O Bar Ortigas 102

1. Alcohol ain't free. It comes with a hefty price.

2. Poise, honey, poise. Even when tipsy, poise.

3. Sandos are left at gyms, homes, or guys who cannot afford to buy shirts. Or unless you're the go-go boy.

4. Yes, we all sweat but please, have a hanky handy!

5. Bendy straws are left for people who drinks Chocolait. And ride school buses. And play with dirt.

6. Bring your friends, acquaintances, and exes but never, ever, ever babysit.

7. If you have got no one to go home with, that's okay. It's not that you're not at your prime anymore but because you were just a snob.

Or maybe because you're really way past your prime. And bedtime too.

8. Baby, Grindr inside O Bar is a bit of an overkill, don't cha think?

9. Everyone knows who you kissed last weekend. The question is, who will you kiss tonight?

10. If you really want to, and we all know you want to: if a group of gay guys ask you to hang out with them, by all means go.

P.S. They usually hang outside just beyond the staircase. Can you spell O-R-G-Y? Of course you can, it's the same as L-O-V-E without attachments and all that drama

Of A Foodie Event

"We're going to an event this Saturday." A friend of mine told me over the phone.

"Really? Where is it?"

"Market Market." He told me.

"What's in there anyway?" I inquired more.

"A foodie event. But, it's for bloggers."

"Really? For bloggers? How nice. I will try." I told him and hanged up the phone.

You see, the only events I go to are fashion shows as I am more inclined to those. It is of my interest and hobby. So the minute my friend told me about the foodie event, I was actually very excited: first, because I have not seen him since a blogger's birthday party and second, well, it's food. Who doesn't want food? With that in mind, I cleared up my Saturday just for that. No other meet-ups or what not. Literally after work, cleared for that event.

Saturday came and although I was sleepy because of sleeping late last night, I was really perky and in the mood to go out.

3:00 pm struck and I got my bag from the locker and flew towards Fort Bonifacio.

"Hey, where are you? I'm near Market." I texted my friend.

"Here at home, waiting for V. He's coming with us." He replied.

"Alright. Thanks." And off I slipped my phone in my pocket.

A few minutes inside the bus, turning from street to street, seeing the progress Fort Bonifacio has been achieving, it was a fun and entertaining ride, but a bit nauseating.

By the time I arrived at the mall, I knew I look wasted even without looking at my reflection. But instead of going inside a comfort room to freshen up, I went directly towards the activity center where the event is being held.

True enough, there were kiosks after kiosks of food and people, a lot of them! They were all roaming around sampling every food there is.

And I envied them right then and there!

"Hey, where are you guys? There are a lot of people here." I immediately texted my friend.

"Still at home."

I temporarily resigned and tried my best to keep my hunger at bay. After all, I was only invited.

Off I went to Bonifacio High Street to keep myself distracted then.

While walking towards Full booked towards Springfield, I received a text "Just looking for a place to park."

I sighed because primarily the sight at Bonifacio never fails to put me on a smile. Hot boys makes me smile. And twitch.

Walking back towards Market Market, I felt excited again.

With the rush of the air-con and the sight of a lot of people, off I returned to the activity center.

"Heyyy..." K greeted me.

"Hey!" My eyes lit up.

"Hey G, walk over here." E showed me the area where I get to enter.

Apparently, we were invited to the exclusive area. Not the area where a lot of people walk around and sample food from various 'popular foods'.

Here, they have catered food.

Nice!

"Why don't you get yourself a plate and help yourself?" E showed me where to get a plate and I obliged.

I looked for viands that would suit my taste, meaning, nothing outside fish, chicken, fruits, and vegetables.

Grazing my eyes, I found fish with chili honey mustard sauce and chicken in pesto. Grabbed some of them and made my way towards the group.

We shared stories and laughed, man, we laughed like there was no tomorrow, like we were the only people inside the mall, like we haven't seen each other in decades.

Seeing K, E, P, and E's partner A, it was a delight and truly something memorable.

Overall, the foodie event was a success. I can see people's faces wide-grinned and happy with the cornucopia of food they were offered. Some of them even went two rounds just to get a sample again! They enjoyed each and every kiosk they passed, as I had too with great acquaintances, awesome food, and the cool company that held the event.

It was a pleasure. 'Til the next event then, Ensogo!

Desperado

To you PR guy who asked me to have s*x at the cemetery near our subdivision...






In the words of the witches...I curse you!

Six Years

I took the long route towards Greenhills where we will meet. Meaning, I walked from MRT Ortigas towards Virra Mall. The whole time I was walking I kept thinking, "What is he like now? Would I be able to recognize him or would he recognize me?"

"Where are you? I'm already here in front of Tokyo Tokyo."


"Wait, I'm near."

As I went down the area, my heart started to beat faster. I remember beating this fast whenever I see him. But before it was the longing to see him, now it's anxiety building up.

From afar, I could already see an image of a tall guy, not lanky and lean anymore just like in yesteryears; a little tummy; but still - there he is waiting for me just like in the old days.

"Heyyy..." I said while wiping my forehead with my handkerchief.

"You look thinner."

The first time in six years and this is the reply I get?


"Yes. I know. It's a good thing."


"No, you're like skin and bones."


"Geez Carlo, I wish I am skin and bones."

I can feel tension building up and started to break the ice.


"Where'd you want to eat?" I asked him.

"Chowking, you want?"


"I am fine with wherever you want to eat."


"Okay."

We walked towards Chowking which is just a few feet away from where we were standing.

Once inside, "It's hot in here, let's find another place." I told Carlo.

"You're fussy." He quipped.

"Of course I am. Haven't you noticed it before?" I gave him a slightly evil look.


"No."


"Well I never was a cowboy."


"You were."


"People change." I remarked.


"Okay. Let's go some place else." He told me.

Walking outside the vicinity of the Greenhills area, we were waiting for each other to ask something, anything.


"So how are you and your boyfriend?" I was the first to surrender to the dead air.

"Good. Pretty good."


"I am glad to know that."


"So, how long have you been communicating with my boyfriend?"


"About a few years ago."

It was true, we were just disconnecting and reconnecting again. That's just how it is.

"So, what things have you talked about behind my back?"

Knowing him, the paranoid him, I was not completely surprised he asked me this question.

"Very little. We may have communicated earlier but we mostly just say hi's and hello's. Besides, did you know we have not talked about oh, four or five months?"


"Why?"


"Because he wouldn't give me your number, that's why."


"Why would you want my number?"


"I wanted to talk."


"Why?"


"Carlo, I am assuming we have both moved on."


"Of course." He quickly replied.


"So I don't think there's anything wrong with talking with you again, is there?"


"No, I guess not."

My sweat was building up because of the humidity and the questions he was throwing at that time.

"So where do you want to eat?" He asked again.


"Do you want Chinese?"


"I do but I only eat at Chowking for Chinese."


"Seriously?" I gave a questionable look.


"Yes."


"Do you remember how we used to eat at Chowking in Vega?"


"We did?!" He surprisingly retorted.

"We did. How could you forget?"


"I have forgotten a lot about us, G. Didn't we eat more at Jollibee in Calamba?"


"We did but we also ate at Chowking in Vega."


"So you remember Binalot where we ate?"


"Yes, that's already gone."


"Oh..."


"I think they turned it into a dorm or something."


"I see."

We walked until we reached Greenwich where we plan to have early dinner.

Our conversation reminded me of how memories can be frames, where every frame represents a timeline.
And where every timeline sometimes gets faded, blurred out, or perhaps deleted without intention.




Part 2

Six Years

Six years.

For six years there was no trace of you.

I wished for it that way. You wished for it too.

There was one time, not so long ago, I wanted to see you badly. Not because I wanted to get back. I just wanted to see you again, how you have been doing with life and wished we could talk, or even chat for a while.

I told myself it would be okay to ask your boyfriend. No hard feelings. What is in the past, stays in the past.

Or do they really?

Your boyfriend could not, would not, wish not to give me your number. He told me how you would react and I scoffed at the idea. Surely, our lives had moved on its separate ways.

I was furious! I never wished to come back into your life nor ruin the lives of you two. That was and will never be my intention. I am happy the way things are.

And now your boyfriend and I reconnected for what seems forever and then he gave you my number.

Six years. There was nothing left to say after that.

But then here we are crossing paths again.




Part 1