Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 04:12:48 -0600 From: Gavin 2357 Subject: A Love Story, Part One This story is a work of fiction. All characters are imaginary. It was an unusually warm day in San Francisco. A light breeze kissed Kevin's stubbled cheek as he stepped out of the cab. The clear sky was of such a deep blue that he had seen only while skiing in Colorado years ago as a teenager. Now, as many years had passed, and the 32-year-old man savored the crisp air of the city that was to be his home for the next few years. Kevin had just been chosen by his boss in New York to head up a second branch of a language school. Well, this was the address. Kevin paid the driver and looked around. Maybe he should have gone to the hotel first, but he was traveling light and understandably felt excited about his recent promotion. Across the street stood a tall modern-looking green glass tower. Kevin turned around and proceeded into his building--a very old, yet well kept triangular building--triangular because Market Street ran diagonal to the northern streets. One block south was four-story entertainment complex with cinemas on the second and third floors and Kevin had this on his list of things to do and see in San Francisco. In the lobby, four polished brass elevator doors belied a faint smell of mildew. Light streamed in through a huge window above a carpeted staircase set prominently at the rear of the building. A polished brass handrail coursed up through its center. Kevin loved history and was instantly intrigued by the classical architecture. He guessed to building to be about a hundred years old. Alone in the elevator, he pressed 11, the top floor. No, this was not the gleaming glass tower across the street, but it did have its charm. Kevin was already beginning to feel at home. The lumbering doors opened to a massive marbled hallway with a ceiling nearly as high as the lobby's. The only windows that could be seen were through the wood-framed glass doors of other suites, each with its own gold lettering stating their service. Lots of jewelers. They looked like mom-and-pop businesses. Names he had never heard of before. There was a law office--no glass in that door. The accountant's office had no glass either. Finally, here he was at 1125. The Gold lettering on the glass was perfect and the door was unlocked. There was absolutely no way Kevin could have been prepared for what met his gaze on the other side of that door. In a tiny waiting area stood a young man with straight feathered black hair which stood up on the top of his head, gave him the slightest parted bangs, and then casually covered his ears and neck. What the young man was wearing was equally stunning. A very tight tee shirt of some black, white and grey army design fit his slender torso like a glove leaving nothing to Kevin's imagination. Its short sleeves revealed long smooth sinuous evenly tanned arms. The base of the tee shirt barely met the very low cut of the young man's tight faded grey jeans. He was every bit as tall as Kevin's six feet. Full lips and big bright brown eyes smiled at Kevin. "You must be Kevin. I'm Ngoc. How was your trip?" If Ngoc picked up on Kevin's delayed response, he didn't let on. "I'm Kevin," Kevin managed to get out in a final breath. "Uh ... yeah ... my trip was great." Kevin knew the younger man had to have noticed something about his initial reaction. And yes, there it was, the knowing smile that lasted just a little longer than called for, the intense look in those deep brown eyes, firm handshake held for more than just a few seconds, and, finally, the left hand placed on top of Kevin's. Ngoc did not let go as they peered through each other's eyes. He returned Ngoc's firm grip and savored his silky smooth Asian skin. Finally, Kevin managed to say, "Are you a student?" Smiling and still holding on to Kevin's hand, Ngoc said, "No, I'm your office boy. Just tell me what to do." The ideas that suddenly flooded Kevin's imagination overwhelmed him, but all he said was, "How old are you ... Ngoc?" "Nineteen," Ngoc said without missing a beat. "Uh ... is there anything you'd like me to wear?" `How about a speedo,' Kevin thought to himself. "No, you look great," Kevin said a little too enthusiastically. Again ... that knowing grin. This time, Kevin returned the smile. Holding Kevin's hand, Ngoc let Kevin through a door. "Come. Let me give you a tour." Part two will be coming soon.