Between the Rainbow (Strawberries and Cigarettes Series #1)

Chapter 9

Hard

Shiloh seems to be having fun with the girls and he's laughing with them. Nakaakbay na sa kanyang upuan ang kamay ko habang tamad ko siyang pinapanood na nawawala ang mga mata pag tumatawa.

See that? He's prettier when he smiles. And he seems comfortable with them as he converses enthusiastically, which I rarely see.

"Shiloh! Sleepover tayo! Sali ka sa amin!" it was Angela.

"Talaga? Sige!" He nodded and smiled.

Jessie whispered something to Angela, which is why Angela looked at me.

"Brent, sali ka sa sleepover."

"Yeah, sure," I answered absentmindedly.

"Anong sleepover? Kayo lang? Kami rin!" the boys.

"Sa kabilang kwarto kayo kung sasama man kayo!" si Angela.

"Tabi tayo sa sleepover!" the girl beside Shiloh.

I craned my neck a bit to see the girl, who was very obvious. Kung nandito si Sadie, sinakal na ako no'n pag nalaman niyang hinahayaan kong lumandi itong si Shiloh.

But I'm curious about his answer, so I waited until someone caught my attention.

"Is that Denver?" Kunot noo kong tanong sa kakapasok lang na bagong pamilyar din.

Napalingon din ang boys lalo na't nakapamulsa si Denver sa varsity jacket niya habang inaakbayan ng isang lalake na hindi pamilyar sa akin.

"You didn't know?" Medyo mahina ang bulong ni Mavric sa gilid ko.

"Know what?"

"He's out last month. That's his boyfriend," si Mavric na hindi pinapahalatang nakatingin doon habang abala sa pagkain.

"Boyfriend?" I sounded so lost.

"You know, dude. He's bi. He likes men too."

Napansin na rin ng mga boys ang tinitingnan namin lalo na't nakasunod doon ang tingin ko. One of the boys shook their heads and started whispering about it.

"Nakasama ko 'yan sa shower. Kung alam ko lang na bakla..." Nagtinginan sila.

Umangat ang kilay ko roon.

"Ano?" I asked curiously and looked at Tyler who said it.

He rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward.

"You know gays... they're willing to spend millions when they're in love." Medyo natawa siya sa bagay na iyon.

"Halata naman kung bakit pinatulan noong boyfriend. You know, he's straight. So what's the reason why he got himself a gay... girlfriend?" they laughed a bit.

Kumunot lalo ang noo ko. I glanced at the table, and it seemed like Denver was comfortable with him. The boy said something and walked somewhere. Naiwan siyang nakatingin sa menu.

"Binilhan daw 'yan agad ng kotse ni Denver. Imagine it, bro. Boys would date gays instead because they're willing to give. Unlike girls. Masasaktan ka pa. Wala ka pang pera," si Ronan na malawak ang ngisi.

If I'm broke, I won't even date a gay man just for that damn reason. What are they—some sort of ATM machine?

"You know what they say, kung gipit, sa bakla ang kapit," Rick said and laughed.

I saw how the guy stopped at our table as soon as he passed us. Hindi namalayan ng mga kaibigan ko. And knowing that the boys I'm with are well-known varsity athletes, I know this is a big trouble.