Michaels in Love (English)(BoysLove)

Chapter 1 - Season 1: Love At First Sight

"Ouch! Wow, that really hurt!" I exclaimed, rubbing the side of my head where the basketball had made its mark.

Reality hit me just as hard as the ball. I wasn’t lost in my steamy daydream anymore—I was back in the coliseum, smack-dab in the middle of tryouts for our basketball team. I’d been so deep in thought, staring at the floor, that I hadn’t even seen the ball coming. And boy, was my daydream hot. Images of Mike, drenched in water, showering just a few feet away from me in the locker room cubicle, had sent my imagination spiraling.

“Ahhh, those steamy shower scenes,” I mused to myself. “When will that ever happen, huh?” If this were a triple-X movie, we’d both be stars. No question. Hehehe. Mike, with his Fil-Chinese charm that makes him look like a cross between a Thai heartthrob and a K-drama lead, versus me, half-Japanese with a penchant for fantasy. I guess daydreaming will have to do for now. At least it’s free. Hahaha!

The guy who accidentally hit me with the ball rushed over, his face etched with guilt. “Sorry, man,” he said, clearly meaning it.

I waved it off. "No problem." But ouch. My head still throbbed.

Behind me, two college girls were watching. Their concerned expressions quickly turned into action as they approached.

“Are you okay?” one of them asked, her eyes wide with worry.

I smiled, trying to brush it off. “I’m fine, really.”

“Here,” she said, offering me a cold bottle of mineral water. “Press this against where you got hit.”

I took it with a grateful nod. “Thanks! But, uh… can I just drink it instead? Hehehe,” I joked.

“Sure,” she laughed, her kindness shining through.

Before I could take a sip, the other girl suddenly gasped dramatically, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. “Oh my gosh! Alden Richards!!! Right????” Her voice was so loud it echoed across the coliseum.

Startled, I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Nope,” I replied calmly, scratching the back of my head. I wasn’t expecting that.

Not far away, we heard some girls calling out, “Cherry! Mae!” The pair standing in front of me glanced back, and it clicked—those were their names.

“Sorry about Mae,” Cherry said in a hushed tone, leaning closer as if to apologize. “She’s a huge fan of Alden. She gets… excited. Hahaha.”

Mae, still brimming with energy, pinched Cherry’s arm. “But, Cherry, he really does look like Alden!”

“Ouch, Mae! Cut it out,” Cherry muttered, rubbing her arm.

“Alden?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is he an actor or something?”

Mae’s eyes sparkled. “Yes! He’s super popular.”

I laughed. “You’re not the first person to tell me that. It reminds me of this one time on the LRT. People kept asking to take pictures with me because they thought I was him. Hahaha!”

“Well, you’re not wrong,” Mae said, inspecting my face closely. “The resemblance is uncanny.”

“What’s your name?” Cherry asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I’m Michael. And you’re Cherry and Mae, right? I overheard earlier. Hehehe.”

“Yup!” Mae replied, pulling a flyer from her bag. “Before we leave, please take one. We’re volunteers for the AWARE Society, an NGO that raises awareness about HIV-AIDS. We’re recruiting more volunteers, so maybe you’d like to join?”

“Oh, interesting,” I said, taking the flyer.

“By the way, Michael,” Cherry interjected, “do you know that guy over there?” She pointed toward Mike, who was chatting with some other players.

“Yup, I know him. Why?”

“What’s his name?” Cherry asked, leaning closer, her voice dripping with curiosity.

“He’s this super handsome guy,” Mae added, giggling. “He totally looks like Mike Tan from StarStruck. We were talking about him earlier with our BFFs. Hehehe.”

“Oh, really?” I said, grinning. “That’s funny.”

“So? What’s his name?” Cherry pressed.

“His name’s Mike Tan,” I answered casually.

Mae gave me a skeptical look. “Come on, Michael, don’t joke around.”

I chuckled. “I’m serious! His name really is Michael Tan, but no, he’s not the actor. Hehehe.”

Cherry’s eyes widened. “Wait, really? They have the same name?”

“Yup,” I confirmed. “Full name: Michael Angelo Tan. Want me to introduce you to him?”

The two of them giggled, their excitement barely contained. “Please do!” Mae exclaimed.

Just then, Mae’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and frowned. “Oh no, Cherry, we have to go. The others are calling, and the coaster’s leaving soon.”

Cherry sighed but nodded. “Thanks, Michael. Maybe next time?”

“Anytime,” I replied with a wave, watching as they hurried off, still giggling like schoolgirls.

“Oh, that’s right. Michael, we really have to go,” Cherry said, her voice tinged with regret. “If you’re interested in volunteering with our NGO, our contact number is on the back of the flyer.”

“No problem. If I have time, I’ll reach out,” I replied casually, offering them a reassuring smile.

“Thanks, Michael,” Mae added earnestly. “We need to head out now; our coaster is about to leave.”

“Got it. Nice meeting you both, Mae and Cherry.”

“Nice meeting you too, Michael. Take care!” they said in unison, their cheerful waves punctuating their goodbye as they hurried off toward their friends.

“Take care, guys!” I called back, watching as they disappeared into the crowd.

We’d been waiting in the coliseum for almost twenty minutes now, and our coach still hadn’t shown up for the tryouts. A few of the players decided to warm up by scrimmaging on the court. They’d invited me to join, but I declined, choosing instead to sit and observe.

And then, there was Mike.

He was standing just behind the basketball ring, phone in hand, deep in conversation. Was it Liza? Or maybe something work-related? I had no idea, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Pretending to read the flyer Cherry and Mae had given me, I snuck glances at him. Okay, maybe more than a few glances. Hehehe.

Then it hit me! Cherry, Mae, and their group, along with the other girls from earlier, were the ones outside the coliseum earlier. They’d been staring at Mike, whispering and giggling like schoolgirls with crushes. It was so obvious they were talking about him. And honestly, who could blame them?

“Of course, he’s handsome—incredibly handsome,” I thought, repeating their words in my head. “And yeah, he does look a lot like Mike Tan from StarStruck.” A quiet laugh escaped me. Hehehe.

Mike was only about five meters away, sitting on the bleachers in full view, and it felt like he was melting under my gaze. Haaaay. I didn’t even understand why I was feeling this way about him. I’d never been the kind of person to get so... captivated. Especially not by another guy.

Growing up, I was never attracted to men. My crushes were always beautiful, slender women—probably because I grew up surrounded by them. My hometown was full of stunning, sexy girls who seemed to embody everything I thought I wanted.

I’ve had girlfriends since high school, and while I enjoyed their company, I never took things too far. My mom had instilled in me a deep respect for women. Despite her past—working in a club to provide for us—she made sure I understood the importance of treating women with dignity. Because of her, I never became one of those guys who treats relationships casually. Technically, I’m still a virgin. Yeah, I know, embarrassing! Ahehehe.

Love, for me, was simple: having someone to hold, to kiss, to share your dreams with. I thought I had it all figured out. But everything changed the moment I met Mike.

I glanced at him again, still on his call. And then, our eyes met.

For a second, I thought my heart stopped. His gaze was intense, piercing right through me, as if he could see all the thoughts I was trying to bury. My eyes widened, caught in the act, and he must’ve noticed because a sweet smile spread across his face. That smile—it was so gentle, so warm—it sent a rush of heat to my cheeks.

Oh, Mike!

I could feel the blush spreading, my heart pounding so loudly it felt like the entire coliseum could hear it. My palms began to sweat, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to return his smile, just like we always did when we passed each other, but I panicked. Instead, I looked away, pretending to watch the players on the court, all while my thoughts spiraled back...

To the first time I met him.

The memory was vivid, as clear as if it had happened just yesterday. It was three months ago, at the LRT Gilmore station.

FLASHBACK

It was October 25, 2011—Tuesday, just before noon. Peak hours on the LRT. The train was packed, bodies pressed tightly together in the usual chaos. I stood by the door, gripping the pole with my right hand, trying to maintain my balance as the train swayed. More passengers squeezed in with every stop.

I was starving. I hadn’t eaten breakfast, and all I had left in my pocket was 20 pesos—just enough for the ride home after my job interview at Gateway Mall. My stomach growled in protest, and then I remembered: the cookie.

The cashier at the internet café had given it to me earlier after I’d spent hours researching how to answer interview questions. I smiled as I rummaged through my bag and pulled it out. The memory of our exchange made me chuckle. I’d asked her how much the cookies in the fishbowl cost, and when she told me 10 pesos, I had jokingly said they were overpriced. She’d laughed, then handed me one for free, saying, “Take it—it’s on me. Cute customers get special treatment.”

Her name was Emil, a lovely transgender woman. She’d even mentioned that the cookie was her Grandpa Jose’s recipe and insisted I try it. Hehehe.

I bit into the cookie, holding the pole with one hand while balancing against the train’s jerky movement. As I chewed, I noticed a small slip of paper inside. Thankfully, I hadn’t swallowed it. I pulled it out and quickly finished the rest of the cookie, too hungry to stop.

It was a fortune cookie. Hehehe. Curious, I unfolded the note and read the words: “Today you will meet your other half.”

Before I could think too much about it, the train jolted to a stop. At first, I thought it had broken down—again—but we were almost at the next station. Outside, the sky had darkened. Clouds churned ominously as thunder rumbled and lightning illuminated the horizon. A strange unease settled over me, sending chills down my spine. I couldn’t explain it, but something about that moment felt... different.

The train lingered for ten seconds before moving again, creeping toward the station. The sensation I’d felt didn’t dissipate—it grew stronger. It was as if an invisible energy was rushing toward me, surrounding me. When the train doors opened, the automated voice announced, “Gilmore Station.”

Passengers began filing out, and new ones squeezed in. That’s when it happened.

A man boarding the train brushed against me. His elbow bumped into my hand, sending a sudden jolt of electricity through my body. I wasn’t imagining it—I even heard a faint spark. “Ouch,” I muttered, startled. Apparently, he felt it too because he turned to look at me, his brows furrowed in confusion.

“Sorry,” we both said at the same time, our voices overlapping. He stepped to the side, gripping another pole not far from where I stood.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Tall, fair-skinned, with strikingly chiseled features and a solid, athletic build—he was mesmerizing. His presence was magnetic, and my heart was pounding so loudly I thought he might hear it.

I couldn’t explain it. I’d never been captivated by another man before. Since childhood, my attractions had always been toward women—beautiful, slender women. I’d grown up surrounded by gorgeous girls, and my few girlfriends had all been stunning in their own right. But this… this was different.

My thoughts spiraled as I stared at him. “What is happening to me? Am I… attracted to him? Am I becoming… gay?”

I clutched my chest, feeling the erratic thudding of my heart. My breathing quickened as I struggled to make sense of it all. I glanced back at him, and to my surprise, he was looking at me too. Our eyes met. He smiled.

It was such a simple smile, yet it unraveled me. My chest tightened, and I felt a flush creeping up my face. I couldn’t even muster the courage to smile back. Instead, I turned away, pretending to watch the other passengers. But inside, I was reeling.

The train stopped again, this time at Betty Go-Belmonte station. More people flooded in, the crowd pressing tighter. I let go of the pole and tried to move farther back, away from him, needing space to breathe. But just as the train doors closed, the lights went out.

Darkness consumed the carriage. The windows, covered with advertisements, blocked out the faintest light from outside. Screams echoed through the train as passengers panicked. Someone behind me stumbled, pushing me forward, and I collided with something—no, someone.

When the lights flickered back on, I realized I wasn’t just close to anyone—I was pressed against him.

Our chests were touching, and our faces were so close I could feel the warmth of his breath against my lips. My heart thundered in my chest, deafening me to the noise around us. His eyes locked onto mine, and in that moment, the world seemed to fade away.

“Thump, thump, thump…” My heart pounded like a drum, and I knew he could feel it too. His breath was warm, intoxicating, and maddeningly masculine. I was overcome by the urge to kiss him—to pull him closer, to lose myself in him. It wasn’t just an attraction; it felt like destiny.

Tears welled in my eyes as a flood of emotions surged through me. I didn’t understand it, but it felt like I’d known him forever, like I’d been waiting lifetimes for this moment.

“God, did I love this person in a past life?” I asked silently, clutching the pole to steady myself. The desire to embrace him, to hold him as if I’d missed him for centuries, was overwhelming. And yet, all I could do was stare into his eyes, lost in a moment that felt eternal.

To be continued…