Date: Sun, 4 Oct 2015 07:38:57 -0700
From: Ederson Suarez <edsuarez062196@gmail.com>
Subject: A Solitary Blue Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Get along

"Especially you, White Knight in Shining armor." the glowering rage of his
didn't wane as much as a flicker would when you know you're losing; or was
it even verifiable, when the glowering rage in, itself, had loss all the
reasons possible to bear such grudge on the one who had caused his great
downfall? "and your right deeds will be your undoing."

I always kept my cool even in the scenario when I should be haulin' ass
like it's the damn currency; of course, I had learnt to keep my temper at
bay, and my patience longer that sometimes, failing to comprehend with my
dramatic changes at such short time. But I had to breathe in and out
several times, and do over the multiplication table to relax, yet I wasn't
given much of a leverage that I was forcibly stopped on reacting. What good
would it do? As for Connor, the sly smile was an opening; it was the first
thing you'll notice that you'll be very glad to wipe out of existence; the
withing out kind of stare that you might end up gouging his eyes out, but
he was open for it; he's prepared that him, being hurt was the first trap
he would set.

"You always sound so antagonistic, would it be a fucking suicide if you
gave up once?"

"It would be; and probably, the greatest mistake I would do, if ever."

"Of course." I slyly retorted, fending his smirk off of my glance. "Why
would you even give up when you can have an ungraceful exit, and limp away
from your walk of shame."

As I had found the right flick of my tongue, Connor was sending me
daggers. It was my turn to smirk. He had always gotten his hands with what
he wanted, and unknowingly, Nick had stumbled to that line. He wanted him
just the same as I did, and he felt the entitlement of being fawned over
just with the keepsake reason that Nick was his childhood friend.

"You'll regret meeting me, Marquez!" his fist was turning white, balling it
threateningly that was the least of his ill-attempt to intimidate me. "His
knowledge of the whole bet might be non-existent, but the greatest thing
about the unknown was the shortest margin it had from being known. Watch
your tongue next time."

He had walked away; he had taken it slow and lingering; wasn't the least
perturbed that I had the ability to attack him right now. He knew he had
that tight hold on me, but what can I do to oppose him now? As far as Nick
was concerned, the lie I had fortified was the best connection I had when
it came down to notches of several levels of intimacy.

That as the enthusiastic fighter in me was nothing but a meek mouse in a
lion's den; leering to an exit with the least resolve on going away.

Three Weeks Before...

"To hell with you," he screamed. "and the whole pack of you who thinks that
passing this Math Project is unimportant." slamming the pieces of paper in
the table. He had a deep scowl entailing each words that made his little
rant rather believable, but the cause was something he, himself, could have
prevented. The submission of the activity was yesterday, but as far as
Josher was concerned, deadlines and due dates were nothing but figures; he
hated figures and abiding to it was a tumultuous destruction that'll lead
to him being branded as uncool.

To say the least, Josher was the top dog if you'll get your hands in the
imaginary list of delinquents at P. V. Lucido Senior High School; he had a
notorious reputation to keep, that begging was impossible for him; and if
he was up to it, we didn't see Nicolas Avery Ferrer as the nicest dude in
the block as he was serious in upholding the rules of Mrs. Arreola; and
with that adding, Josher wasn't the fondest when it comes to Nick, and the
latter eschewed the advances of the former.

Kevin Lustre rolled his eyes at Josh's outburst; he was uninterested as the
rant turned to a full-pledged ad hominem about the certainties of Nick
being a flaming fag. Andrew Villanueva didn't do as much as to spare him a
half-hearted glance and the several 'ssshh' so he can tone down the
insults, while I, Cato Inocencio Marquez, was picqued that I had taken most
of his testament to the heart.

"It was undeniable, you little bitches!" he exclaimed. "Nick is the same as
they come and go, he loves men, and he'll do anything just give him your
meat."

Kevin was first to react: "Then why didn't you use his queer tendencies to
your benefit? You could've at least seduced him to submission?" he
scrunched his nose in disgust, and turned to his immovable notebook.

"Why should I? I aint no fag!"

Andrew next to him patted him in the back and: "Well, you can always talk
to him, you know? I mean--- since Mrs. Arreola trusts him, convincing him
would be the best order of motion you could do."

"That plan is so you, Drew." Kevin said, "an ingeniously simple one at
that."

But if Josher was to convince Nick, he ought to convince himself on doing
so, but with no heart to talk to the flaming fag, and no soul on being the
lowest tower for a second was his wrong doing.

"You know I don't like him, right?" he said.

We had said, "Yes." in unison.

"and you know that getting close to him would be the death of me, right?"

And now we're rolling our eyes again. He was like an elementary student
whining about the toy he hadn't gotten, and it was wooling on the nerves of
the two people I had here. The name-calling, the half-hearted homophobic
slurs and the very pinnacle of all annoying rants were starting to lose
sense.

"and that shouldn't be my problem," said Kevin who stood up with an
outright snobbery. "Keep your manliness intact along with your stupid
pride, and fall along with it as well."

Andrew looked at his wristwatch and graced us a small smile. He had kept
his composure and was still as friendly as ever. "I could talk to Nick for
you but he's really elusive so I'll give Cato the honor to do that. Peace
out, niggas!"

I felt the sharp daggers of Josher colliding into my body, and I was left
with nothing but to look back and pretend that I'm not getting the gist of
it.

But with the continuous notion of what he had said, I didn't know that Nick
was exactly the same as what he had stated. He was hard to conquer, not
because he's strong or violent, but he's very reticent. Now, I had no
qualms with reticence but the air of mystery in him was one of those things
that made him so unapproachable; like an ocean in the hands of monsoon,
you'll sink deep with the high waves of perturbed glances to come on your
way, the monosyllabic slam of his uninterested conversation, and the
indolence of his motion was contagious. He's as lax as they had said, but
never nonchalant and was usually nonplussed.

So adding that description, if he was unknown. How would anyone be able to
bestow a unidirectional judgment? Josher will be Josher, I guess.

Josher pushed a small side smile to his cheeks and looked at me. Suspicion
risen, I stood up and planned to leave.

"Now, now! That's so unfriendly of you, hear me out, kay?" he said, bearing
the brown-puppy-dog-eyes look.

"If it involves Nick, I want out of it."

"But aren't you curious?"

"I am, but I can live with that curiosity unsolved."

"So am I, but you are a lady killer, Cato." he claimed. "You had a lot of
prospects to meet in this place, and as a placating trophy, why don't you
try to conquer Nick? Just pull out some 'BAE' smile you have there."

"If you're Mandy, I think I'll be able to accept it, but coming from
you. Spare me with this idiotic plan."

"Okay, let's make a bet about this. I'll say you can't make him fall for
you, you're way below his standards."

I knew to myself that he was provoking me, but I didn't expect that I'd be
this annoyed for being called way below of someone's standards.

"and if I was able to do it, what would I get?"

"Two thousand pesos and a congratulary pat in the back from yours truly."

"You're on!"

I had the lousiest thought ever, but should I really accept it? Why am I
always meager when it comes to my ego; yet it's Nick. I don't think it'll
be hard to convince him on going out with me for a few days, not really
darted to intimacy, but just to know him: the things he had in mind, the
manner he thought of things and the way he cope on socialization.

"But there's a catch on this one." he added, kicking me out of my trance.

"What?" I asked, seeing the glint of mischief- no, it's not
mischievous. It's haphazardly connecting to mine that two-thousand pesos
won't suffice.

"Break his heart; devastate him to such extent that love only knows how
possible it is."

I thought so, we had played this game a number of times and I always won,
but it's usual to women, and their ability to be desperate for something
they can flaunt. But to a guy, this sounded like a mission impossible kind
of scenario. I made my mind, though. And I am picqued to unmask him
already, and with that resolve made; a broken heart was on its way.

"Make it three-thousand pesos amd we have a deal." I reached my hand out.

"It's a deal then." he shook my hand, and we're both smirking to each
other.

To get along with Nick might sound difficult, but I couldn't seem to shake
off the excitement to know him more, the jitters of yet to be known result,
and as I put my mind into a benign haze to plan for it. I knew that this
act would also mean a plunge on the great blue.