The One Who Could Not Be Taken - Chapter One

I miss you K.G.F. and this is for you...

Chapter One

Nag-angat ng tingin si Kirby Gabriel Fadriquella or Gabriel sa mga nakakakilala sa kanya mula sa mga CD's na tinitingnan niya ng kalabitin siya ng kaibigang si Charles.

"Check this out, pare." sabi nito.

Kahit hindi nito sabihin ay alam niyang lalaki o di kaya ay bisexual ang nasisilayan nito at nais na ipakita rin sa kanya. It was in his friend's tone, a tone only a gay or bisexual like them, on the prowl could produce, an inflection that was heavily laden with testosterone.

Iginala niya ang paningin sa buong tindahan Lumagpas ang tingin niya sa NO PIRACY poster sa entrance door at natuon ang mga mata niya sa isang lalaking nakasuot ng simpleng maroon shirt at faded jeans na medyo hapit sa katawan nito -showing toned muscles in right places.

The man's hair was a shade of chesnut brown but his features were Caucasian enough for his hair to be natural. "Mister Fitted Maroon Shirt and Jeans" looked around, surveyed the whole area, saw them but feigned nonchalance. He headed towards the CD rack just a couple of racks from them.

Gabriel decided against the Gone in the Wind CD and instead picked up Guns of Navarone. He glanced again at Mister  Fitted Maroon Shirt and Jeans, "Wide chest, broad shoulders, toned biceps and triceps, a slight bulky hips, and even with the shirt on, I'm sure that the man had good abs." nangingiting sabi niya.

He lowered his gaze to look for a good bulge and he was satisfied. All in all, this man is a looker. "He's probably in his late twenties. Probably self-employed or a sales executive because what is he doing here at this hour of a weekday? Drives around a secondhand Altis," sunod-sunod pang sabi niya.

"Single? Double? Taken?" tanong ni Charles.

He replaced the CD of The Guns of Navarone and took the My Fair Lady instead. Audrey Hepburn could not be ignored. "On the prowl, that makes him dangerous," sabi niya.

For him, bi's and gays were generally and basically harmless creatures. But when they were on the prowl, their ruthless determination could put Alexander the Great to shame. Alam niya iyon dahil naranasan na niyang maipit sa sangkaterbang naka-engkwentro niyang tulad niya na sa kung anong adya ng pagkakataon ay gustong-gustong mabihag siya at huwag ng pakawalan.

He's handsome alright. And was given a good physique too. But what made him desirable for gays and bi's was his ability to charm any type of this sexuality. May it be discreet, old-fashioned, transgender, transsexual, pa-mhin, or an all out gay/bi looked at him as if he was some kind of a demi-god or Apollo personified.

Minsan nga ay nadisgrasya pa siya ng anyayahan siya ng isang discreet bisexual daw sa bahay nito. Wala raw kasi ang mga magulang nito. Tuwang-tuwa naman siya dahil hindi na siya gagastos para maka-score. lingid sa kaalaman niya ay hindi ang mga magulang nito ang dapat niyang paghandaan, kundi ang naka-schedule na dumating na benefactor nito na isang army major, na siya ring nagbabayad ng bahay na iyon.

Naabutan siya nitong walang saplot habang nasa ibabaw ng kama ng lover nito. Mabuti na lang at mabilis ang reflexes niya. Ang fatigue na pantalon pa lang nito ang nakikita niya ay sumampa na siya at tumalon sa bintana.

Ang mga bala ng Glock .357 nito ang humabol sa kanya. Minalas siyang matamaan sa hita. Mula noon ay naging matalas na siya sa mga palatandaan ng mga bakla at silahis na nanghahanap ng panandaliang ligaya. But some of them were so smart, a guy of his caliber could not possibly guess his real intentions. So, Gabriel learned to be smarter.

So far, so good.

"Michael Douglas shouldn't have all the luck," wika ni Charles. Hawak nito ang CD ng Fatal Attraction.

"He's not lucky. Mamalasin ka rin kapag pinatulan mo iyan," aniyang tinutukoy si Mister Fitted Maroon Shirt and Jeans. The guy kept his feigned disinterest but Gabriel could read his mind. He knew he was saying, "They've noticed me but I should play it cool."

"He's got a good bulge. Ang malas ko naman..." reklamo ni Charles.

"You'll be smothered."

"I can't wait." Charles-eyed Mister Fitted Maroon Shirt and Jeans. "Are you sure his bulge is not fake?"

"I don't know my friend. It's actually not an exact science, pero maaring nakasuot lang siya ng fitted briefs or something tighter to make it bulge like that."

"I'll remember that, pero sayang talaga..."

"Marami pang isda sa dagat." Inakbayan niya ito at iginiya sa cashier. Ibinigay niya ang CD ng My Fair Lady at saka inilabas ang kanyang credit card.

"Uh-oh, here he comes," bulong sa kanya ni Charles.

Hindi na nagulat doon si Gabriel. Nang pumunta sila sa counter para magbayad ay alam niyang susunod si Mister Fitted Maroon Shirt and Jeans. Tumabi siya para bigyan ito ng daan. The guy was definitely in his late twenties. Mukhang pressured ng makahanap ng partner in life. Gabriel also noticed some other details.

"Oh you're into classical music," komento ni Charles nang makita ang ibinaba ng lalaki sa harap ng cashier ang CD na binili nito.

"Yeah," sabi ng lalaki. He gave Charles a lop-sided smile. Too sweet to be without motive.

Gabriel read "Bach and Beethoven" on the cover. But he was thinking his purchase was too pretentious. Hindi na siya nakatiis na hindi magsalita. "My brother gave me something called 'Requiem in D-Minor' by Mozart Andrei Amadeus. Hindi ko pa pinakikinggan. Is he good?" tanong niya.

The guy's face lit up like a lightbulb. "He's my idol. His music were way beyond compare."

Ungas! "Tara na 'tol." Hinila niya si Charles palabas ng tindahan. Hindi na lang niya bibilhin ang napiling CD.

"Bakit? Gusto ko pang makarinig ng tungkol kay Mozart whatever," anito.

"I only made that up. Mozart whatever never existed. I scrambled his real name and voila, I found out he's stupid."

"Ano?" nalaglag ang panga ni Charles. Nasa labas na sila ng tindahan ay saka ito tumawa. "How could he be so stupid?"

"He's probably not that stupid. Like I've said, he's on the prowl. His mission clouded his thinking." Lumapit siya sa kanyang CRV at binuksan ang pinto sa driver's seat.

Sumunod si Charles sa kanya.

Maya-maya ay nakita nilang lumabas na rin si Mister Fitted Maroon Shirt and Jeans. Lumapit ito sa baong-banong Jazz sa kabilang panig ng parking area.

"It's definitely not an Altis. Lalong hindi iyon secondhand." ani Charles.

"Yeah. My mistake. But his bulge is fake."

"Ha?"

"He's wearing a fitted jeans, it should show the whole bulge not just a hint of what's inside." paliwanag niya.

"How come you know so much about these stuff?" tanong ni Charles sa kanya.

"A gift, maybe?" he said shrugging his shoulders. Bagong kakilala pa lang niya ito. Mas bata sa kanya. May sense of humor ito kaya natuwa siya rito. Mukha ring naghahanap ito ng mentor sa pagkilatis ng mga silahis na maaaring makilala nito kaya nag-click sila.

"Gift of tongue?"

They laughed at that.

"Among other things, my friend," he said. Papaanong hindi siya magiging expert sa mga bakla at silahis? Dose anyos pa lang siya may ka-relasyon na siyang bakla. Malaking bulas kasi siya. At baby pa lang ay circumcised na siya.

"Pero sayang talaga si Mister Fitted Maroon Shirt and Jeans," nanghihinayang pang sabi nito. "Okay na sana kahit fake ang bulge niya. Kaso, nasupalpal siya kay Mozart."

"Huwag kang manghihinayang. Marami pang lalaki diyan. Hindi ka mauubusan." ani Gabriel.

"I've got to get laid 'tol," kumuyom ang kamay nito. "Anim na buwan na akong walang syota."

"Love thy self."

"Sa palagay mo, ano pa ba ang ginagawa ko?" Inilahad nito ang kamay nito. "No perfume of Arabia can sweeten these filthy hands."

He laughed again. "It could be worse. Paano kung maputulan ka ng kamay?" Inihinto niya ang sasakyan nang mag-red light. Isang itim na Honda Accord ang huminto sa tabi nila. Bumaba ang bintana sa driver's seat sa tabi ni Charles.

"Okay na 'to 'tol," wika nito na nakatingin sa driver ng Accord na halatang bading pero may pagka-mestizo.

Tiningnan niya ang bading. The gay behind the wheels appeared to be in a gray business suit. His hair was short. The face was flawless. He was smoking a Marlboro cigarette. "He's definitely something," pagsang-ayon niya. He dated a lot of "Mister Business Suits" already.

"I don't know. Gwapo siya kaya lang, parang masungit."

"Oh he can be sweet. I know his kind."

How's his kind in bed?"

"Submissive."

"Ows?" Tumingin ulit ito kay Mister Business Suit. "Mukhang control freak, eh."

"And he's probably the president of his own company or some bank's CEO. He makes rough decisions everyday. People depend on his ability and capability. 'You think he wants to extend that role in the bedroom? No, Sir. He'll want you to play daddy on the bedroom."

"In short, bottom siya?"

"Hindi naman lahat. But he'll want you to be in control."

"Is that bad?"

"Of course not. Okay nga iyon, eh." It was always a blast peeling the business suit off those men. "It is only in the bedroom that you get to play daddy. Outside, well, he'll always be ahead of you. You can never catch up with him. Presidente na siya ng Pilipinans, hamak na engineer ka pa rin."

"Then I'll definitely do him. Sa hirap ng panahon ngayon, dapat maging praktikal."

Tumango siya. "Basta handa kang lunukin ang pride mo. Imagine, kapag naghiwalay kayo, wala kang pwedeng dalhin kasi siya ang bumili ng lahat ng gamit n'yo."

"Bigay na iyon eh."

Mali. Malamang sa hindi, may sarili na siyang bahay at lupa. Ikaw, ibibili ka nga niya pero nakapangalan sa kanya iyon. Siyempre nga naman, it's only a matter of time. Magsisiguro siyang hindi siya mukhang kawawa bandang huli. Iyong siya pa ang magpapalayas sa'yo sa bahay na akala mo ay sa'yo."

"Ang lupet."

"Malupit talaga ang mga ganyang klase ng bading. Ang nakakatakot pa, masyado sialng ismarte. Pero siyempre, may kahinaan pa rin sila. Ayaw nila ng ikaw ang unang makikipaghiwalay. Kahit ano man ang katayuan niyang mga iyan sa buhay, ayaw nila ng nauunahan sila. Whoever said that man has ego bigger than Jupiter, was true. Kasali pa rin sila sa ego-tripping na iyon. Tayo pala, I mean."

"Natikman mo na lahat 'tol?"

"Sa palagay ko," aniyang nagkibit-balikat pa.

"Bakit ayaw mo pang makipag-live in or humanap ng partner in life, ika nga?"

"Hindi ko alam. Para kasing ang hirap eh. Imagine, that would be the biggest infidelity of your life, as a gay."

"Bakit naman?"

"Dahilsa rili ko ang pagtataksilan ko. Sarili kong gusto, sarili kong karapatan, blah-blah-blah. Pero hindi naman iyon ang rason talaga kung bakit mag-isa pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. Pakiramdam ko lang, parang ang hirap matali sa isang partner gayong alam kong ang daming pwede kong mahalin. Para sa akin, lovable ang lahat ng bisexual at gays."

For Gabriel, men -regardless of orientation- were the greatest wonder. God surely knew what he was doing when he created them. They were dominant but sometimes meek. And if a man is a father, he would move heaven and earth just to make sure his child or children is doing well and provided equally. Isn't that great?

Naniniwala siyang may itinatagong karisma, kagwapuhan at sex appeal kahit iyong mga hindi nabiyayaan ng gwapong mukha na mga bi or gay. All of them were capable of being handsome because they were. Pare-parehong katangian. Pare-parehong kagwapuhan. Pare-parehong topak. Kaya ganoong ang kanyang pag-iingat dahil may malalim siyang pang-unawa sa mga kalalakihan. Straight man o hindi. Dahil siya mismo ay lalaki rin.

"Hindi mo pa lang siguro nakikita ang true love mo, tol," seryosong wika ni Charles."

"Alam mo, basta nagmahal ka, true love na iyon. Ano'ng itatawag mo doon, fake love? False love? Di hindi love iyon kung false, 'di ba?"

"Okay, let me rephrase," ani Charles. "Hindi mo pa natatagpuan ang lalaking hinahanap mo."

"Tol nahanap ko na ang gusto ko. Bawat lalaki, may kaniya-kaniyang katangian. Paano mo masasabi na ang isa ay nakahihigit sa isa? Unfait iyon. I've been involved with probably all types of men. May mas bata sa akin, may mas matanda, matalino, baduy, sosyal, mayaman, mahirap, naka-braces, naka-dentures... Ano pa? Kumbaga, parang nadiskubre ko na ang misteryo ng kalalakihan at kung pipili ako, gusto ko sa kanialng lahat."

"Bawat palayok daw, may katapat na takip."

"Kahit anong takip pwede."

"Nagka-bf ka na ng pilay?" tumatawang tanong ni Charles.

"Believe it or not, yes." That made him laugh too.

"Tindi mo, hindi ka na naawa!"

"Bakit siya magiging kawawa? Gaya nga ng sabi ko, walang pangit na allaki. Lahat may magagandang katangian na nagustuhan ko kaya minahal ko sialng lahat at hindi sila naargabyado."

"Kalbo?"

"Nagpakalbo, oo."

Umiling-iling ito. "Biyudo? Binatang-ama? Transgender?"

"Yes. Yes. Yes."

Nagmura ito.

"Iyong transgender, matagal na akong gusto nun. Di pa siya nagpapaputol ng ano. Eh, maganda ang pagkaka-opera sa aknya at mukha namang babae talaga kaya sinubukan ko. And it was good while it lasted."

"Ano pang hindi mo natitikman? Aswang? Bampira?"

"Lahat sila parang bampira. May kakayahang ilagay ka sa hipnotismo na susundin mo ang kapritso at kagustuhan nila."

"But somehow, I still think you haven't seen them all, pare." ani Charles.

He shook his head. "kung lahat sila bundok pare, I can say, naakyat ko na sialng lahat."

Tila nag-isip naman ito saka nagsabing, "Somewhere out there is a man who is not yet discovered."

"Don't raise your hopes." sabi na lang ni Gabriel sa kaibigan.

"Parang universe' tol," wika nito na tila wlang balak sumuko. "Ang akala ng mga scientist noon, nadiskubre na nila lahat ng planeta sa kalawakan na hindi pa nadidiskubre.

Bigla siyang napa-isip sa analogy nito. Then he nodded. "Ipagpalagay ng tama ka. Ano naman sa palagay mo ang tipo ng lalaki na hindi ko pa nadidiskubre?"

"Iyong may-asawa na."

Ngumit siya ng makahulugan. "No man is really taken, if you really think about it."

"Ang bangis mo!" Sumigaw pa ito at kapagkuwan ay biglang naitgilan. "That's it!"

"What?"

"What if you're wrong?"

"About what?"

"Iyong sinabi mo. No man is really taken. What if there is a man who could not be take? I'm not talking about priests. At utang na loob, 'tol kapag sinabi mong nagka-syota ka ng pari, tatalon ako rito."

"Dating pari." wika niya.

"Aaah---h!" Napakamot ito sa ulo. "Okay. Here's what I'm saying. Pustahan tayo."

"What?" tumawa siya. "Anong pagpupustahan natin?"

"There's a man who could not be taken. Isang lalaking kaiba sa lahat ng lalaki. He's gay alright. Isang lalaking hindi mo pa nadidiskubre. Isang lalaking hindi mo kayang syotain."

"Oh, c'mon."

"Two hundred thousand, pare."

"Seryoso ka?" Hindi pa ba ito bilib sa mga sinabi niya at kailangan pa niayng patunayan dito ang expertise niya?

"Mukha ba akong joker?"

"Bakit kailang pa nating magpustahan?" Natigilan siya. It was so obvious. "You think there is man I can't have because you know him or someone like him?" he said. Maglalakas-loob ba itong makipagpustahan sa kanya kung wala itong hinahawakang alas?

"Nadale mo 'tol. Matalino ka talaga," nangingiting sabi nito. "Hindi ko lang naisip kaagad, pero matagal ko na siyang kapitbahay. Siya ang bundok na hindi mo pa naakyat, my friend. Ang planetang hindi mo pa nadidiskubre. Siya iyon. Pupusta ako riyan ng two-hundred thousand pesos."

"Call ako!" iglap niyang sagot dito. Hindi lang reputasyon niya ang nakataya kundi ang curiousity niya sa sinasabi nito. Idagdag pa ang paniniwala niya. Everything is on the line.

"His name is Jordan. At kapag ikaw ang natalo, ako ang bibigyan mo ng two-hundred thousand pesos." tila siguradong-siguradong sabi nito.

"Game!" ani Gabriel na punong-puno ng kuryosidad.

Itutuloy...

DISCLAIMER: All the characters in this story have no existence whatsoever outside the imagination of the author, or have no relation to anyone having the same name or names. They are just distantly inspired by any individual known to the author, and all the incidents are merely invention.