Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 00:34:52 +0800 (SGT)
From: lups272@yahoo.com
Subject: Bouncing Back Part I

This story is completely fiction and does not imply anything about the true
sexuality of any characters involved. I do not as well know about their
personal lives and I do not own any of those who appear in this story. To
put matters briefly, this is fiction, none of which is true.

Any events or similarities in the story are purely coincidental and all
that is written here is based on my own imagination. If you are too young
to read this, please direct yourself to a different place.

I apologize in advance for any wrong grammar/spelling in this story.
English is not my first language so bear with me.

This is as well for publishing only to this site only and comments are most
definitely welcome at lups272@yahoo.com


Bouncing Back


I was listening to one of his tracks on my phone as I sipped my morning
coffee. I was looking around the coffee shop, fully engrossed on the people
coming in and out. It was nearing nine in the morning and the patrons are
slowly coming in and the chairs were filling up.

I decided to back to reading the book I just bought the day before and
continued drinking my coffee. Taking off my earphones, I got back to being
swallowed by my book. I didn't even notice somebody walking up to me until
he tapped me on the shoulder.

"Hey. Can I sit here? Every other chair is occupied."

I didn't glance as the man sat down on the chair opposite me. The chairs
were comfortable enough and the table was low enough that we could see each
other.

"Good book?" the man asked.

I sighed and replied, "Yeah. It's from one of my favorite authors."

"Snicket."

I nodded.

"I've read most of the books from A Series of Unfortunate Events." the man
continued despite me still not paying attention to him. "I've also seen the
movie."

"You don't say." I mumbled.

"I don't mean to be rude, but I'm trying to talk to you here you know."

I sighed and closed the book. I placed it down on the table and immediately
stopped moving when I finally realized who I was talking to.

"I know you." I whispered shyly.

The man smiled. "You don't say?"

"I was listening to your track five minutes ago."

"Really?"

I was about to answer but I suddenly realized that my throat is dry. I
quickly sipped my coffee but coughed when my tongue got burnt. The man
snickered and I looked around.

"Nobody seems to know me."

"But...you're...you're..."

The man raised his arm for a handshake. "Josiah Hawley. Nice to meet
you...?"

"Angel."

"Nice name. I have to ask, that accent."

"Filipino."

"Ah. I don't think I have Filipino fans." Josiah smiled.

I secretly swooned inside but I regained my composure and sat straight
up. "Well I'm one of them."

"That's good to know. You come here often?"

"I don't know much of L.A. to be honest."

"Oh so you're new to the city."

"I'm actually just visiting a friend." I explained. "Turns out he can't
accompany me for most of the time since he has work."

"Do you want me to show you around?"

I shook my head quickly, instantly regretting it. "I don't want to
impose. I'm sure you're busy with your music career and your wife."

Josiah's eyes went sad all of a sudden the moment I mentioned that word. He
looked away for a second and I could see that his lip was quivering. I was
about to ask what's wrong when he smiled at me and answered back, "I'm not
that busy tomorrow."

"I..."

"Come on. It's not like your friend is going to appear anytime soon."

I breathed in deeply and nodded. "Only if you show me your Snicket
collection."

Josiah shrugged. "Well I don't have it with me when I travel but when I get
the chance I will."

I smiled. I was about to say something else but Josiah's phone started
ringing. He picked it up and talked to the other person on the line. Once
he was done, he sighed and explained, "Listen, I have to go be somewhere."
He took a pen out of his pocket and scribbled something on a napkin. "This
is my hotel room. Let's meet tomorrow say around 7? We could grab something
to eat first."

I nodded, not sure what to say. Josiah smiled again and stood up and left.

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"No way."

That was all my friend David could say when I told him about my encounter
with Josiah over dinner at his apartment. It was already around 9 in the
evening and he just came home from work with a bag full of Chinese food.

"I'm telling the God's truth right here."

"Well what did you say?"

"I nodded."

David sighed. "You nodded? That's it? The guy you have the hots for ever
since you saw him on that singing show invited you over to his hotel room
and all you did was nod?"

"I was distracted."

"By what?"

I sighed this time. "By his gorgeous smile. Oh my God David, you have no
idea how I melted."

"You are so gay Angel."

"Says the guy who hooks up with guys in toilet stalls."

"Hey. At least I'm getting some. When was the last time you actually went
out there and got laid?"

I stopped midway through my serving of the garden salad and frowned.

"Oh honey." David patted me on my hand. "It's okay if you can't remember."

"I can't believe it has been that long."

"Don't hurt yourself over it. You're not the kind of guy who does one night
stands. I get it."

"Well maybe I can."

David raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge? `Cause we can still head out
right now. The evening is young! And so are we."

I suddenly went timid. I'm not the kind of person that goes on clubs to
meet up with people. I prefer to sit at home, read a good book and drink
coffee. David was waiting for my answer but I know he is already expecting
that I will back down. I decided to surprise him and I replied, "Let's do
it."

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A few hours later, I found myself with David standing in front FUBAR. This
is one of the well-known gay bars in L.A. that you come here; you come here
to find one thing: sex.

"Are you sure we can get in?" I asked David apprehensively.

David grinned. "Of course we can. I know the owner."

I was about to say how but David was already walking towards the front door
where a bouncer is guarding it. David nodded at him and pointed at me
standing a few inches away. The bouncer quickly opened the door for us and
David pulled me in.

"Owen. Big dick, loud bottom." David whispered.

I decided to not ask any more questions as we entered the main area of the
club. The amount of people dancing with their shirts off instantly took me
by surprise. I've been to a couple of gay clubs in my life before but this
is something that I have never seen.

"I don't think I could do this." I stated to David but I quickly found out
he was gone and he was already dancing with somebody.

Feeling alone and out of place, I decided to just leave and send a text
message to David saying that I already went home. I could easily catch a
cab back to his place. I have a spare key anyway.

"Going so soon?" Owen asked as I got out of the club.

I shrugged. I didn't know how to talk to him after the detailed explanation
David gave me awhile ago. I turned and waited for a cab to come by. Seeing
no taxis, I decided to walk a few blocks down, hoping a taxi will pass by
and I could get home and have some sleep.

As I was walking, I was already thinking what happened to my life. I'm 26,
the last relationship I had was three years ago and that one didn't even
end well and now I'm supposed to be this hot shot writer that couldn't even
get a book going even if my life depended on it. Actually, with my funds
running low, my life does depend on it now.

I was going through my thoughts that I was startled when somebody called my
name. I thought for a second that it was somebody else, Angel is a common
name after all, but after four more calls of that name, I decided to look
who it was.

And standing there, just a few feet away from me is Josiah.

He grinned and asked, "What are you doing out here in this hour?"

"I was at a club with a friend."

Josiah cocked his head to the side and asked, "The same friend who was too
busy to show you around?"

I sighed. "Yeah. The same one. It's my fault really. I asked him to go to a
club with me and when we got to Fu...the club, it wasn't my scene." I
stopped myself from saying FuBar. He might see me differently if he knew I
was gay.

"Do you mean FuBar?"

Busted.

My face must have shown how anxious I was because he laughed. "Relax. I'm
not judging you or anything."

I relaxed a little bit and nodded, still not saying anything.

"You don't say much do you?" Josiah laughed. I smiled softly and he
continued, "No matter. Are you looking for a taxi?"

I nodded again, not really believing in myself to talk properly around him.

"Tell you what. We're going to meet tomorrow at 7 anyway, and it's already
nearing 1 AM, why don't you join me back at the hotel? It's just me
anyway."

My eyes lit up and I stuttered. Damn, I'm starting to hate myself even
more. I managed to blurt out however, "I don't have extra clothes."

"I have some extra if you want." Josiah replied. "I think you and I are
about the same size, I'm a little bit taller than you but that shouldn't be
a big of a deal."

I breathed in deeply, calming myself. I met Josiah's eyes and they were
waiting for my reply. The only word that I could mutter was, "Sure."