A Man of His Word

Chapter Seven

BORIS WAS NOT YET out of his mind. He was drunk, but could still think straight. Nung una pa lang, napapansin na niyang may kakaiba sa kilos ng lalaking ito. Masyadong malamya.

At ang boses...

He was losing a little of his body coordination due to the alcohol, kaya naman hindi masisi ni Boris ang sarili kung masyadong nalalapit ang mukha sa kausap. Mabuti na rin ang ganito kaysa sa gumewang-gewang siya.

"Yes," was his proud reply.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit sumilay ang ngisi sa kanyang mga labi. Huli na nang ma-rehistro sa kanyang isipan na ganoon ang naging reaksyon niya kasi sa tingin niya, ang tapang nito para amining bakla ito. Pero hindi ba pinapakita na nito sa mga kilos na bakla nga ito?

Pagak siyang natawa at nilayo ang mukha rito. He placed a hand on this man's shoulder, cocked his head to the side to give him a good look. This hotel staff was not really as handsome as the American guy he was flirting with earlier.

But he looked so cute and docile.

Very animated too.

"What's so funny?" gusot ng mukha nito.

He looked like a cute kid. Ilang taon na nga ba ito? No wonder he looked cute. He was probably years younger than him. Tinapik-tapik niya ito sa balikat.

"You're brave, huh?" kurot niya sa pisngi nito.

Umabot na ba sa utak niya ang alak? Why would he even freaking pinch his face?

"Is there something to be shy about being gay?"

Napailing-iling na lang si Boris. "You don't know what you're talking about," angat niya sa hawak na bote para uminom ng kaunti. Mabilis siyang lumunok bago tinuloy ang sasabihin, "It's not about being shy or what!"

He turned around and sat back on the sand. Pakiramdam ni Boris kasi bibigay na ang mga tuhod niya. Naramdaman niya ang napapantastikuhang titig ng lalaki kaya nilingon niya ito.

"Hey! Sit here!" tawag niya rito.

Nakita ni Boris ang pag-aalangan sa mukha nito kaya ngumiti siya.

He was not really fond of smiling. But years of working with an open-minded man like Sloven Markov taught him one of the most important things to consider to survive— adaptability. Hindi man kaugalian ng mga Ruso na tulad nila ang maging palangiti, kapag ganito na ibang lahi na ang nakakasalamuha, kailangan niyang ngumiti ng ngumiti hangga't maaari. He needed to look friendly and welcoming to disarm and charm the people he meet.

"Why?" kilos na nito.

"What's your name?" nood ni Boris sa paglatag ng lalaki sa tsinelas nito para iyon ang upuan.

"Albie," mahina nitong wika.

"Albie," he repeated to clarify if he heard him right.

Tumango-tango ito.

Pinanood niya ang bahagyang paggalaw ng hibla ng itim nitong buhok na may kahabaan. Albie looked too slender. He fitted the profile of a bishounen, one of the things he learned from being almost everywhere around the world. Albie was slender, carrying a dominant feminine appearance in spite of being recognizable as a male. He was not muscular. He was slender and youthful.

Cute, yes.

With round eyes and pouty lips.

"I have an advice for you," matiim niyang titig dito.