Chapter Text
1 | MAKATI
“Parang tanga naman kasi to oh um-oo ka na kanina eh! Tara na gago!”
Paiyak na ata si Childe.
They’re currently stuck in traffic, with Scaramouche driving, and paiyak na ata si Childe.
Hindi naman kasalanan ni Kunikuzushi na parang tanga magsabi si Childe kaninang umaga. Ikaw ba naman, salubungin ng ganong ka pangit na mukha umagang umaga habang nagrereview ka papuntang klase para lang hatakin ka na sumama sa inuman kasi andun daw yung crush niya na hindi naman siya pinapansin? May maiintindihan ka ba dun bukod sa nangingibabaw na inis? Wala diba?
The car was silent, save for Childe letting out pathetic whines every now and then. Kunikuzushi had been keeping count, (kasi wala lang. Bakit ba. Putangina ng traffic dito sa Alabang.) and currently Childe was at his 15th obnoxious sigh. He grips the steering wheel a little too tightly, considering the choices he feels na he’s about to make. Gaano kaya sya katagal na makukulong kung ihulog nya si Childe ngayon sa bangin?
He glares at his friend, malintent clear in his expression, yet Childe can’t seem to take the damn hint. (Or he’s just that good at ignoring Kunikuzushi, who knows.) Umungot uli si Childe sa gilid nya while looking at his phone na, lets be honest — parang tanga — and Kunikuzushi swears na he almost felt a vein pop.
“Bakit ba kasi atat na atat ka sumama dyan sa grupo nila Ningguang? Alam mo namang pikon sayo yon, tapos hindi ka din naman pinapansin nung pinag papapansinan mo.” He says while sipping on his chai latte. “Mukha ka lang tanga.”
Childe really had the audacity to look offended at that. Aba.
“EXCUSE ME!” sagot nung isa, while clutching his phone to his chest. Fucking drama queen. “PINAPANSIN AKO NI ZHONGLI!!”
Oh no. Tumitinis na yung boses ni Childe, ang sakit sa tenga. Mukha na din talagang paiyak na (fr) etong isa. Hay. Kunikuzushi closes his eyes and sighs in defeat. He just knows na he will regret this big time, pero sige. Kesa naman tumalak na tumalak si Childe hanggang sa shared house nila.
“Oh wag kang iiyak, bonak.” Sabi niya. “Oo na pupunta na, putangina mo.”
The smile Childe gives him doesn’t really look as rewarding as he thinks it is.
+
They arrive at the bar at exactly 12:05 AM. Medyo dumadami na yung tao, pero not enough to make Kunikuzushi backtrack and go back home alone. The bar was situated in a more quiet neighbourhood, and the vibe was very laid back. In short, mukhang scene naman ni Kunikuzushi etong napiling place nila Ningguang tonight. In fairness.
Nauna na pumasok si Childe. Something about wanting Zhongli to see his stupid outfit or whatever. He only nods, not wanting to deplete more of the remaining energy he had for socializing this week, and tells Childe na he’ll go outside muna to smoke. If Childe’s about to drag him to several bars tonight just for that .001% chance of getting laid, then Kunikuzushi needs to be feeling good at least.
The designated smoking area was empty save for one person on his phone squatting by the floor. Dungis amputa, Kunikuzushi thinks. Di manlang lumayo sa trash bin? Yosing yosi yan? Thankfully the guy had his back turned towards him, or else he’d be greeted with Kunikuzushi’s very judgmental face. Anyway. Weird guy aside, he situates himself by the wall and brings out his cigarette pack. Pagbukas niya, wala pa pala yung lighter niya sa loob. Anak ng tupa nga naman, oh.
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair in distress. Kung kelan naman yosing yosi na siya! He didn’t really want to go back to his car kasi medyo may kalayuan na din yung pinag parkingan niya kanina. Now what?
Movement from the guy by the trash bin catches his eye. The dude was peering at him from his shoulder, and Kunikuzushi gives him the stink eye.
“Problema mo?” Is what he says. Wala siya sa mood makipag plastikan (wala naman palagi) sa mga strangers ngayon, pwede ba.
The guy had the audacity to scoff. Wow ha. Kunikuzushi was about to let out another string of colorful phrases as a retort when the guy turned and faces him.
His words got knocked right off his mouth.
Long golden hair, kept in a kind of messy braid hanging by his shoulders. The smoking area was a bit clouded with smoke, and had poor lighting, but his eyes. They were positively sparkling, and Kunikuzushi felt like they were pulling them in.
“I was just gonna offer to light up your cigarette for you, man” The guy says. Even his voice was pretty. “But hey, I know how to take a no.”
And then he laughs. It reminded Kunikuzushi of the wind chimes twinkling in his ancestral home every summer.
“I’ll take it.” He finds himself saying.
The guy smiles at him, and Kunikuzushi’s a goner.
Ang ganda niya.
+
Kunikuzushi unwillingly drags his ass back to the bar after Childe rings his phone for the 20th time. Hindi ata to maka function ng wala siya, amputa.
He stomps on his last cigarette butt with a bit more force than usual, he thinks. Kasi napansin nung kasama niya, at tinawanan lang din siya. Kupal amputa, di niya ba mahalata na i’m enjoying my time with him?
“Alis ka na?”
Kunikuzushi nods. If the place had better lighting, makikita siguro ni pretty boy na nakakunot na noo niya parang bata.
“Mhm,” he starts. “Pinapabalik na ko nung kaibigan ko.”
The guy takes another drag from his cigarette. Hindi pa ba abo lungs neto? Kanina pa to eh?
“I see!” Pretty boy fixes his bangs a little and then extends his hand. Kunikuzushi finds himself staring at it. Pati kamay maganda? Tanginang yan. “It was nice to meet you!”
He doesn’t shake the guys hand.
He gave him a fistbump instead.
“Yup. Nice meeting you, tol.”
Bwakanangshit.
Tol? Ano yun???
+
k @buerkuni
fellas is it gay to fistbump and want to kiss a stranger you just met
❤️ 365