Chapter 6
Me Gustas, Claude

Ellise's POV

Napakalakas ng ulan.

Nasa'n na kaya si Kuya?

"Breaking News! Inaanyayahan ng PAGASA ang mga tao sa Luzon na magingat due to the LPA na namataang patuloy paring namemerwisyo sa mga mamayan natin..." patuloy na anunsyo nung anchor sa tv. Agad akong nabahala dahil sa patuloy na pagsama ng panahon at di ko parin mahagilap si kuya. I kept calling him all evening but still no responses. I turned off the tv and covered myself to avoid the cold.

The window pane kept getting traces of splashes from the rain outside and all I could ever do was wait for it to subside.

I opened my Ipad to see if there is other news about the current climate. As I scroll down FB, napako sa mga mata ko ang post ng classmate kong si Leo.

Kakagaling lang nito mula Spain. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata when a familiar face was seen from the picture. It was Kuya! And he seemed drunk. I zoomed in to the caption and there I saw something that disturbed me.

'First Drink in the Philippines'

Kuya never drinks, this is too careless of him. I immidiately huried to grab my phone and raincoat. I also grabbed my sling bag and put all of my neccesary belongings. Before I could leave the dorm muli kong binalikan ang address na iniwan ni kuya kanina.

'White Lotus Village, Phase 6, Lot 36, Blk. 8 Corner ***********.'

I gulped. I need to fetch kuya. As I pack my things for the short travel, I couldn't help but think of the times where he used to care for me. Laging busy si mama ever since na nawala samin si Papa. Kuya stands as the father of the family and Mama's right hand. Lagi akong hinahatid sundo noon sa school noon elementary days and he always makes sure na lagi akong ligtas at malayo sa alanganin. Inaalagaan niya rin ako tuwing nagkakasakit ako at siya ang tagaluto ng lugaw ko kapag wala si mama. I am also feeling guilty because of the current status we have.

Alam kong may itinatagong mabigat na problema sina Mama at Kuya kaya lahat ginagawa ko para di na ako makaabala sa kanila. Nung mga nagdaang araw, I used my leasure time para mag online selling sa mga friends ko. I got a commission of 500 since malaki ang sales nung araw na iyon. Ayaw ko na kasing maging pabigat sa kaniya at lalong lalo nang ayaw kong makita siyang naghihirap. Lalo na nung isang araw na halos wala siyang makain. Ayaw man ni mama iwan kaming magkakapatid ay wala parin itong magagawa dahil mahirap ang buhay dito sa Pinas.

Pipihitin ko na sana ang doorknob when i stumbled upon an old picture of me and kuya. I smiled and finally pushed the doorknob open. Lumantad sa akin ang malakas na ihip ng hangin at mabibigat na buhos ng ulan. Ibinuka ko ang aking payong at nagsimula nang maglakbay tungo kay kuya.

"MAHIWAGA kung sasabihin nila ang mga bagay na di natin maintindihan. Kaya ba tayo ay ginawa ng Diyos? Wala parin tiyak na kasagutan sa milagro..." preach nung pastor sa gilid ng kalsada. Kahit malakas ang ulan ay di ito alintana ni Manong.

"Bente nalang po!" Sigaw nung isang tindera na naglalako ng kwek-kwek. Ayon sa aking nalakap na research ang village na tinutukoy sa papel ay nasa may bandang hilaga lang. Kaya di ito mahirap puntahan. Ngayon ko lang din napagtagpi na malapit ito sa school namin.

As I crossed straight to the wet road may nakita akong pusang itim na sumusunod sa isang lalaki. Nababasa ito sa ulan ngunit animo'y di ito pusa dahil immuna na ito sa tubig. Sa tapat ko ay isang lalaking may kataasan at may katamtamang pangangatawan. He looks so wealthy dahil sa pormahan nitong pangmayaman at ang nakakapukaw atensyon nitong relo na kulay ginto. Nang makatawid ay pumasok ito sa loob ng convenience store sa tapat namin at kasama niyang pumasok ang pusa. Ako na napukaw sa kaniyang charisma ay sumunod na rin. Agad bumungad sa akin ang mahalimuyak at malamig na hangin na nagmula sa aircon ng establishment.

Kokonti lang ang naroroon. Di ko maipaliwanag ang nadarama ko para sa lalaking iyon pero animo'y nahatak ako sa pusang kasama nito. Yumuko ang lalaki at parang may pinili siya sa pet area at siguro sa pananaw ko ito ay pagkain para sa pusa. Natunaw ang puso ko ng makitang nag-aabang sa tabi nito ang pusa na animo'y nanlilimos. Lumapit ako ng onte sa kanila para masagap ko ng maayos ang mukha nung lalaki. He turned to me when he felt my presence. I was shocked when I found out that the person I was following was one of the elites in my batch.

"Vincent?" Di ko pakapaniwalang banggit sa pangalan nito.

"Yes?" He casually replied. I hid my face with my payong when he heard me. Di ko akalaing mapapalakas ako ng bigkas. "Pardon?" Narinig kong dugtong nito.

"Uhm... hi, I guess ngayon mo lang ako nakita, I'm Ellise ka batch mo, napansin ko kasing may pusang umaaligid sa'yo." Sabay turo ko sa pusa. "Ang cute kasi niyan." Ani ko. He smiled and chuckled softly.

"I guess you are right. He is kind of cute. Binilhan ko nga siya ng pagkain ngayon kasi naawa ako nung sumunod siya." Vince.

"Ah, ganon ba? Sige, Aalis na sa-" naputol ang aking sasabihin ng biglang lumapit ang pusa sa paanan ko at nagsimulang mag-purr habang tinatanim nito sa tabi ko ang kaniyang maamong mukha.

"Oh! He likes you." Naantig nitong tugon. Lumuhod siya upang amuhin ang pusa ngunit nagpatuloy lamang ito sa pagkuskos sa akin. Nagsimula na akong mamula. What is this!?! " I think he wants you to stay for a bit? Care for you to have a coffee break with me?" Narinig kong bangit nito. Biglang nanindig ang palahibo ko nung nakita ko siyang ngumiti.

Why is he so cute? Ngayon ko lang nakita ng malapitan si Vince Rojales.

***

Calix's POV

WHAT was I thinking? Dapat kanina pa lang pinatigil ko na siya sa pag-iinom. Di ko naman alam na madali siyang malalasing. I almost got caught by Leo when our lips matched. He's a good kisser and I was enchanted when he put his tongue inside mine.

I grabbed the cleanest towel I could ever find and blindly covered his naked body with it. Hinugasan ko siya ng maigi para mawala ang bakas ng suka at para mabura na rin ang laway na naiprinta ko sa balat nito.

I grabbed some clean pairs of pajamas and helped her get settled sa higaan ko. Me and JayJay will share the sofa while Leo will accompany him. I am a little bit frustrated and confused as to what he meant by kanina. He whispered his name and started making love with me. I've never kissed anyone this intimate and I have never done it with any guy. Instead of getting disgusted by it I was kind of relieved because finally I was satisfied somehow.

"Tabihan mo siya ah." Narinig kong banggit ni Jerald kay Leo.

"Leo put some blankets on him." Diin ko. Wala paring malay si Claude at mukha itong nalantang gulay dahil mahina ang tolerance nito sa alak. "Please be gentle with him." wala sa wisyo kong banggit. Nakita ko namang lumingon si Leo na may halong pagdududa. I was so sure na hindi niya kami nakita pero prior to that may assumptions na ito. I don't really care what he thinks of me but when it comes to Claude suddenly my heart just can't handle it.

Am I having a crush?

Iniligpit na namin ang aming mga kalat at nagsimula ng ayusin ang aming mga sarili. I turned off the lights after we finally fixed ourselves. Mahimbing nang natulog si Jerald but somehow my mind can't stop thinking of Claude. How I was so possessive kanina sa kaniya at gaano ako ka aggressive if may taong tumatabi sa kaniya, lalong-lalo na kay Jerald. Muli akong binabalikan nung oras na binanggit ni Claude ang pangalan ni Jerald. Bakit ba kasi? I am so affected by him.

I stood up and went to my bedroom kung saan nakahiga ang dalawa. Pumunta ako sa tabi ni Claude na mahimbing na natutulog. My bed is big and can accommodate six people. Tumabi ako kay Claude na nakaharap sa kay Leo. Si Leo naman ay nakaharap sa kabilang parte ng higaan kaya't nakatalikod ito kay Claude. I hugged Claude tightly as he snores softly.

Di nabubura sa kaniyang kutis ang mahalimuyak nitong bango. I want to bite him and nibble every part of him. As I got deeper with his scent, I started to get addicted. Without any doubt I started to lick his neck and suck off his skin. Naririnig kong napapaungol siya and I think its working. I traced down my lips through his spine until I reached his cheeks. Humarap siya at nakapikit parin ang kaniyang mga mata pero nangungusap ang kaniyang mga labi like it's been longing for my lips. I kissed him passionately and our tongue started dancing harmoniously. Every swirl we make tells me he begs for something more.

Pumaibabaw na ako sa kaniya and I grabbed the sheets to cover us. It's pitch black underneath the comforter but my senses see him clearly. I continued kissing him but I stopped when his hands wrapped around the back of head, locking me into his face. He stopped too and I can sense he wants to catch some breath.

"Jerald." I stopped. He once more mentioned his name. I felt angry. I wanted to stop so that I could refrain myself from what I was going to do with him but instead he kissed me roughly this time. I can feel my d*ck getting hard but I have never encountered such a thing before so I don't know where to put this in.

I stopped completely and went out of the sheets. Nakita kong nakanguso parin si Claude at hinahanap ang labi ko. He is dreaming. I was about to leave the room when I heard him murmur.

"Please don't be like them. I love you, Jerald. Please don't leave me." I took a step back close to him and kneeled down to level my face next to him. My heart started to melt as I saw him wanting another kiss. I don't know what the world is trying to tell me but this gentleman needs me and I guess I need him, too. I can confirm that he is gay even though I am not one, but when we shared that kiss in the tub, I am totally gay for this guy.

Never have I thought to conclude my feelings for this kahit ilang araw palang kaming nagkakilala. Being gay surely is not in my vocabulary and if I am becoming one, surely I will try my best to understand this.

I sat down on the floor while I plainly stared at him. My heart just confirms that I am now falling for him and sooner or later, I can no longer hide this feeling.

"Me gustas, Claude." I whispered and kissed his forehead before heading back outside.