What I'll Remember B for

For me, it's that afternoon three years ago when we went to La Union from San Carlos on a motorbike. Just for the heck of it. I hadn't ridden a motorbike in years, but I knew cute guys on motorbikes made B weak in the knees, so when I saw his brother's motorbike parked outside their house, I thought, There are only two possible endings here. Either I'll look like a complete fool or he'll fall more deeply in love with me.

I took a deep breath and told myself, What the heck.

The truth is, I'm no man's man. I think I'm masculine enough to pass, in certain contexts, for a straight guy, but I'm not above asking B, who's into Project Runway and beauty pageants, to twist the cap off a Coke litro for me. I'm also scared of heights, frogs and speed, which is why I hate ferris wheels, avoid the countryside, and drive like my grandmother. (Of course, a lot of straight guys share those exact same phobias.)

One of the stupidest things I've ever done, in fact, was agree to ride this huge metal contraption called the Whirlwind in Big Bang Alabang back when I was in college. I was then dating a girl named Toni Weinstein, who was pretty and sweet but also quite low on serotonin -- she didn't feel alive unless she was performing some sort of daredevil stunt. So one by one we tried all the rides and stunts, from the giant slide that left me with skinned elbows to the Superman rope, which made me feel like a biologist moving from tree to tree in some rainforest. Everything went well enough until we reached the Whirlwind, which was like a huge ferris wheel, except that the riders didn't sit in some car but got strapped standing up to a piece of metal.

Upon seeing it, all my neurotransmitters went haywire, but I wanted to live up to my macho swagger, so with a confident grin, I bought two tickets for Toni and me, got strapped to a pole, was spun till I lost all notion of south, east, west and north, and died of a heart attack a hundred times in ten minutes. Honestly, why would anyone ride the Whirlwind unless he's preparing for a trip to outer space? Why would anyone in his right mind think that having his internal organs rearranged would be a source of pleasure? After the ride, I told Toni how awesome the whole ride was and then ran to the nearest comfort room to disgorge my dinner.

But that afternoon, as I zoomed down the highway on B's brother's motorbike, B wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his cheek against my neck, giving no heed to the people who might see us, and I felt, suddenly, invincible, as though I could ride that motorbike to the end of the world, as though I could make it fly! So I started going faster and faster, even when it began to rain hard enough that I had to squint to see the road, even when the wind blew the raindrops against my face so hard, they stung.

All that mattered was that moment: the two us tearing down that endless glistening road, the sea to our left, mountains and fields to our right. And B, his arms around my waist, whooping like a child. At that moment, I was the handsomest, tallest, strongest man in the world, and there was absolutely nothing I wouldn't be able to deal with, not even a giant frog with ferris wheel-shaped earrings.

Of course, like everything else in life, the spell of that moment ended. We turned back, drove home, took a long, hot shower. And the next morning -- surprise of surprises -- the strongest man in the world was snivelling. Back, you might say, to the skinny, geeky poet who'd rather read a book than don a leather jacket.

But despite lasting only a few hours, that experience will make me remember and cherish B forever. For as short as that experience was, it gave me a glimpse of what I could do or be, and taught me how deeply I could possibly feel. Besides, the way, ehem, he rode my bike in bed that night was worth the cold I had for days after. :)

Happy birthday, baby. Hope you'll like this birthday gift. (Click on it!)


(Hey friends, in celebration of B's birthday, please share with us your most memorable moment with B in the comments section. Thanks!)