The Dance of the Virgin (Last)

That night, even if I had skipped Mexico, I never went home a zero.

"Hello? Ako pa, ang ganda ko!"

And so I slowly eased my way out of Mexico's sight. I found myself hanging by the bar. After a couple more bottles of beer, I was almost wasted. Almost, but not quite. I decided to call it a night.

Upon seeing me make my way out of the dance floor, the Mexican burrito quickly made his move. I did not realize that he was watching me. Haha.

"Tristan..."
"Yeah..."
"Are you leaving?"
"Yeah... I'm meeting some friends over at the coffee shop..."

I lied. He looked disappointed - at least that's what I'd like to think. But seriously, I wanted to bring him home but, I was too scared. I was scared that I might end up in stitches when I wake up.

I started walking home. It was drizzling outside and the temperature is in the mid-forties - it was cold. The moment I felt the cold shower hit my face, I somehow realized that I have walked away from a good lay. I called Doctor McFitch.

"Hello..."
"O bakit? Ba't gising ka pa?"

I remember talking continuously and ranting how I never got to bring home this guy blah blah blah.

"Oh so you're clubbing na in the States..."
"How was it?"
"It was uhmm... good."

I lied again, it was spectacular.

"I kissed Captain America."

Of course I did. I laughed. It was the height of Fil-Am relations. Kissing Captain America was like kissing the heart of the American people. And then I continued.

"And then there was this black guy..."
"And another one..."
"And another one..."
"And another one..."

But I did not even bother to go into details. I knew I was drunk. Then I started to count.

"I think I had ten. Yeah, must have had ten bottles."
"Where are you now?"
"Walking. Wait, I need to take a cab. Hold on."

I told the cabbie where to go.

"Bakit slang ka?"
"Shempre ganun talaga..."

I laughed. I took a good look at the cabbie and I knew what I had to do next.

"I think I may have to call you back."
"Gwapo yung nagmamaneho..."

I laughed again. The moment Doc hung up, I started talking to the cabbie.

"So where are you from?"
"Pakistan."
"How old are you?"
"28."
"Where are you from?"
"Philippines."
"How was the party?"
"It was good. I had fun."
"Where's your girl?"

I laughed.

"What girl?"
"Didn't you meet girls in the club?"
"Well, there were a few but I don't go for girls."
"Why not?"
"I'm gay. I like boys."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Nope."

Then there was silence. I looked outside the car. It was still drizzling and we were heading for the highway. He stopped. I panicked. Did he want me out of his car because I told him I was gay? Shit. Baka may holdaper dito? My brain was on hyperdrive.

"Why don't you transfer here?"
"Ha?"

He wanted me to move to the passenger seat, beside him. I did as told.

"So why don't you have a boyfriend?"
"I just don't have one."
"How long have you lived here?"
"A few months."
"You're beautiful... boys would definitely like you."

I laughed. This guy's crazy. Up close, he looked even more interesting. He had very strong features and those eyes - his were the ones that pierced through my soul.

"How long have you lived here?"
"Since I was fifteen."
"Long enough."
"Are you married?"
"No."
"Kids?"
"No."

I was really drunk but, I know when I was being lured into sex - that night I felt it - the moment he had asked me to transfer to the front seat.

"So how do you like your boys?"
"Hard."
"I think I'm hard. Touch it."

I stopped overanalyzing. My hands moved freely. He was indeed hard.

"Now, why do you have this?"
"I don't know. He probably likes you."

I laughed again. Boy, was I really happy that night. I unzipped his pants. I wanted to take a peek. It looked marvelous - magical even.

"You like it?"
"Hey, we'll take the next exit, okay?"

As if on cue, we turned right on to the next exit. He parked the cab a few meters from my apartment's gates. He turned off the engine.

"So what's your name?"
"Tristan."

I never bothered to get his name. Haha. That night, inside a car parked by the street near my apartment complex, my intentional zero turned into one.

Pakistan, check. Taxi Tales: International Edition, check.

Happy virgin, check.