This was my first visit, not only to Singapore, but outside the country... However, my excitement wasn't related to my maiden trip abroad, rather, it concerned my assignment there.

After a quick, hassle-free Immigration procedure, I headed for the baggage claim area, and as I walked down the passageway, I spotted a familiar, long-lost figure a few steps ahead...

I slowed down, maintaining the distance as I keenly observed...

No, there was no mistake... my memory still as fresh as if it had been just yesterday. Yes, it was him... it was Sohail!

Sweet Sohail... cute Sohail... arrogant and wild Sohail... still as sinfully gorgeous as ever, as alluring as that first summer...

And suddenly I felt myself begin to grow, actually grow... unmistakably harden in my pants as I eyed him!

That remarkably warm feeling slowly radiating out from my crotch... coursing through every vein... up my spine... and I felt desire, intense desire wash over my tingling body...

My Singapore trip could turn out to be more rewarding than I had ever anticipated!

As we approached the carousel I decided that that was the moment, smiling as I increased my pace, catching up with him.

"Hey, Sohail," I whispered close to his ear.

He paused and half turned, gazing back with curiosity... and I saw him give a start as our eyes met... a whole range of emotion flit across that still boyishly handsome face - questioning incomprehension, shuddering recognition, and utter surprise... followed instantly by... what was it - adolescent petulance?!

And the eyes, those wide, puppy eyes... reflecting each emotion with startling clarity - questioning, flashing with (joyous?) recognition and then flaring with the petulance... slowly growing uncertain - in anxious alarm?... or, was it diffident dismay? - before finally turning apprehensive!

'Happy, yet fearful, huh?' I chuckled silently, 'Yes, my stay will certainly be fruitful!'

"What are you doing here?" I asked with a happy grin, extending my right hand in greeting.

"I... um, I... um..." he stuttered, his warm hand limp in my grip, the expression positively petrified now.

"Oh, c'mon..." I grinned, pulling him close as I wrapped my other arm, hugging him.

I felt the shudder, clear and unmistakable, and lightly patted his shoulder before releasing him.

"Visiting?" I queried, seeing that reddened face, getting hornier by the moment.

He shook his head, "I... er, I live here..."

"You live here, wow!" I smiled, genuinely surprised, "opened a branch in Singapore, eh?"

He shook his head once more, "I... I work... here..."

Gosh, he would be my death for sure... and I had to do everything in my power to control the urge... of taking him in my arms and kissing those incredibly red, full lips... bite them... feel him melt in my arms like before!

"You work here, wow!" I exclaimed with appreciable astonishment, "So, you didn't join your dad, huh?"

He shook his head silently.

"Well, I always thought you'd do something like optometry or ophthalmology and then join the family business..." I remarked, without, of course, mentioning that I never really thought he'd do anything other than simply graduating with some meaningless college degree and joining his father... manning one of the chain of stores they had... boss over the staff.

"I did my engineering..." he mumbled softly.

"Wow, you're an engineer?!" I exclaimed, genuinely impressed.

He didn't respond, his eyes scanning the carousel instead... and as he spotted his overnighter, he quickly bent forward and lifted it off before looking back at me... the eyes wide, the look uncertain... hesitant.

"Got your baggage, huh?"

He didn't respond.

"You remember me, right?" I asked with a twinkle in my eyes, suddenly enjoying his discomfort, his uncertainties... just like that first summer.

He nodded... and I saw the flush rise as he looked away.

"Well, since you didn't show any sign of enthusiasm... or even ask what I was doing here, I wondered if you remembered me..."

He looked back at me, the eyes suddenly flashing... complainingly accusative.

"I'm here on work," I offered, retrieving my single piece of luggage as it came along, "my first visit to Singapore. And how long have you been here?"

"Two years..." he replied, looking away.

"Wow, so you must know the place pretty well..."

He didn't bother to reply as we headed for Customs.

"Any suggestions, about a decent, affordable place to stay?"

"Where is your office," he questioned, "or, the place you'll be visiting?"

I mentioned.

"That's mostly expensive," he nodded.

"Well, I can't afford it then," I lied blatantly, asking, "Where do you stay?"

"Um..." he hesitated for a fraction of a moment, "actually close..."

"To the airport..." I enquired, since he didn't elaborate.

He didn't reply as he silently walked through the Green Channel... and since I had nothing to declare, I too followed him

"So, where can I get decent, affordable accommodation," I persisted as we cleared the area, adding with a sly grin, "unless, of course, you invite me over to your place..."

He almost stopped in his track... and then quickly collecting himself marched ahead, silent... and as I eyed him, I saw him blush... actually blush!

"You stay with colleagues?" I asked.

He didn't reply, but I saw the flush deepen.

"Alone?" I ventured.

"Um, sort of..." he finally murmured as we reached the lounge.

"Sort of?" I questioned looking at him.

But he neither replied, nor elaborated as we walked on.

"So, how do I get to town?" I asked, following him, enjoying myself.

"We take the MRT," he answered, "it's in the basement..."

The 'we' absolutely thrilled me, but I feigned incomprehension, "But you said that that area is expensive... you know, where the office is located, where you stay..."

"You... um, you can... uh, stay with me," he replied in a low voice, eyes straight ahead.

"Oh!" I exclaimed with fictive surprise, "Thank you so much, Sohail... but I really can't impose..."

"You won't," he interrupted even before I could finish with my phoney courtesy, leading the way below.

It was a lovely apartment... compact, neat and artfully done - the living area, a kitchen... and the bedroom - an unmistakable feminine touch to everything.

Sohail offered me a refreshing drink of cola, and as I sat down on the couch, he asked, "Um, you want to use the bathroom?"

I shook my head, "Uh, no... not right now."

"Um, then if you'll excuse me, I need to make a few calls, and um, take a shower," he said, "I've been travelling all day..."

"Sure, go ahead, I'm fine," I smiled up at him, and then asked, "Calling home to let them know that you've reached, huh?"

He nodded, offering me the remote, "Here, you can watch tv..."

As I reached up, I noted his clearly trembling hand... and a naughty idea suddenly came to me... wanting to grab his hand and pull him down... onto my lap... and then... oh, well, I resisted the urge and thanked him instead as I took the remote.

I leaned back, watching him disappear into the bedroom... and slowly recollected that summer, nine years ago...

2. Encountering the Enticer

It was the spring of 2003, I was 23 and had just got my first job.

It was in a different city and I had to move... and since the company wouldn't be providing me with accommodation, I had to find my own place to stay.

Being from a small town, the youngest child... someone who had never left home, my parent were initially reluctant, a bit apprehensive about the move to a big city. But then, the son of an average middle class family needs to get a job, make a career, there being not too many options in life, and surely no family wealth to fall back on!

Without burdening you guys with all the boring details of long-distant house hunting, and the convoluted particulars of relationships that finally made it possible... let me just state that I got my accommodation, and made the move in late March, 2003 - a first for me, and a whole new experience...

It was a neat little house, the last one, in a mixed, lower middle-class neighbourhood, sitting forlorn in its own little garden at the far end of an anonymous little lane in another of those numerous residential colonies that had haphazardly cropped up around the rapidly expanding city. It had lain vacant for nearly a decade - an ancient caretaker in charge, the owner settled in the Gulf, never visiting.

And my accommodation was a two-roomed, attached bath unit situated on the rooftop... in the centre, with open terrace on either side - the north and south... approached by a staircase leading up the rear side of the building - totally separate from the main house, and independent.

The house opposite, and the one right next, were unoccupied too... and beyond the house, where the lane ended, was a large piece of open ground, about the size of a football field... completely walled in, and with an iron gate that always remained locked.

This vacant plot, as I soon found out, was the playground of the neighbourhood boys - evenings and weekends. But since I came home late on weekdays, and left early on weekends, I never really got to see them in action, simply catching an ocassional glimpse (when I did happen to return early) of the boys trooping out, or having a last minute chat near the locked gate before parting for the day.

I quickly settled down, setting myself a routine - office and work during the week, and discovering the city on weekends - leaving home early, and returning late, after dinner. I made a few friends at workplace, but mostly kept to myself, avoiding too much of socialising; and I simply didn't bother with exploring that 'other' side of the city - search for guys. Well, I hadn't exactly given up on sex and become a monk, but neither was I too keen on immediately seeking out sexual company!

The neighbours mostly left me alone, their curiosity probably sated by whatever gossip the old caretaker might have carried to them, and the boys paid me nothing more than a cursory glance... and after the first two weeks I had become another regular fixture in their collective life, as interesting, or as invisible, as any of the various other featureless clutter of the colony.

Though, a few of the more familiar faces did grace me with an occasional smile or a perfunctory nod... the younger kids more forthcoming as they greeted me with a broader smile, or even a shy 'hello'.

But once schools closed for summer, about three weeks after I'd moved in, the ground exploded with youthful exuberance... and from early morning to late in the evening, after the last rays of light had faded, it was the battle ground for the teens - mostly fourteens to eighteens - unruly roisterers on the cusp of manhood, loud and boisterous. Constantly engaged in altercations, taunts, and even an occasional scuffle as they indulged in their obstreperous play. Mocking, mischievous and impish... rambunctious in their adolescent celebration of vernal life!

I heard it all, and once in a while, as I sat out on the terrace before getting ready for office, I saw it too...

And standing out in that crowd of teens was a boy - aggressively arrogant and belligerently antagonistic... loud and noisomely domineering!

Foul-mouthed and abrasively blustery, the tyke was simply unable to open his mouth without some filth popping out - his every sentence peppered with flavourful invectives, and interspersed with graphic expletives... all of it embellished with suggestive gesticulations that were markedly obscene...

Strutting around with a chesty confidence and a grandiose image of the self, replete with a sense of superiority; disdainfully irreverent, as he arrogated the role of leadership to himself... constantly obtruding, bossing over the other boys as they meekly yielded, silently acquiesced!

He seemed deliberately rebellious... almost feral!

And he caught my eyes almost instantly... fascinating me... and yes, titillating me!