This Guy's in Love with You

A/N: Hey. So far, this is my first work here at fictionpress. Anyway, this is just a "test-post". Whatever. But, I'd still be glad to read some of your reviews. Thanks!

There he was. Perfect. Black locks blowing in the wind… Lips as red as cherries… Muscles bulging beneath his open collared polo… And his piercing eyes! They swept from my manicured toe nails up to my quivering eyebrows. He pulled me closer, his breath tickling my cheek.

"You look gorgeous. Let's go."

I melted like butter under his gaze. My stomach filled with fluttering butterflies as he held my hand and led me into the finest restaurant in town…

Beep! Beep!

I opened my eyes suddenly. Glow-in-the-dark stickers on the ceiling greeted my view. I groaned. It was all a dream and my stupid cell phone woke me up. Talk about a bad hair day! I sat up in bed and surveyed my surroundings, trying to patch up the remnants of that dream. I sighed. It was useless; all I could remember were vague reflections of Luke's face. Luke! I hugged my pillow tight as I remembered him. No one knew of my obsession, all they noticed was that Luke and I were the best of friends. And to think that I had been in love with him for two years already! Again I sighed as I read the message in my cell phone. Just another chain message; no need to forward it. I got up and went to the bathroom. It was time to get ready for school.

"Gabby! Hey, what's up?"

I turned around and almost dropped my books. It was Luke, and he was calling me! I stood like a total statue waiting for him to catch up with me. He was panting slightly when he reached me. Slapping me gently on the back, he greeted me and gave me another smile.

"Gabs! Prof really ditched us with assignments, didn't he? Man, I'm aching all over! Had to stay up last night working on that DNA molecule!"

"Well, at least you're done. We won't have to chase the schedule next week. Here, I'm OK. I'm done, too, you see."

"Oh, is that so?Hey, I was thinking, do you have time after school? Why don't we drop by the arcade? Uhm… If you want to come, of course."

My jaw slackened as I tried to contemplate his request. Was he asking me out on a date? "Oh, sure… Anytime, Luke. See you later."

Class was over in a blur. I felt as if walking in a trance. I mean, I couldn't believe it! Me and Luke? On a date? Unbelievable! Surely, he didn't know how I felt about him? If he did… Then, why did he ask me out on a date? Did he feel the same about me? Oh my… Oh my!

I opened my locker door and placed my things inside. A picture of Luke and me was pasted at the rear end. I was always careful to cover it from view whenever people passed by. This time, I gazed at it fondly and traced his smiling face. Suddenly someone tapped me on the shoulder.

"Hey there. Are you ready to go?"

It was Luke! I quickly closed the locker door and glanced uneasily at him. Had he seen the picture? "Oh hi, Luke. You scared me. What are you doing here?"

"We're going to the arcade, remember? You have to come with me."

He looked at me pleadingly and I nodded. I couldn't understand why he wanted me to go. Maybe he had something important to say to me? My heart began to beat faster at the thought. He casually draped his arm around my shoulders and squeezed me softly.

"You know what, Gabs? I'm really lucky I know you."

I nodded mutely, my throat was so dry and my palms were sweating.

We arrived at the arcade and he led me into a vacant table. He looked at me and clutched his hands together.

"Look…" he began. My heart pounded harder. "I… I don't know how to say this. You might laugh."

I shook my head and said, "No, I promise I won't laugh. What is it, Luke?"

Luke clasped his hands again and sighed. Say "I love you, Gabby!" My mind screamed. Say that you don't care about other people and that we'll be together forever!

"I have a favor to ask," he abruptly said. Time froze and I felt suffocated.

"Wha-what is it, Luke?"

"I need you to be my cover."

"Cover?"

"Yes! Please, Gabby, I need you now. Please say you'll help me!"

"Yes… Yes, of course I'll help you. Why?"

"See that girl? That one with the pink t-shirt. Isn't she beautiful? Look. Turn around and see for yourself."

I turned around and saw a pretty girl in pink sitting behind us. Yes… She was indeed beautiful… Sexy… And a real woman. "Yes, Luke, she is."

Luke turned to me and broke into a grin. "I really need a corner man. Could you – could you introduce me to her? Not that I'm that eager, but… Could you act cool and introduce us to each other? I mean… If that's okay with you, of course."

I felt like a mannequin. As if my lips were suddenly turned to wood and my eyes glazed over. My heart thudded painfully at the rejection. Tears threatened to drown my eyes, but somehow I didn't break down into sobs. I had to hold on to what dignity I had left. "Sure."

Things went perfectly. I came up to the girl and told her the guy seated next to her wanted to get to know her. It was simple, really. The girl even smiled at me and told me she liked my shirt. Luke had looked at me as if he would give me the whole world. And I, I parted eventually, walking out of the arcade with silent tears streaming down my face.

For what could a sixteen year old boy like me do? I was born a man, and a relationship between Luke and me would never have worked. I have told myself countless fantasies that belonged in a dream world. It would never have been possible in the real world.

As if on cue, Parokya ni Edgar's This Guy's in Love with you, Pare came on the radio in the jeep I was in. And rain began to fall. How ironic. How corny. How like in a tele novella. I looked at the pasty faced boy grinning in my school ID.

"Gabriel Mac Lopez… You fool."

Then I gave myself into the grief and pain. Tears were now flowing freely from my eyes.