The Last on the List [completed]

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I lived alone in an apartment na walking distance lang sa trabaho. Usually waking up for work at four thirty then leaving by seven thirty. But today, I allowed myself to wake so late nasisinagan na ako ng araw mula sa bintana. But the warmth felt good, kind of nature's way of saying, 'You're still alive.' And Dylan calling me in the morning meant he's also alive.

I sat up and received the call. "Hello?"

"Good, you're up. May alam ka bang tattoo shop?"

I was expecting he'd greet me a 'good morning'. Then again, hindi naman 'yon required. Pero, "Tattoo shop?"

"You heard me. I want to get my first tattoo. 'Yon ang una sa bucket list ko."

How could I assumed all this time na may tattoo si Dylan? Well, sila Reggie kasi meron, eh. May piercings din. So I thought birds of the same feather flocked together – na meron din siya though 'di nga lang ganoon ka-visible tulad ng kaliskis ng ahas sa braso ni Reggie.

"If you don't know any, pasuyo na lang ako do'n sa isang tropa ni Reggie –"

"May permit ba 'yong tropa niya na magtattoo?" I asked.

"No, he'll just call him at siya na pupunta sa bahay dala mga materials."

Immediately, a 'no sign' appeared in my mind's eye. I did not want him to get a tattoo from someone without meeting the safety standards, gaano pa man siya kagaling na artist. But he might found out something if I told him the tattoo shop I went to. Still, nothing's riskier than the former so ni-reveal ko na rin.

"May alam akong tattoo shop na licensed. Makasisiguro kang safe 'don kasi kompleto sila sa mga permit."

"Good. Bukas na ba sila ng ten?"

"Eleven sila nagbubukas," sabi ko. Actually, ten talaga ang opening ng Hiraya Ink I just lied nang una akong makarating doon at mapakiusapan ang staff na 'wag akong ibuko. Naging customer kasi nila ako. And how would I do that? No idea. I was yet to figure out.

Or maybe not anymore because here's Dylan, insisting, "I'll pick you up para 'di ka na mamasahe."

"Uhm, okay lang –"

"No, it isn't. If you're accountable with this bucket list, accountable na rin ako sa'yo. Free ride is one of the perks. Besides, 'di ko rin alam papunta ro'n. We'll use my SUV."

"Ano kaya kung i-send ko na lang sa'yo ang address ng shop –"

"Why don't you send your address instead? 'Yon i-text mo sa'kin, okay? Gotta go. Oh by the way, good morning."

"Good –"

In-end call niya na. And here I thought hindi niya na ako babatiin. Winithheld niya lang pala. Nakakainis. How could he be so sweet without him knowing? Kung wala nga lang sana siyang errand, gusto ko pa sana siyang makausap, tanungin paano niya nalabanan 'yong peer pressure noon na 'wag magpa-tattoo?

Umalis ako sa kama and walked towards my half-body mirror na taas-taas ang sando. There was one wicked thing I did than going to Dylan's house, convincing him not to die. Ito ay ang ipa-tattoo ang pangalan niya across my chest. Except the letters were flipped and one could only read it if one faced a mirror.

I got the idea from an ambulance. The context was that I kept my feelings hidden for him. That only at the safety of my room can I bare myself naked. Or I could be naked before everyone but they might have trouble reading what's tattooed in my heart. Ang makababasa lang nito ay ang taong titingin sa kanyang repleksyon. And predictably, that's only me.

Nonetheless, nagwo-worry pa rin ako na baka pagdating sa Hiraya Inks, Dylan would suspect about it. Baka magtanong ng, 'Bakit alam mo 'tong lugar na 'to?'. 'Bakit parang kilala ka ng mga staff?', 'Nagpatattoo ka na rito, ano?' I didn't know for sure how he'd react if ever he saw his name tattooed on a gay guy's chest. Would he be flattered, honored, or asked for its removal? Ayokong malaman.