A Tired Lizard

                                    

                                          
Ken was just there beside his best friend, who was now fast asleep. He's playing an online game while looking up to him. His character almost got killed, but gladly, he got away from the attack and later won the game again.
Sighing, he turned towards the sleeping man. "Kailan kaya ako mananalo sa'yo? Ang labo eh. May nililigawan ka na tapos ang daya pa. Hindi man lang sinasabi sa akin. Ang unfair mo. Paano ko malalaman kung mas better siya kaysa sa'kin?"
He smiled bitterly as he slipped back his phone towards his pocket. "Sa dinami-dami ng tao, sa laki ng mundo—sa iyo pa talaga ako nahulog. Gago ka kasi. Ang sweet mong bano ka. Kung makaasta ka, parang tayo talaga. Kasalanan mo 'to lahat."
He brought his hand into Paulo's hair and tucked his fringes carefully. Paulo's androgynous beauty always held him speechless. He even caresses that plump cheeks. He swallowed and it was a painful agony seeing Paulo happy with someone else. He wanted this beauty all by himself.
"... Kaso hindi puwede, 'di ba? Hindi tayo puwede. Putcha, hindi nga kasi tayo puwede!" He almost laugh at that thought. "Bakit hindi? I think it will work. Kung sana tingnan mo lang ako kahit isang saglit lang."
He swallowed painful shards as he stood up. "Mauna na ako, Pau."
He left a sticky note beside the sleeping man as he exited Paulo's pad. Paulo's warmth still lingers against his palm, telling him something or maybe he's just being delusional again. His heart yearns for him, he wants him so badly.
Without a second thought, he pivoted back as fast as he could. With a quivering hand, he fumbled through the spare key he found under the mat. He carefully tucked the key before creaking the door open but to his surprise, he was met by Paulo standing in the hallway with a sticky note in his hand that Ken left not so long ago.
"Luh? Akala ko ba umalis ka na? May nakalimutan ka ba?" Paulo asked.
He smiled nervously. "U-Uhmmm, may itatanong lang sana." It's now or never.
"Okay? Sa sala ka muna. Sana ginising mo na lang ako." Paulo tugged him towards the living room. "Upo ka. Kuha lang ako ng tubig. Dito ka lang."
"Ah, Pau... hindi na rin naman ako magtatagal. Ano, itatanong ko lang sana kung sinagot ka na ba ng nililigawan mo?" Ken bravely spoke in his cracked voice.
Paulo chucks, avoiding his gaze. "Hindi pa nga eh."
He almost smiled at that. "Uhm... bakit ang tagal yata?"
"Ewan ko nga rin sa kaniya—"
"Okay, sige..." Ken cuts him off, winking playfully.
The confused Paulo looked at him. "Huh?"
Ken chuckle sheepishly, "Iyon lang naman ang gusto kong malaman. Anyway, sama ka sa'kin bukas. Sunday naman eh. Nood tayo ng movie. Balak kong bumili ng ticket mamaya pag-uwi ko."
Raising a brow, Paulo folded his arms. "Okay? Ano'ng meron?"
"Wala naman. Movie date lang. Super busy natin this past few days sa trabaho, hindi na tayo nakakapag-sine gaya ng dati," he reasoned out.
"Okay," Paulo nods in agreement.
He grins, "Sige. Una na ako. Byers!"
"Hatid na kita," Paulo offered, grabbing his keys.
"Huwag na. Kaya ko na namang umuwi," he winks that made the other man rolled his eyes.
"Tch! Ang weird mo ngayong araw na ito. I mean, okay naman tayo kanina at—"
"See you. Sunduin kita rito bukas ng mga 4 para makagala pa tayo before manood ng movie," he said while flashing his winning smile.
He saw how the blush caked into Paulo's cheeks where his lips landed. Maybe he became bolder this time as he applauded himself because of his bravery.
"S-Sira ulo ka ba?" And he finds it cute when Paulo stutters. He's inches taller than him but the other man looks smaller this time.
"Bye, dre." He even tugged him for a hug. Before, it was Paulo who would always make the first move to hug him and even kiss his hair but now, he has become bolder.
"K-Ken?" Paulo called when he was about to open the door.
"Yes?"
"W-Wala. Ingat ka," Paulo smiled awkwardly. He chucks before winking and finally getting out of Paulo's unit.
Meanwhile...
"A-Alam ba niya? Alam na ba niya? Gago?" Paulo stared at nowhere for almost 20 minutes now. "What the fuck? Did I talk in my sleep kanina? Shit!"
"Hoy, mga tanga! Stress na stress na ako sa inyong dalawa. Ngayon lang kayo nagising sa katotohanan? Nasaan kayo 3 years ago? Nagtatago-taguan? Deserve niyo ang tae ko sa pagkain niyo kahapon!" ranted a Lizard from the ceiling.