The Attraction Of David

Chapter 2

“David, wake up!” Davion drawled, lightly tapping on my right leg. “It’s almost 12, wake up and eat, mom’s calling you downstairs.”

I was shaken, suddenly being waken up by the noise and patting I felt in rapid succession. My body felt restless, my back and right arm, aching. I groaned, agonizingly took my phone at the side of my bed and checked the time. It was only 9 f*****g thirty in the damn morning. Before I could even berate my brother, he was already out of the room, laughing at the hall.

Pissed off, I wiped my hazy eyes and looked at the notifications I have received. 2 new emails from work, messages from my co-worker on Messenger, and 3 notifications from Stan. My irritation diminished as I slowly thought of my exchange with him earlier at dawn.

I excitedly sat up on my bed in a hunched position, soothing my left shoulder blade with my left hand as I unlocked the phone with the other. Before I opened the app, I exhaled in anticipation. This had brought me a thrill I have not felt for quite some time already. I inexplicably cannot contain the grin that formed on my face at this point.

‘Just what the doctor prescribed? Then, why not take a dose of me by tomorrow?’

‘Of course, prescription is not free, gorgeous. A dosage comes with a price.’

The third message was the price I’ve had to pay, his phone number, and his exact location. The mirth I had earlier suddenly thinned out. So, this man is a f*****g paid escort then. The price of the ‘dosage’, which meant the elation I may get out of this, was not so easy to shoulder, either. Thinking about my budget, I am almost at my limit for the month. And the pay won’t be coming until next week.

But, god, was he f*****g gorgeous as I scrolled up the pictures of him that he sent me? Was I this f*****g desperate to get laid? As I thought of how absurd this was, aside from he might be just a scammer or, worse, a catfish, visions of how much pleasure I could get under him, or on top of him, flooded my mind. It made my heart race just thinking about how good it might be, my eyes focused on the bulge cradled by the thin fabric of his sweatpants on his photo.

I sent him a reply, just a sad emoji. Yes, I was saddened that he called me gorgeous, yet I had to pay for a taste. If that was the case then, he might have just toyed with me when he complimented the photo I have sent him. What a f*****g loser I am then, falling for a trap so easily. Ugh, f**k life, really.

I waited for a reply, hoping that he might still be active. But I did not receive one. Minutes have passed as I stared blankly at his photo. Yeah, I was pissed. Not because I had to pay to get laid, but with myself, because I knew deep down inside me that I was willing to pay him upfront. That was how crazy I was, and this was not because of my stress or my lack of sleep, I was sure. Sadness really could make people do crazy s**t, I suppose.

I rose from the bed and walked down to the kitchen. I needed a distraction. My mom was doing something, probably cutting vegetables at the sink counter, and Davion was staring at me from in front of his laptop.

“What are we having for lunch?” I asked, looking at the contents of the eco-bag on top of our kitchen table. Davion, who was sitted on the opposite chair, looked back at the screen, a worried look on his face. He was probably doing schoolwork.

“Beef Stew,” mom answered, grabbing the vegetables out of the eco-bag. She was in a good mood, smiling when she had answered my query. What’s to frown upon anyway, it’s Sunday, right? Yeah, f*****g right.

“What are you up to?” I asked my brother. “You look troubled.”

He raked a hand through his hair, hiding his exasperation. “Can you help me with this? This is killing me,” he sighed and took a sip on his cup of coffee. “I need to pass this by tomorrow, and there’s still the left side of my bedroom that I haven’t finished yesterday.

I walked towards my brother. I checked the screen and have read the question.

‘In a form of essay, express your thoughts in how The Divine Comedy can be applied in our current society”

I blinked several times, pondering a bit. “Wow, this is thought provoking,” I chuckled, amused with the question.

“Can you prep the essay for me? I hate stuff like this, seriously,” Davion complained.

“Well, I can help you out,” I thoughtfully said, “although it’s been years since I have heard about The Divine Comedy.”

“I can send you a link so you may watch the animated video, and in that way, you may write the essay for me. It doesn’t have to be too long anyway,” Davion chuckled.

“And what made you think I will bore myself with this stuff?” I dauntingly questioned him. It barely influenced my brother.

“You’re going to relate, a sinner like you will enjoy the journey through hell, maybe this will help you with your redemption, who knows?” he finished it with a laugh. On top of that, my mom can’t help but grin in the background.

“You stupid s**t-stain,” I said, annoyed. My phone buzzed and a notification banner informed me that my brother had sent me a message. It was the link I had to follow, as he said earlier.

“I need that by tomorrow, you’re not busy anyway,” he said, chuckling. “Hey! It’s not like I always ask you for favors! Anyway, I’ll be at the gym by 4 PM, you want to tag yourself with me?” he asked me.

“After you ruined my sleep? No, I don’t think so. I am going to sleep all day since I feel like I’m gonna be sick,” I said. It’s not that I was unwell, it was just that I didn’t want to go to the gym. I used to before, but I was too conscious and nervous for no reason these past few weeks. Physical fitness wasn’t considered as a priority right now.

Unlike me, my brother was into sports. He was in the right shape. Whenever we’re going somewhere, people always looked at him, not me. He stood out. He always had been an eye magnet. He can basically pull off any attire. May it be a tattered shirt, or a dress shirt, you name it, he can flaunt it. He’s got a pleasant face. Full lips, thick eyebrows, and his nose. God, his nose was tall and pointed. Sadly for him, though, I also have the same feature. And I always used that whenever he will jeer me with something, like still being single and what-f*****g-not at my age.

I hated going out with him. It’s not that I am envious of what he had, since he definitely was blessed in the looks department. I hated it because he knew it, and he knew damn well how he could use his looks. The only good thing about being with him was that, despite me being older, people who didn’t know our age sometimes surmised that I was the younger sibling. Even though our age gap was 6 years from each other, his well-built body and manlier facade made people surprised he was only 21.

“Anyway, don’t forget it, please. The deadline’s tomorrow, that’s the last question left, and it’s killing me,” he closed his laptop, grabbed another chopping board and knife, and helped my mom with preparing the meal.

“So that’s the reason you woke me up, knowing that I could not chase sleep lately? You really are something,”

“Well, you could tell by now,” my brother chuckled.

“I want to help,” I said, making my mom look at me. “What other things should I do?”

Mom smiled at me and looked back down at the carrot she was peeling. “It’s fine, just get some rest since it’s your day off work. Anyway, what do you want for breakfast? Should I fry hotdogs and eggs for you?”

“It’s fine, I’m not starving,” I answered, preparing myself a cup of coffee.

“All you ever take is coffee, seriously,” my brother commented. “You are getting thin, are you alright? I told you, we can go to the gym together.”

Davion may be distant at times, riling even. He had the tendency to say vile stuff to me, or to anyone when he wanted to, but he always had this uncanny concern for me and for others that he genuinely cared for. I knew he was pressed to know if I was okay.

I combed my hair with a hand and answered, “I am doing just fine. I’ll go to the gym, but maybe on another time, though. I’ll try to do your essay, give me an hour.” I then grabbed the cup of coffee I prepared.

“Some other time,” he nodded. “Then, how about next week?”

I shrugged and smiled, “alright then, next week, I might be able to.” Daytona was under the kitchen table. I beckoned her, and then pulled her up around my arm, hopping back up the stairs into my bedroom with the coffee mug in my other hand.

I brought the mug down to my bedside table and jumped back to my bed, Daytona still wrapped in my arm. I was feeling like lolling my way out of this day. I felt restless, same as how I always felt like these past few weeks.

I opened my phone and have checked the last message sent by Stan. It has his number, location, and the price, which I have already saved on my phone. I wanted to resent the idea of paying for s*x, but it was prodding me. Just the thought of him sent shivers up my spine.

At the back of my mind, I knew this was such a bad idea. My rational side told me to just go find someone else. Fish for another man, any screw will do. But his face, his muscled body, and his smile, a chance like this doesn’t always come. I wanted to be reckless and selfish. I wanted to... feel less bored. Was it too bad to want something that looked exciting and kill the sadness through it?

Sometimes, crossing the line is not too extreme, right...?

Fuck it. Begrudgingly, I copied Stan’s number and pasted the digits to dial it on my phone. My fingers were quivering in anticipation. I was nervous, yet exhilarated. I have missed this kind of rush, and I never felt so awake in my entire life as I was right at this moment.

“Hello, who’s this?” a baritone voice answered.

“Hi,” I thought I sounded as if I squealed, but added, “This is David... the one you were talking with.” I was, inexplicably, suddenly so coy.

“Oh... David, it’s good hearing your voice. What’s up?”

Stan’s voice was beguiling. It was deep, like it was dripping in certainty and confidence. It sounded so f*****g sexy.

“Uhm, I just woke up, I hope you’re fine.” I know he’s fine, too fine, really. I knew better than that bland answer.

“I actually just woke up as well,” he answered, or whispered. I cannot f*****g tell.

I imagined him all sprawled on his bed, nothing but the thin sheets covering his lower half. His hair disheveled, his other arm over his head, a smile on his lips, and a day or two of stubble growing around his face.

Yeah, f**k saving up and pay for a night.

“Stan, I... I am willing to meet you up and pay, to spend some time with you.” I have never been so damn sure about anything as I was the moment I have said those words to him.

I really felt as if I did not care about anything. All I ever thought about was the picture of him on his bed, and what a f*****g sight. The vividness of it was almost intoxicating me.

“Cool,” he chuckled, amused. “10 pm, then? I’ll wait for you, just bring an I.D and tell you’re a visitor. I’ll inform the reception about it.”

“Okay,” I answered, eyes closed. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath.

“David, remember, I am just what the doctor prescribed. I’d make sure you’ll enjoy the dosage, every single drop of it.” He ended the call, not waiting for a word to be uttered on my end.

I felt dizzy, hazed by s****l anticipation. I was hard as a proverbial rock, hearing that voice, imagining that face, and picturing what’s yet to come. I looked down at my dog and sighed, covering my shorts with the blanket.

“You heard it, right?” I said to myself, or to my dog, Daytona. “I hope you won’t judge me.” I plopped down the bed as Daytona played zoomies beside me. 10 pm, then. Now, I guess I have a reason to have adequate energy and eat.