned closer to him and whispered, "Suck me. . ."