Chapter 1: Kurt Lavapiez

Dumating na sa point ng buhay niya na sa pakiramdam niya, lahat sa buhay ay abot kamay na. Ang minsang pinangarap niyang matapos na kurso ay natapos din niya sa pagtatiyaga ng matagal.

Finally, it was all his. The fame and name he wished to establish ten years ago. Naalala pa niya, noong teenage years niya gusto niya lang maging isang kilalang tao sa lipunan. Whatever course he would take, he wants to be successful. He took nursing as his first course. After he passed the licensure exams, he proceed to what he desired the most: to be a doctor. Luckily, nakamit naman niya kaya lang may malaki siyang pinuproblema: Napapag-iwanan na siya ng panahon pagdating sa mga babae.

At the age of 27, he realized that he never entered any relationship just because of too much ambitions. Ni hindi nga siya nakipagflirt o naisipan man lang na makipagkaibigan, gumimik para may makilalang babae.

He looked at himself in the mirror. He frowned. He smiled. He made faces. Not bad. Gwapo naman siya sabi ng mama niya pero bakit wala pa rin siyang girlfriend? He will usually just tell people around him that he's dating someone pero pagdating sa bahay, ang aso niya lang ang kumukumpleto sa araw niya. Jenna is really a cute husky. His dog the sexiest for him, at least he would prefer describing among all the girls that are trying to catch his attention.

He looked at his dog who is busy wagging her tail as she looked at him from the corner of his room.

"Jenna...come here baby." Masuyo niyang tinawag ang aso niya. Humakbang naman ang alaga niya ng sobrang bilis. Kaagad itong kumandong sa magkabilang hita niya dahil saktong nakaupo din si Kurt sa kama. He laughed because his dog is really hyperactive. Parang hinihingal pa ito at ramdam din ang lambing ng kanyang amo. She snuggled her head closed to his chest.

His dog also licked his face and happily rested on his lap. Nakalawit pa ang dila niya palabas habang pinapakita ang parang nakangiti nitong mukha sa harap niya.

"Baby?" May boses na pamilyar sa kanya na inulit ang sinabi niya. Sinabayan ito ng pagbukas ng pinto sa kwarto niya. Natatawa niyang hinahaplos-haplos ang ulo ni Jenna sabay tingin sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon. His mom made a frowning face. "Oh my gosh! You almost gave me a heart attack. Akala ko may kalandian ka na at magkaka-apo na ako." Dagdag pa ng mama niya nang makita niyang ang aso lang pala ni Kurt ang kinakausap nito.

"As if may makakapasa sa taste mo." Natatawang sagot niya sa mama niya.

"Oh my, am I that meticulous, son?"

"You should've known better. Hindi ako nakatungtong sa edad na ito kung hindi." He chuckled even more when he saw her mom's miserable reaction. Napaupo ito sa tabi niya at sinimulang himasin din si Jenna.

He heard her mother sighed as she gazed into his eyes.

"Well, I finally realized that I should let you choose the girl that you love the most. Who am I to oppose? Ang importante mamahalin ka lang niya. Sige na, spill it out. Meron na ba?" Seryoso ang mama niya sa tanong nito.

"Wala." Tipid niyang sagot habang ipinakita ang alanganing ngiti sa mama niya.

"Why?!" His mom suddenly raised her voice at sa tingin ni Kurt, stressed na ito sa kanya.

"Ma...please. Don't force me to like or marry somebody just because I'm already old. Celebrities marry when they reach 30." Pagbibiro niya sabay taas baba ng kanyang mga kilay.

"Hindi ka artista. Doctor ka." His mom became very sarcastic as she folded her arms. 

"I'm busy, okay?" He reasoned out just to ease his mom's mood.

"Would you like me to set a date for you? Perhaps, a blind date." She suggested while frowning. Kurt chuckled hearing his mom right away.

"That doesn't sound like a good idea to me."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to waste my time meeting strangers, ma."

"I insist."

"Ma, let me meet her soon. May panahon naman para dyan." He smiled at her mom and gave her a thumbs up gesture.  Hindi pa rin umiba ang mukha ng mama niya. She's still frowning as if never convinced.

"You always let time pass, look at you now! I hope this is not another excuse coming from you, Kurt."

"Yes, ma."

"Sana it will be sooner than I expect it would. Hijo, matanda ka na at mas lalo na ako. I'm already 65 years old. Ayokong makita ako ng aking mga apo na kulubot na talaga ang mukha ko dahil sa katandaan." 

"I will grant your wish. I will do my best for you to meet her soon. Darating tayo dyan." Hinahaplos pa rin niya ang aso niyang hindi pa rin umaalis sa kandungan niya.

He's hoping that she'll find the right woman for him, too.

-----

He's holding his phone facing him. Matagal nang pumapasok sa isip niya ang humingi ng textmate sa mga radio stations, mag install ng mga dating apps pero iniisip niya na kapag talaga malaman ng mga katrabaho niya ang gagawin niya, baka tuksuhin siya o kung anu-ano pang mga biro.

He doesn't want to look desperate, either.

Pero, napag-isip isip niya na tama ang mama niya. Matanda na siya para ituring ang sarili na NGSB (No Girlfriend Since Birth) ika nga. Nakakahiya talaga siya na lang sa mga kaedad niya ang wala pang asawa. Marami na ngang nagsasabi na bakla siya dahil wala man lang siyang pinapakilalang babae.

Bigla siyang sumimangot.

Hala...

Oo nga ano? Baka siguro nasa stage pa rin siya ng gender identity crisis at hindi niya lang maamin-amin sa sarili na lalaki din pala ang gusto niya...baka 'yun na nga 'yun!

Natatawa siyang tinitingnan ang sarili sa salamin ng napakatagal sabay iling. Hindi naman siya attracted sa kapwa niya lalaki. He knew himself more than anyone. Hindi naman siya nakakaramdam ng kakaiba kung may nakikilala siyang katulad na kasarian niya. Maybe he's really that busy most days of the week that he can't find a time to date someone. Nagpasya siyang idial ang number ng kung sino.

"Hi Kurt! It was a surprise that you called." Obviously, the other line was so cheerful. Tinawagan niya si Heidi, his childhood friend na kilala na rin ng pamilya. Sa katunayan, siya nga ang gusto ng mama niya para sa kanya.

He swallowed as he smiled. He made sure that he will also sound convincing to someone that he talked to.

Why not give it a try? 

"Ah...I decided to take a leave from work for a week. I was hoping you're available this week? Wala naman akong ginagawa kaya tinawagan kita." 

"Really? Awww Kurt ang sweet mo talaga." Heidi was so happy her giggles can be heard on the other line.

"Well, I really miss you so much. I am so happy that you called. This chance is really timely since you're always busy."

Yeah. Right." Kurt scratched his head while looking at his mom. Halata ang kasabikan sa kanyang mukha.

Parang ang lumalabas pa ay siya itong makikipagdate keysa sa kanya.

"Ask her out for a date tonight. Why wait for this week if you have a chance? Go!" His mom whispered. He couldn't help but to chuckle. She's more of a date mentor than a mother to him this time.

"Are you available tonight? Let's have a dinner date at 7P.M. if you're not that busy." He smiled as she confirmed his invitation with a yes. He's not doing this for himself but for his mom the most. Napapadalas ang pangungit nito sa kanya na magkaroon na siya ng girlfriend. Nang ipinaalam niya sa mama niya na lalabas siya kasama si Heidi, she almost jumped for joy.

"Kurt anak, magpropose ka na dali." Hinawakan sabay niyuyugyog ng mama niya ang magkabilang balikat niya. Halatang kilig na kilig na ito.

"Propose agad? Date lang 'yun ma. Kain sa labas, ganun."

"Hoy Kurt ang tanda mo na pero pabebe ka pa rin. Hindi na bagay sa'yo ang tweetums tweetums noh." Her mom slightly frowned but it didn't lower her mood of being hyperactive.

"Darating din siguro tayo diyan, Ma." 

"Be a man and speed things up. " 

"Okay...okay mom." Dahil mas matangkad siya sa mama niya, he lowered his head and kissed her on her forehead. Her mom smiled in return. 

"Balitaan mo ako agad kung ano ang pinag-usapan ninyo. I really like Heidi for you anak. Go for her."

"Well, it depends how this date will turn things up." Sagot nito sa ina habang nagkibit-balikat.

"Ang sabihin mo, nakadepende talaga sa'yo kung paano ka dumiskarte."

"Ma,we'll cross the bridge when we get there."

"Next year dapat may apo na ako ha. Okay lang na huli na ang kasal Kurt."

"Mom!" Bulalas niya sa sinabi ng mom niya.

"I am dead serious." He can't help but smile as he shook his head. Her mom is really very excited for him and whoever he'll love in the end.

"Ma naman..." He suddenly reacted. Natawa na lang silang pareho.

"Be prepared. I will support you all the way, son. The important thing is, you will have the love of your life soon."