𝐒𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐂 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄

__________________________________________

𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙝𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙖𝙗𝙞 na pero nakahiga lamang ako habang naghihintay na dalawin ng antok. Hindi pa talaga kase ako makatulog.

"May tao ba diyan? Someone's there? Pakibukas naman ng pinto," pagtawag ng boses lalaki mula sa labas ng tinutuluyan kong apartment.

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon at dali-daling naglakad para pagbuksan ito. Sinong tao naman kaya ang kakatok nang ganitong oras? Isturbo naman talaga oh. Kung kailan matutulog na ako.

Nang buksan ko ang pintuan ay sobrang gulat ko nang biglang tumambad sa akin ang isang lalaki, hawak-hawak ang kanyang maleta.

"You're such a slowpoke. Kanina pa ako nandito sa labas."

Natigilan ako saglit at hindi nakapagsalita. Nang magtugma ang aming mga mata ay doon ko palang napagtanto na siya pala si Dylan Vance, kaklase ko at isang kilalang bully sa school namin na galit na galit sa mga bakla. Pero bakit naman kaya siya nandito?

"Tumabi ka nga diyan, dadaan ako," ani niya, bakas sa mukha ang pagkairita pero nanatili lamang ako sa aking kinatatayuan. "I said, get out of my way."

"Excuse me? Nasisiraan ka na ba ng ulo? Para malaman mo, this is my room. Kaya kung pwede lang, umalis ka na, isturbo ka sa tulog ko."

" Are you freaking deaf? Tumabi ka sabi eh, " pagbangga nito sa akin kaya't hindi ko na siya napigilan at dire-diretso na itong pumasok.

Inilagay nito ang kanyang maleta sa may gilid at mabilis na nahiga sa aking kama. Ako naman ay hindi agad nakaimik. Ang lakas naman ng trip ng lalaking ito. Siya pa talaga matapang.

"Mr.Dylan Vance, this is my room. Naligaw ka 'ata. Bumangon ka nga diyan." pilit kong pagpapatayo sa kanya pero parang hindi lang ako naririnig nito. "Umalis ka na sabi. Kung hindi tatawag ako ng pulis," pananakot ko.

Bigla itong tumingin ng seryoso at masama sa akin kaya napalunok nalang ako. Yung tingin na para bang kakainin ako nang buhay.

"Can't you just stop? You're really pissing me off, you're indeed annoying. I can't imagine myself living with a gay like you," pagsusungit nito.

Mahina akong napatawa at pinagtaasan pa ito ng kilay. Ang yabang naman talaga. Even me, I can't imagine myself sharing a room with him. I can't imagine seeing this bully everyday.

"Mr.Dylan, at the first place, bakit ka ba nandito? As far as i know, this is my room and kama ko 'yang hinihigaan mo."

"Kama mo? Don't you mean kama natin? Let me tell you Mr. Kaii Zane, I also rented this room," he muttered with that smirk on his face. "That only means that I have the right to be in here."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niyang 'yun. I froze for a while and couldn't speak. The fact that we will be living in the same room hasn't still sunk in. Hindi ako papayag. Ano siya sinuswerte? Besides, ako naman talaga 'yung nauna dito.

"I don't care whether you rented this room or not. Ang gusto ko umalis ka na dito. Ayoko nang may kasama."

Tumayo ito mula sa pagkakahiga at biglang lumapit sa akin. Hinila niya ang kamay ko sabay inilapat sa kanyang dibdib kaya naman ramdam na ramdam ko ang tigas nito. I hated him since first day of school pero bakit parang gusto korin 'yung ginagawa niya?

"Enjoying Mr. Kaii? 'Di ba 'yan 'yung gusto nyo'ng mga bakla? Our body. Then why are you being choosy? Ba't ka pa nag-iinarte?" pang aasar nito pero kitang-kita ko na seryoso siya.

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa sinabi niyang 'yun kaya naman mabilis kong binawi ang aking kamay. Hindi narin ako makatingin ng diretso dito. Kung bakit ba kase mabilis akong maakit sa ganun eh. Worstly, sa kanya pa talaga.

"Oh? Nagulat ka 'ata, as if first time mong makahawak," dagdag pang-aasar pa nito pero hindi ko magawang sumagot kaya nanahimik nalang ako.

Whats with him? Why is he doing this? He always bullies me. He always embarrasses me at school, pati ba naman dito sa apartment ko?

Muli nga itong nahiga sa aking kama at naghubad pa ng kanyang damit. Agad naman akong umiwas ng tingin. Baka kase maya kung ano pa isipin nito. I'm not that kind of gay na katawan lang ang habol.

"Fine, I'll let you sleep here tonight," I bravely stated pero sa totoo lang para na akong lalamunin ng kaba.

"Kahit hindi ka man pumayag, dito parin ako matutulog. This is also my room, remember?"

Do I have a choice? Sa dinami-dami nang pwedeng maging roomate, bakit siya pa? Why that bully?

"Oo na. Kaya umalis ka na diyan sa kama ko. Dito ka sa sofa matulog. That's my bed."

"I won't, you can sleep on the sofa Mr. Kaii. From now on, this will be my bed. Unless,you wanna sleep with me," he playfully said.

Alam na alam niya talaga kung paano ako paamuhin. Ako pa talaga 'yung naagrabyado dito. This is my room yet he acts like it's his. Kainis naman talaga. How can I leave with him? He's so bossy and arrogant.

Kinuha ko na nga lang ang unan ko at kahit ayaw ko ay napilitan akong sa sofa nalang matulog. Ngayong gabi lang ito.

𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙣, nagising nalang ako dahil sa ingay na nagmumula sa 'king cellphone. Agad na akong bumangon at nakita ko si Dylan na mahimbing parin na natutulog. May itsura din naman talaga siya, sobrang sungit nga lang.

Pumunta na ako sa kusina para magluto ng instant noodles dahil 'yun nalang ang kakain ko. Tinatamad narin kase ako magluto pa. Kaya nang maluto na ito ay nagsimula narin agad akong kumain.

"Whats that? Where's food? Didn't you cook anything? Nagugutom na ako," bungad ni Dylan.

Hindi ko nalang to pinansin at nagpatuloy lang sa aking kinakain. Nagugutom pala, bakit hindi siya magluto? Wala ba siyang kamay?

"Don't you just ignore me. Cook something. I'm starving," he bossily ordered, brows frowned but I still pretended i heard nothing. "Ignoring me won't work."

Suddenly, he grabbed the noodles I was eating and made a proud face which totally exasperated me. He's really a jerk.

"Akin na yan, Dylan," I tried to snatched the noddles back.

"No, this is mine. Magluto ka nang sa'yo."

"Ano ba naman? Ang aga-aga pero nang iinis ka na. Why don't you just leave?"

"Why would I do that? 'Di ba sinabi ko na sa'yo that I also rented this room. Parang noodles lang eh."

"It's not about that noodles. What I meant was, ako 'yung nauna dito. Kaya kung pwede, maghanap ka nalang ng ibang apartment."

"No, it's quite exhausting. If you want, you leave and go somewhere else," he refused, as I expected.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako bago naglakad paalis. Rinig ko pa ang mahinang pagtawa nito na mas lalo ko pang kinainis.

I'll do anything para maalis siya dito. Even if it would cost me everything.

𝙏𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚...

𝐒𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐂 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄

__________________________________________

𝙉𝙖𝙨𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙗 ako ng aming classroom at nakaupo lamang sa pinaka likuran na bahagi. This is the only place where I find my peace, aside from that bully, Dylan.

Lumapit ito sa akin at naupo sa bakanteng upuan na katabi ko. I can't help myself but to keep quiet. Ayaw ko ng away at ayo'ko narin ng gulo, especially with him. I couldn't win against him.

"Let me have this," bigla niyang inagaw sa kamay ko ang paborito kong ballpen kaya napalingon ako sa kanya.

Kahit kailan talaga. He's pestering me the whole time. Is his life that boring? Kaya ako nalang palagi 'yung pinag titripan niya.

"Ano na naman ba? Akin na nga 'yan," ani ko, halata ang inis sa mukha. "Kahit dito ba naman sa school ganyan ka parin. I really can't live with you."

"Shut the fvck, Kaii. You want your pen back? I'll give this back but in one condition." he went serious.

"Ibabalik mo ba 'yan o isusumbong kita?"

"I said it, in one condition." he said, playing with my pen.

"Ano ba 'yun?" I spoke, brows frowned while waiting for his answer.

"Simple as this, you have to keep your mouth shut about us living in the same room. Did you get it? I hope you understand english o gusto mong tagalogin ko pa."

Was that a joke? Ba't ko naman ipagsasabi that we're living in the same room? I'm not that desperate. I'm indeed uninterested. But it's quite fun to see his angry face. Why don't I tease him? Para makabawi manlang ako.

"Ayaw mo ba na malaman nila? You know what, I would be elated to tell everybody that we are living in the same room. Tapos ikaw, ayaw mo."

His gaze went serious. He slammed his right hand on the table that made everyone look.

"Don't you dare Kaii." his jaw clenches. "I would be totally embarrassed if they find out that i'm living with a gay like you."

"Dare me not. Baka gusto mo sabihin ko na sa lahat ngayon. Wala namang problema sakin 'yun, sa'yo meron."

"Don't test my patience. You'll regret this, I swear." he glared at me but I just looked at him satisfied seeing those veins on his neck almost pop out and his face turning red.

"Woah, easy. There's no need to tell me that. I wouldn't ever dare to tell anyone and why would I even do that?"

"If that so, then good." he sighed, with calmness and look of assurance.

"Kaya kung pwede akin na 'yang ballpen ko Mr, Dylan Vance?"

Muli itong bumuntong hininga bago patapon na ibinalik sa akin ang ballpen ko. His rudeness is really on another level. Buti natitiis ko pa ang ugali nito.

"Mamaya ka sa'kin Kaii." he added, bago umalis at naglakad papalabas ng classroom.

Does he really mean what he just said? I'm sure pag iinitan na naman ako nito. But it's ok, buti nga nakaganti din ako kahit paano.

𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙨 𝙣𝙖 ang klase namin pero hindi muna ako umuwi. Ayaw ko kaseng makita ang pagmumukha ni Dylan kaya nandito ako sa library at nagpapalipas ng oras. Kung bakit ba kase absent ang kaibigan kong si astrid, wala tuloy akong kasama.

Sampung minuto palang ang nakakalipas ng bigla ko na namang nakita si Dylan na papalapit sa kinauupuan ko at kasama pa nito ang kaibigang si Kenji. Kung minamalas ka nga naman oh.

"Alis diyan, this is our seat," saad ni Dylan while chewing his gum. "Bilisan mo naman, ang bagal."

Iniangat ko ang tingin sa kaniya. I saw his handsome yet arrogant face. Nakita ko rin si Kenji sa likod niya, he is smiling at me.

"Sorry, nauna ako dito eh. Hanap ka nalang ng ibang mauupuan, marami naman diyan." ani ko habang nagpapalinga linga sa buong library.

He doesn't say another word. He just grabbed the book I was reading which was a dictionary.

"What's this? A dictionary?" he looked at the book he took. "Ba't ka pa nagbabasa nito, this won't help you. Hindi mo 'yan ikatatalino."

"Akin na nga 'yan." kinuha ko ito sa kamay niya.

Tatayo na sana ako para umalis ng pigilan naman ako ni Kenji. He seems nice compared to this bully Dylan. Ewan ko nga ba kung pa'no sila naging magkaibigan.

"Kaii, you can stay. You can join us if you want," anyaya nito sa'kin, so I just nodded and agreed.

Naupo akong muli. Naupo narin silang dalawa at tumabi pa nga si kenji sa'kin. Nakita ko naman ang halong galit at inis sa mukha ni Dylan. I knew it and it's all because of me. Siguro ayaw niya talaga akong nakikita. Diring diri talaga siya sa mga tulad ko.

We started reading and minded our own businesses. Wala ring pag uusap na nangyari sa amin. We we're quiet the whole time yet i feel the tension between me and Dylan pero hindi ko nalang pinansin 'yun.

After an hour, nagising nalang ako dahil may tumapik sa balikat ko and it was Dylan. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako. It's already 7pm when I checked my watch.

"Uhm, nasaan na si Kenji?" tanong ko sa kanya at napansin kong nagbabasa lang ito ng libro.

"He already went home, kanina pa." matipid naman nitong sagot.

"Ikaw, bakit nandito ka pa? Inaantay mo ba ako?"

His mood instantly went serious and gave me that sharp glare. I don't know exactly why I asked such stupid question.

"Why would I wait for a gay like you, Kaii? And am I not allowed to be here?"

Tama nga naman siya. Why would he wait for me? Pero bakit nandito pa siya? Pwede naman siyang umuwi nalang kanina.

"S–Sorry, I just asked out of curiosity," i apologize, he just looked away and continued reading.

Maya maya pa ay naisipan ko ng umuwi. Ibinalik ko na ang librong binasa ko at lumabas ng library. Paglabas ko ay tumambad agad sa akin ang malakas na ulan. Ngayon pa talaga, paniguradong wala na akong masasakyan nito.

I went back inside the library and waited for the rain to abate. While waiting I realized na kaming dalawa nalang pala ni Dylan ang nasa library, it just means na wala ng students. Suck this life. Stuck with him.

After couples of minutes waiting, hindi parin humihinto ang ulan at mas lalo pa nga itong lumakas. I saw Dylan walking towards the door at mukhang uuwi na. I had no choice but to ask for his help.

"Sandali lang, Dylan." he stopped and stared at me. I approached him nervously.

"Uhm, pwede bang makisabay sa'yo pauwi? Wala na kase akong masakyan 'pag ganitong oras."

"Not my problem, go find your way home."

"Sige na naman oh, ngayon lang. Promise, ngayon lang talaga." I insisted which made him think for a while.

Ano ba 'tong pinag gagawa ko? I just asked for his help, nakakahiya. I shouldn't be doing this. He is my enemy. He is my bully.

"Fine, Kaii. I'll give you a ride but your bed will be mine." he grinned. "Deal or no deal?"

Bahala na, wala na 'kong choice. Kesa naman sa dito ako matulog sa loob ng library. I just agreed sa sinabi niya para makauwi na kami. Medyo pagod at inaantok narin talaga kase ako.

𝙉𝙖𝙠𝙖𝙪𝙬𝙞 𝙣𝙖 rin kami after that long ride. I was totally exhausted at para bang gusto ko nalang matulog. Hihiga na sana ako sa kama ng bigla akong hinawakan ni Dylan sa braso.

"Not so fast, Kaii. Remember our deal? This bed is mine now."

I remembered, we have a deal. Ba't ba kase ako pumayag, naisahan niya na naman ako. He's imposible. Inagawan na ako ng room, pati kama ba naman. It's hell living with him.

Kumawala nalang ako mula sa kanyang pagkakahawak pero ayaw akong bitawan nito. His grip only tightened every time I tried to escape at nilapit pa nga nito ang mukha niya sa tenga ko.

"If you want, you can sleep beside me." he said, his voice deep and low at ramdam ko rin ang init ng kanyang hininga at ang mabangong amoy nito.

I know he is just tricking me. He wants me to make things that he could use against me. I wouldn't fall for this. Pero bakit sa halip na kabahan o magalit, bakit parang bumilis lalo ang tibok ng puso ko?

𝙏𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚...

𝐒𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐂 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄

__________________________________________

𝙉𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙞 ngayon ng kaibigan kong si Astrid sa isang cafeteria malapit lang din sa tinitirahan kong apartment. Wala naman kasi kaming pasok ngayon. So we can laze as much as we want.

"Bakla, nagpa quiz ba si sir kahapon?" pagtapik nito sa akin.

"Hindi naman. Bakit ka ba absent kahapon? Wala tuloy akong kasama."

"A–Ah, ano kasi," ani niya, nakahawak sa kaniyang tiyan.

"Oh? Bakit, ano 'yun?"

"Bakla, sobrang sakit ng tiyan ko. Kailangan ko na 'ata mag-cr."

I chuckled. Hindi ko na napigilan at napatawa na rin ako ng malakas. She really looks helpless. Ang lakas kasing kumain.

"Ang takaw mo kasi, inubos mo ba naman lahat ng inorder natin."

"Bakla, hindi ko na talaga kaya. Lalabas na talaga."

"Naku, bilisan mo na nga, mag-cr ka na doon. Hintayin nalang kita dito."

"Ayo'ko dito, ang daming tao. Sa apartment mo nalang, malapit lang naman dito 'yun diba."

Hindi pwede. Hindi niya pwedeng malaman na magkasama kami ni Dylan sa iisang room. Pa'no ba 'to, anong gagawin ko?

"Astrid, ano kasi... Hindi pwede doon," ani ko, while biting my lower lips, I know she would still insist.

"Anong hindi? Dali na, ngayon lang naman," pagpupumilit nga nito.

Do I have a choice? Kung hindi ba naman kasi saksakan ng arte ang babaeng 'to. Bahala na nga. Wala na 'kong pake kung magalit man si Dylan.

"Hays, oo na. Halika na," pagpayag ko, halatang napipilitan.

Agad na kaming nagbayad ng mga inorder namin at sumakay na sa kotse ko. Ano kayang magiging reaksyon ni Dylan kapag nakita siya ni Astrid. Ngayon palang, I can already imagine his facing turning tomato colored red.

Nang makarating na kami sa apartment ko ay patakbong pumasok si Astrid at dire diretsong nagtungo sa banyo. She didn't even notice Dylan na nakaupo sa sofa while playing with his phone.

"W–Was that Astrid? The hell, Kaii. We have a deal, don't we? Anong ginagawa niya dito?" he stood up, approaching me with those mocking eyes.

"Uhm, well... She needs to use bathroom, kaya siya nandito."

His face went serious again, as always. His jaw tightening. I had no choice but to just look down. I literally can't face him.

"Hindi ka talaga marunong tumupad sa usapan, Kaii. You freaking gay," he fiercely insulted me. "Tumabi ka nga diyan," he pushes me.

I thought I'm used to this. He always bullies me, palagi naman talaga pero bakit? There's something inside me tearing into pieces every time he insults me with his harsh words. I couldn't understand myself.

Habang hinihintay ko ngang matapos si Astrid ay naupo nalang muna ako. Kasalanan ko naman talaga. We have a deal pero hindi ako tumupad sa usapan. I don't have the right para magalit.

"Kaii, tapos na ako," sigaw ni Astrid, walking towards me.

"Buti naman, ano ok ka na?"

"Yeah, pero wait... Si Dylan ba 'yung lalaking nakaupo dito kanina?" she seriously asked.

I froze for a while habang nag iisip ng isasagot sa kanya. What should I say?

"Kaii, ano? Tinatanong kita oh, lutang 'yan?"

Fine, I'll tell her. We are friends for a long time, ayo'ko ng maglihim pa sa kanya.

"Secret lang natin 'to. Dylan and I are living here together," I explaied. "Please... Keep this between us."

"Oo naman, pero kailan pa? Ba't di mo naman sinabi sa akin," she slapped my shoulder.

"Basta, mahabang kuwento,hindi mo na gugustuhing marinig."

I don't have time to explain how that bully came into my life. Mas lalo lang akong maiinis kung maalala ko kung pa'no siyang pumasok sa room ko na para bang wala lang.

Hindi pa nga muna umuwi si Astrid dahil hihintayin niya pa daw si Dylan. She wants to see that bully. She indeed likes him. Kaya naman nanuod nalang muna kami. Wala rin naman akong ibang gagawin.

After how many hours, it's already 8 pm. Hindi pa bumabalik si Dylan kaya napagdesisyunan na ni Astrid na umuwi nalang, so I gave her a ride. See? She just wasted her time waiting. Hindi ko ba alam why she is so obsessed with him.

"Bakla, salamat ah. Balik ako next time kapag may time," ani niya ng makababa na.

"Naku, anong thank you? Akin na bayad mo, ang mahal kaya ng gas," pang aasar ko.

"Para namang hindi tayo magkaibigan niyan eh. " hirit naman nito, kaya napatawa nalang kaming pareho.

Pumasok na nga ito sa bahay nila at ako nama'y nagmaneho na pabalik ng apartment. When I arrived, dali dali na akong pumasok.

"Where have you been?" bungad agad ni Dylan, na ikinagulat ko.

"I–Iihatid ko lang si Astrid, bakit ba?"

He didn't answer me. He just silently walked away and went to his bed. I went to the bathroom para maghilamos at makapag pahinga narin. When i finished, pinatay ko na 'yung ilaw at agad nanahiga sa sofa.

"Kaii, why did you turn it off? Ang dilim dilim eh!"

"Matulog ka diyan, it's not my problem anymore."

Tumayo ito mula sa kaniyang pagkakahiga at muling pina andar ang ilaw. I really can't sleep with lights on. Ano? Ako na naman ba mag aadjust?

I also stood up. I approached the switch and turned it off. He immediately grabbed my hand and turn it on once again.

"Ano ba 'yan, patayin mo nga sabi, hindi ako makatulog."

His grip tightened. He leaned closer and place his other hand against the wall. I couldn't even give him a stare. Why I feel strange? I'm not falling for this. Never, I won't.

"Can we just sleep with lights on?" he spoke softly, his voice low yet satisfying.

I couldn't look at him directly. I tried to escape but he wouldn't release me. Kaya napalunok nalang ako.

"Fine, sige, bitawan mo na ako," saad ko, I heard him chuckled, clearly amused by my frustration.

"You're blushing, Kaii. You're like a tomato oh. Bakit kaya?"

I gaze at him. Darting from his lips to his eyes. I saw that he is grinning, which I find attractive. But why? Am I falling for my enemy? No, this can't be.

At this time, I really couldn't help myself but to gaze down while he is giggling proudly that he won against me.

"You know what? Gay people like you are really so easily swayed." nandidiring ani nito. "Do you really think that I'm into gay like you? No way."

He then released his grip. I immediately went outside to calm myself. Why did I act that way? Such an embarrassment. I knew he was tricking me. I shouldn't have let him do that. Damn that.

𝙏𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚...