A Miserable Romance

'Kuya, natapos na dialysis ni mama bumigay na rin si Kuya Harold ng pera para sa kinakailangan. Sana makareply ka.' Chase silently held his cell phone, showing this message on his screen. It was his younger sister na hindi niya na nakita for 2 years, kasama na ang mga magulang niya. And every message he receives from them will always have that name, which makes him unresponsive. "Geez, I listened to the weather forecast today but forgot to bring my umbrella," Kaye spoke, staring at the droplets on the wide glass window. The sky was gray, with thick clouds hovering above the whole town to wash out pollution in this first month of May. It was already late in the afternoon but the clouds nullified the mood of the hour. Kaye turned to the side, "Do you bring an umbrella with you?" she asked. Tumango naman si Chase habang ipinapasok na ang laptop niya sa kanyang bag. "Mukhang wala ka ng customer na dadating, should I help you close the shop?" he said "Nope, feeling ko huhupa rin ang ulan. Sayang ang oras kasi minsan may mga teenagers pang nagdadate after class." Kaye said. She was the owner of the small café and Chase was her loyal customer ever since it was founded 2 years ago. They were best friends. Chase had the same height as Kaye, partially thin due to how slender his arms and legs are. He had soft hair, hanging down from his small head, and his look was completely average but it was the sole reason why people found him strange and unique. "Magtri-tricyle ka?" tanong ni Kaye, "May pera ka pa ba dyan?" Chase turned to her, "Parang inaagrabyado mo ako ngayong araw, Kaye." He said with a plain tone na tinawanan lang ni Kaye. "Syempre naman, concern lang ako." sagot nito. Hindi na siya pinansin ni Chase at ibinuklad na ang payong nito, "Babalik ako bukas, my editor will personally check the progress." Sabi nito sa kaibigan bago tinahak ang daan. Kadalasang nilalakad lang ni Chase ang daan papuntang apartment niya since his place wasn't that far from the café. He was living in a below average apartment but it has accommodated him very well in the past 2 years, hirap na ring makahanap ng lugar na suwak sa budget niya. The apartment has two floors only and his room was on the second, the rental fee was perfect for his basic need since he only pay for half and the other was for his college roommate. He reached the room and when he opened it, a blast of loudspeakers and partying people welcomed him. They filled the living room with confetti and a bottle of beer as they danced to some trending pop music, everyone was screaming. Chase regretted in going home early, he should have stayed with Kaye since this day was his roommate's birthday. He forgot that the guy asked for his permission to hold his 'small' birthday party in their space. He quietly sneaked to the side since everyone gathered in the center dancing and singing loudly, competing with the speakers they had with full volume on. He stepped on mashed cakes, empty bottles, and some weird things but he kept walking forward since he no longer stand the reek of alcohol and cigarettes coming from them. His room was near their kitchen so when he finally got out of their sight and reached the kitchen space, he heaved a good relief and was about to take his key to his room when his arm was suddenly grabbed and made his body abruptly turn back. Ang unang nakita niya ay isang malapad na dibdib na konti nalang ay didikit na ito sa dulo ng ilong niya, the guy who grabbed him was tall that Chase have to lift his head to look at him. "Sino ka?" pagalit na tanong nito, the man looked younger maybe around the same age as his roommate, and between the two of them, Chase was 7 years older. He tried to take his hands off the man but the man just stared at him with such dark eyes, unmoving. This man is drunk, must be one of his roommate's friends. Chase was never patient, especially sa mga kabataan ngayon na sumosobra na sa pagiging Strong Boys. But all of a sudden, the man pushed him into the wall and embraced him. "Hm..." the guy started to pat his head and swayed gently as he hugged the man tight. Chase was stunned for a moment but soon snapped out of it and pushed the younger guy. He panted since the embrace almost crush his small figure, glaring at the younger man in front of him but to his surprise, the stranger was still smiling and took his arms again, this time, he gently hold it while his other hand wrapped around Chase's waist. The man held him gently and slightly tilted his head to lean on Chase's forehead. And the latter was yet to realize that the man was leading to him to a dance, with slight humming from the drunk stranger. Chase didn't know what was happening but he could feel the rage within him mixing. But before anything could happen, his roommate finally came. "Ofius!!" he screamed in shock seeing the man dancing with his roommate in his arms with a drunken face and despite the darkness, he could see the stirring anger from his roommate. He completely trembled and immediately pulled and took his friend out of Chase's sight. But before he could take away his friend, the guy still held Chase's hand and kissed his palm, with a silly face he spoke, "You smell... like my future." Chase locked his jaw while his roommate almost lost his soul. "Ofius!" he covered his friends mouth and made a forced smile to Chase, "Kuya Chase, pasensya kana ha, sadyang ganito talaga siya pag lasing." Chase was completely within his limits and glared at his roommate that made the young guy gulp. "Hindi dahil sa pumayag ako na dito kayo magcelebrate ng birthday niyo ay aabuson niyo na ang lugar Kyle." Chase seriously said. "Isang oras." Sabi nito, "Kapag hindi pa umalis ang mga kasamahan mo sa loob ng isang oras, ako na mismo ang tatawag sa landlord, ulit." Agad-agad namang tumango si Kyle, "O-Oo Kuya, one hour! One hour!" he then pulled his friend, with great effort out of the space while Chase fixed his shirt and remained calm amidst the surge of anger and embarrassment that had just happened. Kyle is a third-year college student and became his roommate for 2 years. The child was bubbly and friendly which made things difficult for Chase, if Chase prefer silence, Kyle would turn up all the basses he had in his rooms. If Chase liked mild soups the other would order spicy ones. They weren't that close but one would say they get along since they survived 2 years of torment. "Ofius naman eh!" Kyle slammed the drunk man back on the sofa where all their friends were doing karaoke. "Bakit? Anong nangyari?" tanong ng isang kaibigan nila. Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose, "Sinayaw niya yung roommate ko, tae talaga." Their friends burst out laughing, "Taeng tae ha." They slapped Ofius who was already sleeping. "Anong sabe? E rereport ka na naman ba sa landlord?" tanong ng kaibigan. Kyle messed up his hair and took Ofius's feet on the couch, "May isang oras pa tayo." Chase woke up late the next morning since he had to finish his manuscript. Since he was too tired, he forgot that there are other people in their place for a moment, they only had one bathroom so he need to go out of his room and pass the living room to get there but stopped when he realized that Kyle and his friends were eating breakfast in the same place. There was a moment of silence when they saw Chase. "G-Good morning! Kuya!" Kyle tried to break the ice. It was obvious that Chase's mood bagged down seeing them and just nodded at his roommate and proceed to the bathroom. He heard low laughter and murmurs when he passed by which was common for him. "HOY! SINO KUMUHA—" Chase stood frozen when someone opened the door of the bath and revealed a man with no clothes on, completely bare! And more importantly, this young man was the one who trespassed on him last night! Napahinto naman ang lalaki at tiningnan si Chase. Kyle saw the scene and almost screamed while his friends just burst out laughing. "Ofius!" Kyle screamed in fear at mismong tinakpan ang kaibigan gamit ang katawan niya. "K-Kuya, gagamit ka ng CR?" Chase was completely in a bad mood and asked back, "Mukhang gusto mo na nang third warning Kyle." Kyle whitened and tried to push Ofius back but the man didn't move and asked, "Kuya?" he asked innocently without minding his naked body, "Kuya mo?" tanong nito sa kaibigan. "Hindi! Magdamit ka nga muna!" Kyle spoke in anger, "Tae ka 'Yus, lalabas nga ba naman ng CR na nakahubad!" galit na galit ito pero kapag titingin kay Chase, puno ito ng ngiti. "Kuya, gagamit ka?" bait na tanong nito ulit. Chase suppressed his anger with a sigh, "Hindi na." he then turned around and walked out of the place. Their other friends also suppressed their laughter when Chase passed by them. Kyle massaged the bridge of his nose again and was about to scold Ofius but he stopped when he saw the man still eyeing Chase, his expression was at loss but his eyes seemed to be sparkling. "Uy!" kilalang-kilala nito ang kaibigan at sinampal. Ofius snapped at ngumiti. "Kuya mo?" he asked again. Kyle winced upon hearing it but sarcastically answered, "Tatay ko." Ofius was shocked and asked in disbelief, "Talaga!?" Kyle slapped his head, "Mukha ba!" galit nitong tugon. Ofius massaged his head, "Ano nga." "Roommate ko. Laging galit at mukhang magla-laon." Ofius can't help but giggle, "Talaga?" Kyle looked at him ridiculously seeing the man in a sudden good mood, "Para kang abnormal."