Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Be alone (with me)
Five months. It’s been five months since David has been going crazy over a boy. To be specific – his best friend, Karlos. They were always together, and their supposed “friendship” intensified when they became classmates in the eighth grade.
It all started on a near-summer day. A day that both of them would never forget. It was clear, humid, and just a bit too sunny and fervent– even for the Philippines. They were in SFCC playing ball games, sitting on top of the bleachers after their turn. Legs stretched out, everyone around them gossiping too loudly. Karlos was sitting opposite him. His shirt was drenched in sweat from the volleyball game they just played. He asked David if he wanted to go back to the classroom so he could get his water bottle. The two got up as they started to walk toward their classroom. They reached the staircase leading to the basement area of the school. It was much cooler here than on the bleachers. David thought of staying here rather than the blazing hot bleachers, then realized that they would get caught. Plus, Karlos was complaining about being thirsty. He noticed that they haven’t been down here ever since Chess intrams. His thoughts wandered off to the day intrams started, he really should’ve focused instead of joking around. He lost all of his Chess matches while Karlos won all of his. Then, a familiar voice broke off his pondering.
“Can we walk faster? Im getting really thirsty.” Karlos complained, then his pace quickened.
“Let’s race. First one to the classroom gets something they want.” He dared him.
“I don’t know about this..” His voice sounded unsure.
“If I win, you gotta libre me lunch later. If you win–” David hesitated, then came up with a response “– I’ll do anything, I don't really know what you’d want.”
“All that just for lunch?”
“Yeah..” His gaze moved toward the glass window next to him, embarrassed.
“What do you even spend your money on to be that broke?”
“Bike parts”
“Just cause i feel bad, I’ll do it.”
“Really?” David’s voice lit up.
“But don’t count on it.” They were then nearing the first flight of stairs in front of the library.
The race started with them running up the stairs two steps at a time, neither of them wanted to lose. It was getting heated, sweat dripping down both of their faces, arms colliding as they reached the corridor to their left. David was ever so slightly faster than Karlos, but he persevered. As both of them reached the corridor, David sprinted faster than he ever could. He watched the other occasionally, Karlos trailing a few feet behind him. As David was nearing the top, he checked behind his shoulder to taunt him– it happened so quickly. He should’ve been checking his surroundings. David held onto the wall as he slipped on someone’s spilled water on the stairs. He cursed at himself. Who the hell spills water on the corridor stairs? He saw Karlos’ terrified eyes stare at him before they closed shut. With David accepting his fate, his eyes closed shut too.
He expected his front to ache, but all he felt was warmth coming through something or someone. A soft foreign object touched his lips. Did he finally reach the ground? He opened his eyes just to see a pair of shocked eyes staring right back at him. They were a bit too close for comfort until he realized what that foreign object was. It was Karlos’ lips. He could feel Karlos’ shaky breath on him, he could hear it too. Karlos seemed to realize it too, but in shock, didn’t move. David was kissing Karlos. He blinked twice. Dumbfounded, trying to focus on what just happened. His head lifted up automatically, what had just happened? David’s heart went right out of his chest. That didn’t really count as a kiss, did it? Just at the thought of him using his first kiss on a boy made his face red . The air was thick, heavy, and suffocating. David didn’t even realize he was holding his breath.
“ David..?”
“ Yeah? “
“I don’t wanna alarm you, but you’re kinda getting heavy.” It took a mortifying amount of time to realize that he was sitting on Karlos.
“Ah–” What the hell was he doing right now. Was he mad? His chest was pounding vigorously. He couldn’t even face him anymore. All because of some accidental kiss? Did it count as a kiss? It was basically a peck, but his face was still hot. He rose awkwardly, looking away in humiliation as he held out his hand to lift him up.
“ Are you okay? “ Although he was looking away from his peering gaze, He could feel Karlos’ worried eyes staring, drilling holes into his face.
“ Uh.. cool! Fantastic, really. “ His response was awkward and stiff. He wondered if the other’s face was just as red as his, or his face wound up in a grimace
“ You sure you didn’t get hurt, like at all? “
“ Are you sure that you didn’t get hurt? You’re the one who fell. “
“ Not at all. “ Karlos let out a small cough. On purpose or by accident? He didn’t know.
An awkward uneasiness occurred between the duo, David couldn’t form a response. He was probably just overthinking this. Until he realized he wasn’t.