CHAPTER 1: Happy c'est moi
The place was almost empty. Only sprinklings of “unmentionables” were having drinks at Happy, the happening gay bar of Singapore, at least on weekends. As I sit by the dimly lit modern deco bar, contemplating if I should order another of their one-for-one vodka mixer, I wondered what made these people go out on an uneventful Wednesday night to end up at Happy. I knew why I headed out that night; I recently decided to experience how it is to be a single Filipino gay man in a foreign land if I am to survive. It was my second time at Happy but it was my first time there alone.
A crowd of youngish looking people with funny hair were laughing at the other end of the bar while some suspicious characters were giving me an inquisitive eye. They probably thought, “Ah…newbie”. I was just looking back at them while thinking “Did I leave the aircon ON before I left? Panget niyo….”
As I turned my bar stool to the left to look at the empty dance floor, everything went into slow motion. He walked in, I heard Alleluia from Handels’ Messiah, and we locked eyes a moment slightly longer than forever. He had dark blonde hair and deliciously pink skin. His shirt was just tight enough to show off his muscular chest without making me think of spandex. "He's the one!" I thought as I picked up my jaw from the floor.
Fight. I turned back to the bar to order. "Bartender, vodka cranberry, please!” I silently muttered to myself, “You ho.....”
Mr. Pink settled at the end of the U-shaped bar, greeted some people and ordered his drink. He’d glance over and look at me looking at him looking at me looking at him. This is dizzying. All in slow mo while I heard Alleluia mixed with Loose My Breath…. I wondered where he was from and how many kids he’d like us to adopt…
After what seemed like an eternity of 3minutes, he walked over and said “Uhm, so what ya drinking?”
“Yes, whatever it is, God yes!”, I wanted to answer but logic dictated that I answer “vodka cranberry…”
“Hi, I’m C. Who ya with?”
C.... Nice name. I’m catholic. Let's get married.
Next thing I knew, it was 8AM on a Thursday and I was standing on an unfamiliar pavement in an unfamiliar street, ignoring the hangover, hailing a cab to get back to my apartment and find out if I really left the aircon on the night before.
He’s from Oz. It's fun down under…
"This is an extremely old post..... when I was an "old" newbie - if there ever was one"
