Code of Love

In a dimly lit quiet room in unit number 27, somewhere in a city in the Philippines. Books are stacked here and there and old wrappers of snacks can be seen in every corner of the small bedroom. "I'm supposed to be only working with the interface, but what am I doing in this... If... Then... Okay... Why am I even tracing this dammed... Call function... Then... Line 30878...", Jared murmured to himself as he analyzes a section of the program on his computer that is unfamiliar to him while debating about his current situation while subconsciously slowly scratching his head. Momentarily moving his large eyeglasses that have a square plastic frame while squinting, afraid he could miss something out that will make him start all over. The buzzing of the doorbell rang briefly twice. Someone's at the door. It didn't get Jared's attention but his eyebrows furrowed. The doorbell buzzed repeatedly but longer this time. It echoed throughout the condominium unit. Jared frowned as he tries to quickly remember which line of code in the script he is at before answering the door. He bolted from his room to the front door as felt annoyed by the pressure and the constant buzzing. He kept yanking his loose worn white shirt and shorts up as they slide from his slim body. The five-foot-seven boy scrambled to put his slippers on as he walked rapidly. He peeked at the front door peephole before opening the door. It was a short and dark-skinned man in his late 40s wearing a red uniform of a local carrier and was about to knock at the door. Jared had opened it quickly before the man could. He noticed two huge red pieces of luggage about as tall as Jared's thighs. It had a bunch of stickers from the airport. He tried to read what he could without moving an inch to know who it was for. The labels are a mix of English and Chinese words. He has never been out of the country nor his financially capable roommate, Matt, who just left to get groceries an hour ago this morning. "Kuya, you must have got the wrong room.", Jared pointed out shyly while scratching his short and messy hair. The guy glanced at the yellow folded paper he quickly pulled from his pocket. His eyes narrowed as he read it. "I'm looking for... Mr. Christopher... Wei?", said the guy who has a Bisaya accent. Jared moved forward and but barely leaving the door as the guy handed the paper to him. "Sorry. No one lives here by that name.", said Jared. Jared doesn't know anyone else in the building except his roommate. "I'm Christopher Wei.", said the tall gorgeous man with a pompadour hairstyle fixed with a matte pomade approaching them in the lobby. He got both of their attention. He was standing six-foot-three. His red shirt and worn-out jeans are tight enough to give you a hint that he's sculpted. His broad shoulders were more pronounced as his black Nike backpack hung on both. His fair skin glowed and his beading sweat from the tropical heat outside made it glistened. The courier guy was confused if he was looking at a light bulb heading their way while Jared, who was irritated earlier, is now in awe. Christopher pulled an original copy on white paper of the paper Jared is holding from his back pocket and handed it to the courier as he got close. The courier interrogated it and politely compared it with what's with Jared's holding. Jared on the other hand remained stared at Christopher who started to feel a bit shy towards Jared. Jared noticed it and quickly looked at the ground. "s**t! Did I look at him long enough for it to have a meaning?", Jared said to himself. He blushed. His eyes swung to and from on the ground as if he was looking for something. "I'm at number 28. Sorry if my handwriting is not as legible.", he said apologetically. The courier looked at the paper and compared it to the number at the door behind Jared. "Okay. I'm outta here. I just need you to sign here, here, and here.", the courier sounded like a typical irritated librarian then pulled a blank pen from his side pocket. Jared is just watching the two and the goings-on. The courier laid the yellow paper on Jared's palm properly for signing and where the tall guy should sign. "Excuse me.", the tall guy said politely with a warm smile to Jared as his hand supported Jared's hand as he signs the paper on it. Jared could not help but notice the perfect pink nails on the tall guy's writing hand. He felt the warmth at the back of his hand as gently rubbed against his. His hand began to slightly tremble. Jared is ecstatic, and he's trying his best to pull himself together. He can't remember when the last time he was like that if he ever did but a part of him is telling him that it is not good. The courier quickly took the yellow paper and head out as soon as the guy is done signing it. Jared is still staring at his hand being held by the tall guy. There was a moment of silence as if the time froze. "Are you okay?", Christopher asked nicely. His sweet friendly smile is wider than earlier as his face moved closer to Jared's. Jared shyly stared at Christopher's light brown East Asian eyes. Jared didn't want to stare at him, so he kept looking down after quickly glancing at him. "Umm... Yeah! Ahh... I... just... umm.", Jared moved back slowly to establish a certain space between two strangers should normally observe. He can't pull away his hand thinking that it may look rude so he just continued looking at their hands together hoping Christopher will get the idea. "Sorry about the mix-up.", said Christoper as he let go of Jared's hand. "No. It's... It's... just um...", Jared stuttered as he tried to find the nicest words to say. "Are you alright?", asked Christopher. He felt Jared's forehead because his face is all red. "Yeah! I'm okay. Just a little tired I guess.", Jared replied as he started to feel his throat is drying up. "I'm your new neighbor. I just arrived from China. We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Ai Wei. My English name is Christopher, but I prefer to be called by my Chinese name, Ai.", with a warm wider friendly smile at Jared as he reaches his hand for a handshake. "Jared.", his reply after clearing his throat and returned the gesture. "Nice to meet you, Jared! My cousin is your roommate, Matt." "Cousin?", Jared asked himself puzzled. "Hey, I need to get something comfortable first. Do you mind if we chat more later?", Ai said with an apologetic smile. "Sure. I've got urgent work to get back to anyways. See you around, Ai.", Jared's reply as he fixes his spectacles to properly sit on his nose bridge before waving at him. "Welcome to the Philippines and Mabuhay!", Jared quickly spread his arms to do the typical Filipino greeting that ended with the word "Mabuhay" before going inside and accidentally slamming the door on his way. He looked stupid. As we walk back to his room, he remembered his actions and is now feeling puzzled by his strange behavior. Then he remembered that he was working and forgot where he left off. Jared screamed in agony as he scratched his head wildly with both hands while stomping. He hated himself. As he reaches his desk, his smartphone on it rang. Matt is calling. "Mateo! You bastard! You had to be the cherry on top of my suffering today!", he snatched his phone and irritably answered Matt. "What now?!", Jared snapped. "Whoa! Dude chill! You're extra grumpy again, and it's too early in the morning.", Matt joked. "If you won't answer me properly. I will end this call and throw my phone outside the window, so you can buy me a new one if you want to call me.", Jared's still irritated voice. "I wanted to ask if you have anything you need me to get for you. I forgot to bring the key with me, so I need you to open the door for me later.", Matt's polite response. "No. Nothing. Just be back really soon so I can continue working without being distracted. My deadline is in three days, and I haven't found what needed fixing.", Jared's suddenly exhausted reply and ended the call. He sat slouched on his bed in front of his desk and momentarily fell asleep. Two hours have passed. Jared got up after the doorbell buzzed the times. He was still sleepy when he walked to get the door. He saw Matt through the peephole and opened the door. "You okay now?", Matt's voice as if he is talking to a five-year-old kid. Jared nodded and walked away to sit slouched on the sofa with his eyes closed. "Still sleepy?", Matt asked as he enters the door hugging the bag of grocery items almost as big as his torso as Jared walked away from him. Matt's stature is five-foot-five and a year younger than Jared but he is the mature one in the room. "What happened? Why do you look fatigued already?", asked Matt as he puts down the groceries on the table in the kitchen. "I somehow got involved in with our new neighbor, your cousin. I forgot which part of the script I need to continue reading after that, so I need to start all over again." "You've met my cousin, Ai! The front desk confirmed to me that he just settled. He doesn't have a local number yet, so we had to talk before he left China." "Now that you've mentioned it...", Jared's shocked reply in disbelief. Matt's words woke him back to his senses. "We talked about him moving back here because of personal reasons. He was born in Ongpin, but his dad had him move to China when he and his mom got divorced before he entered high school." Matt's words aren't coming through Jared. Puzzled how he and Matt became cousins when they don't have a spec of similarity. "He's my nicest cousin. Someone nice to talk to from now on at least." "And what are you implying? That I am mean to you?", Jared snapped at Matt. Matt laughed. "No, you're just grumpy." "So that depends?" "Yes." "About Ai..." "What about?" "I just can't see how you guys are related." "Like how?" "He's a Chinese god. You on the other hand..." "What about me?" "...Very Filipino." "What are you implying by that?" "What's bad about that?" "Said a Filipino of Spanish descent. Of course, it's hurting my feelings." "You take it however you want, Matt. I didn't say you looked like a native." "Okay. I'll take it as a compliment then." "You should. You have a native for a girlfriend, yes?" "Oh, that's just below the belt, Jared." "Papi, do you like me to wear this for you? Am I sexy enough? Oh, Papi, I like that! Please don't stop!", Jared said in a girly voice while imitating a girl in a hentai flick and laughed frantically. Matt said nothing but his face displayed disgust towards Jared. "The walls are thin, Matt. The walls are thin.", Jared continued. "That makes sense. I can hear your fart from your room even if the door's closed.", Matt's revenge and they both laughed. "Ai might be hearing us now talking about you farting from your room.", Jared paused and they continued laughing. "Oh no, my cousin will soon hear you fart too!", Matt added. Jared stopped laughing and became serious. There was a moment of silence between the two when the doorbell buzzed. "Ai?", said Jared as he got up to answer the door. "... could be.", said Matt and he got up to put the grocery items in the fridge. Jared looked at the peephole and saw that it was Ai. He was wearing a blue sleeveless undershirt, and he looked like he just had a shower as his hair looked it was just blow-dried. Jared can immediately smell Ai's fragrant after-shower body spray from behind the door even before he opened it. "Hi, Jared.", Ai greeted him. He left the door ajar and let Ai in. As I got in, he immediately saw Matt at the fridge next to the dining table to the left. Meanwhile, Jared hurried back to his room. "Come join us, Jared.", said Matt before he reached the door of his room. Ai was looking around as he walked towards the sofa to sit. "Okay, Matt. I'll just check something in my room that I just remembered. You know I'm trying to catch a deadline.", Jared's timid response. "You're being weird, Jared.", said Matt as he stood on one leg and leaned on the five-foot fridge. "What?", Jared is playing innocent. "Please keep us company, Jared.", Ai added nicely while smiling at Jared. Jared accidentally looked at Ai in the eye that jolted him to look away. His face quickly turned red. "What the f**k is wrong with you, Jared?!? You're suddenly a different person.", Matt remarked and Ai chuckled. "Matt, your friend is cute.", said Ai.