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Benicio “Doc Benny, Sho” Dela Cueva, DMD

• /be-ni-sho/
• 35yo (1990 liner)
• dentist

Charles “Doc Cha, Doc Pogi” Tolentino, DMD

• /tsarls/
• 37yo (1988 liner)
• celebrity dentist (Vicky Belo levels ganoin)

______________________________

“Tsk.”

Napasimangot si Benicio nang may napansing nakatayo sa harap ng dental clinic niya. He was busy preparing the clinic before it started its clinic hours. Sweeping the floor, checking the chairs, his trays, instruments, disinfecting and such. This morning routine will always end up with him sipping a cup of coffee (kapeng barako to be exact na may konting spluk ng condensada) while waiting for patients to walk in. And everything halted when he noticed that someone’s standing in front of the door. Not just standing but looming. And peeking. A lot of peeking, he thought.

The sign read: “Floss and Found”: Smiles Begin Here

He looked at his wristwatch.

8.30am.

Lalo lang lumukot ang mukha niya sa pagkairita. Huminga siya nang malalim bago buksan ang pintuan. 

“Alas-diez pa ho ang open ng clinic,” sambit niya.

“Hi! Good morning!” masayang bati ng matangkad na lalaki.

Geez, too bright for the morning. Benicio thought. Pinagmasdan niyang mabuti ang lalaking nasa harap niya. The guy is dressed absurdly well for the sleepy town somewhere in Batangas. Crisp white shirt, perfect slacks, and leather shoes that looked misplaced on gravel. 

Too bright for the morning, and too wrong for this place. Sino ba ‘to? And what the–is he wearing Prada? Sa isip isip niya at napakunot ang noo nang lalong mapagtitigan ang lalaki. Well, familiar. Tanginang ngiti ‘yan. If it’s another occasion, he’ll grab the chance to flirt with the guy, but this is definitely not that day. Puyat siya. He binge watched House MD last night for god’s sake.

“Are you lost or something?” walang ganang tanong ni Benicio.

Benicio Dela Cueva, DMD, known as Doc Benny, leaned against the doorframe with a scowl on his face and a cup of coffee in one hand. He was shorter than the man in front of him, eyes half-lidded from either sleep deprivation or general contempt for humanity. Also known for being grumpy, impatient, and oddly philosophical when annoyed, but a brilliant dentist. Don’t worry, ito rin mismo ang dahilan kung bakit gusto ng mga pasyente ang ating bida. Or malaking factor din talaga na mas pumopogi siya kapag nagsusungit at prangka siya–fine!, wala lang talaga silang choice kasi siya ang pinaka-accessible na dental clinic sa munting bayan nila.

“Charles Tolentino!” sambit ng matangkad na lalaki, offering a hand. “I’m Dr. Charles Tolentino and I’m here for the Associate Dentist position,” sabay turo nito sa nakapaskil na “Hiring: Dental Assistant”

Benicio didn’t shake it, instead tinaasan niya ito ng kilay nang mapagtanto kung sino ang matangkad na lalaking nasa harap niya. Kaya pala familiar. Celebrity dentist. Okay, hard pass.

“Charles Tolentino? As in ‘THE’ Doc-Charles-billboards-in-every-mall, whitening-smiles-of-idols, Jesus-in-scrubs, Tolentino?” Benicio smirked and sarcastically said.

This is the last place anyone expected to see Charles Tolentino. The top-ranked celebrity dentist. Tall, charming, with a smile that could light up billboards.

Ano namang ginagawa ng isang celebrity dentist dito? Benicio thought, squinting his eyes.

"Uh… I prefer just Doc Cha or Doc Charles."

"And I prefer men, will that bother you?”

Charles was startled.

Benicio scoffed. One thing he’s good at? Make people uncomfortable. “Besides, dental assistant ang kailangan ko, hindi associate, can’t you read?" pagtataray ni Benicio.

“Associates can assist and can do procedures as well, isn’t that better than an assistant handing instruments only? And it will not bother me by the way.”

Benicio raised his eyebrow then scoffed as he opened the door wide.

________________________________________

The interview was short. Mostly because Benicio seemed to hate interviews o dahil na rin mahigit isang buwan na nakapaskil ang karatula sa labas at wala pa ring nagtangkang mag-apply ng trabaho sa kanya. Naka-maternity leave ang huling dental assistant ni Benicio at hindi na rin niya ito inaasahang bumalik pa sa kadahilanang nag-abroad na raw ang mister nito at maganda ang trabahong nakuha, kaya’t sinabihang hindi na kailangang magtrabaho pa sa clinic niya. No hard feelings for Benicio, he’s actually happy sa pag-unlad ng buhay ng mga tao sa lugar nila. (Read: ito lang talaga ang nakatiis sa ugali niya kaya hinayaan na rin niya.)

"You’re too shiny," Benicio said, flipping through Charles’ resume like it was a product brochure. "Do you even know how to take an impression without an assistant handing you everything?"

*Dental impressions are imprints of your teeth, gums and surrounding oral structures.*

"I do," kalmang sagot ni Charles. "I trained under Dr. Gan. He makes everyone do their own impressions and sterilization."

Benicio rolled his eyes. "Fine. Anong gagawin mo kapag sinukahan ka ng pedi patient during fluoride treatment?” paghahamon niya.

*Fluoride treatment is a dental procedure aimed at strengthening tooth enamel and preventing cavities*

Charles shrugged, "Wipe it off. Smile. Try again." 

Benicio stared at him. "Santo yarn?" Tumayo na siya, "We open at 10.00am. You’ll assist me for the first few weeks. That’s long enough for me to figure out if you’re legit or full of crap. You’ll also do the receptionist stuff, or whatevs." He said, waving him off.

"So… I got the job?" nakangiting tanong ng matangkad na lalaki.

The shorter guy just rolled his eyes.

________________________________________

Benicio hired him. He would later blame a caffeine crash and a momentary lapse in judgment. But deep down, something about Charles’ weary smile, the subtle exhaustion behind those hopeful eyes, made him pause. 

He recalled their conversation earlier. Out of curiosity, while asking questions, he’d searched him online, but all he found were speculative articles: scandal, burnout, even rumors of a secret child. Charles never talked much about why he left Manila, but still, Benicio asked.

“So, bakit ka umalis ng Manila?”

Again, the tall guy shrugged but with a smile, or was it a fake smile? Tired smile? No one really knows.

“Wala lang.”

“Give me something valid before I change my mind on hiring you.”

Charles sighed, “I’m tired. That’s all. The limelight, attention… about everything. I just want… normal.”

Benicio didn’t believe in normal. Or God. Or happiness. He believed in precision, in quiet rooms, and in the reliable discomfort of local anesthesia.

Ni wala man lang nagtanong kay Benicio kung bakit at paano ba siya napadpad sa bayan na ‘yon. No one in town asked Benicio why someone with top Manila credentials and parents on the cover of business magazines chose to run a sleepy one-chair dental clinic in Batangas. But the truth (if Benicio ever bothered to tell anyone) was cliché and painful.

He was supposed to be a neurosurgeon. He came from a family of doctors. Mula sa magulang niya, mga tito at tita, cousins, lolo’t lola. His father, the chairman of a major hospital in BGC. His mother, a biotech tycoon. Literal na bigatin! Legacy meant everything, and dentistry was seen as a cop-out. 

Benicio didn’t care. Not after his sister, brilliant, obedient, and every inch the doctor his parents wanted suddenly collapsed in an OR during her final residency year. Brain aneurysm. Gone in minutes. His parents didn’t pause. Didn’t cry. They simply released a polished family statement, then hosted a medical foundation fundraiser the next week.

Benicio walked out of their mansion that night and never returned. He picked the farthest accredited dental school. (Okay, farthest is kinda exaggerated, somewhere in Cavite lang talaga, BUT STILL!!) He chose teeth because they were small, contained, fixable. Nothing like brains or hearts or grief.

He never changed his number, but they never called (except his lola.) And honestly, he preferred it that way. 

________________________________________

"Alam mo," Benicio said on Charles’s first week, watching him pray silently before treating a little boy, "hindi mo naman kailangan ang holy spirit bago magbunot ng bagang."

Charles just smiled. "It's a habit. I have my faith. Don’t you?"

Benicio rolled his eyes. "There’s literally a genocide happening on the other side of this planet."

Charles didn’t flinch. "God showed us pain and suffering to teach us true compassion."

"U-huh," Benicio muttered, turning away. "Tell that to those who suffer."

They were opposites in every way.

Literal na tubig at langis. Aso at pusa. Away bati. Benicio didn’t even know kung paano nila nasurvive ang isang linggo nang hindi magsisigawan. (Or more like, siya lang naman ang nagsusungit at sumisigaw. Please be patient with him, kulang sa aruga.)

Charles greeted every patient like an old friend. He brought baked goods to the clinic for the first few weeks of his stay. (Read: Binili lang naman niya yung baked goods sa isang panaderia.) He asked for birthdays and greeted them, even took notes of them so that he could greet them in the future. (Wow, feeling niya talaga tatagal siya sa pagtatrabaho with Benicio.) He volunteered for school dental drives, public school.

Benicio? Benny once told a patient they could floss or die bitter and alone and Charles will casually say “Kung lahat magfofloss, wala na tayo magiging pasyente.” The shorter guy refused small talk and proceeded to the procedures immediately after diagnosing, (or after niya sermunan ang pasyente.) The concern was there, kulang lang sa lambing.

Their working styles clashed constantly.

"Really? Stickers and candies? Hindi ‘to kindergarten," Benny said one afternoon. 

"I’m building trust, Doc Sho. You should try it sometime. And it’s sugar free!" Natatawang sambit na lang ng matangkad na lalaki.

“Napaka-ironic ng candy after dental procedures after natin sila sabihan na bawal ang matatamis.”

Charles mutters, “Cognitive dissonance in action. Kids need reasons to come back. Fear doesn’t build loyalty, Doc Sho. Sugar-free lollipops do.”

Muling napairap si Benny, lalo nang tawagin siya nitong ‘Doc Sho’. No one really calls him Doc Sho or Sho in general. Usually, people will call him Benny, Doc Benny or Doc Dela Cueva. Not Sho. It took him only a few days when he realized that Charles has a habit of giving people pet names or nicknames. And Benicio doesn’t even know when it started and it just stuck. (Kind of endearing. But mostly annoying.) And of course, he only uses it when it’s just the two of them. Kasi kung sa harap ng ibang tao, ‘Doc Benny’ pa rin. 

What kind of selective nickname logic is that? Benny thought. At dahil mapride siya at may pa-mysterious character syndrome, ‘Doc Charles’ ang tawag niya rito, madalas ay ‘Doc Tolentino’ but never ‘Doc Cha’ or Doc Pogi–ika nga ng mga pasyente niya.

Charles looked at Benny. Kung nakakamatay lang talaga ang irap, baka matagal na bumulagta ang matangkad but still, natutuwa siya kapag lagi siya tinatarayan ni Benny.

He rolls his eyes a lot. But he still listens.

He cares when no one's looking.

And he still hasn’t corrected me about the nickname.

Not once. Charles thought.

"People lie. They don’t floss, at ginagawang replacement ang mouthwash. That’s what I trust." Benny once said.

"What if try mong ngumiti? Para hindi sila matakot at maging honest sila sayo." Sagot naman ni Charles.

"What if bawasan mo kadaldalan mo para mabilis matapos ang procedures?" Bawi ni Benny.

They argued over anesthesia dosages, crown designs, even playlist choices in the treatment room.

“Two carpules lang kailangan dito.”
“Doc Sho, 6 footer yung patient. Let the man numb in peace.”

“A2.”
“B1.”

Glare. Glare. Silence. Mutual disdain. Slight arousal–tension kasi? Back to glaring.

“If I hear one more Anima Christi on loop, I’m sedating myself.”
“And if I hear Black Parade one more time while I’m doing a root canal, I’m pulling my own tooth.”

It was chaos. But kinda comforting. Somehow, sa kabila ng walang katapusang bardagulan and mismatched playlists… they always find rhythm. Different frequencies but staying in sync anyway.

________________________________________

Hindi maipagkakailang simula nang dumating si Charles sa clinic, dumami talaga ang batang pasyente. Parang may magnetic field ang six-foot-something na lalaking laging may baong stickers, lollipops, at soft voice energy.

"This one tastes like bubblegum,” sambit ni Charles. "Kids love it."

"Wala akong pake. It’s artificial bubblegum. It tastes like broken promises and melted gummy bears," Benny said. The pessimist strikes again.

“Ang nega mo,” naiiling na bawi ng matangkad. “Are you okay at home?”

“Shut up and just give me the mint,” Napairap ang maliit na lalaki. 

“Mint? For kids? You’re ev–” Napatigil si Charles at tumingin sa pediatric patient nila.

Benny whispered. “I know. Evil. Congrats, you’ve met Satan,” he said with a gritted teeth mumbling so that the kid won’t understand them.

They bickered over tray organization. Charles liked everything labeled, while Benny liked chaos. 

One time, while checking the patient’s occlusion, they ended up bent over the same dental chair, squinting at tooth number 16 and then ‘bonk’. Their foreheads bumped.

"Anak ng—Back off," suway ni Benicio habang hawak ang noo. “Mag-assist ka nalang pwede? Or kahit ‘wag na. I can manage.”

"Gusto lang naman kita tulungan," Charles muttered. “Mas okay ang pinlight. You’re casting shadows with the overhead.”

“No, anino ng tenga mo yan,” pang-aasar ni Benny.

Charles offended, “It’s not–”

Benny continued, “Please, may sariling postal code yang tenga mo.”

The tall guy sighed, taking a deep breath. “Just let me help.” And then their foreheads bump. AGAIN.

“Ano ba?”

The patient, a high school girl, giggled. "LQ na naman kayo doc?"

“Straight yan, ineng.” Ngisi ni Benny.

“Ay sayang, bagay pa naman kayo doc.”

“Rinig mo yon? Bagay daw tayo.” Benny winks.

This time, Charles glares. The girl giggles again. The dental chair has never seen so much drama.

________________________________________

One Tuesday, their feud took an oddly specific turn: the shade of a dental crown for a nervous middle-aged patient.

*A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a damaged or weakened tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and alignment*

"A2," sabi ni Charles habang tinuturo ang shade tab.

"B1," Benicio snapped. "Minamatch mo sa 11, not the natural shade sa 18.”

"B1, really? Magmumukhang fake, or worse chiclet,” bawi ng matangkad.

"Fake? A2 is basically a warm latte. Gusto ng pasyente ng ngipin, hindi kape."

"I did cosmetic dentistry for celebrities, I think I know how light reflects on enamel,” pagbibida ni Charles na siya namang nakapagpasimangot kay Benny.

"Hindi naman sila artista. Hindi sila araw araw nasa red carpet, Doc Cha," Benny smiled sweetly. First time calling him Cha, instead of the formal one and that made Charles flustered a little bit.

“Hindi nila kailangan maging artista para sa aesthetic smile, Doc Sho.” He sweetly smiled back at the shorter guy and called him Sho in front of others for the first time also. 

Walang ibang nagawa ang pasyente kundi magpabalik balik ng tingin sa dalawang doktor. 

“Uhh, malalagyan pa ga ako ng ipen?”

"YES!" They both said, then glared at each other.

Sa huli, wala na ring nagawa si Benny lalo na nang kumuha ng bagong shade tab si Charles at pinagkumpara lahat sa tapat ng ilaw.

"Fine," Benicio muttered. "A2. Kapag talaga yan madilaw, uulitin mo yan at bawas sa sweldo mo pambayad sa lab."

"Deal," Charles grinned, already writing the lab prescription. “Wala ka ba tiwala sakin Doc Benny?"

“What do you think?”

Hindi na maiwasang tumawa ng pasyente at sinabing, "Ganyan kami ng asawa ko kapag nag-aaway. Ang cute niyo. Tapos magsusuyuan. May nicknames pa kayo sa isa’t isa ha.”

“Tsk, dapat talaga nag-vet nalang eh. At least yung pusa hindi magrereklamo sa kulay ng ngipin niya!” Benny walked out to sanitize instruments.

Tumawa lang si Charles habang inaabutan ng sugar free lollipop ang pasyenteng iiling-iling at hindi maitago ang kilig.

Later that day, time to autoclave the instruments. They both reached for the same mouth mirror and their fingers brushed. Benny jerked his hand back like it burned. Charles, flustered, coughed and mumbled about checking inventory.

*An autoclave is a piece of laboratory equipment that uses pressurized steam to sterilize materials, such as instruments, glassware, and biohazardous waste.*

The next day, Benny walked into the clinic to find a fresh box of Charles’ favorite floss brand on his chair, (mint, waxed, blessed by science) with a sticky note that said: "Peace be with you, doc Sho. –Doc Cha"

Matagal na tinitigan ni Benny ang sticky note at saglit na napatawa habang sumusulat ng sagot pabalik sa matangkad: "As long as you stop rearranging my trays, Doc Cha. –Doc Sho"

He tucked it under the sterilizer, didn’t mind that he used that annoying pet name and pretended his heart wasn’t doing somersaults.

________________________________________

Another morning, konti nalang talaga gusto na maging bayolente ni Benny sa kasamang dentista.

"Abutan mo ng toy, yung puppet," Charles whispered.

Benny crossed his arms. "Shush, amoy hopia na ‘yon. I’m not waving it around."

Charles leaned down beside the child and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “Pangit yata ng gising ni Doc Benny.” 

“Pwede ba–" Benny snapped, but the child giggled and finally opened wide.

“Watch nalang tayo? Mommy ano pong favorite na cartoons ni baby?”

“Spongebob na lang po, doc Pogi!” Nangingiting sagot ng nanay ng pasyente. Agad namang binuhay ni Charles ang monitor na nakakabit sa dental chair at agad na cinonnect sa wifi.

“Wow, look, si Spongebob oh!” sabay turo ng matangkad na lalaki sa screen.

Success. 

Charles = 1

Benny = clinically irritated

Hindi niya alam kung naiirita ba siya dahil maligalig ang batang pasyente, or naiirita siya sa matangkad na doktor, or dahil tinawag itong doc pogi ng nanay ng bata. Or galit lang talaga siya in general. Life in general.

Habang nililibang naman ni Charles ang bata, lumingon si Benny sa ina nito. “Bale ma’am, marami na hong kailangang–” Benny only gestured tooth extraction. Number one rule sa pediatric management, huwag babanggitin ang bunot, extraction, tataggalin, etc. Pinakaayaw din ni Benny kapag ginagawa siyang panakot sa mga bata kaya ang ending, lalong hindi siya makagawa ng procedure para sa mga ito. “–pero sa ngayon mommy, hindi natin aanohin lahat ha? Paisa isa muna at baka naman matrauma ito. Nagmimilk pa ho ba si baby?”

“Opo doc,” sagot ng ina.

“Nakakatulugan na ho?” muling tanong ni Benny.

“Ah, eh opo doc eh.”

“Sa susunod po, wag niyo na hahayaang makatulugan na may dede sa bibig. Kasi nagsstay ho ang milk sa ngipin ni baby. Masama ho ‘yon at may sugar content na mamumuo. Edi prone sa cavities. Pagkainom ho ng gatas, painumin niyo na agad ng tubig para mabanlaw. Tapos iswab nyo ho ng kaunting toothpaste ang ngipin. Gumamit ho kayo kahit bulak. Ipupunas nyo lang sa ngipin at gums,” mahabang litanya ni Benny. “Wag niyo rin ho kalimutang toothbrushan ang bata.”

“Naku doc, nagwawala kasi yan kapag tinutoothbrushan. Hindi na makaya ng lola nya, ako naman ho e nasa trabaho kaya hindi ko matutukan,” pagdadahilan ng nanay nito.

“Hayaan niyo hong umiyak. Eh sa maawa nga kayo, mamumulok naman ang mga ngipin–”

“Okay lang mommy umiyak habang tinutoothbrushan,” sabad ni Charles dahil nararamdaman niyang naiinis na si Benny. “Bale mommy, magandang gawin ay knee-to-knee technique para matoothbrushan si baby. Para sa ikabubuti rin po ‘yon ni baby. Mahirap hong masiraan ng ngipin, naku tapos baka mabad breath pa. Makakasanayan po eh masama po ‘yon.”

Bahagyang ngumiti ang ina ng bata at tumango. “Sige po doc, gagawin po namin ‘yan.”

Benny looked at the two and turned to the mother, “Ano hong toothpaste na gamit? Yung pangbata pa rin ho ba? Yung may flavor?”

“Opo doc,”

“Pwede na hong pang-adult ang gamitin. Matatamis ang pangbatang toothpaste. May flavor kaya may sugar content din halos. Mas okay na ho ang pang-adult. Pea size lang ho ha–” 

“Ay sige po doc, noted po.”

Tumango lang si Benny at nagsisimula nang magprepare para sa tooth extraction ng bata.

“Okay baby, open wide. Patulugin natin yung monster sa mouth mo?” Paglalambing ni Charles sa batang bubunutan ng ngipin.

“Aaahhhhh–”

Benny continued on injecting local anesthesia to the child while he constantly rolled his eyes whenever he and Charles’ eyes met. 

“Ahhhhh–mooomyyyyyyyy!!”

Charles immediately restrained the child softly para hindi maistorbo ang pag-iinject ni Benicio.

“Andito lang mommy oh, mabilis lang ‘to baby. It’s okay to cry. Patulugin ni Doc Benny ang monster tapos kukunin niya para di na siya magparty sa mouth mo.” Nilambing lambing ni Charles ang batang pasyente at may kasama pang baby talk.

Benny doesn’t mind actually. Mas pinapadali pa nga ni Charles ang trabaho niya lalo na kapag bata ang pasyente. Ang kinaiinisan lang niya ay kapag dinadamay pa siya nito sa mga kalokohan at napipilitan siyang maging sweet sa harap ng mga bata.

“Oh baby, kukunin na ni doc ang monster kasi yucky, right?” sambit muli ng matangkad. Kumalma naman ang bata nang makita ang malambing na mukha ni Charles.

“Okay baby, lapit na oh. In 3, 2, 1! MONSTER TOOTH OUT!” Charles exclaimed, happily clapping.

“Oh baby look oh, wala ng monster! Gusto mo iuwi tooth mo?” masayang sambit ni Charles after a successful tooth extraction.

The young patient nodded.

“Oki, clean ko lang tooth mo para mabigay ni mommy kay tooth fairy ano? Gusto mo bigyan natin siya ng name?”

Benny rolled his eyes. “Oh pleas–”

“Doc Benny ano name ng tooth ni baby nga?”

Umirap si Benny sa matangkad na doktor. Here he goes again. Mandadamay na naman sa kalokohan niya.

“I don’t know, you name it.” Benny simply answered but as he looked at Charles waiting for him eagerly to come up with a name, he resigned. “Charlie.” Sabay ngiting aso ni Benny.

“Whoaa, iuuwi na ni baby si Charlie, ano nga baby?” Charles raised his hand gesturing for a high five which the child eagerly returned.

"Puro ka kalok–"

“High five mo rin si Doc Benny!”

Lintek na ‘to. Benny cried in his head but still offered a high five to the kid.

“–lokohan.”

“Hindi kaya!" nakangusong sagot ni Charles.

"Yes you do."

They didn’t notice the kid’s mom watching them with amusement. “Ang cute niyo pong dalawa, doc Pogi. Bagay kayo. Doc Pogi and Doc Cutie.”

Benny dropped the mirror. Charles bit his lip shyly, and couldn't help but look at Benny.

Doc Cutie, more like pretty, well, he’s indeed pretty for a guy. Charles thought. He almost looked like Mama Mar––Wala namang masama kung magandahan ako sa kapwa lalaki diba?

________________________________________

Later that night. Benny’s alone, disinfecting his tools na sa sobrang pag-b-brush niya ng instruments, halos mamuti na ang coating ng handles nito. Tinitigan nya ang mouth mirror na muntik na magkalamat sa sobrang brushing niya.

"Doc Cutie,” bulong niya. “Doc Pogi… bagay amput–mapapanovena ka nalang talaga Tolentino. Good luck sa’yo.”

Meanwhile, across town, Charles is in front of his bathroom mirror, flossing way too enthusiastically na konti nalang talaga magdudugo na ang gums niya. 

“Doc Pogi,” he muttered. “...and Doc Cutie.”

It’s not like I liked it.
It’s not like I noticed how he rolled his eyes but still went with “Charlie.”
Not like he almost smiled.
Not like I keep checking if he does.
Holy sh–cow.
________________________________________

Another day, another argument. This time, suction technique for root canal treatment.

*Root canal treatment is a procedure to save a tooth that has become infected or inflamed due to decay or injury, often when a cavity is too large for a simple filling.*

"Lunod na yung pasyente, Doc Tolentino," Benny scowled, nudging the suction tip away from the cotton rolls. “Isolate mo, hindi to Splash Island.”

Charles unbothered, steadying his hand. "OA kasi sa pressure ng tubig, ano yan binyagan?” The tall guy sucked all the saliva while Benny was looking for the correct file to use.

The middle-aged tita-pasyente, who's running commentary had been on pause (thanks to cotton rolls), seized the moment while her mouth was mercifully tool-free. “Sa lahat ng nakikita kong nag-e-LQ, kayo yung nakakakilig.”

"Ma’am naman," Charles said sheepishly, dabbing the lady’s cheek with gauze. "Doc Benny and I just… work passionately."

"Passionate nga, Doc. Parang may chemistry kayo, either kakainin n’yo isa’t isa ng buhay o maglalabasan na lang kayo ng feelings."

Benny choked. On nothing. Nearly stabbed himself with an endo probe. “Okay, open wide ma’am. Focus na tayo sa root canal, kaka-k-drama nyo ‘yan ma’am eh.”

The townspeople noticed.

Of course they noticed.

Dinaig ba naman ng mga chismosa ang cctv sa kanto. And when two attractive dentists started sharing clinic hours, away bati parang mag-asawa, sabay pumapasok sa work, naglalakad na para bang nasa toothpaste commercial with unresolved tension?

Oh, they noticed.

Titas at the palengke didn’t even pretend to be subtle. Sa tuwing mamimili sila para punuan ang pantry sa clinic, hindi sila makakaligtas sa mga tindera na parang highschool na kinikilig kapag nakikita sila.

“Kuu, eto na si doc Cutie at doc Pogi!”
“Aba’y mag-jowa ga kayo?”
“Bagay talaga kayong dalawa!”

Benny, clutching a basket of fruits like it personally betrayed him, could only scowl and mutter "Kilabutan ho kayo…" before getting drowned out by Charles awkwardly laughing and nearly dropping a bunch of kyat-kyats.

Tricycle drivers? Worse.

Every morning, as the two passed the terminal near the clinic, at least one trike would honk twice. The local code for "uy, sweethearts!" followed by:

“Doc Cutie! Isang ngiti naman kay jowa!”

“Doc Pogi, tanong ko lang, kelan kasal?”

Benny's default response?
A stiff middle finger.

Charles?
Mag-b-blush lang yan pero madalas mag-sa-sign of the cross.

________________________________________

Then there was Lola Marites (yes, Marites talaga name niya hindi lang dahil sa Marites siya) from the carinderia, keeper of town secrets and chicken adobo legend. Every time they had lunch there, she'd lean in conspiratorially like a mafia boss of tsismis.

“Bagay kayo,” she whispered over rice and nilaga.  “Parang teleserye. Yung puro away tapos may gusto pala sa isa’t isa, tapos may mangyayari, tapos magkakaanak kayo tapos tinago yung anak don sa isa–.”

“Lola!” Charles nearly choked on his kalabasa.  “Wala po kaming anak–I mean, wala po–basta hindi po teleserye!”

“Jusko lola, ang gusto lang sabihin niyang si Tolentino ay wala akong matres.” Benny, already red from both rage and secondhand embarrassment, just shoved more rice into his mouth.

“Pwede naman mag-ampon…” bubulong bulong ng matanda habang lumalakad papalayo sa lamesa nila.

________________________________________

It wasn’t just the grown-ups. Pati ba naman mga bata at teenagers na pasyente nila, tinutukso sila.

"Doc Cutie and Doc Pogi!"

“Kayo na ba, Doc?” asked one bold little girl, legs swinging off the dental chair.

Benny froze, halfway through scaling..

“Open mouth… malaki ate,” he said tightly, cheeks blooming pink as if someone turned on the curing light inside his skull.

Charles, flustered and fiddling with the saliva ejector, muttered things.

________________________________________

It didn’t stop there.

Kahit saan pa sila magpunta, pharmacy, barangay health day, grocery, dental missions in public schools, someone had something to say.

Even the local priest, during the dental mission, offered the two of them a double blessing.

“Para sa steady hands… And a steady relationship.”

Charles choked, “Father?”

“Pope Francis once said, ‘Who am I to judge?’” The priest smiled.

Benny nearly dropped the holy water and chuckled. Then he whispered, “Technically, this counts as divine approval.”

________________________________________

And then Benny, the cool, collected, chronically irritable Benny, found himself grinding his teeth more often than he advised his patients not to. The teasing grated on his nerves. He’d developed a permanent eye twitch from the phrase “bagay kayo”. But what made it worse was that sometimes Charles never denied it. Not really.

He’d just smile. Blush. Shrug. (With a little sign of the cross.) And somehow, that was worse than a full confession.

Like what the fuck? Straight siya diba? Benny internally screams sometimes. Hindi ba ‘to naooffend sa mga jokes?

________________________________________

Charles, for his part, tried to brush it off with jokes and snorts and “Naku, lagi nga ho ako sinusungitan ni Doc Benny.”

But every time someone said "mag-jowa kayo, noh?", and Benny glared and growled and cursed under his breath, yet never actually said no, something in Charles’s chest fluttered. It was either kilig or indigestion. Probably both. 

The tension built. Pressurized. Unbearable. Until even the patients were whispering during checkups.

“Doc Pogi, si Doc Cutie  po ba seloso  kapag may kausap ka na iba?”

“Doc Benny, nakita po namin si Doc Pogi kahapon, binigyan po ng kid ng flower. Di ka po ba nagselos?”

Until even the x-ray machine felt charged.

Until even the sterilizer room felt like a soap opera set.

Until one day, they both reached for the same surgical mask, their hands brushed again, and instead of pulling away, Charles whispered, dead serious:

“Baka po magka-fever ako, Doc Sho. Check niyo nga po heart rate ko.”

And Benny? Looked him straight in the eye and said, “Rapid heartbeat. Deliks. Needs intervention.”

________________________________________

One slow afternoon, when the clinic was unusually quiet and the sterilizer hummed like a white noise machine for overthinkers. Benny was scrolling through the clock app, sipping coffee on the other hand.

Then he paused.

“Thailand just legalized same-sex marriage,” he said, frowning at a months-old news clip from January 2025. “First in Southeast Asia, sana all.”

Charles looked up. “Oh?”

“PH could never,” Benny added darkly. “Fucking deranged system. Fucking govern–”

“Ha?” Charles blinked, surprised by the sudden swear-storm. “Ano raw?”

Benny turned his phone towards him.

“Sana all Thailand, kako. Tayo? Stuck sa 1932. May dinosaur pa sa Senate.”

Charles gave a hesitant smile. “Well… maybe someday. I mean… love is love, right?”

Benny raised an eyebrow. “Tingin mo, malelegalize ‘to sa Pinas?”

Charles opened his mouth, then closed it,  then opened it again. “I’d like to think so. Eventually. People change. Generations evolve.”

Tumawa nang mahina si Benny. “The church doesn’t.”

That made Charles pause. “True. But faith… grounds me. Give me something to hold onto. Structure.”

Benny squinted his eyes. “So, naniniwala kang mapupunta kami sa impyerno?”

Charles’ expression softened. “Of course not. I don’t believe that’s the kind of God I follow. I think He’s bigger than doctrine. Kinder than people.”

That surprised Benny. For a second, he just stared, then gave a short, appreciative nod. “Good answer. Thank you, Doc Cha.”

Charles grinned, a little startled when Benny called him Cha. The shorter guy rarely or almost never called him that. “Welcome. Eh ikaw?”

“What about me?” Benny leaned back, arms crossed. “I don’t care about gender. Never did. If I love someone, that’s it. Doesn’t matter what they have or don’t have… down there.” He gestured below the belt, voice deadpan.

Charles choked on his coffee. “You really have no filter, no?”

“Hindi pa ba obvious? It’s part of my charm.”

Charles laughed, slightly pink.

“Relax,” Benny added, smirking. “I’m not asking you out.”

Pause.

“Yet.” Benny grinned, mischievously.

Charles stared at him.

“Kidding.”

Pause again. 

“Mostly.” Benny is still grinning, mischievously.

Charles raised an eyebrow, “You’re so annoying.”

“Coming from someone na nagdadasal bago magbunot ng bagang.” The shorter rolled his eyes.

Charles laughed, shaking his head.

Benny laughed, the loud, full kind. “Buti nalang cute ka.”

Charles’s ears turned pink again, but this time, he didn’t look away. “Well, so are you.”

Silence.

And then they both looked away at the exact same time.

Nothing happened.

But something definitely shifted.

Not spoken.

Not acted on.

But real.

And now, it was that subtle shift that haunted Charles.

It crept into little moments. Like when Benny rolled his eyes at his prayers, or magkunwaring binabanas whenever Charles said “God’s timing.” It should’ve been annoying pero para siyang teenager na napapangiti sa harap ng hangin. God help him.

Which was the problem.

Because somehow, amidst all the bickering, Charles started noticing things. Little things. Like how Benny’s sarcasm was a defense mechanism, not cruelty. He knows when to drop jokes sa tuwing ninenerbyos ang pasyente, o tumatahimik para makinig sa mga ito. He even knows when to take over a procedure when Charles’s hands were shaking, without saying a word. And Charles for sure knows that Benny was curious but respectfully didn’t pry or ask questions.

Benny was chaos. But he was also clarity. And that scared Charles in a way he didn’t know how to name.

Siri please play Clarity by Zedd.

________________________________________

One day, after a string of titas teasing them again, Benny turned to Charles in the pantry with that familiar smirk on his face and mischief in his eyes.

"Hindi ka ba na-o-offend every time they tease us?"

“No,” sagot ni Charles.

“Weh?” Benny grinned, leaning against the counter. “Wala man lang like… 1% cringe? Yung gusto mong kainin ka ng lupa ganyan?” pang-aasar pa niya lalo.

“Not even 0.5%,” sagot ni Charles.

Benny squinted at him suspiciously. “You’re not afraid na mamis-interpret?”

Charles finally looked up, confused. “Why would it bother me? I’m straight.”

Benny blinked. Then slowly, dramatically, raised his hands and wiggled his fingers in exaggerated quotation marks. “Okay. ‘Straight.’ Sure. Totally. Absolutely. 100% certified straight.”

Charles narrowed his eyes. “Don’t do the air quotes.”

“Don’t pretend it wasn’t funny,” Benny teased, sipping his drink then, casually, almost lazily:  “So… it doesn’t bother you that I’m gay?”

Charles choked on his coffee. He spluttered, coughed, turned pink. Benny watched, absolutely delighted.

“Ayon, the Holy Spirit left the chat.”

“You’re impossible,” sambit ni Charles habang pinupunasan ang natapon na kape.

“And yet…” Benny leaned closer. “Here you are. Defending your straight boy honor.”

“It’s not about honor,” sambit ng matangkad. “Maybe I just don’t care what people say.”

“Hmm. That’s new.” Tinaasan niya ng kilay ang matangkad. “I assumed you’re a people pleaser. Mr. Santo Niño ng Dental Clinic.”

Charles shook his head. “People assume things all the time. Doesn’t mean they’re right.”

“Doesn’t mean they’re wrong either.”

There was a pause. A small silence that felt too loud. Then Benny leaned in, just a fraction closer. Voice soft, almost teasing, but not quite.

“Okay, okay. But… what if I was flirting with you this whole time?”

Charles blinked. “I don’t know,” he said quietly.

“Pipigilan mo ba ako?” Benny asked.

Charles looked at him then really looked. Not like a co-worker. Not like a dentist he had to one-up during dental procedures. But like someone who made him nervous in the way that felt… important.

“Not right away,” bulong ni Charles. “I guess.”

Benny stared. Then grinned. “Tsk, tsk. Careful. That almost sounded like a confession. Baka bumigay ka–”

Charles chuckled, eyes warm but still nervous. “Nah. I’m just tired. You mess with my brain.”

“You mess with mine, too.” Benny shrugged.

________________________________________

They didn’t know when it started. The flip.

It was in the way Benny always cast a glance to see if Charles was done charting. The way Charles bought a second mug (read: kesyo, buy 1 take 1 daw sa orange app but low-key looks like a couple mug, sige lang Charles, sabi mo eh) for Benny’s coffee, and began making it just the way he liked: strong, bitter, no sugar. 

Benny never thought it would feel this natural. He’s been living alone for years and by the third month, Charles had somehow embedded himself into the fabric of the clinic and Benny’s routines. Iritado pa rin siya sa matangkad na lalaki, with his perfectly ironed scrubs and annoyingly consistent optimism. But Benny found himself brewing a second cup of coffee in the morning without thinking, pouring it into the taller man’s mug. (Ay wow si domestic pala ‘to eh.) Not that he cared. It was just... efficient.

“Sunny playlist? Really?” Puna ni Benny habang nakatitig sa Spotify playlist na tumutugtog sa ere.

“It suits you,” Charles said brightly, unbothered. “You named mine, MASS BANGERS, nagreklamo ba ako?’”

Aba, marunong na sumagot ‘tong higante na ‘to ah! Benny hissed and then laughed. Sumabay sa kantang pumapailanlang sa ere.

They began to settle into an unspoken rhythm. Charles would hum the classic ‘Humayo’t Ihayag’ while organizing the trays. Benicio would mutter insults under his breath, but somehow always timed his prep work to sync with Charles’. Their patients noticed and then teased them. Hindi mawawala ang pang-aasar but didn’t bother them anymore.

In the silence they shared when a child patient cried, and they worked together to soothe them without a word. Charles offered tissues and soft praise, Benicio, pretending not to care, gently brushing tears away with a gloved hand.

It was in the small shifts: Benny began correcting Charles less in front of patients and more gently in private, as if trying not to bruise something he couldn’t name. Charles started choosing less Christian songs and more mellow instrumental playlists during shared surgeries. Pero favorite pa rin talaga ang Anima Christi, especially on a Sunday morning after mass. Benny found himself laughing, not scoffing, not faking, but actually laughing at Charles’s jokes, the kind of dumb humor that once made his eyes twitch. 

They stopped noticing when they started sitting closer during lunch. Benny stopped flinching when Charles brushed past him to grab a chart. When Charles started saying “goodnight” instead of “God bless” and Benicio started saying “see you tomorrow” instead of “don’t be late.”

________________________________________

On a random day, Benny found Charles sitting outside the clinic, Bible in hand and a cup of coffee beside him.

“So.. namatay ba yung bida sa ending?” Pagbibiro ni Benny.

Charles smiled faintly. “Haha, funny.”

Benny sat beside him, “You ever think that maybe none of this… faith, prayers, rules… means anything?”

“Oo naman,” Charles admitted quietly. “I choose to believe it does. Even if I can’t prove it.”

Benny laughed dryly. “I don’t believe in much.”

“You believe in this clinic. Sa mga tao dito,” Charles countered.

Bahagyang tumawa si Benny, “They need clean teeth and I’m underpaid.”

“Pero nandito ka pa rin,” Charles said. “That means something.”

“Don’t read into it.”

“Too late.” Ngiting sagot ng matangkad at muling bumalik sa pagbabasa ng Bible.

________________________________________

And then it got awkward.

It started with a dog. A scrawny aspin that somehow wandered into the clinic parking lot just as Charles was locking up.

“Shit,” sambit ni Benny nang makita niyang iika ika maglakad ang aso. “Lintek na mga kaskasero yan, oo.” Assuming that someone hit the dog on the road and just left it there.

Agad na lumuhod si Charles at inamo ang aso, “Halika, baby...”

“Baby talaga?”

“Don’t judge me,” sagot ni Charles habang kinukuha niya sa bag ang siopao na natira niya kaninang merienda. “Everyone deserves tenderness.”

Benny snorted. “Siopao. Galing, Doc. Very vet-approved.”

“Kesa wala diba?”

They watched in silence as the dog sniffed, then slowly took the food. Tail wagging once. Cautiously.

“Gutom na gutom, kawawa naman,” sambit ni Charles na halatang halata sa ekspresyon ng mukha ang pag-aalala.

Benny crossed his arms, frowning. “You can’t keep every stray that looks at you like that.”

“I’m not keeping him,” Charles defended, but he was already unzipping his jacket to cover the dog from the drizzle starting to fall.

Benny sighed. “Of course you are. Next week may baby leash ka na niyan.”

“Hindi lahat ng kindness may hidden agenda.”

“Oh, I know,” Benny muttered. “Ikaw nga, walking proof.”

Charles looked up, surprised by the tone. Soft. Sad. Almost accusing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Benny shrugged. “Nothing. Just... you love saving things, don’t you?”

Charles stood, brushing off his knees. “Kung kaya namang iligtas, bakit hindi?”

“You think everything or everyone can be saved, don’t you?”

“You think being nice is a weakness. It’s not.” Bawi ni Charles.

“No. I think blind optimism is. And faith in invisible things.”

Charles' eyes narrowed. “God’s not invisible to me.”

“Edi congrats! Pasabi kay Lord, tanggalin lahat ng cavities!”

“At least I try to see the good in people. You’re so busy proving everyone wrong, you forget what it’s like to believe in someone.”

Benny’s eyes flashed. “Don’t pretend you know me.”

“Maybe I want to,” Charles shot back. His voice softened. “Maybe I care. And it drives you crazy.”

There was a beat. Cold air. Wet concrete. A shivering dog between them.

Charles’s voice was sharper than he intended. “Is it so wrong to care? Masama bang umasa?”

Benny stared at him, eyes unreadable. Not angry. “No. It’s just... exhausting.” You don’t even look hopeful. Liar. Benny thought. 

Charles didn’t reply because it’s true. It was exhausting. Pretending not to notice how Benny's voice made something in him tremble. Fighting the guilt that rose whenever he caught himself staring too long. Wondering what it meant that he felt more seen in a scoff from Benny than in a sermon on Sunday.

He wasn’t supposed to feel like this.
He was supposed to be straight. Catholic. Faithful.

But Benny’s presence made him question the scaffolding of his identity, and he didn’t know yet if it was collapse or rebirth.

And so, he prayed.  For answers. For peace. For something, anything, that would explain why Benny’s scoffing (sometimes laughter) sounded holier than hymns.

And yet, he’s scared.

________________________________________

The clinic smelled like mint, antiseptic, and awkward silence.

Charles was already in the sterilization room, masyadong focused sa pag-oorganize ng burs, by shapes and sizes. Kinda obsessive but he didn’t bother. He needs distraction.

Pumasok si Benny dala dala ang isang mug ng kape, trying his best to ignore the giant man inside his clinic.

They hadn’t talked since the dog. Since Charles snapped. Since Benny said too much but also not enough. And that was like what, three days ago! At sure si Benny na maraming nakapansin na pasyente na hindi sila masyado nagpapansi–nag-aaway actually. Na mas lalong kinaiirita ni Benny.

“Is this... a cry for help?” biglang sambit ng maliit na lalaki sabay turo sa bur rack. Just like what I’ve said, he tried his best to ignore the tall guy.

“I just like things in order.” Sagot ng matangkad na hindi tumitingin sa kanya.

“Sure,” Benny said. “And I ‘just like’ eating pancit canton at 2AM habang binabarda yung senate president on twitter. We all have coping mechanisms and you’re still mad.”

Charles took a deep breath, finally faced him. “I’m not mad.”

“Mukha kang teenager na blinock ng crush niya.”

“Sabi ng taong passive-aggressive magparinig about strays.”

Benny groaned. “Okay, fine. I was a dick.”

“Hm-mmh,” sagot ni Charles. Nonchalant. But his shoulders eased, just a little.

Benny sighed. “I didn’t mean to make you feel stupid for hoping. It’s just... you hope enough for both of us, and that’s terrifying.”

Charles was caught off-guard by the sincerity. “Bakit?”

“Because I don’t want you to break,” bulong ni Benny. “And I don’t think you even realize how close you are to cracking sometimes.”

The words landed too close to where Charles had hidden all the aching questions of the night before. He looked away, voice soft. “I know you think I’m some walking Jesus-in-scrubs. Pero hindi. Napapagod din ako. Nagkakamali.”

Benny stepped closer. “I know. Anong akala mo sakin, bulag? Everyone gets tired and makes mistakes. But you still choose to believe. Kaya ako naiirita sa’yo.” He paused. And what makes me weirdly want to protect you. Benny thought. 

“You think you’re so high and mighty with all the signs of the crosses, positivity, God is good, all is well and such or whatever, but the truth is, you’re fragile. Magaling ka lang magpretend. And don’t even think of denying it. Hindi ka si Lord. Hindi ka perfect. Tayo lang dalawa dito. Just be, YOU.” Dagdag pa ng maliit na lalaki.

Hindi sumagot si Charles. He doesn’t feel offended. He felt tired. Tired of fighting, arguing, tired of everything. Besides, tama naman si Benny. He is actually pretending pero hindi niya ‘yon aaminin out loud.

And they locked eyes. Something quiet passed between them. Not dramatic. Not fireworks. Just warmth. Like a sigh after a long day.

“Inuwi ko si baby, by the way,” basag ni Charles sa katahimikan. 

“What?” Benny snorts.

“The dog. From the

 other day. I went back that night. Couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

“Oh…”

“Pilay siya,” Charles said, like it explained everything. “And I think he likes me.”

Benny couldn’t help but smile. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I know.”

“And kind of amazing.” Benny whispered.

Charles gave a tiny, shy smile. “Baka maniwala ako niyan.”

Benny reached into his lab coat and pulled something out. A fresh box of Charles’ favorite floss brand. (Mint. Waxed. Blessed by science.) Still warm from his pocket.

“Oh, ayan,” Abot ni Benny. “Peace be with you, doc Cha.”

Tumawa nang mahina ang matangkad. “Thanks.”

“Inuwi mo talaga?” balik ni Benny kay Charles.

“He snores. Kinda like you.”

Tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Benny at bahagyang ngumiti. “You’ve never even seen me sleep.”

“Yet,” Charles said smiling and for the first time ever, Benny blushed.

Aba’t marunong na lumandi! 

______________________________

That night, Charles lay awake in his apartment, staring at the ceiling. A strange ache had settled in his chest. He knew affection. He knew admiration. But this? This gravity that pulled his gaze to Benny in every idle moment, that made him want to linger even in silence… it confused him.

I’ve always been straight, he thought. It wasn’t even a question. He had dated women, loved a few, been loved in return. He had played the gentleman, the devout son, the celebrity dentist. But none of them lingered in his head like Benny did.

Charles pressed his palms against his eyes. “Lord, ano ba ‘tong nararamdaman ko?” he whispered.

There was no answer.

He still prayed every night. But lately the words caught in his throat, twisted with guilt. Not fear of God, but fear of himself. Fear of admitting that maybe everything he thought he knew about love, about who he was, might be wrong.

And at the center of that unraveling stood Benny. Sharp, sarcastic, infuriating and real.

For the first time, Charles had no script. Only feelings he couldn’t name. And that terrified him more than gossip, more than failure, more than silence from God. He was falling. And he didn’t know how to stop.

______________________________

Just like every other day, the last patient walked out with a free toothbrush and a reminder to floss. Nakayuko naman si Benny sa desk niya, scribbling something on a yellow pad. Lumapit naman si Charles at umupo sa harap nito, watching him with that casual smile.

“So… bukod sa ngipin, paperwork, at manakot ng mga bata, what do you even do for fun?”

Benny didn’t look up. “You’re looking at it.”

“Come on. Hobbies? Interests? Secret talents? I mean, you can’t just go home and… sit.”

“Why not? Sitting is free,” Benny snorted. “Ang sarap kaya humilata.”

“So, you don’t, I don’t know, paint? Write? Collect anything?”

The short guy finally glanced up, deadpan. “I collect overdue accounts from patients na akala lagi ay libre yung toothbrush na inaabot mo. Minsan mambarda din sa twitter.”

Charles groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “That’s not a hobby, Sho.”

“It’s a lifestyle.”

Charles leaned closer, lowering his voice. “De, yung seryoso. You never talk about yourself. Childhood? College? Friends… Family?”

Benny’s pen froze for just a second, then he set the pen down and smirked. “Well, childhood was long, college was expensive, friends are overrated, and family…” He tapped the side of his nose. “...classified information.”

Charles stared at him, torn between amusement and frustration. “You’re impossible, you know that right?”

“I’ve been told. Frequently. Usually by people who end up still hanging around anyway.” Benny leaned back in his chair, a ghost of a grin tugging at his lips. “And here you are.”

The moment lingered longer than either of them meant it to. Charles’s smile softened, his gaze holding Benny’s just a second too long before Benny looked away, picking up his pen again like nothing happened.

“Now stop interrogating me, Tolentino. Hindi ko naman tanda na nagtatanong ako ng personal tungkol sa buhay mo. I know my boundaries.”

______________________________

That night, pag-uwi ni Charles sa apartment niya, instead of unwinding, he found himself pacing. The quiet of his apartment only made Benny’s smirk echo louder in his head. Classified information, Benny had said.

He finally sat down at his desk, opened his laptop, and typed: Benicio Dela Cueva, DMD.

The search results were instant. News clippings, gala photos. Panel discussions. Names he recognized, top doctors, philanthropists, the kind of family that didn’t just belong to society pages but ran them. His father, a hospital chairman. His mother, a biotech tycoon. Legacy dripping from every headline.

Charles scrolled further, and his breath caught. A memorial piece. A sister, young, brilliant, gone too soon from a brain aneurysm. The article praised her legacy, her promise, her contribution to medicine. Not one line about the brother left behind. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the glow of the screen. Kaya pala… Kaya pala he never talks about them.

For the first time, Charles realized just how little he knew about the man sitting across from him every day. And yet, for reasons he didn’t dare name, he wanted to know more.

______________________________

A few days later…

“Morning babe,” malambing na sambit ni Benny pagkapasok na pagkapasok niya ng clinic.

Agad napalingon si Charles, only to feel that quick pang of disappointment nang makita niyang may kausap pala ito sa telepono. Kumaway lang si Benny sa kanya.

“Didn’t realize it’s been that long, 3rd quarter na agad.” muling salita ni Benny sabay kindat kay Charles na parang wala lang bago tuluyang pumasok sa office nito.

Charles pretended not to listen but perked up when Benicio put the phone on a loud speaker.

“Yeah, and I already prepared everything, papers you need to sign. Same old, same old. There’s nothing to compute naman, noh,” biro ng lalaking nasa kabilang linya.

Benny chuckled, “Drama mo babe.”

“Drama? You’re the only one who can make me do this. Drive all the way down to the south.”

“Ang arte! Kala mo naman talaga 10-hour drive from QC to Batangas?” Benny muttered and laughed. “Are you saying you’re tired of me?” Benny asked in a baby-talk tone.

Charles’ head snapped up at the sound Benny made.

The man on the line burst into a hearty laugh. “You know I’d never get tired of you, Cheds, I love you too much.”

“And I love you too as well,” Benny answered sweetly.

Charles froze. WHAT? Anong Cheds? Babe? I LOVE YOU??

______________________________

By mid-morning, a sleek black SUV pulled up in front of the clinic. Lumabas ang isang matangkad na lalaki, wearing only a white shirt, ripped jeans, low cut Chuck Taylors and definitely high-end black shades. May bitbit na leather briefcase which doesn’t fit with his laidback look. Benny stepped out of the clinic to welcome the guy and Charles instinctively followed.

“For someone na so maarte for driving all the way here, napakaaga mo dumating.” Benny, masking the happiness on his face, rolled his eyes when the guy approached him and opened his arms to hug him.

“Nag-da-drive na ako kanina nung magkausap tayo sa phone and I missed you, too, Cheds,” the tall guy grinned. “So what’s up? Should I file for bankruptcy na?”

“Fuck you, hindi lahat ng tao dito galit sakin,” sagot ni Benny na natatawa.

“Sure ka?” Steven smirked.

“Well, see for yourself. Baka mahulog ka sa upuan pag nakita mo sales report ko.”

Charles, standing off to the side with arms crossed, cleared his throat, loud enough to get noticed.

“Oh right, Doc Charles!” Benny waved at Charles, gestured for him to come closer. “Doc Charles, this is Steven.”

Steven turned, extending a hand with the kind of confidence na halatang sanay sa boardrooms.

“Atty. Steven Mercado. Accountant-lawyer, best friend, babysitter, emotional support, ako ang dilim, liwanag, lahat na. I handle this guy’s finances and legal mess.”

“Siraulo.” Tatawa tawang sambit ni Benny sabay hampas sa braso ng kaibigan.

Steven just grinned, eyes warm. “Someone has to keep you alive, Cheds.”

Charles stepped forward stiffly to shake his hand. “Charles Tolentino. Dentist… associate here at the clinic.”

“Ah, ikaw pala si Doc Cha,” Steven said easily, giving him a polite smile. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Gago!” hinampas muli ni Benny ang kaibigan.

“Oh? I didn’t know I was even a topic.” Charles smiled.

Steven smirked. “Buti natitiis mo si Cheds? He’s a pain in the ass but worth it.” With a chuckle, he stepped into the clinic like it was second nature, dropped himself onto Benny’s desk, and casually nudged papers aside as if he owned the place.

Benny doesn’t stop him and barks out a laugh. “Tangina mo, babe.”

Charles forced a smile, pero ramdam niya yung kumakabog sa dibdib niya. Pain in the ass but worth it?

______________________________

Steven had always been the one constant in Benny’s life. Anak ng prominenteng pamilya ng mga abogado sa Makati, laging nasa top of his class, serious pero may sariling wit. Accountant-lawyer combo, kaya siya rin ang nagha-handle ng lahat ng finances at legalities ni Benny just like income tax returns, permits, contracts.

He was the only one who truly knew where Benny was. He was also the only one aware that Benny still kept secret contact with his grandmother, the only family member he never completely turned his back on. It was his lola who had quietly covered Benicio’s college tuition and later helped keep the clinic afloat during its shaky first years, especially when COVID hit just as he opened it. She would discreetly slip cash onto Steven’s desk whenever she dropped by his office, and Steven, in turn, would pass it along to Benny as if it had come from nowhere at all.

Pero kadalasan, ayaw tanggapin ni Benny. Pride kasi.

“I must say, the past three months have been good for you, especially dito sa clinic? Sales reports aren’t bad. It was better actually. Here,” Steven handed over a stack of organized files. “These are done, isusubmit ko nalang for the quarterly report. Pasado ka pa rin kahit sinisira mo buhay ng mga pasyente mo araw-araw. Mine as well, by the way.”

“Fuck off,” Benny snorted, scanning the papers and casually signing some of it. “As if you can live without me. Admit it, babe. Ako happy pill mo.”

“I didn’t say you’re not.” Steven smirked. “So, nakaready na ba guest room ko?”

“Opo kamahalan.”

Charles almost dropped the sterilized pouch, Huh? Guest room? He’s staying with Sho? And why does he keep on calling him babe??

“Doc Charles!” Steven spotted the tall guy. “You done with the patient na?”

Lumingon din si Benicio sa direksyon ni Charles at ngumiti. 

“Uh, yup.” Charles replied.

“Oh wait, before I forgot!” Steven flipped open the folder with a crisp snap, sliding a neatly tabbed contract across Benny’s desk. “So ayan. ‘Yung revised supplier agreement, pinaadjust ko na ‘yung late penalty clause. Your suppliers can't just ghost you without consequence.”

Benny groaned, leaning back in his chair, half-exasperated, half-grateful. “Ugh. Kakakausap ko lang sa kanila. They’re sweet. Probinsya sweet, not Manila scammy.”

Steven tapped his pen against the margin, calm and assured. “Exactly why they’ll listen to a legal slap on the wrist.”

Benny smiled, “I know you’re still gonna make pilit sa dating suppliers ko but Manila suppliers are a hassle. At least bawas din sa favors ko sa’yo. I can’t keep making a big-shot lawyer run errands for me.”

Steven chuckled, shaking his head. “C’mon, Cheds. You know I’d never complain about running errands for you. For you? I’d do worse.”

From the side, Charles cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. “Uh Doc Sho, gusto mo akong tumingin din diyan? Baka may mamiss.”

Benny waved him off without looking, too focused on Steven’s notes. “Hindi na Doc Cha. Si Steven na ‘yan. Alam niya lahat ng dumi ko since kinder.”

Steven smirked, not missing the chance to twist the knife. “Literal. I saw this man throw up on a priest’s shoe.”

Benny laughed, shaking his head as if used to Steven’s dramatics. But Charles, sitting stiffly across the desk, felt his jaw tighten. He forced a polite smile, pretending to study the folder in front of him, though every word between the two landed sharp in his ears. For you, I’d do worse? His grip on the pen almost snapped it in half.

“So, dinner? I’ll cook! Doc Charles, you’re invited!” Steven beamed.

“WOW, BAHAY MO?” sigaw ni Benny pero hindi siya pinansin ng kaibigan. “You got your keys?” tanong niya.

Steven fished the spare keys from his pocket, dangling them playfully before slipping them back. “See you after the clinic! I will make myself at home, don’t worry.” With that, he strode out of the clinic, tossing them a wave over his shoulder.

Charles watched him go, lips pressed tight, while Benny only shook his head and muttered curses like it was the most normal thing in the world.

______________________________

By the time they arrived at Benny’s house, Steven had already made himself at home, sleeves rolled up, moving around the small kitchen like he’d lived there. Charles lingered by the doorway, awkward, unsure if he was a guest or intruder.

“By the way, I put Lola’s padala in your kitchen and room. May note pa siya, ‘Huwag mo daw kalimutan magsimba.’ Classic.”

Benny groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Daldal amputa.”

Steven smirked. “Okay, okay. Sorry. Your secret benefactor remains a mystery. My lips are sealed.”

Charles looked up at that, voice quiet. “Lola?”

Benny ignored the question, busying himself with plates. Steven caught the shift and smoothly changed the subject.

“So, Doc Charles? What is a celebrity dentist doing here? Payag ka na assistant ka lang niyang bonsai na ‘yan?”

“Uhh, I see myself as his partner.” Charles joked.

Steven’s brow arched. “Business or…?”

“Clinic partner. Gago.” Sagot agad ni Benny.

This time Charles didn’t laugh. His smile faltered, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.

Steven leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying himself. “Okay, okay. Just checking. You never label things, Cheds. Not even your files.” 

Benny picked up a tablespoon and tossed it at him, hitting him square in the chest.

“Aray! Nagiging defensive lang ang mga guilty, ‘di ba?” natatawang sambit ni Steven.

Benny glared at him. “Shut up. Uuwi ka rin mamaya, ‘di ba?”

“Ayaw mo na ako rito?” kunwaring pagtatampo ni Steven. 

“Gusto. Pero ayaw ko ng tsismis mong malikot.”

Charles, unable to stop himself, finally spoke. “Sobrang close nyo, noh?”

Benny’s gaze softened, just for a second.“Oo naman. I grew up with him. First friend.”

Steven smirked. “First heartbreak din niya yata ako, pero ayaw niyang aminin.”

“Yabang.” Benny said flatly.

“I mean, technically, ako ‘yung unang love letter niya.”

Benny groaned, covering his face. “Grade four ‘yon! Sinabihan lang kita na crush kita tapos ginamit mo ‘til now!”

“Resibo ‘yan, bro. I keep all my receipts.”

“Fucking accountants.” Benny laughed. “Lahat ng exaggerated version ng kwento ko, siya ang source.”

Steven leaned back like nothing happened. “You should’ve seen him sa city dati. Antisocial. Barely talking. Now you’re out here doing community projects? Dental missions? May children mural pa sa harap ng clinic?”

Charles perked up, almost defensive. “That was my idea, actually.”

Steven tilted his head. “Ah. That tracks. Well, looks like someone’s been… inspiring. Or converting.”

Benny looked away, pretending to read a flyer on the fridge. Charles’s gaze lingered on him, steady, quiet, unblinking. Benny refused to meet it.

______________________________

Dinner was loud in the way small kitchens always were: clattering plates, the hiss of frying oil, the thud of knives against the chopping board. Si Steven ang nasa harap ng stove, moving with practiced ease, habang si Benny naman naglalabas ng mga plato’t baso na hindi magkakaterno.

Charles, relegated to the corner, offered to help more than once but was waved off with the same easy familiarity that Benny and Steven seemed to share. Like he’s done this a thousand times, Charles thought, watching Steven flip the pan with the kind of confidence na alam mong kabisado na kung nasaan ang sandok.

When everything was ready, the three of them gathered around the small table. The food smelled rich with garlic fried rice and chicken-pork adobo that simmered with just the right tang. Charles murmured a polite ‘salamat’ before picking up his spoon and fork.

Steven, however, was already digging in. “See, Cheds? Manila stress, tax reports, probinsya charm, and Atty. Steven Mercado’s cooking, perfect combo!”

Benny snorted, scooping rice onto his plate. “Buti sana kung ikaw bumili sahog.”

Steven leaned across the table to tap his spoon against Benny’s plate, stealing a piece of chicken. “Details, details.”

Charles kept his smile tight, stirring the rice on his plate more than actually eating it. Nahuli niya sarili niyang tumitingin kay Benny every so often. The way his shoulders eased up whenever Steven teased him, the way his laugh came quicker, lighter. Different from the laughs he gives me, Charles realized with a pang.

Trying to break the rhythm, Charles cleared his throat. “Steven, mahilig ka magluto?”

Steven grinned, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “For Cheds, yes. Dati every night, cup noodles lang kinakain nito kaya ako nag-aral magluto.”

“Si OA,” Benny muttered, chewing.

“Nope,” Steven shot back. “Doc Charles, did you know this man once lived off instant pancit canton for two weeks straight? Muntik ko na ipa-rehab.”

“Please, call me Charles.” Charles chuckled politely, though his chest tightened again. He tried to meet Benny’s eyes, but Benny was too busy glaring at Steven.

Benny stabbed his chicken with more force than necessary. “You didn’t have to tell him that.”

Steven only shrugged, grinning. “He deserves to know what kind of disaster he’s working with. That’s why kinontrata ko si Lola Marites na ipagtabi ka for lunch and dinner ng food kasi I know you’ll end up dead with a severe UTI.”

The conversation ebbed and flowed like that. Si Steven, walang tigil sa pagbato ng mga kwento; si Benny naman, salo ng salo. Minsan mainit ang tono, minsan halatang may lambing sa inis. Nasa gitna lang si Charles, pilit nakikisabay sa tawa, pero bawat halakhak ng dalawa ay parang paalala na ngayong gabi, outsider siya.

Halfway through the meal, Steven raised his glass. “To old friends and new partners,” he said, looking pointedly between Benny and Charles.

Benny clinked his glass without hesitation. Charles hesitated just a moment too long before joining in. The sound of glasses meeting rang sharper than it should have. And for the first time that evening, Benny glanced at Charles, quick enough to be missed by Steven. But Charles caught it. And it was enough to make the food taste less heavy, and the air less thick. For just a second, he didn’t feel like an intruder.

______________________________

Dinner’s almost over pero hindi pa rin tapos sa pagkekwento si Steven. Over naman sa daldal niyang abogado na yan. Charles, though quieter, managed a few polite laughs. But as the plates emptied and the first lull of silence fell, he tried to contribute, leaning forward slightly.

“I saw your parents on TV,” Charles said, almost too casually.

The air shifted. Steven groaned, head falling into his hands. “Oh no.”

Benicio’s shoulders went rigid. Looks like someone googled me. “Congrats.” Walang ganang sagot niya.

“They were on a panel about medical excellence,” Charles continued, not catching the warning in Steven’s eyes. “Neurology. They talked about you briefly.”

Benny’s jaw ticked. “Yeah? Let me guess: ‘He was a promising boy until he fell into dentistry.’”

“Huh.. uhm..” Charles hesitated. “They said you were brilliant. Just… misguided.”

Benny’s laugh was sharp, brittle. “Misguided? That’s rich coming from people who dissect brains but can’t understand one.”

The silence after that was heavier than the steam rising off the adobo pot. Steven’s eyes darted between them, clearly torn, but Charles pressed on, voice gentler.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said carefully. “I just thought… you should know they were proud of you, in their own way.”

Benny’s head snapped up, eyes blazing. His throat tightened. Now, staring across the table at Charles, all the bad memories clawed their way back, raw and unrelenting.

“Proud? Hindi sila proud. They didn’t even cry when ate died. Mukha pa ngang disappointed eh. Alam mo ginawa nila? Naglabas lang ng press statement. Tapos after a week, nag-host ng fundraiser, para daw sa brain aneurysm research.”

The words cracked through the kitchen like thunder. Charles froze, spoon halfway to his mouth, stunned by the sheer weight of Benny’s voice.

Benny’s chest rose and fell, “After that, alam mo ba kung ano sinabi nila? That they still have me to carry on the legacy. Hindi man lang ako tinignan, Charles. Hindi man lang ako tinanong kung okay ako. Did you read that on google? Ngayon, sasabihin mong proud sila?”

Charles’s lips parted, gripping his fork tighter as if anchoring himself. “I’m just saying… maybe they didn’t know how to show it. Maybe you’re too busy hating them to see—”

“Hating them?” Benny interrupted. “Tangina, ano bang pakialam mo? Bakit ba kating kati kang malaman kung sino ang pamilya ko?”

The words bounced off the walls of the small kitchen. Charles’s jaw tightened until the muscle ticked. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang pinanggagalingan ng mallit na lalaki sa harap niya. Gusto niya itong intindhin. Gusto lang naman niya na mas makilala pa si Benny.  A part of him wanted to step back, to let Benny burn himself out. But another part refused to be shut out. 

“So this is it? Pushing away anyone who cares. That’s your life?”

Benny flinched but his glare snapped back twice as sharp. His breathing was uneven, like each inhale cost him something. Charles saw the pain flicker behind the rage, but Benny buried it just as fast, wrapping himself tight in sarcasm and spite like armor. For Charles, that only made it worse. Because beneath all the anger, he could see it that Benny wasn’t just lashing out at him. He was lashing out at everything. At ghosts Charles couldn’t touch.

“Don’t twist this. You don’t know shit about me, Charles. You don’t know what it’s like to live in a house where legacy means more than your life. Where your dreams are garbage unless they match the family crest. Where people line up to use you, just because your name is fucking Dela Cueva.”

Charles stood too, his voice rising, sharp with frustration. “And you think shutting everyone out makes you better? You think pushing people away makes you strong?”

Benny laughed once… short, bitter, dangerous. “At least I don’t hide myself with smiles and prayers! Ikaw, Charles… lahat ng problema mo, tatakpan mo ng charm at Bible verse, tapos magpapanggap kang okay.”

The words landed like slaps. Raw. Unfiltered. Charles blinked, throat stinging, unable to fire back right away.

Steven, who’d been frozen in place, finally jumped in, panic written all over his face. He raised both hands like a referee at ringside. “Okay, timeout! Pwede bang huminga muna kayo pareho? Can we talk about something else? Cheds, remember that time ‘nung sinukahan mo si father?”

Pero parang hindi siya naririnig ng dalawa. They were locked in their own storm.

Charles leaned across the table, voice shaking but firm. “I’m here, Sho. I’m right here, trying to understand you. Trying to stay. Pero every time I get close, you push harder. You take everything as a joke. Baka naman ang problema, hindi yung pamilya mo—ikaw.”

“Dude!” Steven shook his head.

The words cut deeper than either of them expected. The kitchen went deadly quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against the walls, heavy and suffocating. Benny’s face twisted, anger and hurt flickering like lightning behind his eyes. For a moment, he looked almost broken. Then his voice came out low, trembling but sharp as glass.

“You should go.” Benny muttered.

Charles’s breath caught in his throat. Steven looked between them.

“Cheds—” Steven clicked his tongue.

“I said, go!”

The scrape of Charles’s fork against his plate was deafening as he stood. For a heartbeat, it seemed like he might argue, might refuse. But instead, he muttered, so soft it almost vanished under the hum of the fridge: “Fine.” His chair dragged harshly against the floor as he pulled away, the sound more final than any word. He grabbed his bag, lips pressed tight, and walked out of the kitchen, each step heavy with unspoken words.

Benny remained standing, rigid, shoulders trembling with every breath. The plates on the table sat abandoned, the food now cold. Steven let out a long, shaky exhale, dragging a hand down his face. He turned to Benny, voice gentler now, laced with disappointment.

“You always do this. Push until no one stays.”

Benny didn’t move. Didn’t answer. He just stared at the half-eaten adobo, jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached, pretending his hands weren’t shaking.

______________________________

Charles didn’t remember how he made it out the front door. The slam of the screen echoed behind him. He walked, hands shaking so hard. His chest felt tight, like he’d swallowed something sharp.

You should go.

Paulit-ulit itong nag-pe-play sa utak niya, sharper than anything Benny had thrown at him before. For years, he’d built his life on smiles, prayers, and the easy warmth people expected from him. But tonight, Benny had torn straight through all of it. And the worst part? Hindi niya kayang magalit kay Benny. Not fully. Because behind every bite of Benny’s words was grief. Real ugly grief that Charles couldn’t fix with charm or faith or even his own stubborn patience.

He tilted his head back, staring up at the patch of stars above the provincial rooftops. Why him? Why Benny? And what the hell is this? Why am I affected? Ano ba ‘tong nararamdaman ko? The man was impossible, sarcastic, bitter, barbed at every turn. And yet here Charles was, hurt not just because of the fight… but because Benny had pushed him away.

Inside the house, Steven gathered plates, the scrape of cutlery against porcelain breaking the silence. Benny hadn’t moved from where he stood, fists still curled tight at his sides, chest heaving like he’d just run miles.

“Maupo ka nga,” Steven muttered, stacking plates. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m fine,” Benny bit out, though his voice cracked on the word.

Steven shot him a look, unimpressed. “You’re not fine. You just drove away the one person in years who actually sits through your moods without bolting.”

Benny flinched, “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” His tone softened, but his words stayed sharp. “Don’t call you out? Don’t remind you that you want him here, kahit na ayaw mong aminin? Na bawat kwento mo about him, kahit gaano ka pa ka-sarcastic, you’re happy?”

He leaned back, studying Benny carefully, voice dropping lower. “Cheds, I’ve known you all my life. You don’t light up for anyone. Pero kay Charles? You do. Kahit na pilitin mong itago sa banat at mura. You like having him around.”

Benny dug his nails into his palms under the table, anything to ground himself. “He doesn’t get it. He’ll never get it.”

Steven slid into the chair across from him, folding his arms. His voice was gentler now, but firm. “Maybe not. But he wants to. That counts for something, Cheds.”

Benny shook his head, “Wanting doesn’t change the fact na wala siyang alam sa buhay ko. And I don’t… I don’t want him to.”

“Bullshit.”

Benny’s head snapped up, inirapan niya ang kaibigan, but Steven didn’t flinch.

“If you didn’t want him to know you, you wouldn’t let him stick around this long. You shouldn’t have hired him in the first place. You wouldn’t let him get under your skin. Hell, you wouldn’t even care if he walked away.”

The words landed heavy. Umiwas lang ng tingin si Benny sa kaibigan at muling nagsalita, “I told him to go.”

Steven nodded. “Yeah. And he left. But you and I both know you don’t want him gone.”

Silence stretched. Benny’s fists loosened, finally, fingers trembling as he rubbed his temples. He felt wrung out, raw.

“Cheds, you’ve been surviving here all these years, fine. Pero for the first time in a long time, someone’s actually trying to be part of your mess. Don’t punish him for that.”

Benny swallowed hard, the burn in his throat spreading down to his chest. He hated how the truth scraped him raw.

“You make it sound like there’s something between us. The guy’s straight. He’s nosy, and he just wants to be friends with everyone. That’s his nature. I just got pissed that he had the nerve to google me when I already said I don’t want to talk about my family. He doesn’t get what boundaries are.”

Steven let out a sharp laugh, leaning back in his chair. “Straight? Cheds naman, no ‘straight guy’ looks at his clinic partner like he’s on the menu.”

Agad namang umirap si Benny sa kaibigan. “He’s just… curious. That’s all.”

“Curious? Please. Charles didn’t google you because he was bored. He’s interested. He googled you because he wants to understand you… because you keep throwing walls up every time he tries to get close.”

Benny forced a scoff. “Sinabi ba niya ‘yan sa’yo? Assumptions, assumptions. The truth is, he was meddling. That’s different.”

Napailing na lang si Steven pero he won’t back out. “Or maybe it’s the same thing. Maybe it’s him trying to care in the only way he knows how.”

“Tangina, stop interrogating me. I’m not your client.” Iritadong sagot ni Benny.

Steven smirked. “Nope. You’re worse. You’re my best friend who’s in denial.” He took a deep sigh, “Cheds… you can dress it up all you want, pero the truth is, you’re scared.”

Benny’s head snapped up, shook his head at Steven. “Scared of what?”

“Of being seen. Of being left. Same cycle, every damn time. You push people away before they can do it to you. Not everyone trying to get close to you wants to take advantage of you. Your name doesn’t define you. You’re bigger than your family.”

Benny scoffed, “Kalokohan.”

“Is it? Mukha kang nilamon ng lupa the moment Charles walked out the door.” Steven cleared his throat, “You think him being ‘straight’ is the problem? It’s not. The problem is, the idea of him leaving terrifies you because you’re getting comfortable with him. With his presence and everything.”

For a long moment, Benny just sat there, fingers curling into fists on the table. He wanted to fight it, to throw back some sarcastic jab. But the truth in Steven’s voice pressed down on him, undeniable.

Finally, his voice came out low, almost broken. “Everyone leaves, Steven. It’s just a matter of when.”

Steven’s expression softened, “Maybe. But maybe this time, someone’s trying to stay. The question is, are you gonna let them?”

Benny stared at him, eyes burning, unable to answer.

______________________________

The next morning, the clinic felt off. The usual hum of the sterilizer and faint scent of mint from the mouthwash dispenser were there, but the air between Charles and Benny was stiff, unsaid words sitting in the space like an extra piece of furniture. Benny sat at his desk, tapping his pen too fast against the clipboard. Charles walked in quietly, mug of barako coffee in one hand. He hesitated before setting the mug down in front of Benny.

“Morning.”

Benny didn’t look up right away but glanced at the mug briefly and noticed something wrong. He scribbled a few more notes before muttering: “Oh, no Bible verse?” For the last three months, consistent si Charles sa pagdidikit ng post it notes sa coffee mug ni Benny. Ngayon lang pumalya.

Charles let out a small laugh, though it came out thinner than he meant. “Didn’t think you’d appreciate it today.”

Agad na napaangat ng tingin ang maliit na lalaki. “Nandito ka pa rin.”

Charles shrugged. “Where else would I be?”

Benny tapped his pen against the desk again, harder this time. “About last night—”

“You don’t have to explain. I get it.” Charles interrupted.

Benny finally looked at him fully, brow furrowing. “You ‘get it’? What exactly do you get?”

Charles shifted, “That you don’t want me poking around where I don’t belong. Point taken.” His voice was calm but steady.

Benny stared at him, waiting for the smirk, the sermon, the usual Tolentino charm. But there was none. Just that quiet steadiness again. And somehow, that hurt worse.

“Where’s Steven?”

“Lumuwas na kaninang madaling araw.”

Charles nodded, taking his own sip. “So it’s just us, then.”

Light. Casual. Like it was nothing. Charles acting normal. Acting like nothing happened. What does this mean? That he was already pulling away? That he’d already decided it wasn’t worth the mess?

The door burst open, saving Benny from the weight of it. A mother shuffled in, dragging two kids buzzing on sugar highs.

“Doc Benny! Naku, sorry talaga, ang hilig nila sa candy.”

Napasimangot si Benny at tumayo sa kinauupuan niya, “Pinabayaan niyo na naman.”

“Good thing we’re here.” Sabad ni Charles at nagsimula na maghanda ng dental chair.

Inirapan lang siya ni Benny. “Good thing ako ang nandito. Mamimigay ka lang ng sticker at lollipop.”

“Don’t knock the sticker system. Works wonders.” Charles laughed, the sound warm, filling the small space despite the tension that still lingered.

And just like that, they fell into their rhythm: sniping, bantering, working seamlessly around each other. Their hands moved in sync, their timing perfect, even while Benny’s brain refused to quiet. Because through every laugh, every sarcastic quip, every “normal” gesture. He kept thinking:

He’s acting like nothing happened. Does that mean he’s already leaving?

______________________________

By the time the patients left, the clinic fell back into silence. Charles wiped down the chair, humming softly, too softly. Benny stacked files at the desk, but the pen in his hand wouldn’t stop tapping.

“So we’re not gonna talk about last night?” Benny blurted out before he could stop himself. He hated it. If there was one thing he was good at, it was keeping his pride intact. Matigas ka self, he reminded himself. But for some reason, when it came to the six-foot-something giant standing in front of him, siya lagi ang unang tumitiklop.

God. Naalala na naman niya yung aso.

Napatigil si Charles sa paglilinis ng mga gamit. Slowly, he looked up, brows knitting. “I thought you didn’t want to.”

“Yeah, well, congratulations. You finally annoyed me enough that I do.” He tossed the pen aside, stood up and leaned back on his desk, arms crossed tight. His walls were up, but his voice betrayed the crack. “I don’t… I don’t like talking about my family. And you had no right to Google me. And before you react, I did Google you on the first day we met BUT…” sandaling napatigil si Benny before he continued, “you’re kind of a celebrity and I was curious bakit ka nadito in the middle of nowhere. But when you told me the reason why, I didn’t bother digging. Hindi ka comfy na pagusapan kung bakit. I know my boundaries.”

Charles straightened and sighed, “You’re right. I shouldn’t have. But I wasn’t trying to be nosy. I just wanted to understand.” 

Benny shook his head. “Understand what? That my parents think I’m a disgrace? That I’m the Dela Cueva who walked out and never looked back?”

“To just understand you. To know you more. That’s all. I just simply want to know you. Just you. I couldn’t care less about your family.” Sambit ng matangkad. “And for what it's worth, you’re more than what they said. That you chose something for yourself, and that matters.”

The words hit deeper than Benny wanted them to. He swallowed hard, looking away. Steven was right, he cannot keep pushing away people. Ano ba naman yung magdagdag ka pa ng isang taong iintindi sa’yo?

Fine, fuck it. Here goes nothing. “Besides the obvious fact that my family are heartless people, the last time I let someone in, they walked out the second they found out I’d cut ties with them. That’s why I don’t want people knowing who I am or where I came from. I just assume they’ll use me to get what they want, to climb up, para makasakay sa ‘premium status’ o kung ano mang shit na ‘yon. And what happened to my sister? That was my last straw.”

Charles stayed very still, hawak pa rin ‘yung basahan, pero nakatitig lang kay Benny. For once, wala siyang ngiti, wala ring sermon.

“I’m sorry, Sho.”

Benny let out a dry laugh, “Sorry? For what? You just… Googled me.”

Dahan-dahang nilapag ni Charles ang basahan at nilapitan si Benny. “I’m sorry for acting like I understood when I didn’t. For pushing when you weren’t ready.”

Benny kept his gaze down, fingers gripping the edge of the desk so hard his knuckles went white. He hated how his voice trembled when he spoke again. “You don’t get it. She was everything they wanted. Brilliant. Obedient. The perfect doctor. Tapos one day, nag-collapse sa OR. Dead. Days later, fundraiser agad. Press release pa. Walang nagtanong kung okay ba ‘ko. Kung bakit nagkaganon si ate. Wala. Tinanong lang nila ako ano ba daw specialization ang kukunin ko. Even insisted na mag-neuro rin ako. Legacy mattered more than she did. More than me. Kaya ako umalis. That’s it.”

Ramdam ni Charles yung bigat. Kumirot din dibdib niya. He almost reached out, pero umatras din, “Walking out doesn’t make you less. It makes you human.”

Benny let out a humorless laugh. “Sabihin mo ‘yan sa lahat ng taong ginamit ako. Dela Cueva this, Dela Cueva that. I’m just a shortcut to a premium table.”

Charles finally moved beside Benny, not touching but close enough that the shorter guy could feel the warmth. 

“Then don’t lump me in with them.”

Nag-angat ng tingin si Benny.

“I’m not here for your name. I’m not here for your family. I’m here because…” he hesitated, “…because I like working with you. Because I think I like… you.”

“You’re just saying that.” Benny said defensively.

“I’m not.” Charles took a breath, his faith clawing at the edges of his chest, but he pressed on anyway. “I’ve spent my whole life thinking there’s only one kind of love you’re allowed to want. But every day here, every morning with coffee, every fight, every mission… Sho, you’ve been breaking that open. At natakot ako. Pero nandito pa rin ako.”

Silence fell again, heavy but different now. Benny’s chest rose and fell, his defenses flickering like a dying lightbulb.

“Straight ka,” Benny whispered.

Charles shook his head, a little smile playing on his lips. “I thought I was. I thought about a lot of things.”

Benny blinked at him. For once, walang bumubulong sa utak niya ng witty comeback. Wala. Just silence pressing heavy between them.

Charles shifted, his voice dropped lower, quieter, almost like a confession. “The truth is… I don’t know what I am right now. Maybe I’m bi. Bakla? Maybe I’m something else. I did research though. Pero hindi ko pa rin alam. What I do know is… it’s new. It’s scary. And it’s… you.”

Napasinghap si Benny. He hated the way his chest thudded at those last words.

“Charles…”

“I don’t want to put a label on it yet. Not until I figure it out. Of course, you don’t have to like me back. Pero ang malinaw sa akin, gusto kita not just as a friend. I want to know you. All of you. Even the parts you think I won’t like. Everything.” 

Benny swallowed hard, “And if I can’t give you that?”

“Then I’ll wait until you can. Pero I need you to stop pushing me out every time I try.”

Silence again, pero hindi na katulad kagabi. This time, it felt like standing at the edge of something unknown. Scary. Unsteady. But maybe… worth it. Benny looked down at his hands, clenched tight in his lap. 

“Hay nako. Lagi kang may sagot.”

Charles chuckled, “I think I got that from you,” then scratched the back of his neck. “Uhm… one last thing.”

Benny groaned. “Fine, go. Ask everything, kesa igoogle mo diba?” Pagbibiro niya.

The tall guy cleared his throat, “Why do you keep calling Steven ‘babe’? And what’s with ‘Cheds’? Please tell me agad if you guys ever had… feelings for each other. Or still have…”

Tumawa nang malakas si Benny. Hindi niya ineexpect na tatanungin ito ng  matangkad. “Malandi kasi ’yon si Steven! We’ve been inseparable ever since, lalo na nung high school. Nung nag-umpisa siyang mag-date, every time gusto niyang mag-ghost or mag-dump ng someone, he’d tell them na mahal niya pa rin ako. Tapos ako naman, I’d play along, call him ‘babe’ in public or something. It just stuck. Alam ko, fucked up, pero we stick to each other like glue. Pareho kaming galing sa fucked up families, so we get it. He lets me use him, I let him use me. Ganun lang.”

Hindi umimik si Charles at nakatitig lang kay Benny.

“For the love of God, we never had feelings for each other. Hindi rin kami nagtikiman. Happy?”

Namula ang pisngi ni Charles, quickly ducking his gaze.

“And ‘Cheds’? College pa ’yon. Naging obsessed siya sa cars, especially sa F1. His favorite team is Mercedes. So yeah, Benz for Benicio, Chedeng for Mercedes. Tapos naisip niya yung Cheds. Para raw unique. Besides, ayaw din niyang mahuli ng family ko na we still communicate. So he had to come up with something discreet.”

Charles bit back a smile, shaking his head. “So basically… pet names, cover stories, and fake boyfriends. Cute.”

“Don’t make it weird.” Benny rolled his eyes, smirking. 

Charles lifted his mug of coffee, hiding behind it. “Too late.”

Benny tilted his head, eyes narrowing like a cat about to pounce. “Wait lang… are you jealous?”

Charles nearly choked on his sip. “What? No!”

Benny leaned back again on his desk, arms crossed, grin widening. “You are. Jealous ka.”

Charles set the mug down with more force than necessary. “I am not jealous. Why would I be jealous? He’s your… he’s Steven!”

“Exactly,” Benny said, deadpan. “Matangkad, mayaman, matalino. Sounds familiar? Baka naman selos ka kasi mas pogi siya sa’yo.”

Charles gaped. “Excuse me?”

Benny shrugged innocently. “Sabi mo nga, fake boyfriend. Baka next time totoo na.”

Charles’s jaw dropped. Benny burst out laughing, doubling over in his chair. “You should’ve seen your face.”

Charles groaned, burying his face in his hands. Still chuckling, Benny grabbed his pen and tapped it against the desk like a gavel. “Case closed. Charles Tolentino, guilty of jealousy in the first degree.”

Charles peeked through his fingers, half-annoyed, half-amused despite himself. “I hate you.”

Benny smirked, eyes glinting. “No, you don’t.”

And damn it, Charles couldn’t even deny that.

“You’re not in high school anymore.” Charles muttered.

Benny raised a brow. “Okay, and?”

“Maybe you can stop calling him babe,” Charles said, too quickly.

Benny’s grin widened, “Oh wow, possessive much?”

Charles flushed, stumbling over his words. “No! It’s just… pretty sure hindi na niya kailangan ng wingman para mang-ghost ng date niya. And you don’t even live in the same city anymore. So why keep calling him babe?”

Benny’s eyes glittered with mischief. “For someone na hindi daw nagseselos, andami mong sinabi. Gusto mo ba ikaw na lang tawagin kong babe?”

Charles practically choked. “What—NO?”

Benny tilted his head, feigning innocence. “Ayaw mo?”

Charles rubbed the back of his neck, ears burning. “No, I mean… hindi naman sa ayaw.”

“Okay, babe!” Benny shot back instantly, winking at him.

Charles’s jaw dropped, scrambling for a comeback he didn’t have. But before he could recover, the clinic door burst open, a new patient stepping inside. Saved by the bell.

“Duty calls, babe.” Benny smiled widely.

The rest of the consultation went by in a blur. Charles assisted automatically, hands steady, words smooth, pero utak niya? Stuck. Every time Benny said “babe” in front of the patient, half-joking, half-poking at him, his ears burned hotter. The mother didn’t even notice; the kid just giggled and called Charles ‘Tito Babe’ on the way out. Halos matumba si Benny sa kakatawa.

______________________________

The whole day at the clinic had passed in a blur of teasing and banter. On the surface, it felt just like before but there was something different now. They were more at ease with each other, less guarded. Benny still hadn’t admitted what he truly felt for Charles, but Charles didn’t mind. For him, there was a strange kind of freedom in finally accepting his own feelings for Benny. Freedom in realizing that love wasn’t confined to just a man and a woman.

Now, as they cleaned up the clinic before closing, Charles wiped down the trays with steady hands while his thoughts spun in restless circles. What’s next for us? he wondered. Liligawan ko ba siya? Would he even let me? Does he feel the same? And what about me? What does this make me? Gay? Bi? Or… is it just him? How does any of this even work?

“You think too loud, Tolentino.”

Benny’s voice cut through his thoughts and Charles jolted, muntik nang mabitawan ang hawak niyang tray.

“Huh—what?”

Benny stepped closer, smirk tugging at his lips. “Nakakunot na ‘yung noo mo, halos magsalubong na ‘yung mga kilay mo. You’re pouty, and clearly, you’re somewhere else. Where did you go?”

Charles wanted to laugh it off, pero ang bigat ng dibdib niya. Instead, he just sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Benny studied him for a beat, then said softly, “You’re overthinking this.”

Charles looked up, “This?”

“Yes, this.” Benny pointed at himself, then at Charles, back and forth. “This. Us. And yourself.”

Charles’s chest tightened. Hearing it framed so simply ‘us’ made something inside him ache. Slowly, he nodded, a shaky exhale slipping out. Relief. Gratitude. Fear. All tangled together.

“You don’t have to overthink everything. Alam kong bago ‘to lahat sa’yo.” Benny said softly.

Charles hesitated, then the words slipped out before he could stop them. “What’s next for us? For me?”

Benny’s gaze softened, “For you? Go explore yourself more. Without the pressure. Being confused is normal. Being different is normal. Having preferences outside the ‘opposite sex’... totally normal. Being gay is normal.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “And what’s next for us? We go with the flow. Just like you said, ‘not until you figure it out.’”

Charles’s throat worked, but no words came. His faith, his upbringing, every sermon about what was “right” pressed heavy on his chest. If I admit this, what does it make me? If I let myself want him, am I betraying everything I was taught? Or am I finally telling the truth?

Benny’s voice cut gently, “If you’ll wait for me until I can fully open up everything without pushing you away, then I’ll be with you until you fully accept yourself. Then we can talk about our feelings. Does that sound good?”

Hindi agad nakasagot ang matangkad. He was torn between relief and terror. He wanted to say yes. He wanted to tell Benny he’d wait, that he wanted this, whatever this was. But the words snagged on years of rules and prayers drilled into his bones.

Huminga nang malalim si Charles. “That… sounds good.”

Benny’s shoulders relaxed, unti-unting ngumiti at tumitig kay Charles.

“You make it sound so simple,” naiiling na sambit ng matangkad.

“It is simple. Ikaw lang nagpapakomplikado.”

And maybe Benny was right. Maybe it was simple. But as Charles glanced at him, watching the way the fluorescent light caught on Benny’s messy hair and stubborn jaw, one thought lingered like a quiet storm inside his chest:

Simple doesn’t mean easy.

______________________________

The next day, the clinic was unusually quiet. No screaming kids, no hovering parents, no chismosa neighbor asking for free consultations. Just the hum of the airconditioning unit and Benny scribbling prescriptions while Charles kept pacing by the counter like a caged animal.

Finally, Benny slammed his pen down. “Okay, Cha, what is it? Kanina ka pa pabalik balik, nahihilo na ako sa’yo.”

Charles froze mid-step. His mouth opened. Closed. Then it opened again. “Uh… you free tonight?”

Benny raised an eyebrow. “Bakit? Pass sa bible study.”

Charles rolled his eyes but his ears turned pink. “No. I mean…” He took a deep breath before continuing, “Baka gusto mo magdinner sa labas?”

“Kina Lola Marites?” Benny asked. “Dun naman talaga ako kakain mamayang dinner. Sabay ka.”

Charles shifted on his feet. “I’m asking if you’d like to have dinner with me. A proper one. Outside. Not here sa clinic. Not kina Lola Marites.”

“Ahhh.. so date?” Benny teased.

“Yes?” Charles whispered.

Silence. Benny just stared at him, expression unreadable. Charles’s confidence started to crumble. “Unless you don’t want to. Which is fine! Totally fine. I just thought—”

Benny crossed his arms, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. “Is this part of figuring out yourself intervention or something?”

“Yes, butmoreofthisismeaskingyououtonadatebecauseIlikeyou.” Dire-diretsong sambit ni Charles. “I want to know how this works.”

“Rapper yarn?” Tumitig lang si Charles kay Benny na siya namang nagpatawa sa huli. “Hmm. Where are we going, Doc Pogi? Candlelit dinner by the lake? Serenade me with Hillsong?”

“Sho.” Charles’s voice was flat, but his cheeks were burning.

Benny snorted. “Fine, fine. As long as it’s not some fancy place where I need to wear slacks. Kung may tapsilog, game ako.”

Relief crashed over Charles so hard he almost sagged. “Tapsilog. Noted. Best first date food.”

“Correction.” Benny stood, grabbing his bag. “Best food ever. Alam ko kung saan pinakamasarap.” He smirked, brushing past him. “Pick me up at seven, Tolentino. Don’t be late. Or else ikaw magbabayad.”

Charles laughed under his breath, shaking his head. “I was going to pay anyway.”

“Good,” Benny called back, pushing open the door. “Don’t overthink this. Chill lang tayo sa first date natin.”

The word ‘natin’ hung in the air long after Benny left, and Charles found himself grinning like an idiot.

______________________________

Charles didn’t expect this. In his head, their first “date” would be simple but special and maybe a quiet dinner by the lake, a little candlelight, some wine, maybe even live acoustic music if the universe was kind. Unfortunately, hindi siya favorite ni Lord today. Because Benny chose a tapsihan beside a vulcanizing shop.

“Uhm… Sho? Sure ka dito?” Charles asked, stepping out of his car and staring at the plastic tables, the buzzing fluorescent light, and the karaoke machine blasting Halik by Aegis.

Tumawa lang si Benny. “Ambiance, Tolentino, ambiance. Hindi lahat ng date kailangan may steak.”

“May nagpapalit ng gulong two tables away.” Turo ni Charles sa mga lalaking halos mangitim na ang buong katawan sa kakapalit ng gulong buong araw.

“Multi-purpose area. Efficient,” Benny said, sabay upo sa monoblock chair and motioned for two orders of tapsilog. “Relax. The food’s great. Promise.”

Charles sat down carefully, like the chair might collapse. “You do realize I wore a button-down for this.”

“Then you overdressed,” Benny deadpanned. “I told you, casual lang tayo. Tapsihan. That means pawis-friendly.”

Their food arrived with two plates piled high with tapa, egg, and garlic rice na kayang kayang pumatay ng bampira. The smell alone made Charles’ stomach growl.

“See?” Benny smirked, waving his fork. “Masarap. Wala ka nang hahanapin pa.”

Charles tried a bite, then immediately hummed in surprise. “Okay fine, you’re right. This is amazing.”

Napangiti si Benny. “Told you. Best tapsilog in the province. Don’t tell me hindi ka kumakain sa karinderia? Rich kid yarn?”

“Kumakain ako sa karinderia. Hindi lang sa tabi ng vulcanizing shop.” Naiiling na sabi ni Charles. “At hindi ako rich kid. My family is average. Mid.”

Benny snorted. “Mid daw. Sige nga, saan na pamilya mong mid ngayon?”

Charles swallowed his food before answering. “Canada. With my kuya. He’s an IT specialist. Got promoted five years ago, transferred to their main office sa Canada. Last year, he petitioned our parents.”

“And that’s your definition of mid?” Benny scoffed.

“I’m just saying,” Charles said with a small laugh, setting his spoon down, “my parents worked their butts off para maabot namin ni kuya ‘yung pangarap namin. And now, ika nga nila, ‘nakaka-L-L na kami.’”

“Eh pa’no yan?” Benny leaned back, crossing his arms. “Demoted ka ngayon.”

“Demoted?”

“Yeah,” Benny said, smirking. “You’re in the middle of nowhere. No more celebrity status. Underpaid pa, by me. I don’t even know if it’s part of your ‘Jesus in scrubs’ image or if you’re just too polite to ask for a raise. You’re barely surviving at my clinic, Tolentino.”

Charles chuckled, “Ouch.”

“Just saying facts.”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Charles said lightly. “I’ve got investments.”

Benny raised an eyebrow. “Investments. Sosyal. What kind?”

“Apartment business sa Manila,” Charles replied, finally setting down his utensils, the tapsilog momentarily forgotten. “Nothing huge, but it’s stable. The day I started earning, I saved every peso I could. I asked my parents what kind of business they’d start if they ever got the chance to retire. Si nanay, she used to be a teacher, si tatay naman government employee. We weren’t poor, pero sapat lang talaga. Every extrang pera went straight to our tuition. They never had the chance to invest in anything.” He smiled a little, voice softening. “So I did it. Built something for us. Fifty-fifty kami nila nanay sa kita. It’s theirs as much as it’s mine.”

Benny tilted his head, watching him. “You really did that?”

“Yup,” Charles said. “I wanted them to rest. To stop worrying. To finally have something that’s theirs.”

“How about your kuya?”

Charles poked at his garlic rice, smiling a little. “Well, he bought a property sa Canada para sa parents namin. Siya rin actually ang nagpaayos ng bahay namin sa Manila nung nagsisimula pa lang ako magwork. Our cousin’s the caretaker now, siya rin nagpapadala sa’kin whenever may makolektang rent.”

Benny shook his head. “So basically, your family’s thriving and you’re the one stuck here with me sa tabi ng vulcanizing shop.”

Charles laughed, “Exactly. Living the dream.”

“Wow,” Benny deadpanned. “Truly inspirational. From celebrity dentist to tapsilog royalty.”

Charles pointed his fork at him. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Hindi naman,” Benny said, hiding a smile behind his glass of soda. “Just funny. You’re the kind of guy na pwedeng pumunta sa BGC any time, but instead, nandito ka kasama ko, kumakain ng tapsilog habang may nagvi-videoke ng My Heart Will Go On sa likod.”

“C’mon, Sho.” Charles laughed. “Ako pa talaga? You can buy the whole BGC.”

Benny scrunched his nose and scratched his forehead. Cringing at what Charles said about his family.

“Too soon?” The taller guy quickly realized what he had just said.

“Kinda…” mahinang sambit lang ni Benny.

“Sorry.” 

“Nah, s’okay.”

They went quiet for a while, eating, occasionally snickering at the drunk titos singing ‘My Way’ two tables away. The air smelled like rain and soy sauce, and somehow, it was perfect.

“Did I ruin our first date?” Charles asked.

Benny smiled, “Of course not. It was me actually. Sensitive lang talaga ako kapag nababanggit sila.”

Sasagot pa sana si Charles nang biglang lumapit sa kanila ang waitress ang inabot ang kanilang bill, “First time mo magdala ng jowa dito ah!”

Benny nearly choked on his rice. Charles blinked.

“Ate!”

The server winked.

“First time?” Charles asked, teasing but Benny just rolled his eyes.

“Ate, bukas ba?” Benny turned to the server.

“Para sa’yo, syempre!”

“Yon! Oh tara,” yaya ni Benny sa kasama.

Charles blinked, confused. “Ha? Saan?”

“Basta.”

Wala na ibang nagawa si Charles kundi sumunod kay Benny. They walked straight toward the back of the eatery. The sound of karaoke slowly faded behind them.

“Uhh, where are we going?” Charles asked.

Benny looked back and just smiled.

“Is this the part where I’m going to get killed at magiging tapa?”

“What the fuck?” Tumawa nang malakas si Benny. “I didn’t know you watch crime docus.”

“I don’t! I just—”

“We’re here!”

Charles stopped mid-sentence when he realized where they were. A river flowed beneath a small, light-strung kubo, the air filled only with running water and soft nighttime chirps. He couldn’t even recall the last time he’d seen fireflies, but the little sparks drifting around them could only be that and they were stunning. Charles found himself at a loss for words. A world away from the noisy vulcanizing shop and the karaoke echoing behind them.

“Nice, right?” ngiting tanong ni Benny.

Charles nodded.

“Oh para hindi ka na jalousie window dyan—”

“Jalousie? Bintana?”

Benny shook his head laughing. “Hay nako, jalousie, jealous. Para hindi ka na magselos dyan, this is my safe place and no one knows about this. Kahit si Steven hindi niya alam. And now, you know.”

Charles’ heart fluttered. “Why?”

Benny only shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe this is me… trying. And caring.”

“Thank you,” the taller man murmured. “For not pushing me away.”

“Ako yata dapat ang mag-thank you.”

Charles raised a brow.

“For not walking away,” Benny clarified. “This is a big step for me. Opening up to someone. Sharing this little safe space of mine. This may sound cringe, pero baka… special ka nga sa’kin.” He snorted softly, then smiled.

“Special ka rin sa’kin,” Charles said without hesitation.

Benicio didn’t answer. He just stepped closer, leaned up slightly, and kissed him. It was quick and testing. He pulled back almost immediately, eyes searching Charles’s face like he was bracing for rejection.

Charles offered none. He only grinned, dazed. “So… that happened.”

Benicio smirked. “How does it feel to kiss a man?”

Charles let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Honestly?” he said, still smiling. “Not bad.”

“Not bad?” Benicio scoffed, pretending to be offended. “NOT BAD?!”

Charles laughed. “What do you want me to say? Amazing? Life-changing? Ten out of ten, would kiss again?”

Benicio’s ears turned pink, but he tried to hide it. “Hindi naman ako humihingi ng rating.”

“Sure ka?” Charles teased. “Parang naghihintay ka eh.”

“Hindi,” Benny muttered, looking away.

Comfortable silence settled between them. The river kept flowing beneath the kubo, lights swaying lightly in the breeze. Fireflies still drifted around them like tiny stars. Charles watched Benicio for a moment, the way he fidgeted with his fingers, the way he wouldn’t quite meet his eyes. Vulnerable in a way he rarely showed.

“Sho?” Charles said softly.

Benicio hummed, still not looking at him.

“Can I… try something?”

That made Benicio look up, cautious but curious. “What?”

Charles stepped closer, slow enough for him to pull away if he wanted to. He didn’t. He lifted a hand and touched Benicio’s cheek gently, thumb brushing near the corner of his mouth. Benny stiffened for a second then melted, shoulders dropping.

Charles leaned in and kissed him.

Not quick. Not testing. Sure.

Benny inhaled sharply against his lips, surprised, then kissed him back. He was hesitant at first, then firmer, like he finally allowed himself to want it.

When they parted, Benny looked stunned. “Okay… not bad.” He shrugged and gave an ‘okay’ sign.

Charles’ jaw dropped. “Excuse me, you didn’t even kiss me properly. That was a peck. And then you ask me how it feels to kiss a man? Sho, that was barely a kiss.”

Benny bursted out laughing. “Okay, okay! Bakit ka galit?”

“Hindi ako galit,” Charles insisted, though his smile said otherwise. “I’m just saying… kung magtatanong ka about kissing, dapat may effort.”

“Effort agad?” Benny raised a brow, “Hala siya, demanding.”

“Hindi naman,” Charles said, crossing his arms. “Basic fairness lang.”

Benny stepped closer, squinting at him dramatically. “So… gusto mo ng proper?”

Charles blinked. “Ha—”

“Proper kiss?” Benny repeated, smirking like he already knew the answer. He moved closer, close enough that Charles could feel his breath, close enough that the fireflies floating around them seemed to slow down.

“Ready ka?” Benny whispered.

“For you, always,” Charles answered honestly.

“Good,” Benny murmured and kissed him.

Not a peck. Not experimental. A real kiss. Slow at first, then warm, then sure, Benny’s hand hovering at the back of Charles’ neck like he wanted to pull him closer but was still asking permission.

Charles leaned in instead, giving that permission himself.

When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless.

Benny stared at him, eyes wide. “Ayan,” he said quietly, voice trembling just a bit. “May effort na.”

Charles laughed softly, trying to catch his breath. “Okay… that one was definitely not bad.”

“Rating?” Benny teased, cheeks flushed.

“Solid eleven,” Charles said.

Benicio looked down, smiling like he couldn’t help it. “Tangina… what are you doing to me?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Charles replied.

Benny nudged his shoulder, playful but gentle. “I swear, pag ito hindi nag-work out, ibebenta kita kay Lola Marites.”

Charles shook his head, still smiling. “Sho?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m not walking away.”

Benicio’s breath hitched. “Good,” he said quietly. “’Cause this time… I don’t want you to.”

And under the soft lights of the kubo, with the river whispering beneath them and fireflies drifting lazily around, neither of them moved away. Like both had finally decided they didn’t want to.

______________________________

Benicio rolled his eyes when he heard his phone ringing. Alam na alam na niya kung sino agad ang tumatawag sa kanya nang disoras ng gabi.

“So… how was the first date?” The guy on the other line teased.

“Not bad,” tipid na sagot ni Benny sa matalik na kaibigan.

“C’mon Cheds, I know you’re over the moon right now.”

“Of course not, b–Steven.”

“Waw-zaaaa. Nagpapractice na siya to not call me babe. Oh my god, this is fucking serious.”

“Ulol. Sige na. Goodnight na, napakachismoso.”

“Wait lang! Ikekwento mo rin naman to bukas e, why not ngayon na!”

“I’m tired, Steven. Let me sleep.”

“PINAGOD KA NA NIYA AGAD? WHAT HAPPENED TO FIGURING OUT AND SLOWING THINGS DOWN!!!” Steven laughed.

“Gago! Goodnight!” Benny just snorted and shook his head.

______________________________

A few weeks passed, and the clinic settled into an almost comforting rhythm. Nandoon pa rin ang bangayan at sigawan nina Benny at Charles. Malutong pa rin ang asaran, malala pa rin ang mga hirit but beneath all the noise, something subtle had shifted. May konting lambing na sa bawat iringan nila. Sometimes it was as small as the way Benny rolled his eyes but softened at the end, or the way Charles complained but stayed a little closer than necessary. Their fights hadn’t disappeared; they’d only evolved, threaded now with a warmth.

Charles, especially, felt the change. Every day he found himself understanding more, about his feelings, about the quiet tug in his chest whenever Benny smiled, about the kind of love he wasn’t sure he was allowed to feel. For years he thought his faith built walls around him, firm and unbreakable. But with each passing week, as he watched Benny move through the world with unfiltered honesty, those walls didn’t crumble: they simply opened doors he didn’t know existed.

He began to realize that his faith wasn’t a punishment or a barrier. It wasn’t there to deny him love. Slowly, gently, he understood: loving someone of the same sex didn’t mean stepping away from God. It meant stepping closer to the truth of himself. And that truth, terrifying and beautiful, was becoming harder to ignore every time Benny looked at him like he was worth the risk.

______________________________

One stormy Friday, they were stuck at the clinic late after a wisdom tooth surgery ran over time. The rain pounded the tin roof, drowning out even Benicio’s muttered complaints. At syempre dahil nasa out of nowhere sila somewhere in Batangas, malamang brownout.

“You good?” Charles asked.

“Tangina talaga ng batelec. Buti nalang tapos na odontec,” Benicio muttered. “I hate rain, fu–and soggy socks.”

Charles chuckled. “But you like teeth. That’s something.”

Benicio rolled his eyes. “Only because they don’t talk back.”

“They smile, though.”

There was a pause.

Charles leaned against the counter, eyes softer than usual. “You ever miss it? Manila. The life you left?”

Benicio didn’t answer right away. Then: “Honestly, no. Halos parehas lang naman. But here… here feels less like pretending.”

Charles nodded. “Same.”

A beat passed. The storm outside raged louder.

Then Benicio blurted, “Did you really turn down that Ortigas job offer last week?”

Charles blinked. “You saw the email?”

“Naiwan mong bukas yung laptop mo. I didn’t snoop, I was just—”

“I did turn it down,” Charles said gently. “I didn’t want to leave.”

Benicio stared at him, “Ewan ko sa’yo.”

Charles sat beisde him. "I wasn’t always like this," he murmured. "The cheerful, God-trusting poster boy. It was... a performance."

Benicio said nothing, just waited.

"I had a patient," Charles continued. "A child. Seven years old. I was doing a simple extraction. Routine. Her mother was a socialite, the type who didn’t listen. I asked everything about the kid. Lalo na medical history and allergies of course. But the mother turns out she didn’t know anything about her kid."

Charles’s voice cracked. "She vomited mid-procedure. Aspirated. We tried everything. She died."

Benicio’s breath hitched.

"They blamed the nurse. Then me. Then the hospital. It was buried. But I couldn’t forget. So I performed. I smiled. I praised God. Because if I stopped, I’d collapse." Charles turned to him. "I came here because I wanted to disappear. But somehow... you saw me. The real me."

Benicio reached for his hand. "You're not alone anymore."

"You know what the worst part was?" Charles said after a long silence. "It wasn’t the guilt. It was the silence after. All the people who used to praise me suddenly vanished. I wasn’t marketable anymore. A liability. The clinic let me go quietly. I lost sponsorships. Even my pastor told me to 'find humility in God’s plan.'"

Benicio turned toward him, his expression unreadable.

"I didn’t leave because I was burnt out. I left because there was no one left who wanted me there. I wasn’t Doc Pogi anymore. Just a walking reminder of failure."

"You’re not a failure," sambit ni Benny. "You’re a man who lived through hell and still smiled at patients like they were sacred. That’s more than most people can say."

That night, Benicio lay awake, the image of Charles's trembling hands burned into his mind. He thought about how often he had mistaken light for shallowness, kindness for naivety. And now, watching Charles wounded, raw, and real, he finally saw the strength it took to pretend. To keep smiling when the soul underneath was breaking.

______________________________

Months passed and Charles renewed his contract. 

Permanently.

Benicio got better at smiling.

The town grew to love them.

On Sundays, Charles still went to church. Benicio came once. For him.

"I still don’t believe in God," he whispered, fingers laced with Charles’s.

"That’s okay," Charles replied. "I believe enough for both of us."

Benny squeezed his hand and smiled.

Because sometimes, the most unexpected love stories don’t begin with perfection. They begin with pain, stubbornness, contradictions and a dentist chair in a dusty clinic where two wounded men learned to heal more than just mouths. 

They healed each other.

______________________________

Years later, the little clinic in their small town had become a landmark not just for dental care, but for the stories it held. The same dusty roads now bustled a little more, kids playing under the afternoon sun, their bright smiles a testament to two dentists who had once bickered like an old married couple.

Charles and Benny worked side by side, their hands steady and sure not just as colleagues, but as partners in every sense. They had long since traded their petty fights for quiet understanding, and the teasing from the town had softened into affectionate nicknames.

On weekend mornings, Benicio could be found in the kitchen of their small but cozy home, brewing strong barako coffee just the way they both liked it. Sometimes, Charles would catch Benicio humming softly, a rare smile lighting up his face, and think that maybe, just maybe, the impossible had happened.

One evening, as the sun dipped low, Charles reached out, fingers brushing Benicio’s cheek.

“You’re annoying,” Benicio said, a playful glint in his eyes.

Charles laughed. “And you’re still mine.”

Together, they're two imperfect hearts healing, loving, and growing. Proof that sometimes, home isn’t a place, but a person.

🍒