In the Most Heterosexual Way

                                    

                                          
Beam POV
I stirred awake in the middle of the night and felt Forth's arm hugging me. I just kept my eyes shut intent on forcing to sleep again when I felt something wet on my shoulder where his face was buried.
"Why now?" Forth whispered but his words were crystal clear to my nearby ear. He then hugged my tighter and closer to him.
It took a while before I drifted to sleep again. His question resounded in my head repeatedly. I was not born yesterday as to what his inquiry implied. Even though I really wanted to answer him, I didn't. Because I knew he wasn't asking me that question, but himself. I just cuddled closer to him.
The next day, Forth reverted to his usual self. Gone was the person who was asking if our situation was wrong. You won't find the guy who was crying while holding me in his arms. 
He was back to being Forth, a friend, nothing more.
I resumed my duties as workshop facilitator for Forth's students despite his constant nagging that I shouldn't be moving around just yet. For me, it was still a job that I accepted so I need to give my end of the bargain. It ended without a hitch since our seminar graduates from before helped out as well. Krysta facilitated the editing part of the workshop.
Meanwhile, I locked myself in my apartment and watch all the DVDs I bought. I had no new projects and I already finished all the scripts required by my current production so I really had a breather. They all teased me that I finished everything so I can free myself up for February 14. I just laughed at their jokes.
When I grew tired, I tinkered with my laptop and did a general cleaning of my files. I put files in proper folders and deleted some junk. I did the same with my external hard drive. Afterwards, I opened my personal and business e-mails to check if there were some important mails. Nothing much, just general updates on future projects.
Because I didn't really have anything else to do, I opened my e-mail that I use solely for Wattpad. I smiled when I saw an email from Edong, one of the fans of the stories that I write. I place a myriad of stories in my account but he particular likes the gay love stories. I only posted a few but the stories really made an impression to him.
Well, Edong was not the only one who messaged me about them. Some were far more inappropriate as instead of asking about the story, they were soliciting for some naked pictures. Among all of them, it was Edong who message me frequently. Just simple conversation here and there about life, but mostly about the stories I write.
"How are you? Are you still sick?" Edong asked through email. I was in the middle of typing my reply when Forth arrived and took a peek on my laptop screen.
"Who's that?" Forth inquired.
"One of my fans in Wattpad."
He just nodded and proceeded to the fridge. The sound of grinding hinted that he was making that juice made of milk from the dow-dow of a carabao. When he handed me a glass, I received a reply from Edong. 
"You live alone right? Good thing you're feeling better. It's hard to be sick with no one else around," the message said. 
My eye caught Forth's brow arching but didn't comment on what he just read.
"Not really. Someone is taking care of me. My friend Forth took care of me. He even cooked and washed my clothes," I typed away in the reply box before glancing Forth as if asking permission.
He nodded then asked, "Do you know him personally?"
Instead of answering, I just opened my Wattpad account and showed him my profile. I wrote under a pseudonym with a special e-mail. Nothing that can trace as to my true identity. For sure if the production learns that I own the account, my bosses will have my head. As a concept developer, it's forbidden for me to create a Wattpad account or in any site for that matter where I can place my stories.
"Why does it look like you two are close?" Forth probed more. It was my turn for a brow curl because I didn't like the tone of his voice.
"Why? Can't I?" I rebutted. He deflected his gaze.
My mood turned south instantly. Good thing my laptop chimed after receiving another message from Edong and just focused my attention there.
"Well your friend really loves you. He knows what will make you feel better and I admire Forth because of that," said Edong's replly. 
I looked at Forth. "There, he said that you really do love me."
"You wish!" Forth answered with a matching flick on my nose. I turned senile for a moment after blurting out my next words without restraint.
"Well I do really love you..." I said while looking into his eyes earnestly. But it felt like I was kicked in the chest when I saw the terror in his eyes. "...in the most heterosexual way." I said with a loud laugh just to pass it off as joke. 
He burst out laughing too and we both hid the our true feelings behind that distasteful joke. "You scared me Beam!" He exclaimed and gave me faint punches on my shoulder.
I smiled. 
Well, he got scared. 
I got hurt. 
It's no fair.
"Wait, do you have any plans tomorrow?" Forth asked me which took me by surprise.
"Why? Are you going to take me on a date?" I teased. It's Valentines day the next day so it was the only thing that went inside my head.
"Date? This soon? Can't it be just two friends hanging out?" He countered.
"A friendly date, ring a bell? You're so defensive Forth!" I rebutted then closed my laptop before facing him. He simply made face.
"So what's your answer?"
"I thought you said, you'll be going home to your place? So what are you going to do? You'll just take a dump there and come right back?" 
He mentioned in passing that he'll go back to the house he shared with his wife that's currently being renovated. It's actually just in the next town but in the farthest end of it. Around four hours of travel. That's why he doesn't go home every weekend. He had his cousin look at it from time to time.
I've been to their place before we even met. We shot a documentary there for a competition when I was still a student.
"I'll be back here in the afternoon."
"Why? Where are we going?"
"Secret. But I'm sure you will love it."
I did not respond anymore.
Forth cooked that evening but since it's bistek, he had me season it. He admitted that he liked how I make the dish my way. After dinner, he went back to his apartment because he needed to leave early tomorrow. I really didn't have anything to do so I instead chose to be productive and started writing a new script. I ended up sleeping when the sun was already up in the sky.
I woke up around 2PM and decided to go the gym. I had no plans of injuring myself so I went with some light exercise. When I returned home, I immediately grabbed my laptop because I thought about something to add on the script.
Upon looking at the clock, it was about 30 minutes before 5PM, the designated time to meet with Forth. I showered real quick wore clean clothes. Since I didn't know where we were going, I only wore shorts and a plain shirt. I made a few spritz of perfume before I remembered that Forth loved that scent. I smiled at the thought.
Once I was satisfied with my OOTD, I returned to my laptop and resumed writing. But 5PM already came and went, but I received no message from Forth. I really didn't want to call him to ask if we're good or not.
Around 5:30PM my phone rang and saw Forth's name on the screen. My mood was sour already but I didn't let it show so much. I really don't like waiting at all. 
"Come out, quick!" He exclaimed then cut the call. I frowned but went outside.