Stuff that makes a reunion a no-go. (revised)

A product of my rest day imaginings and other occurrences. First part based on real life, the rest just plain fancy. I will try to make this as sexual as possible. Dammit.

My college friends are cooking a get-together soon. It's been years since I last saw them so I'm excited to go. What makes it more exciting is the fact that the guy who I was inlababo with for most of my college years will be there. Am I still hung up on him? Maybe. I'm not sure but my heart skipped when I joined the group conversation they created on a social networking site and he mentioned my name. Well, I'm just happy he noticed me and said hi. I've always been a sucker for his attention. I know, such a loser. We were never an item, by the way. My thing for him had always been one way. I was a "tropa" to him. I wish he stayed that way to me but I grew fond of him and eventually, fell stupidly inlababo. Maybe it couldn't be helped. He was the artistic, intelligent type. He played the guitar really, really well; he's a good writer; he reads books; he's profound and attuned to his inner self and he's got big, soulful eyes and crazy, curly hair. Damn it. That's how he looked like back in college, now he's more on the artistic, working type. Cleaner, decent looking and light and fun. He's the one who's actually pushing for the get-together.

I didn't want to lie to my husband and to make him think that I was hiding something from him so I told him about it. He knew about this guy from college and he had been teasing me about him by saying how jealous he still is with that person. When I asked for his permission he said, "Ano ka ba? I was just kidding!" I'm not sure if he was just saying that or he really meant it but either way I felt relieved. That only means I can go without guilt in my heart. Double wham. NOT. Haha.

They chose to gather on a Saturday. He specifically suggested not to have it in C---- but that's the most halfway place everyone can go. And C---- ---o was easily the only choice. They had already started when I arrived. I came from work that day so I was a bit flushed from the hike from EDSA and, yeah, the giddiness. All of my college friends are still single. Two them are gay guys, the other girls have not yet found who to hook up with. He courted one of them actually but she's from a religious group that do not allow their followers to date people outside their faith. It killed me when I found out about it. But hell, good thing it was forbidden to her! One of my friends was pregnant and she was there with her enormous belly still giggling. I was happy to see them. And him. He was all smiles when he saw me. All of them were actually. I think I beso-ed and hugged most of them and when it time for me to give him fist-bump or a high five, he gave me a hug. I suddenly remember what my husband told me the night I asked permission from him, "Ayos lang naman, wag ko lang malaman na may akap-akapan pa". But he was laughing when he said this. Of course, I know what to do. However, my body warmed up with the first contact. It was brief though. Just a friendly hug, that's all. What the heck was my body thinking? Stupid hormones.

He moved his chair to give way. He moved it so the others can follow suit and I can squeeze in but I was not able to sit beside him. Bummer. But the night was still young. He smokes and I do as well, so I'll just wait for the yosi break so I can talk to him solo. I found out he's now working in the company where my husband previously worked. He started working there when my husband was two months into leaving the company. He is a web content writer. Still doing the stuff he does well. I asked him if he still plays, "Oo, chong, nagkakasama pa rin kami ni Keb" he said.

"Kayo pa rin pala ng boyfriend mo ah, going strong!" I teased.

He just laughed and replied, "Naman!" Of course, I know some stuff about him even before I met him again. Let's just say I'm a very good web researcher. I know, I know. I'm creepy. He plays in a band together with school mates back in university. I couldn't help looking at him and keeping quiet. He looks really good now (at least to me) and I'm loving the easier, more carefree air that he is exuding. Maybe it's the alcohol. I tried to keep it together and not to look like I was there just to see him so I sort of moved around our table to chat the others. Anyway, he's more absorbed in talking with the girl he courted before. Read my face: pained. But I did not go there to feel that or to feel anything else. I wanted to see my friends, I wanted to see him. He talked to me just like the old times. That alone made me glad. And the most a awaited yosi break happened. I felt like a smoke already with all the jitters inside me somersaulting. I took out my cigarette and made sure he noticed it.

"Nagyoyosi ka pala" he said, a little surprised.

"Nung high school pa, chong. Di ba sa G--- may mga tambutso girls din?" I replied.

Back in college, I was able to bring him to my h.s. friends' drinking sessions. My tita who knew him once told me, he wouldn't have come if he wasn't interested. Maybe he was but not in that way.

"Tara" I said motioning him to come with me. And he did. Great, I succeeded.