Joy (Complete)

Joy

Chapter 1: Mr. Perfect

Chapter 2: Pretty Weird

Chapter 3: Attack of the 6-Foot Tall Ex-Boyfriend

[Chapter 01: Mr. Perfect]

I met this lowly 23 year old guy I hang around for work. Dorky-looking, yet suave, there was something about this guy that projected masculinity but in a sense he could get it on with someone. As in a relationship.

What the hell were you thinking?

As I was saying, the 25 year old guy, let's call him Rockwilder, young, very dorky, with those baseball caps, hip-hugging shorts and more caps. He was capable of making realtionships with the opposite sex and stuff heterosexuals do. He couldn't believe at this time of the world he's now having a hard time looking for a relationship.

What is about 23 year old young, single bachelors that keeps them 23 year old young, single bachelors and dateless?

"I'm making a decent living out of this work, and all of the potential girls don't go for young guys anymore," he said, lounging around with his trademark blue Yankees caps, and a slighty chewed off tip of a pen.

Maybe he wasn't serious enough for a relationship. I just thought he was just looking for that single day or I mean night to get laid.

Oops.

Rockwilder's problems wasn't on the dorky look that was tried and tested for the past years of his sane life, and it wasn't his sauveness that propelled him there. I guess the girls didn't want those kinds of men to be existing in their shopping lists of men.

"I keep telling you it's not your problem, it's how girls are managing to be themselves and choose to their total liking without making those swift turns and complicated technicalities," I told him. But it didn't cheer him up.

I could only blame Destiny's Child.

"Why?" Rockwilder asked, scratching his head.

Independent Woman?

Poor Rockwilder.

---

As my time progresses, I lean back at the glass door, looking for that possible attraction found in crusin' the mall. Ok, I maybe 22 and still a blooming person (emotionally) and on an active role (sexually) and more about that later.

Thursday afternoon, Glorietta mall. When it comes to retail, I usually had this fetish for huge pants and body-tight shirts as well as long sleeved tees. My fashion sense was on a bit of the edgy side, not too extreme or too soft. B-Boy style as they say.

Just perfect.

Looking for a possible prospect has it's ups and downs. The more actual hunting comes in when your prowling eyes come over in the unperfect of things: accidents. Then things turned out to be perfect.

I remembered what Rockwilder's problem with women. Women are things to lo and behold, not treated as a sexual object, but as goddesses who can really change your life. In English, women want things perfect.

I say, go gay. You know what you want to get.

Pondering on that thought I really found this hot number at Sean John: hot shiny corduroy pants and a cool white tee with Sean John logo on front. With that I added a black bandana to go with my Sean John cap.

Actually, I was with Alex Santos, beefed-up jock who's really my best friend in terms of retail. He tagged me along as he was too looking for that hot cool ensemble he was going to use of this coming Saturday's party. Alex found this quaint small clothes store just in front of the store where I was. He insisted I come with him and check it out.

"Tonj?" Pretty weird name, but has the most stylish clothes.

As we entered the store, there only a few people browsing around for the clothes displayed. But these clothes were cleverly designed; not to shabby, not to hardcore and the store had an array of cool accesories like wallet chains to chain necklaces.

And I thought bondage was for discreet people only. But I think Alex digs that stuff.

"So this is the store I really want to see." He said, looking over the merchandise as if he was in a candy store. Lots and lots of clothes and stuff fill the store. Particularly, I eyed that lava lamp, near the cash counter.

And so was that cute guy.

"Jethro, what are you looking at?" Alex nudged my arm.

"Nothing..."

"As if. You were checking out that guy." He smiled.

"No."

"Come on, just tell the guy you're a model and he'll give you a discount." Alex suggested, then I looked again at the guy. He was preoccupied with someone near the counter.

"Like, you already shopped here?"

"Duh."

"Whatever, what's his name?" I asked Alex, stepping on his toe. "Heck, that's your job. Hey, he maybe good-looking but he's not my type, and besides, he wears eyeglasses, makes him look like a dork." Alex concluded, and he found the perfect shirt to wear while working out. A cut-off sweat shirt with the word 'devil' written all over with.

Oh, come on, thought the guy was really cute, he didn't show any sign of interest whatsoever, he was looking good though, with that hot white undie shirt, and a thinga-ma-jig on his shoulder, believe I couldn't understand the fashion sense of today, more upbeat and hip but with that sense everything looked heavy than actually comfortable.

The thing is, his eyeglasses make him look dorky and geeky, but not to the pretense that he is a dork and a geek. You see when adding a letter 'y' after a word dork or geek changes the meaning of those words.

How letters change meaning and demean everyone.

"Maybe, maybe a crush, but not someone I would go down and settle down with." I told Alex. Rest assured he really knew my taste in men were.

Suddenly out of nowhere the cute guy in the counter looked at me, yes, he actually looked at me. Sensing my interest, but I opted to act nonchalantly, for the reason I didn't like stepping on the wrong foot.

Instead I grabbed hold of anything near me.

"800 bucks!" The cute guy called me.

As if I noticed what was I holding, which I was not really...

"For a pair of hot leather pants?" I exclaimed out of disbelief.

He walked out of his counter and approached me. I couldn't move out to where I was standing, but the nerve of getting a pair of leather pants was an insult to my fashion sense. Ewww!

"Nice choice," the cute guy said. I just looked at him. His eyeglasses seem to shimmer to the lights of the store.

"Yeah, I bet, this would have cost more if I bought this somewhere else, and besides I'm gonna get this, and hey, I'm a model!" I jumped, as if I was really interested on that pair of pants.

"Hear me out, a pair of 800 bucks of leather pants, the model discount. Say which modeling agency you come from?" He asked.

I wanted to lie but eventually at some point he will know eventually that I was lying to him all the time. So, I wanted to be as truthful as possible.

"Sorry, I'm not really model, I was only after the discount." I said. He kept on looking at me, his smile didn't change, instead, he moved in a little closer to me.

"Liar. You're a model. You've got the looks." He gave me those hefty one thousand watt smile. I wanted to melt down on his arms, but Jethro maintain proper composure.

"How can you say that, I'm not even that hunky..." I cranked up a bit. "Hey, models do not need to be hunky, just the attitude." The cute guy said, he was slowly caressing the black leather pants. I sensed he was trying to hit on me, by expressing his fashion sense and adding a healthy dose of sex appeal.

"Oh."

He grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled on it.

"So, the pants minus the model discount, I'll add another ten percent when you add in your cell phone number," he said, grinningly he sent me out a menacing wink. He glanced upon my 3315 Nokia cell phone, which was cradled in my hand for quite sometime, I couldn't help but look at him.

"Excuse me, are you hitting on me?" I asked, as if I didn't like it, I was enjoying it very much.

"Yeah, I think so. So what's it gonna be?"

"I don't know, it just seems so fast." I tried to look the other way, but there was something about him that stands out.

No, not that. Not the really hot bod he was flaunting with. The shirt he was wearing was tight, I could see the small built muscles. And here's the good part, the shirt was written 'Sexy Boy.'

---

"So does it fit?" Travis, my friend down in the ghetto sat down on the computer desk, dying to know the details of cute guy at Tonj.

I looked up on him, the thought of sex wasn't on my mind, but the pants that I couldn't afford, suddenly made accesible by a guy who knew what pants I was supposed to be wearing and make it look better.

Is that cute guy a psychic?

A sudden gust of wind filled my brain. No, this is not it. Ever since I broke up with Stud a few months ago (I will tell that story soon) I always thought I can be less-demanding than I was before but here I am again, in the position of making decisions with precise accuracy.

And that the thing...

Precise accuracy means high standards should be met. And I think that cute guy at Tonj seemed to be perfect.

Perfect?

Like, there's no such thing as Mr. Perfect. There never existed a Mr. Perfect. Why is this happening? Tonj can't be the one. Or is he?

"The pants was right, just right." I murmured but it was audible for him to hear. I wasn't that really into that leather pants thingy, all I can think about was that cute guy now I call, Tonj.

I don't know what came over me, now I'm giving out weird nicknames.

"I don't know, Tonj can be cool sounding." Travis said. "Hey we're going to Club Mint/Babylon, the usual I guess."

Great, give me shelter there.

---

Anyway, changing the topic. Travis was on his way to work, when he usually takes a taxi cab from his place to the place he works. As for work, he works for a ad company, as for his ad company, which gives him double figures every month, even twice if his ads make more money, and he actually has the luxury of fab wardobe but dramatic irony, he prefers dressed down garb and stuff like that. He only has time to play dress up when he goes to a fab party and nothing else.

On his way to work, he usually hails a cab within a few meters upon visibility of the taxi cab. He would shout "TAXI!" Just once the taxi cab actually stops and waits for him.

But this time it was different, he did managed to stop a taxi cab, in just some area in Makati, but instead of him taking a cab a guy suddenly appears to grab the cab.

"What the fuck? Hey mister, that's my cab!" Travis shouted. Banging on the windshield, trying to pry out the guy who grabbed the cab. The guy just smiled and mouthed 'sorry' to Travis. Dumbfounded, Travis stood on ground with his mouth opened down.

"Taxi driver, Rockwell Mall, please." The guy told the driver, the engine was starting. Coincidentally, Travis was also going to that mall as well, as the cab stopped moving in front of the street light to avoid incoming traffic.

Perfect timing.

Out on a nerve, Travis ran after the cab with his Anonymous shoulder body bag, wanting to get back on that guy who grabbed his Taxi.

Finally reaching the Taxi cab, he opened the door and slammed himself right in the taxi cab, the guy looked surprised and shouted...

"What the hell? I was first!" The guy said.

"Oh please, just enjoy the ride, I'm going to Rockwell too." Travis said, with an evil sly on his face. He may have the last laugh.

He always does.

"Well, you're very feisty." The guy said looking at Travis.

"Thank you, at least you noticed." He said.

"Rockwell, huh? What you do?" Travis asked the guy.

"Nothing much, I thought I could hang in there for a while." He said.

"Yeah, at eight in the morning, unbelievable." Traves snickered.

"Heck, I work at Page One, that bookstore over there." The guy defended.

"Oh do you?" Travis looked again at the guy, his mestizo look was already daunting Travis' eyes. He looked really cute though, he thought, but he was thinking about his meeting at Starbucks about that new ad campaign for some shoe Travis has never seen before.

Travis thought, "How jologs."

"What?" The guy looked at him.

"No, not you, I was thinking about that meeting I was suppose to be in."

"Tell me, I'm a good listener." He suggested.

"No, thanks. It's all business, you won't understand it."

"Fine by me."

Whatever, Travis couldn't maintain his composure. Yes, the guy he bumped inside the car was really cute, then transitioned to hot. The guy seemed to notice how Travis was already squirming in his side of the seat.

"Are you, I mean, I don't want to be rude, but..."

"But what?"

"I'm kinda into your scene, kinda gross aren't I?"

Travis had a hard time asking whether the guy was gay or not.

Well, he just met the guy and now he's having a thing for bookstore guys. So that's why Travis started reading books ever since.

"Oh." The guy's eyes suddenly opened. Flabbergasted, I think.

"Sorry, it's a gay thing I don't mean to be rude or such."

"No, it's just fine, I like being flattered by anyone." The guy just smiled, in acknowledgement of Travis' advancement.

"You sure? You're not playing, right?" He was just trying to be sure.

"If you're playing that's what."

Travis seemed to like the guy already.

Travis always looked for the positive side on everything negative. Downward spiral or was it the way the guy looked so hot.

I guess the guy enjoyed the ride. Just perfect for Travis.

---

Later, lunch was at Cibo, Travis' treat, I was taking some notes for that upcoming article for my tabloid.

"Yada, yada, yada, the typical sex stuff so people can buy that damn paper." As I started to light my cigarette up. I was in the mood for smoking a bit until the hostess approached us.

"I'm sorry, no smoking allowed in restaurant premises." She called.

What the fuck? Nevermind, even Travis looked a bit disappointed. I threw the lighted cigarette at the nearby plant that was beside the table, Travis and I laughed a bit, we like getting back at them.

"And so after the meeting at Starbucks, I made sure I visited him at that bookstore, Page Two..."

"Page One, Travis." I reminded him.

"Whatever, I asked him out tonight, to Club Mint/Babylon." He said.

"That's cool, so anything about him that bothers you?" I asked.

"Well, nothing at the moment, I guess."

Always the latecomer, Alex came in, a bit sweaty, albeit he went to the gym, working out his already buff bod, not that big just making sure he maintains his stature as a hot gay guy with huge pecs.

"Sorry, guys, the guys at Tower didn't let me go that easy." He said, as he sat down, and looked at the menu. And you know what, as buff as Alex can be, he eats so much fatty food. And he says he has a fast metabolism.

One time he advised me on eating habits. 'You can eat your fave food, only in smaller pieces.' And God was he right.

"I'll take that seafood lasagna you tried last week." Alex looked at me.

"Yeah, nice combination of squid and tuna." I said, smiling.

"So, what\'s for tonight?"

"I met this guy at Page Two." Travis smiled happily, looking perked up.

"Page One!"

"Whatever."

"Me too, yesterday at Gold's Gym." Alex said.

And he started talking.

---

Alex, on the other hand was on his way to the gym, a typical crusing point to look for spotters. In gym lingo, looking for a 'spotter' meant looking for a 'date' and Alex was in no shortage for spotters in the gym. Oh yeah, he works out at that Gold's Gym just a few flights of escalators from his place of work at Tower Records.

Like there is this one time Alex was on the floor doing ad reps as many as humanly possible, actually when I first met Alex I almost fell in love with him with those great six pack.

Of course, I didn't because I was on a sex diet. Less on physical emphasis.

Back on track, Alex somehow met the perfect guy for him. Let's call him Unattainble. Alex told me how the date turned out to be.

"That rich chocolate really sprang the kid in me," Unattainble said, as for Alex, he was yawning, feeling bored. Eventhough Unattainable had a great bod, his actions were actually louder than words. They were screaming 'Boring.'

"Yeah, I think so, so what shall we do next?" Alex asked, he tried to open his eyes trying to look for that sense of good interest from the guy, but it seems he was really boring.

He wanted to leave, but instead gulped another vodka tonic. While drinking the concoction, he noticed most of the men and the women were staring at them, as if they had never seen a gay couple dating inside the restaurant.

Sporadically, the waitress came upon them...

"Everything's fine?" She asked, but she wasn't addressing to Alex, she was staring at Unattainable. But Unattainable didn't mind the waitress, he was too busy staring at Alex drinking another glass of vodka tonic.

Then it hit Alex. He was actually dating the perfect guy that everyone wanted to get. Alex seemed comfortable, but with Unattainable's boring outcome, he just wished he just took another swipe at imperfection, at least he's having fun looking for flaws.

"Everything's fine, maybe another vodka tonic, please." Alex responded. Unattainable smiled and kept on taking the chocolate mousse he was devouring, but in good taste.

"Sure," the waitress said, but she kept looking at Unattainable, not minding Alex\'s order. In order to maintain composure at everything, out to make a prefect night, Alex made sure he was drunk to make sure

Unattainable will take him home and probably do something.

"Have you had enough of your vodka tonic?" Unattainable asked. "No, no, I'm fine..." Alex wanted to throw up but he seemed to be good at controlling urges. But there's one thing that he can't control...

His sexual urge.

A few hours later, at Alex's studio apartment in Makati, Alex couldn't seem to control his sexual urge for Unattainable, his hands were all over Unattainable, groping every part of his body. As for Unattainable, he felt as if he enjoying every part of the whole groping thing.

"Take me home," Alex begged, suddenly touching Unattainable's bulge from those loose Fubu pants he was wearing. With that he popped a woody, wanting to get down but there was something bothering him. Alex continued to undress sloppily.

"You are, you are home," Unattainable replied, he didn't seem to mind Alex putting his hand under his undies, as he continued further down towards Unattainable's growing erection.

With all the groping, Alex was starting to push Unattainable into his bedroom, feeling already horny, with too much vodka tonic, so much it could be replaced as drinking water in his fridge.

Of course, Alex is not a drunken bastard. Only in bed that is.

"Oh come on, I want you, down..." Unattainable began to unzip his pants trying to pry out the hardened woody. Alex, so surprised, grabbed the unsuspecting Unattainable to the bedroom and on to the bed.

There it is.

The next day Alex woke up with a massive hangover he ever experienced in his whole life. Noticing Unattainable had already left his place. In the hopes of leaving something from their date, Alex noticed a small note near the flower vase near the door. It read...

Hey Alex,

Last night was really intense and more.

Thanx for the night over at your place,

More on that here's something you should

really call 7xxxxxx

For you

Loves...

He did leave a perfect number all right...

"Fuck him, he left me the number of AA (Alcholics Anonymous)" Alex said.

"Hey, you had too much vodka tonic," I said, checking my cellphone for those stupid yet sweet anecdotes Tonj may have sent.

"Let's just put it this way, he was concerned, after all." Travis sat down, he just came from the comfort room, fixing his clean-cut hair with that new gel he bought from Bench.

Still Unattainable asked Alex out again. Why? Maybe it was the drunk thing that made him so, well, attainable in Alex's eyes.

---

We were on Fidel in Malate, just a few feet away from Club Mint/Babylon, it was already eleven p.m. but the night is still young. I asked out Tonj if he could meet us there and have some fun.

"I couldn't believe he gave me that number," Alex shook, then took another shot of vodka tonic. "And he asked me out again."

"Yeah, we noticed." I said, seeing Unattainable devouring a set of squid balls just outside Fidel. "Come on, I know you really like him." I added. Alex looked outside, waved at Unattainble, he waved back at us.

"I guess so." Alex said.

"Yeah, like you said, he was unattainable, now he's yours." Travis said, beside him is the bookstore guy who enjoyed the ride after sharing a ride with Travis to Rockwell.

"Where could he be?" I started to look around for any signs of Tonj around, I already sent five messages saying 'Where are you?' and he hasn't shown up.

With a sudden jolt, I felt my Nokia 3315 vibrate with a matching ring tone, 'Jumpin Jumpin.' (how appropriate) It was Tonj, giving me a call.

"What!? where are you?" I almost shouted.

"I'm already here outside Fidel, just look I can see you inside," he called. In an instant I stood up my seat, went out looked for that sexy boy with geeky glasses. I felt his presence.

I looked, and there he was, Tonj, with all that trimming any guy would want. He smiled at me knowing this could be the perfect little thing he could do to make things absolutely perfect.

Isn't it perfect?

We all went outside, I hugged Tonj, Unattainable joined in grabbing Alex by arm, wanting to grab a kiss from him. Travis and the bookstore guy followed suit.

Let's paaarthaay!!!

Thinking to all what happened in the past few days is that our sort of unperfect life seemed to be perfect after all. Looking through imperfections make us realize we can live a perfect lives without having to be specifically be perfect.

But this is a close as we can get to the real thing.

To be continued...

[Chapter 02: Pretty Weird]

Another day in the life of Jethro Velasquez, knowing more that I could imagine, being in the arms of someone you love. Though technically, Tonj and I already slept with each other but didn't actually do it.

Just sleep.

Waking up, I would see Tonj moving around my unused kitchen and try to cook breakfast for the both of us. Which is really sweet.

"Oh, you're awake, I was making pancakes." He hollered.

"At eight a.m.? On a Sunday?" I said, smiling, yawned heavily later.

"Yeah, something to brag about, you know..."

"Know what?

I know what, this whole relationship thing is getting too surreal.

"You know Sunday, day for resting, stuff like that." He said.

It was already day four since Tonj and I met at that store Tonj, it all felt so fast and stuff like that. I knew this was so different from the relationships I've had in the past.

Its all too intense.

Not that I don't like the idea of settling down, it's just that it all came as a whole package. Actually, I couldn't find a single flaw in Tonj, it all seemed so...

"Perfect! You got the right consistency on the pancake." As I give Tonj a sweet peck on the neck. He always gets turned on with a kiss on the neck.

He let down the breakfast table at the bed. The smell of freshly made pancakes started to start my day right. But I couldn't help notice Tonj's bulge in those loose pajamas.

"Aww, stop that don't make me start." He was starting to tickle my tummy. Tempatations start to arise, but heck, it's Sunday.

I continued to rub all my kisses at Tonj's waiting neck, with some more he started to groan in pleasure. Instinctively, I grabbed some of that butter from the table and I started to remove Tonj's shirt, baring that oh so delicious chest of his.

He didn't make me stop. I continued till I buttered his left nipple with well, butter. He felt ticklish in a way but he didn't seem to mind. With that I stopped kissing him in the neck and moved to his buttered nipple.

And gently sucked it.

Tonj seemed to have liked it, so I continued on to suck deeply on his buttered nipple. This time with hands.

He moaned more as I placed my hands around, continuing to explore his body and...

"And?" Travis asked.

"Maybe we'll wait for that cock 'til cocktail time." I suggested.

"Hell, no. You're going to continue." Travis' eyes opened in disgrace.

"Come on, there are kids here, can't you wait 'til later." I said.

"Yeah, come on, we're gonna pass by Tonj's store later, maybe he can tell you the juicy details, right, Jethro?" Alex looked at me, smiled so the least.

We were on Food Choices, we ordered that fab chicken with matching white cream and fettucini at World Chicken, they make the fab chicken and do it very right, without that much guilt.

"Tonj wanted to join us for lunch, but the store sale was getting so much customers." I said. I wanted to help but Tonj said I was not that equipped to work that much in merchandise.

I sent out Tonj a text message earlier whether I could help around the store. He said he was perfectly fine even though there were many people, and he told me that my work in the tabloid was my first priority.

He has thing for priorities. Don't sulk.

Looking over my PDA for possible change in schedules. Suddenly, I remembered that one article I was supposed to make for the tabloid, it was regarding this singer who was having a relationship with a younger model, ever since her divorce with that well narcissitic ex-hubby, she was on the prowl for younger men.

"So what's up with that?" Alex asked, while devouring a huge chunk of the chicken, without guilt.

"I just thought we don't talk about the stuff that I'd be writing."

I said, knowing this may lead to cause and effect kind of reaction,

which is not good in the showbusiness.

But as they say, the public has to know.

"Besides, are you done?" Travis asked. He has already finished his side of mashed potato and grilled chicken.

"I guess so," I replied. Travis stood up, he going to leave us for another thing at his job. Well, good riddance.

"Well, have to go. You know those guys I work with, too much is better. Heck, I'll text to later, guys." As he ran off looking at his cell, looking for missed calls or unanswered text messages.

Sometimes, I notice how busy our lives are but don't seem to mind it until it has already consumed without us knowing it. How busy are we not minding out actual life?

---

One time I was hanging with one of my "older" friends down in Galleria, which is a tad far from Glorietta, but it was just a change of scenery.

Jimini is by the way a forty-something stock analyst. Whatever that means, but to no offense. I don't have a thing for things stock. The reason Jimini called me to hang out is because I was the only friend he has in terms of reality based questions and stuff like that. He told me once that my articles in the tabloid envoke the inner recesses of his brain and somehow guides him to the ever changing world of society.

Meaning he's stuck and he can't get out without my help.

It was Jimini's birthday, but instead of giving him gifts, he opted to give me gifts. Like, he bought me this hot new CD by Utada Hikaru, even though I knew little of Japanese I really liked this singer, her songs encompass human emotion, and the lyrics, though in Japanese, as if you understand them.

And here's the thing. Though Utada Hikaru is a established singer in Japan, her album is produced in the US.

Pretty weird.

"I just thought my life was in the ruins 'til I met Josh." He said.

He was about to talk about his current boyfriend Josh Tugas, the one and a million guys he found in his last cruising days before. Jimini was a certified player in his twenty-something days. In fact urban legends defined him in english as the certified gay slut. Which he didn't mind until one of his friends started to backstab him on local TV. And everybody thought Jimini was starting a male brothel.

But that was so untrue and so eighties.

"What about Josh? You know I haven't met him, right?" I glanced upon Jimini, grabbing my cigarette and started smoking as well.

"Well, he's pretty shy and all that, but that doesn't mean his overly downbeat, he's actually friendly." He finished my cigarette and stubbed at the nearby trash can.

Shit, that's the second time, and my lights are already diminishing.

Anyway, it was his birthday so I'm giving him some slack, and besides he's in agood mood, he rarely comes oout in that mood, all because of his job, his recurring issues and most of all...

"I hate Josh." He told me. I hear you sister.

Jimini had a sort of fight with this Josh guy. It was just this other day when he was in Starbucks in Pasong Tamo, he wanted to get his frap fix, getting in the car, he saw Josh walk by with another guy, and here's the juicy part, HHWW. That means, 'Holding Hands While Walking,' but instead of confronting him, he ran inside Starbucks back again, and cramped inside the unisex comfort room and cried.

"And everybody told you to dump him. And why not?" I asked.

"Come on, I'm not the type who dumps guys, I usually get dumped." He hollered, as if his voice was very soft, well, he is very soft-spoken, but I guess the nicotine kicked up his vocal chords.

"Wait! You usually get dumped? What about the thing at Pride Exchange?"

"What thing at Pride Exchange?"

"Oh, that thing at Pride Exchange? I thought it was an urban legend?"

Alex looked at me. He knew what I was talking about, all about Jimini and that Josh jerk guy.

I continued. It was that thing at Pride Exchange that prompted Jimini at desperate measures when his ex-boyfriend, only known as the stupidly called, guess what, he was called 'The Mole' not because he was a known saboteur, he actually has a huge mole on the corner of his mouth. This mole was the only thing that gay men dread of...kissing.

The thing is they had a sort of argument of why would The Mole bring him there. I didn't ask why Jimini was intimidated going there, maybe its just the sexy lingerie that sparked insecurity within the soul of an unusally secure guy.

"Like, I said what's wrong with you? Am I sexy enough for you?" I reminded him of what the exact words he said to The Mole. Jimini looked at me again, he was getting the picture, again.

"And you said, 'this ain't gonna work, so goodbye!' and you stormed out of the store leaving The Mole behind." I added. Concluding if you walk out on a guy and leaving him behind without any remorse...

"Is considered being dumped." He sighed heavily, and nodded in agreement.

"Ok, but that was eons ago." He said.

"Dear, it only happened a month ago," I told him, "And you told me you just met Josh two weeks ago." Jimini slowly opened his eyes in mere disgust. Then he looked at me.

"What am I doing? Am I wasting my life at stupid men? And look at you, you have a lover who even cooks." He grabbed another cigarette from my pack and started smoking again.

Then it hit me. Is it pretty weird to have a relationship with a guy, from whom to try to worship in whole life, seeing you and later dumps you for somebody who worships him better. What is it about men worshippers that they try to outwit each other to get that higher diviniation.

---

"I'll tell Jimini go do something useful." Travis said, after telling the poor man's problem. Alex seemed to nodded in agreement.

"I say, go surf the internet." Alex added.

"That surfing thing will make him busy, I guess." I said.

"Heck no. If he has to surf the net its all for the porn." Travis' eyes transitioned into prowling mode. Alex laughed to what Travis said.

I also laughed. But deep inside I pity to what is happening to Jimini.

"So, what's up with the love life?" Travis asked Alex.

"About Unattainble?" Alex stacked down, as if he was hit by a bullet.

"Yeah, what about him, you guys were the couple of the moment last Saturday." I told Alex.

"Well, me and..."

"Spill the beans, brotha!!!" Travis shouted.

"Trav!"

---

Alex was in no condition to talk about Unattainable and his mischief mayhem he'd make around people who were jealous of his good looks and irrestitable way in bed.

I bet Alex was in a state of succumbing to Unattainable's charm.

Unattainable was having a sort of thing somewhere in Sun Valley where his mom lives. He asked out Alex if he could come with him there for company. Alex was surprised that Unattainable was jumpy about lovers meeting their parents.

"Terra Incognita," Alex mentioned, a.k.a spending time with your lover's folks and actually dreading it.

Alex did want come along with Unattainable to spend some time with his mother out there in the peaceful village of Sun Valley.

"Dang, like, you really have to go to your mom every weekend like this?" Alex whined a bit in the car, his eyes kept rolling around, wanting to get out of it, but he wanted to spend time with Unattainable, not his mother.

"Don't worry, she'll like you, and anyways, I'm not the only one who's coming to this reunion." He told poor unsuspecting Alex.

"Reunion? I thought it'll be the two of us with your mom?" Alex started to hyperventilate inside the car thinking is this the new way of testing your lover's insanity towards meeting folks?

Ok, I give up I'll guess I'll die anyway, Alex thought, jokingly.

It wasn't Alex was afraid of a long-term relationship with Unattainable, it's just that it wasn't in Alex's long list of things to do is to meet your lover's folks. It just doesn't feel right for Alex. He started living alone since he ran away from home five years ago. He didn't like the new atmosphere with his dad's new girlfriend.

I guess Alex shall we say a total independent guy. Strong and a true survivor, he didn't need parents to tell what he's doing. He was doing all these stuff all for himself.

"Ok, but staying over for the night there is out of the question," Alex told Unattainable, which he concludedly agreed.

Pretty weird, huh?

---

Travis was still the very selective type of person, but up to now, he maintained contact to his former lovers. In his vocabulary, 'contacts' mean another way to hang out without having to say 'I miss you,' and still be available for the time being.

Travis' relationship with Page One's bookstore guy didn't go sour as it would have usually happen with the others. Travis seemed he needed time off for the 'wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am' thing.

Not that he lost his sexual appeal. He just felt tired.

"But I'm not quitting." He told me.

We were walking along, crashing the mall as we speak. Tonj and Alex left us and went to there perspective jobs in Glorietta, Travis got the rest of the day off because his boss wanted to have this pre-dinner pizza with their new client. Actually, Travis was invited but...

"It's going to be a boring one, even though it was for the pizza," he smirked, knowing him, he always looks for cracks in his job and abhor it.

"Isn't that thing with that D.O. guy?" I asked, as we continued to walk around Goldcrest building. Not minding a couple of guys trying to catch our eyes.

"Stupid, I just say, that D.O. is getting on my nerves, he cranks up his voice as if he wants to be heard by everyone, he smiles as if he has those perfect pearl white teeth, he thinks he's one of the kind." He blabbered, but I know this D.O. guy is really nice, maybe he was just living the moment that he is hot.

"And?" I looked at him, trying to find that spark of interest from Travis.

"And what?" He stared.

"You like him, do you?" I smiled.

"What makes you say that?" He stared back.

Like come on, Travis always wants a sort of thing with disliking a person when he actualy likes the person. And as for that D.O. guy he really is hot, but as for Travis he wants something that he would talk about and really look for the nitty gritty details and get the prey.

"Trav, D.O. is one of the most wanted guys on TV, if you don't get him or even try to make something out of it, you lose." I told him.

"Maybe. Well, he's cute," he replied.

Attaboy.

Travis later pursued D.O. for a possible hook-up. Inadvertedly, D.O. happens to be intrigued with Travis has doing for him. Come on, pizza was Travis' fave snack during the day, though he was limited to one slice and Alex would finish up the rest.

D.O. and Travis did hook-up as business friends. As usual, Travis didn't want to step in the wrong foot, and sometimes he gets confused all when D.O. always shows both of his feet, he can't tell which one is the good foot or the wrong foot.

"So this commercial I'll be doing is..."

"Of course, pizza related, you know that pizza is getting good vibes or something." Travis smiled, wanting to bring out a casual conversation in a serious professional manner. It didn't work though.

"The idea of this new topping for the pizza would create mass hysteria just like those midnight sales." Travis said, showing D.O. a sort of mini-storyboard of the commercial he'll be doing for the commercial.

"Mass hysteria? Maybe that's over the top?" D.O. skanked up an eye.

"No, no, no. It'll be great. Anyway, that 'mass hysteria' thing is only ad jargon only used ad thingies," Travis reassured D.O.

Later their business meeting turned sour when D.O. didn't like the idea of coughing something that resembled the flavor of the topping, which Travis saw telling him.

"It's part of the storyboard, you have to cough." Travis pointed out.

"Hell, I will not, then everybody thinks its a cough syrup ad." He said.

"Please, this will make things great and better for the commercial, and besides, it doesn't have to be a horrible cough, just a subtle one."

"Yeah, as if it happens in your world." D.O. snickered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Travis cocked an eyebrow, showing a sense of hostility from D.O.

"Ok, I'm outta here, I've had enough for two hours." D.O. wanted to leave immediately and leave Travis.

"What?!" He stood up," Comeback here and explain, buster."

Travis demanded an explaination from D.O., as for the bastard, he didn't mind Travis following him, screaming that is.

"Taxi!" D.O. shouted as he stopped in 6750 to catch a taxi and go home, whatever that is.

"Hey, you can get a taxi near Hard Rock cafe not at Starbucks." Travis hollered in a more persuasive tone rather than hostile.

"Excuse me, but I always get my taxi from here." D.O. said, as he continued to wave to get a cab.

Travis prayed that he would get a cab first than D.O.

Miracles do happen, a taxi stopped in front of Travis instead of D.O. Seeing the taxi, D.O. just looked at Travis, feeling dumbfounded, he approached Travis.

"Hey, I'm sorry about what I said earlier." He said.

"Whatever, the word 'sorry' doesn't cut it." Travis said, as he slowly crossed his arms.

Later, Travis and D.O. was in his pad for some major making out session, Travis didn't realize D.O. was such a great kisser.

While passionately kissing, D.O. slowly pushed Travis to the wall and kissed him more, more forceful but erotic so to speak.

"Bring your arms up..." D.O. ordered Travis, he humbly obeyed the star. D.O. caressed Travis arms, then he cuffed one hand on both Travis' hands and with his left hand, he went down south where Travis likes to go down with. And with one erotic movement, Travis moaned in pleasure.

And he told me it's really good. Though he later told me D.O. gave him a handjob and he gave him a subtle blowjob.

And it was over. For the moment.

---

Travis, Alex and I were on Glorietta park to talk about some stuff, more on sex and to what happened in Travis' freak on D.O.

"I had this thing when I don't want to be ordered," Travis started, "And then that thing happened I just melted down around his body like I was being heated up and melted like chocolate syrup at him."

"Hmmm, chocolate." Alex moved to imagine the cocoa temptation.

"Come to think of it, maybe its your sexual urge that makes you melt down and be obedient or something." I looked at Travis, conversing as much as possible without having to say the sex word.

"Is it true, when you want a great fuck, you have to be submissive and follow all the orders," he said. Ok, I lost my appetite, that pizza was getting to me and Travis ruins it.

---

The usual Saturday night, Club Mint/Babylon time!

But this time I was with Tonj, Alex and Travis decided to stay home and talk to their perspective lovers on the phone. Well, Unattainable was still in his mom's house, and D.O. wasn't in a club mood so he opted to stay at home, and besides, he's a famous star, and nobody except Travis knows about his discreet sexuality.

"So, just you and me, sweet?" I guess so, as I swiped a sheer of sweat that appeared on the side of his head.

"Tell me, what makes another guy fall for you?" He asked.

"Now that is an excellent question." I told him, "Maybe its the eyes. You told me once you liked my eyes thats why you fell for me."

"Nice. Thank God you don't wear glasses." He smiled, then tilted his geeky glasses to the correct direction.

"Let's get the party started." I said.

It was better that way, more onto the intimacy of the moment, and besides, I wanted to make sure that our relationship made a concreate statement.

I guess this is it...

The real thing.

To be continued...

[Chapter 03: Attack of the 6-Foot Tall Ex-Boyfriend]

I soon found out that Stud has been sending me text messages in my 3315 Nokia cellphone, which I promptly replied, sporadically.

Like, he sends me 'whats up' messages and other nonsense text messages anyone can think of. I don't know with that Stud, he seems to be more of a jerk than the jerk I knew before I met Tonj.

And speaking of Tonj...

"I guess that cool silvery pants was a hot seller at Tonj, right?"

I told him, while leaning down on the counter in front. The reason I was there at Tonj was...

"You're bored, aren't you?" Tonj looked at me and showed me his overly- empowering thousand watt smiles. More than I could handle.

"Come on, my job sucks in the tabloid, I don't get enough showbiz stuff."And more on that, everything that I write gets smashed up by my overly-empowering boss-slash-editor, who makes a stunted growth more like Sunday school.

"Tell me, Jethro, if you don't really want the job, then quit the job."

He solemnly suggested, but hell no! I work at 'The View' for the money not the prestige of getting my articles published.

Reasons why I kept my job perfectly fine is that I just do my job, and get paid for it. I don't know why I prefer to get paid and not for the job itself.

I just don't know.

"Hey heads up!" Tonj shouted, he threw out a black long-sleeved shirt and it made me look up to him and grab it, nice shirt.

"Great, now I can change for later's thing at Acquario." I said.

"Good, you can take off your shirt and wear it right now." He suggested.

"You sure?" I gave him back a smile.

"Sure na." He smiled back. A familiar game show tune popped in my head.

Instantaneously, I moved back and slowly removed my shirt in front of him showing him my body sans the baby fat and all that things getting toned and all that. Immediately he covered his eyes.

"Awww, come on, you've seen me half-naked." As I threw my shirt I removed from me. Tonj seemed to laugh hysterically about it. "Kidding, I did see you half-naked under harsh bedroom light." He sat down and smelled my shirt, "And yuck! You stink like a skunk!"

"Hey I just bathed myself in fresh new Safeguard!" I shouted.

"No you did not!"

I immediately jumped to the other side of the counter and gave him the dreaded...

"No, not that, no!!!" Tonj screamed in terror.

Nookie!

---

Later that day I passed by Tower Records to check up on Alex, which is having a hard time sitting down since he ached his back doing so many ab reps. I keep telling Alex if he keeps on hardening his muscles, he'll look terribly huge and not toned average or something.

"I'm just tired of looking small." He told me, and he was carrying a basketful of Avril Lavigne's new CD, 'Let Go.' "And that I'm not getting any younger." As he stumped the basket near the cd rack and started putting them in order.

"Alex, I know you and Unattainable are having problems with the gym thing, don't you think you've had enough, well, muscling around?" I patted his back, and instaed of a solemn sigh, he gave out a growling...

"Ouch! That hurts."

"Sorry."

Suddenly, my cellphone rang, but it wasn't a phone call, it was a text message. I dreaded it might be Stud.

"Oh please, not him, not him." I started to cringe.

"Not him? Oh no! Stud?" Alex looked at him, then he shook my arms.

"Stop giving me ideas, it shouldn't be him." I calmed myself.

Checking the phone, it was Stud all right, in all it's studly glory.

yo wassup? things have been ok

doug and i r having a dinner thing

at my pad y wont u come?

"What are you going to tell him?" Alex asked as he grabbed a peek from the text message Stud sent me.

"Oh, please, I'm not really the snobby type, I'll just text him back

that I can't come to his dinner party with this Doug guy."

"And you'll eventually come, right?" Alex placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Maybe, you know, memories or something."

Then I started thumbing my way from Stud's message.

hey maybe i can come

but i have pretty vague plans

at the moment but ill try

jethro :-)

I reminded myself that Stud was my first ever boyfriend, serious boyfriend to be exact. The rest of the guys did like Stud and all his shenanigans in his sleeve. It made me think, is Stud a reminder of my past that I should avoid or look forward to.

"Come on, give him a holler, at least he has the guts to tell you that he is doing well the 'thing.'" Alex finally responded, then a second passed, he was called up to help a customer who was in bent in looking for that Britney Spears' album.

"Now I'm stronger..." I sang off, leaving Tower Records.

---

Travis was on his en route to Southland to Shangri-La mall to dine at CPK, he has date with, guess what? The Bookstore Guy, a.k.a. the guy who works at Page One at Rockwell, a.k.a. the guy who grabbed Travis' taxi cab in Makati. Travis managed to sneak in his impromptu date with Bookstore Guy amidst his busy schedule and mostly his time off with his current prospect D.O.

Which will eventually fizzle in a couple of weeks, or days so the least.

"I tell you, if the date is totally impromptu, I guess the guy is very into you, really." He said. Travis and I were conversing each other on our perspective cellphones. I, myself was having lunch at Burger King, as instead of those fancy restaurants around Ayala Center, I just was looking forward to a nice burger and fries and a bottomless drink.

"Don't tell me Bookstore Guy wanted another shot?" I asked.

"Maybe, but I'm all for the juggling." Travis replied.

"Jeez, you're so evil." I told him, scratching my head in utter disgust.

But I didn't fee like throwing up my BK Delight.

"Sister, you got it all wrong."

"What do you mean?"

Travis was talking about the abstract possibility of juggling, which made him into a one-man-circus-act, and loving it. He was good at juggling, and I tell you with his juggling I've never seen so many guys cry over him as if he was a demi-god. It's like a whole ticket line to watch him do tricks and only to leave them intrigued and more interested in him.

Circus act or a Strip Club act? Wait, now I'm confused.

Later on, Travis and Bookstore Guy had their frou-frou at CPK, talked for a while and stuff like that. I liked Bookstore Guy when Travis first introduced us before in Fidel a couple of weeks ago. Travis though a prospect from the books department was nice until he was bored off from Bookstore Guy's stories about books that reminded Travis of his horrific days in high school.

"So what made you call me again?" Travis asked the poor guy.

"Not that thing that made me crazy for you that is." He replied.

"Oh please, don't flatter me." Travis smiled a bit, knowing Bookstore Guy doesn't even have a chance at getting Travis back, even for a small yet memorable encounter.

Looking at the menu the waiter gave them at the table, Travis couldn't believe the rates of the food being served at CPK, he even thought Bookstore Guy can't afford to pay the date.

"Ok, so why do they charge 200 bucks for a half a pizza?" As Travis wanted to complain to the management why their rates are so high, as for the poor Bookstore Guy, he covered his face with the menu to hide from the embarassment Travis was starting, but he was once in a while giggling to what Travis was hollering about.

"I guess the reason why the rates are high, because the waiters are really hot!" Bookstore Guy answered, and because of that Travis laughed as he noticed and yes, the waiters here in CPK are really hot.

Remind me to eat at CPK sometime.

Going on, instead of talking about the possiblity of another hook-up Travis and Bookstore Guy talked about men and how they wanted to make out with them in the most creative ways, exchanging sex tactics and techniques. Not only Travis found that Bookstore Guy knows about great sex, he found himself a total mirror image of himself.

---

"So dripping the guy with chocolate syrup works?" Alex asked.

"Yeah. That's what Bookstore Guy told me." Travis said.

"Oh please can we talk about sex without sounding like breakfast?"

I pleaded, and thought chocolate could be a great sex-slash-kinky thing and not only as an aphrodisiac.

---

Later that afternoon, six"-ish", I was getting ready for another dinner thing with Tonj. He said he's going to bring me somewhere special for that special night somewhere around town.

I know the place he's going to take me.

"Oakwood?"

"Sorry. I'm taking you to Kitchen." As he parked his car near Greenbelt One in Ayala. He told me that he never had a chance to eat there and since he closed the store early for tonight just for us, I couldn't help but live the moment.

Why? I've been a regular customer at Kitchen.

Seeing again the Japanese inspired tables, a wide-open kitchen and pretty cute waiters I was in for another treat, and instead of paying up for dinner, Tonj wanted to pay-up even though I was getting a higher salary than him.

Getting there we are a bit pissed off, the table guy didn't give us our seat, the table next to us were rowdy, and most of all, the candle that was giving off that intimate scent was already used up.

"Next time, you let me do the talking," I reminded Tonj, "And then, I'm having a wonderful time with you." I smiled.

But Tonj wants to eat exactly the same thing I was eating so we just end up having twin dinners.

"Do you mind?"

"No, I don't mind," I say, in a ridiculous baby voice we seem yo use with each other practically most of the time when we eat.

It's like a new definition of playing with our food.

Source: bioutloud.net