A Held Promise

"I want donuts!" He excitedly told me while we were walking looking for what he wants to eat.

"Sure. I love donuts too!" I said.

We saw a Dunkin Donuts kiosk and he looked at the selection wide-eyed like a kid. I followed him.

"You have got to try this!" I pointed to the Blueberry Cheese flavor.

"Okay, then I will get that one. And this one and this too." He pointed two different chocolate-flavored donuts.

"Aren't you going to eat that now?"

"No, I'll save this for later G."

"But aren't you hungry?"

"I am but I promised you we'd be eating your style." He told me. "Did you know I went semi-vegetarian before?"

"Really?"

"Yup, but I mentioned semi because I still eat meat on weekends. I just needed to lose weight that time so I opted for that."

"I see."

"Let's try Mr. Choi." He told me.

"Are there any vegetarian offerings there? Usually Chinese restos barely have options for all-veggies. I know they have chilled taho, though." I said. A little disappointed.

"We'll just check the menu, if there isn't anything that suits you we'll go some place else, okay?"

"Okay."

We went inside the restaurant and looked at the menu. Thankfully, there were vegetarian alternatives.

We decided to stay there and order for dinner.

"So how have you been?" He asked me while we were eating our appetizer - radish cakes - which actually has chorizo meat in them, but very minimal.

"I am good, been busy with work and gym. I barely go out on weekends anymore."

"And you?"

"Good too. Busy with work and dance classes."

"So you're part time trainer, right?"

"Yeah. After work I teach in the gym."

"Good for you. Did you know I actually applied there as a personal trainer?"

"Really? What happened?"

"Well I wasn't accepted though."

"That's okay G."

"I know. Anyway at least I tried." I smiled at him while our main dish arrived shortly.

After dinner we went to his pad. I was sleepy then. He told me I can't because we still have a lot to talk about.

"When was your last relationship?" I asked him while I lied on his bed. My eyes drowsy.

"October last year."

A few seconds passed.

"Oh wait, no, it was October 2011. So it has been nearly two years since my last relationship. How about you?" He asked.

"June of last year. So I've been single for nearly a year."

"What happened why you guys broke up?" I asked him.

"Well...first and foremost...we are actually a couple of bottoms."




Part 2

A Held Promise

"Heyyy..." I greeted him with delight as he entered the store where we were supposed to meet.

"Hey!" He replied and smiled.

He was wearing a dark-colored shirt with some green abstract print, a pair of casual shorts, and a pair of Sanuk shoes. He was chinito, tall, and fit.

A first for me.

"Wait, let me just try these things on." I was holding four shirts that time.

"Wow, you're shopping."

"No, I just want to get them sweaty." I joked.

He gave a soft laugh and I proceeded to the dressing cubicle, and only tried two.

"Hey, sorry to have kept you waiting. There, I'm done." I told him as I handed the money to the cashier.

"No, it's okay."

"Where do you want to go?" I inquired. "Are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Okay but sorry I won't be eating with you right now. I just had a lot earlier this lunch time. Pasta, bread, fresh lumpia, and buko juice. A lot." I laughed.

"No problem. Let's look around."

"Okay Em."

Em and I first exchanged messages in Hornet. He was the first to leave a message and from there on we were communicating through Hornet only. It was after two weeks of chatting online that I decided to provide him my number even if he didn't ask for it. Em works in the Ticketing Department of an airline company plus he works part-time as a fitness trainer.

From the way he communicates he knows how to handle conversations and he is a good conversationalist.

Of course I want to get to know him better soon.

But honestly, I did not have plans to meet him that day as I was still with a date in Greenhills that time but I have to admit that I was eager to meet him because he seems interesting.

My phone rang while me and my date were about to leave Greenhills.

"Excuse me for a moment while I answer this call." I told my date.

"Hello, yes?"

"Hello G? How are you?"

"I am good. Why'd you call Em?"

"Are you busy?" He asked.

"Not much."

"Wanna meet later? My dancing class just finished."

I had to make a decision right then and there: leave my date and meet another one or spend the rest of the day with my date. I chose the former.

"Sure thing. Where'd you want to meet?"

"Okay, that's good. Where do you want?"

"Well you told me you're at Robinson's Manila. I guess we should just meet there."

"No problem. See you."

"Yeah thanks Em. See you too."

After making an excuse to my date I rushed towards the meeting place.




Part 1

Types of Gym Guys

I first started going to the gym last January 2008 and have been continuously going for the past five years. From the five years that I have spent my time in the gym, I have witnessed different characters of people some amusing, some irritating.

1. The Sweat-A-Lots. The name says it all, these are guys who likes to leave their trail everywhere - every gym equipment that needs sitting down or lying prone or supine. And the best thing is they don't wipe it off!

2. Amnesiac Twinks. Now you all know how I have a fetish for twinks and how I am delighted around them but these guys are just one of the worst. They never return the weights they use.
Because most of the time I hate clutter, I end up returning their weights and boy let me tell you that by the time I start working out I am already a little tired and drenched in sweat.

3. Chika-Boys. These are the guys who barely lift but spend most of their time talking with other gym guys. Straight or not, they like talking and they really like to talk anything under the sun: girls, cars, weather, gossips, and the never-dying Philippine politics. These guys are the ones you want to stay away as it displaces your momentum. Of course the gym is a place of interaction but please, know when to stop talking and start lifting.

And most of the time you double your time in the gym which makes you late for work. Damn!!!

4. Cardio-Boys. As the name suggests, these are people who spend most of their time on the treadmill or bike. They are people who stay away from lifting anything heavy or even not so heavy but lifting per se. Running on the treadmill or biking has its perks because you can watch tv series or even read a book.

I actually started out like this biking for two hours and then lifting for one hour. I dropped weight but I wasn't able to gain muscle.

5. Abs Boys. These guys spend most of their time doing every type of crunches they know be it traditional, weighted, reverse, cable crunches, etc. Three-fourth on abs, one-fourth on weights. But as most of us know, spot reduction is a myth.

6. Huff-And-Puff Boys. These are men. Real men. Men who lift 200lbs. or more of weight. Men whose veins bulge from every part of their body. Men whose chests are bigger than Ms. Anderson's. And men who might also be on injectable steroids.

7. Amnesiac Bears. From twinks to bears, these are bears who also literally forget the equipments they use but here's the catch, their more hairy hence more sweaty. We love them bears but please be responsible for the things you use especially if they are really heavy!

8. Midget Lifters. These are guys who are small but likes to lift heavy. Napoleon Complex. Seeking dominance in such small stature. I for one had been like this. But at least I learned. More often than not, they need spotters.

9. Flickers. The guys who barely goes to gym but when they do, tries to copy the last guy's exercise. They have no idea on the proper form, position, reps, and sets. All they know is that they lift weights. They are doing what others are doing. Amusing, really. Then after one or two sessions, ka-poot.

10. Mirrorers. They are the ones who likes to take their shirt/sandos off and pose in front of the mirror, either contracting their abdominals or contracting their biceps or back. They mean no harm and are not in any way showing off, sometimes.

We shall also call them Gymstagramers for their knack in taking selfie photos!




Part 1

Hornet 101

Move over, Grindr.

1. Hornet allows you to have four public pictures and four private pictures. Everyone has their best angle. Use it to your advantage.

2. Searching guys doesn't have any limit, ergo the possibilites are endless! Although you might chance upon guys already from another country. Seriously.

3. Pleasantries are always, um, pleasant. Beating around the bush is not the same as being friendly and starting a conversation.

4. Obviously topless pictures still gets the most views.

5. Say something in your profile for crying out loud!

6. No, people don't need to ask for your pictures if you don't have any public ones.

7. And no, don't ask for more pictures if the guy already showed you all of his photos in Hornet.

8. As always, beware of posers. Especially posers who are nothing, and I mean nothing, like the ones they posted.

9. Masseurs are on the rise as well. I have reported some of them already. So beware of me!

Hahahaha! (evil laughter)

10. And finally, be nice and avoid being rude.

Enjoy and don't forget to indicate your HIV status!