"Bill"

It was late, close to 11 in the evening when I boarded the jeepney, the last public utility vehicle I had to take before I got home. It's a 10- to 15-minute ride considering the time. There were barely any people, and therefore less vehicles on the road, meaning no more traffic. 

I took my seat. There were a few people inside the jeepney. The driver was much in hurry to fill up with passengers so he took off right after I was settled. 

On my one side is a mother and son, the boy perhaps in high school already, and then on the other, is a guy I didn't spare time to look closely at. In front of me is a college student, beside this guy is two more guys. Farther away is a lola, with baskets of what's left of her paninda. 

But what caught my attention was the two guys, seated in front of the mother and son. One of the two is maybe a few years younger than me. Seating closely beside him is what seemed to me a boy. He really looks young. 

Their closeness bothered me. Their shoulders were stuck together. And I looked at them wondering if they were somehow related. The older guy surely became aware of my presence and immediately, he caressed the knee of the young boy. 

I was sure he wanted me to know. 

And then, they suddenly seemed more animated, comfortable with the people they were with. They were talking, they were fooling around. And I bet the other passengers were getting the picture. 

At one point, I looked closely and listened to the speeches of the younger boy, I realized he isn't really that young anymore. He talked and he knew what he was talking about. His looks were totally deceiving. Young, innocent, a pretty boy. 

No wonder the older gay--who by now you would have realized was gay--was into him. 

See, don't get me wrong. I do not discriminate or disagree with gay relationships. I don't give a fuck if they fuck. As long as they do me no harm to me. In this case, they weren't really doing me any harm. So, I let them be. 

Only, I just really observe too much. 

And it didn't escape my eyes when the gay one handed a bill to the pretty boy, which he immediately pocketed. 

And I couldn't help but pity all the gay people in the world who pay, literally, to get their desires, or worse, to find the love that they don't deserve. 

***

This is the beginning my new blog series that will immortalize how I see the world. I still don't have a name for this. Everything is just so vague yet. It will be a work in progress. Thank you friends for sparing me.