EROS
A week passed, Port had adjusted in my home. He knew how to prepare a meal, wash the dishes, clean the room, and even wash clothes. Port was quiet. He only responds when asked or called—he doesn't start a conversation with me unless he wants to watch television.
It doesn't matter. I wanted a peaceful life in my sanctuary. I wanted serenity, and he doesn't have a place to stay, so it's a win-win situation for the two of us. With this, I was able to focus on my artwork.
My recent scandal died down as the CCTV footage was released, I freely gained back my integrity. But I know I was far from being safe from my critics and haters. I could accept every criticism of my artwork, but lies and fake accu
EROS I learned to cook when I was 13 years old. Sister Felisa and Sister Cora taught me how to cook. It was embarrassing because I had ruined at least five pans, broke multiple china, and got cuts and burns in the process. I couldn't tell whether I was good or not, but at least I knew how to prepare a meal for myself. Sister Felisa told me that even men should know how to cook—even do other house chores. She told me that I should be equipped. Because one day, I'll be alone and I have to take care of myself. I wasn't prepared. Three years later, when she said those words, Sister Felisa and other sisters died on a terrible fire while I was overseas for an art expo. My life went in shambles. I couldn't
EROS The air was cold, and the night was old. Port and I are still standing at the rails of the roof deck. Nothing's great to view in here, just pure darkness and serenity. "Aren't you tired?" I asked without looking. We've been standing here for so long, I lost track of time. "I'm not," he replied. "For once, I also wanted to be like you," From my peripherals, I could see him shift his position and face me, "Why would you want to be like me?" "I wanted to forget everything,"
EROS The world is but a blurry image. I opened my eyes and saw the ceiling in my room. Am I dreaming? Was that a dream? I closed my eyes again; I tried to recall what had happened. "I think he's awake," Perth said in a whisper tone. Why was he here? I opened my eyes widely and saw Perth, Ara, and Port looking at me. "Why are you here?" I said, my throat was dry. "Are you okay, Eros? Do you feel any pain in your body?" Ara asked. Her voice was trembling, worried sick.
EROS We arrived at the front gate of my property. There, I saw the car owned by Perth parked outside. I opened the window on Port's side, then Perth showed up. "I heard my bestie got a new phone," Perth said teasingly. Port giggled and showed his new phone. "I don't know how to use it," he said in a small voice. "What?" I exclaimed. "You asked me to buy that expensive unit, yet, you don't know how to use it?" "Let him be!" Perth inserted. "Don't worry, bestie. Ara will teach you how to use it. She owned an X flip too,"
EROS Standing in the middle of the hall, people around me passed by like I didn't exist. I tried to call their attention, but no one responded. A nurse approached, raising her hands to get my attention. At last, someone finally recognized my presence—or I just thought so. I waved at her in response, the nurse smiled at me and moved forward. Until she passed through me. I looked back and saw her joining another nurse. Was I dead? Why couldn't people see me? Why was I invincible to them? I strolled further in the hospital, trying to catch attention—hoping to find a person with a third eye. If I was indeed dead, I have to tell Perth or my
EROS "What are you, Port?" "Wh-what do you mean?" he stammered. I tightened my grip on his hands. "How did you save me from the landslide when it's too deep? How did you save me from the fire when the passages are already burning?" Port escaped from my gaze, then tried to pull back his arms. "You're hurting me, Eros," he cried. It snapped on me. I immediately released Port's hands from my grip. He sat on the bench, looking away. "Sorry," I said. The whole room was quiet except for my heartbeat and heavy brea
EROS We heard a soft knock, then a creaking sound. Ara’s voice resonated in the room as she entered. She was carrying a wooden crate full of painting tools. After her, Port followed with bags of whatnot and had the canvases under his left arms. “We’re back!” Ara placed the crate near the footboard then joined his lover. Port smiled at me, looking awkward, walking with a weight on his side. “How are you?” he asked. “Alive and cannot kick,” I said. He angled the canvas on the wall, then placed the bags beside it. “I brought you colors,” he said.
EROS I rose from the bed and noticed I was inside the hospital room. Port was sleeping on the bench on my left, and everything seemed normal; I touched my face, and it was warm. I checked my arms and legs—they were all the same. What was happening? I vividly remember freezing mountains surrounding me, and Port said, we're in Antarctica. It would be impossible to reach that continent from the room in a snap of a finger, but I knew it was real. Or was I dreaming? Perth entered the room with a beaming face. "What happened to you? You looked aghas
EROSAs I descended on the staircase, the whole unit smelled of an aromatic, warm home meal. Port was at the counter, busily preparing something. The kitchen was a chaotic mess; this time, it was a good mess—unlike his first days in my old house."Good morning," I greeted him as I walked toward the kitchen.Port gazed at me quickly, smiling at me, then chopped vegetables. "I tried to wake you up, but you looked tired, so I decided to let you snooze,"I giggled as I sat on a tall stool. "It was an exhausting day yesterday.""Not me," he gave a half-shrug.I scanned the whole kitchen; stacked containers with food inside were placed at the side near the refrigerator. At the stove, a crispy-sounding noise from deep-fried chicken wings and the faint boiling of a tomato sauce on another pan. Bowls of queued spices, prepared for another
EROS"Eros," I jumped. Port sprouted to my side, his hands on my shoulders, and he was worried. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked.I didn't answer. My head was blurry and dizzy. Pictures of vivid and faint thoughts flooded my brain, suffocating and drowning me. My pulses were throbbing intensely that I could hear and feel them.Port guided me to the bench along the hallways, brushing his hands against my back. On my periphery, he was looking at me intently.I heaved a deep sigh. "Did you see the woman I was after?" I asked, looking at him as we sat.Port's forehead creased, then he shook his head, "You were running alone,""Impossible. I was following a woman wearing a black hoodie jacket," I explained. "It was real. I was after her. And when she eventually stopped, in a second, when you arrived, she dissipated in the midair.""I swe
EROSPort sat on a picnic cloth with his legs crossed; he distributed sandwiches to the kids forming a straight line. His face was a perfect picture of euphoria."Eros," I turned to my left and saw a familiar face. She was wearing a plain white shirt and navy blue skirt with a veil on her head. It was Sister Connie, the pre-school teacher in the orphanage. She was smiling at me as she approached."Sister," I greeted, bowing my head."God bless you, son," she said, patting my head."It's been ages, sister,""When was the last time you have visited here?""Last year. I think May," I answered shortly. I joined her walking around the field where picnic setups were made."Ah, it was Sister Ely's birthday. Blessed her soul,"I nodded. I finally recalled it was Sister Ely's birthday celebration,
EROSGolden rays of the sun beamed through the open window, illuminating Port's pale face in his silent slumber. His brows scrunched from the heat, so I had to block my hands for a cover. Other rays passed through his naked body, glaring at his perfect, radiant curves.I giggled as I heard him snore. Last night, he had told me that we would wake up early to jog together before the sun rose. However, he was here with me, sleeping soundly.Port shifted his position toward me, grabbing the blanket up to his neck. "Stop watching me, pervert!" he grunted, still closing his eyes."Hey!" I exclaimed. "I'm not a pervert!""Pffft,"
EROSPort and I sat on the sofa, holding hands while Perth was striding back and forth, crossed arms and stern face. The door opened, and Ara hurriedly entered. Port lowered his head upon seeing his best friend."I cannot believe what I just heard!" she howled, walking toward the living room."I'm glad you came," Perth greeted his girlfriend."As it should!" she pointed. Ara glared at us, "Eros!" I jumped upon hearing her shrieking voice. "How dare you lay your hands on my bestie!" Ara snatched my hair then pulled it."Argh," I groaned, trying to shove Ara's grasp."How dare you, Eros Cuevas!" she cried, tugging my hair forcefully. All I could do was screech and lean forward to minimize the distress in my scalp.Perth was shouting, stopping Ara from balding me, and Port was helping me to remove her hands."Bestie,
EROSPort entered the unit with shopping bags in his grip. He was beaming upon seeing me in the living room, rushed toward the kitchen then placed the bags at the counter."Port, can you come over?" I called."A second," he replied.He greeted me with a smile, but it faded when he saw my expression. Port and I hadn't had a chance to talk about the elevator fiasco—the following day, when I woke up, he was already gone with Ara."Take a seat," I commanded. Port settled himself on the single couch opposite to where I was sitting. He pursed his lips, looking at the ceiling with his hands rubbing on each other."Do you remember anything from yesterday?" I asked directly.He looked at me with a blank expression. "What about yesterday?"I blew a quick laugh. "I'm the one's asking here," I gritted my teeth. "Wh
EROS"Eros, are you listening?" Perth snapped in front of me. I looked at him, and he was displeased.My brain cells suddenly wired and brought me back to the present. They reminded me that Perth and I were alone in the living room. Ara and Port, we're out shopping."I'm sorry. Where are we?"He crossed his arms against his chest, one leg forward tapping the floor. "Now. Tell me, what's bothering you?"I faked a laugh. "No. I think I need more sleep,"Perth sat beside me. From the corner of my eyes, I could see his judging look. I turned to him and stretched a smile."You cannot lie to me, Cuevas,"My shoulders dropped, protruding my mouth. Perth was a human lie detector, proven and tested by experts. He could always sense the best and worst of me."I'll tell you later," I promised. "Repeat what you were speaking of
EROSPort greeted me with a smile as I entered the unit. He was in the kitchen, cooking something. The unit smelled butter and the sound of frying food popping like raindrops on the roof."What are you preparing?" I asked, striding to the living room."Uhm," he hummed, looking at the pan. "I am cooking a fillet,""Fish?""Yep,"It had been ages since I had tasted a meal cooked by Port. The last time was when my property was still standing; it was a beef broth with sweet corn.I sat on the couch facing the counter of the kitchen where he was busily cooking. I could tell that he was very enthusiastic, holding a ladle and facing a pan from where I was sitting."Are you hungry?" he asked, still focused on cooking."Not really,""Well, would you mind if I ask you t
EROS"I don't think Val was lying when he said he knew Port," Perth said, driving our way back to my unit."Yeah. I agree. How did he know Port's name? They must've met before,""But, a month had passed; how could he remember everything vividly?""He said that Port was wearing a weird outfit that day. Maybe the outfit was remarkable enough that it was worth remembering?"Perth nodded. My whole history was chaotic, and Port's past was more confusing. It was understandable to be in shambles to dig events twenty years ago, but Port's was a month-old tracking. In his case, it was always a dead end.