O6-12–26

For the first time in what felt like forever, Kyeji woke up on the right side of the bed: no back pain, no lingering gloom, just a rare, genuine sense of excitement. Of course, his dads didn’t let him leave the house without a healthy dose of teasing. “Naligo ka ba?” they joked, eyeing his carefully chosen outfit and the way he kept checking his reflection. He just gave them a playful smirk, his heart already halfway to Elijah’s condo.

Today was special. This was their first official date since he started courting Elijah, and he was a nervous wreck. He wanted everything to be perfect.

He carefully picked the place, a place that had always been his personal escape—his sanctuary when the noise of the city and the weight of his programming codes became too much. He packed a picnic basket filled with snacks, and a bouquet of deep red roses sat in the passenger seat, vibrant against the car’s black interior.

When he arrived at the condo, Elijah rushed downstairs with so much excitement he nearly tripped. Kyeji greeted him with the roses immediately, watching the way Elijah’s face lit up. In that moment, all the nerves disappeared.

The drive to Tanay was filled with a comfortable, peaceful silence, punctuated by lighthearted banter. When Elijah asked why they were going there, Kyeji felt his chest tighten with honesty. “It’s my escape place,” he admitted, his voice soft as he navigated the winding roads. “The first time I’ve ever brought someone here.” “... but I wanted you to see it.”

Their first stop was Lanai by Annabel’s for lunch. Kyeji watched, completely captivated, as Elijah took in the cozy atmosphere. They feasted on a spread of four-cheese pizza, boneless inasal, and mushroom chicharon, washed down with refreshing drinks.

The highlight of the day, however, was Viewscape Nature Park.

As the sky began to bleed into shades of orange and purple, Kyeji unpacked their sunset picnic. He pulled out Elijah’s favorite, Chuckie. He also pulled out his Delight and the sandwiches he prepared.

Under the emerging stars, the picnic blanket became their whole world. They exchanged heartfelt confessions, the words that echoed softly against the mountain breeze.

Eventually, Kyeji made it back to his own home. He was exhausted, but the good kind of tired. He found his dads waiting, and despite the late hour, they fell into their new routine.

Uno.

The cards were dealt, and the teasing resumed. He laughed as he dropped a Draw Four on his Dad, his mind still drifting back to the sunset in Tanay.

from sanctuary to home, his heart was finally at rest.