"Iced coffee with no milk," Antonia cheerfully stuffed my usual morning drink in my hand.
"Cause I'm a weirdo." I responded in a singsong voice, pointing both my index fingers at her holding the cup.
"Looks like someone's in a good mood today," She smiled. "What did bratty Brad do this time?"
"We're having a dinner date again tonight, and this Saturday, he's taking me to the- "
She gasped. "Oh my God, is he taking you to the Central Ferris Wheel?"
"How did you know?" I was stunned.
"Because that's what all the romantic guys do!" She squealed. "I'm so happy for you, Ped! It feels like only yesterday when you were still single, and now look at you, running off with your hot sugar daddy!"
"He's not my sugar daddy," I protested, while Antonia hugged me tightly.
"Remember to upload more pictures to your Instagram story so you can make all the single gays jealous," She pointed out. "Christian will be so envious!"
"Why Christian of all people?"
"Don't you remember? He used to be head over heels for you in high school."
"First of all, he didn't." I replied, breaking free from her hug. "And secondly, I haven't seen him since we graduated. Who knows where he is now?"
"Fine, fine," Antonia giggled. "Have fun tonight then! Also, where's Nathan?"
Not long after that, Nathan joined us as Antonia and I were about to find our seats in the lecture hall.
"What's up y'all?" He greeted us, meeting my gaze for half a second with a look that's unusually warm and almost even lustful.
"Did Ped tell you about the Ferris Wheel date?" Antonia quickly exclaimed.
"Yup, he did," Nathan laughed and put his arm around my shoulder. "This guy, I swear, is like protagonist of a badly-written erotic fiction. Did he tell you about the cinema and the restaurant?"
"The what now?" She turned to me.
"I'll tell you the whole story, but it's X-rated." I smirked.
"Woah, don't tell me you're already having-" Antonia lowered her voice. "-sex with him?"
"Wait 'til you hear about their crazy sex adventures." Nathan patted my shoulder, giving me another stare.
-----
"Aren't you afraid someone will find out?" Antonia asked worriedly.
"I do, actually. But it's not like you guys will tell anyone, right?"
"Of course not." Nathan exclaimed. "We won't tell anyone 'bout your secret boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Yet." Nathan added, winking.
"So you guys should just stay low on campus and nobody'll know." Antonia advised.
"Can he get fired over this?" said Nathan.
"I think so, so we'll have to be extra careful."
"Extra careful meaning having public sex, right."
"It was like two times, Nathan!"
"With how things are going, you guys won't just stop at two." He laughed.
I gave him a stink face, to which he responded with a mischievous grin.
The lecture soon ended.
"Mr. Mateo," he corrected me after I frantically called his name in the hallways of the college. "Calling me by my first name here on campus would raise some unwanted eyebrows, Ped."
"Sorry," I blurted, following him to his office, the evening sun dawning on our faces as we walk side by side.
"How was my class today? Did I bore you all?"
"Of course not, Mr. Mateo,"
"Good," Brad said. "Next time, though, don't distract me with those lovey-dovey eyes of yours."
"Huh?" I said reflexively.
"Don't deny it, buddy," He tickled his chin. "You were staring at me throughout the whole class, but I don't think you were listening to what I was saying."
I blushed and argued, "You were distracting me with your…"
"My what?" He stopped walking.
"Your… existence! You're just so hot."
"That's not a very good justification for not paying attention, Ped. But I will take the compliment, thank you." He grinned.
"Dinner tonight, right?" I changed the topic.
"Yes, and I was thinking, do you want to head over to a gay club with me after that?"
I was surprised at his sudden proposal.
"A gay club?"
"Affirmative, tonight there's an exclusive show and I think you'd take a liking to the fun atmosphere there,"
"What sort of show are you talking about?"
"Let's just say clothes will be taken off," Brad smirked.
Overjoyed, I instantly agreed to his offer.