One, Two, Three...

So there I was, as usual, on the train to my house in the middle of the trees. It has been a very long day and I had just gotten off from work. I was already tired. I was also trying to pull myself out of the shit hole that I have been in for the longest time. I started to listen to some upbeat songs to make me feel better.

The train was unusually empty (even in the middle of rush hour) and I was able to find myself a seat. I unbuttoned my coat and took out my iPhone - Ces Soirées-là was on loop. I decided to leave it that way. I looked around. There was one white boy on the far end of the train - he was a twinkie - cute enough - but, it was the young Latino who caught my eye.

The boy was seated several feet from where I was - directly across my seat. He wore a white shirt, jeans, a hoody and a red cap. He was slim but I could tell there was a good amount of muscle beneath all that textile. He looked very Filipino - mukhang tambay actually... poging tambay. Perfect. I hid my office badge and coyly looked his way. Our eyes met on my first attempt.

"One, Two, Three...", I silently counted.

I looked away but not without sending a quick half-smile. My heart was beating fast.

"Shit ka Tristan, ang landi mo...", I said to myself.

I tried again. This time, my Latino boy toy was pretending to be asleep. I was finally able to memorize his features. He had a backpack and he looked like a stude. Delicious. But he opened his eyes.

"Patay..."

I felt cold. I looked away.

"Ay naku po... baka masapak ako..."

I discreetly looked his way again but this time, he finally smiled. I breathed a sigh of relief. The train was approaching my stop and I was nowhere close to getting a number. Heck, I was several feet away and all I had was a smile and eye contact. I heard my station's name being announced. I stood up. He didn't.

"Ay shit, ibang stop pa ang gago..."

One final attempt. I looked at him. He looked back. Instead of walking to the door closer to where I was, I took several extra steps to pass by him. My final attempt involved a flirty smile and a quick head gesture suggesting that he steps off the train. I got off the train and did not look back immediately. I was afraid to disappoint myself.

"One, Two, Three...", I counted to myself again.

When I turned around, he was standing behind me. I bit my lips and smiled. We both laughed.

"Hi, my name is Tristan...", I said as I extended my hand.

"Mateo."

And my day felt a lot less shitty thereafter.