'Wanna tell you baby
that you're the one that I'm thinking of
...I think I'm falling
maybe I'm falling for you'

-I Think I'm Falling by MYMP

Gerald can not believe he’s going to do what Matt asked him to do. How can he, kilabot na heartthrob and playboy, act like he’s gay. What’s going to happen to his reputation? He better not see anyone he knows there or else Matt’s going to get into so much trouble. He started rummaging through his closet to find something that is appropriate to wear.

“Teka, I don’t even know what to wear? What do they usually wear anyways? Bahala na nga..”

Gerald decided to go with dark jeans and a pink dress shirt. He looked in the mirror and decided that it would do. He just needs to act really well to convince his “date” that he is actually gay. It’s not gonna be that hard right? And it’s just going to be for this one night. He’s just going to forget everything that’s going to happen tonight and go on with his life tomorrow.

“Hoy Gerald, ready ka na ba?” said Matt as he went inside Gerald’s room. “Baka ma-late tayo, ayokong maghintay si Melissa.”

“Melissa, Melissa.. Yung babae na yan ang dahilan why I’m caught up in this situation. Bwiset kang blackmailer ka.. If this does something sa reputation ko, you’ll see” grumbled Gerald.

“Relax ka lang pare, one night lang, tomorrow you’re free to do whatever you want. You can go out partying with tons of girls again and find you’re one true love!” laughed Matt. “I still can’t believe that behind you playboy image eh hopeless romantic ka rin.”

“Manahimik ka na nga pare, tara na umalis na tayo. Baka magbago pa isip ko takasan kita diyan.”

“Sige takasan mo, paguwi mo si Nina andito na sa bahay. Bwahahaha!”

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“So, what do you think? Bagay ba? Do I look ty? Does the color goes well with my skirt? What about my shoes? Pangit ba pang first date? Ano? Sumagot ka?” asked Melissa.

“Paano ako sasagot eh tanong ka ng tanong. Di mo man lang ako pinapasingit.” said Kim. “Yeah, it looks good. I’m sure Matt will fall head over heels inlove with you.”

“Hay naku friend, you look great too! Malay mo, magawa mong lalake yung gay cousin ni Matt!”

“Lalake?! Wag na no! Ayos na sa akin ang gay. Besides, they’re way more fun naman kesa sa guys! Di ka pa sasaktan di ba?” added Kim.

“Naku, tignan lang natin pag nakita mo na ang magiging katapat mo..”

“Anong katapat?”

“Wala! Tara na! Baka maghintay pa ng matagal sina Matt. I’m so excited!” giggled Melissa as the two of them started walking towards the car.

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Matt and Gerald have been waiting for a few minutes. They’re standing outside the restaurant where they are all supose to meet. Matt keep pacing back and forth, much to Gerald’s annoyance. The whole situation is going through his mind. He has to act like he’s gay. How can he do that? What if that girl sees through him?

“Matt, ano nga palang name nung friend ni Melissa?” Gerald inquired.

“Ha? Ahhh.. Kim name niya.” Matt answered back. He looked at Gerald and added, “Hoy! Huwag mong igaya yun sa mga naging girlfriends mo. Iba si Kim. She’s a really nice girl.”

“What do you mean igaya eh she’ll think I’m gay!” Gerald eyes went towards the parking lot where she saw two girls walking towards him. He immediately recognized Melissa since Matt has tons of pictures of her in his room but the what caught his eyes was the girl that was walking beside her. One thing came straight to his mind: beautiful.

“Hey Melissa! Sorry ah, di namin kayo nasundo. Kasi yung kotse ko pinapagawa pa, eh yung kotse naman ni Gerald for 2 people lang. Sorry talaga.” Matt said as he went to greet Melissa.

“That’s okay, I don’t mind driving naman eh” answered Melissa. “Hi! I’m Melissa, you must be Gerald?” she said as she turned her attention to the guy standing beside Matt.

Gerald still hasn’t stopped staring at the girl beside Melissa so he was surprised when Mel said his name. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. Using his girly voice he answered, “Hi! Yes, I’m Gerald but you can call me Geraldine!” He blinked his eyes a couple of time as he placed his hands on Melissa’s.

Melissa couldn’t help but laugh. “Geraldine?”

“I’m joking! Ger-Ger na lang para mas cute di ba?” Gerald said as he lightly tapped Melissa’s shoulder.

“Hahaha.. Nakakatawa naman tong pinsan mo Matt. By the way, Ger-Ger, this is my bestfriend, Kimberly.” Melissa pointed at Kim. “I hope you don’t mind being her date tonight?”

Gerald took Kim’s hand and placed a kiss on it. He looked at her eyes and using his normal voice he said, “No, it would be a great honour to have you, Miss Kimberly, as my date tonight. I’m Gerald Anderson, but you can call me Gerald.” He gave Kim a wink.

Kim couldn’t help but blush. “Ha, ha, ha! You’re so funny. Don’t worry, you don’t have to pretend to be a guy. Mas okay nga sa akin kung normal ka lang. Saka Kim na lang wag na Kimberly, masyadong formal.”

“Really? Oh thank God! It’s so hard to pretend to be a guy!” Gerald added as he pretend to place his hair behind his ears. “Well? What are we waiting for? Let’s go inside!”

He placed his right hand in front of Kim and Kim took it with a smile. They went inside hand in hand leaving Matt and Melissa standing.

“Wow, mukhang magaan ang loob ni Kim kay Gerald ah?” Melissa commented.

“Patay tayo diyan..”

“Huh? May sinabi ka?”

“Wala, tara na! Iniwan na tayo nung dalawa eh dapat tayo ang magde-date.” Matt took Melissa’s hand and started walking towards the restaurant. The waiter led them to their reserved table and Gerald, being a gentleman, pulled the chair for Kim. Kim just giggled and thanked him. As soon as they were seated Gerald started the interrogation.

“So Kim, how old are you?”

“Ako? Turning 21 this coming April. Ikaw?”

Gerald smiled and crossed his legs. “ I just turned 22 a week ago.”

“Oh talaga? Belated happy birthday!” greeted Kim.

“Thanks. Malapit na pala ang birthday mo. Anong balak mong gawin? Dinner date with your boyfriend?” Gerald asked.

Kim’s expression changed. “Boyfriend? Naku wala. Huwag na ever. Ang mga lalake kasi sinungaling, taksil, manloloko, bolero, chick boy!”

Matt and Mel were minding their own business but they couldn’t stop overhearing what Kim said. When Kim said bolero and chick boy, Matt can’t stop looking at Gerald. He gave Gerald a knowing look. Gerald just gave him a frown.

“Kim naman,” Mel said, “Not all guys are like that.. Some of them are really sincere and caring.. Right Matt?” She gave Matt a flirty smile.

“Oo nga, huwag mo naman kaming lahatin Kim. Mayroon din namang matino sa’min. ‘Di ba Gerald?” Matt froze.. He completely forgot that Gerald’s suppose to be gay.

“Oh my God cousin, why are you asking me? Don’t associate me with guys.” Gerald pretended to flip his hair. “I agree with you sister!” He said taking Kim’s hand, “Guys never care much about us girls. All they care about are themselves.”

Mat was thankful that Gerald was able to save them from his slip up. He looked at Melissa and they both shook theire heads and resumed to what they were doing before.

“Oh, so you think so too Gerald? Nagkaboyfriend ka na ba?” asked Kim.

Gerald almost spilled the water he was drinking. “Uhhmm.. Oo, kaya lang iniwan niya ako! Pinagpalit sa isang babae!” He pretended to wipe his tears. “Anong meron siya na wala ako?”

Kim put her arms around him. “Ayos lang yan sister, you and I should stick together, pareho tayong niloko.” She gave him a smile.

Gerald looked at Kim’s eyes, he can’t stop thinking how beautiful she is. Her hair, her eyes, her cheeks and her dimples. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of looking at her,’ Gerald thought.

Throughout dinner, Kim and Gerald had a chance to get to know each other. Kim learned that Gerald grew up in the states and moved here when he was 14 and that he is half filipino and half american. She also learned that Gerald likes to play basketball, because “There are a lot of ‘Papas’ there.” Gerald learned that Kim really likes the color pink, to his delight, since he is wearing a pink shirt and she complimented it. He also learned that she really likes to sing and that her favorite band is MYMP. As soon as dinner was over Matt went to talk to Gerald.

“Pare, alis kami ni Melissa, punta pa kami Embassy. Gusto mong sumama?”

Gerald glanced back at Kim right at as she was yawning. “Kasama ba si Kim? Pag kasama siya sasama na din ako, pero kapag hindi I’m not interested.”

Matt looked at his cousin suspiciously. “What’s up with you? Pare si Kim yan. Like I said before, iba siya sa mga naging girlfriends mo.”

“Iba talaga siya bro, I don’t know. There’s just something about her. Una ko palang siyang nakita sparks were flying na.” said Gerald.

“Sparks were flying, ang corny mo dude! Don’t forget, she thinks you’re gay. How are you gonna get out of that?”

“Ewan ko pare, bahala na.”

“Ano ba yang pinagbubulungan niyo diyang dalawa?” Melissa asked.

“Naku wala, we’re just talking about how strict my mommy is when it comes to her only girl.” Gerald answered smiling.

Melissa laughed and then turned to Kim, “So ano Kim? Sama ka ba sa amin ni Matt? Masaya dun.”

“Naku, inaantok na talaga ako.” Kim replied. “Napagod ako sa’yo kanina sa kakakulit mo sa akin about Ma-” Kim did not finished her sentence because Melissa placed her hands on Kim’s lips. She gave Kim and meaningful look and let go. “Hehehe, I mean napagod ako kasi kinukulit mo ako about maps! You know!” Kim grinned.

“Eh paano ka uuwi? Nagdrive kayo ni Melissa dito?” inquired Matt.

“Ayos lang, magta-taxi na lang ako. Dami namang taxi diyan.” Kim answered.

Gerald butted in, “No, I’ll drive you. I’m a bit tired myself. I can drive you home sister.. Alam mo naman tayo.. Kailangan ng beauty sleep di ba?”

Kim laughed at loud and Gerald can’t help but notice how it sounded so nice to hear her laugh. “Sigurado ka ba? Ayaw mo bang mag boy hunting sa Embassy?”

“Boy hunting? Naku, wag na. Di ba nga? Manloloko lang ang mga boys?”

“Hahaha.. Sige na nga, sabay na ako sa’yo.”

Gerald stood up and placed his hands on Kim’s back. “Tara, Ms. Chiu, your chariot awaits!”

“Oh sige Mel ah, uuwi na ako.” Kim gave Melissa a knowing wink, “Good luck!”

“Sige cousin, uuwi na ako. Kailangan ko pa ng beauty sleep eh.” Gerald waved at Matt. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do” He wiggled his fingers. “Let’s go Kim.” He said as he led Kim to the exit.

“Bagay sila noh?” Kim commented as they made their way to Gerald’s car. “Ang cute nilang tignan.”

“Aba, aba? Naiinggit ka? Bakit hindi ba tayo bagay?” Gerald wiggled his eyebrows.

Kim had to laugh again. “Bagay ka diyan! Mamaya nandidiri ka na kasi ang ka-date mo babae din katulad mo.”

“Hey, I don’t mind” Gerald said as he opened the car door for Kim. “ Eh kung naiwan ka dun kasama nung dalawa I’m sure na di ka mag-eenjoy. Saka I enjoyed our “date” naman eh. Masaya kang kasama.”

“Ikaw din Ger-Ger masayang kasama.” Kim smiled as Gerald got inside the car. “Kwela talaga kapag bakla eh.”

‘But I’m not one.’ Gerald thought.

The car ride was too short for Gerald. He still wanted to spend more time with Kim. He stopped in front of Kim’s apartment and got out to open the door for her.

“Napaka gentleman mo naman, sayang ka talaga.” Kim mumbled.

“Ha? May sinabi ka?”

“Wala, wala.” Kim walked up to her front door. “Oh paano ba yan, dito na ako. Salamat ulit sa paghatid mo sa akin and sa pag-sama mo sa akin ha. I had fun tonight.”

“Thank you din. I enjoyed the night with you. Maybe we can hang out again sometime?” Gerald hopefully asked.

Kim gave him a questioning look.

“You know? Maybe go to a spa? Get our nails done?” Gerald added.

“Sure! Basta kikay in na in ako diyan! Alam mo naman cell number ko di ba?”

“Yeah, okay.. I’ll call you okay?”

“Okay! Sige na, goodnight. Ingat sa daan okay?”

Kim surprised Gerald when she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She looked into his eyes and said, “Thank you.”

Gerald was speechless. He did not expect Kim to kiss him on the cheek. Kim thought Gerald got offended and started apologizing. “Naku I’m sorry! I know that must have been gross for you.”

“Ha? Ehhh? What? Ano? Ohh.. Don’t worry about it! I don’t mind. We’re friends na naman di ba? I’ll just think of it as a beso-beso”

“Ikaw talaga, naku umuwi ka na, beauty sleep di ba? Ingat sa pag-drive ha.” Kim reminded Gerald.

“Okay, goodnight. I’ll call you later.” Gerald started walking towards his parked car while Kim closed the door. Kim couldn’t help but smile. She made a really good friend today and she’s really happy that she decided to go with Melissa. She walked towards the bathroom to get ready for bed.

When Gerald got inside the car, he still couldn’t believe that a simple kiss like that would render him speechless. He touched his cheeks where Kim’s soft lips were before and smiled like crazy.

“I think I’m falling...”