Essence By Jose Claudio Guerrero

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ESSENCE BY JOSE CLAUDIO GUERRERO – That is the story known as “Essence” created by Carlos Palanca awardee Jose Claudio Guerrero.

The author of “Essence” is Jose Claudio Guerrero, who’s also referred to as Butch Guerrero. He completed his BA in English Research at UP Diliman and his MA in Inventive Writing in the identical establishment. He was recognized for writing fiction, brief tales, and essays. He died in December 2013.

His story “Essence” is a singular story about two gays who’re speaking about their happenings on the perimeters. The one narrating narrates the “essence” of this man he’s drawn to and the scent he leaves in every little thing he touches.

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“ESSENCE”

by Jose Claudio Guerrero

We had simply completed lunch in a small café alongside Katipunan Highway. Two cups of steamy brew enveloped our desk in a scrumptious aroma.

“So the place did you meet?” I requested my good friend Patrick as he put down his espresso cup.

“In the College Heart in UP.”

“Once more? How come you meet numerous guys there? I’m at all times there and nothing ever occurs.”

Patrick pointed to his face and smiled.

“Che!” I replied laughing. However I knew that it was true. Patrick was not likely that handsome, however he had this horny air about him. And he had truthful pores and skin which is, for many Filipinos, a prerequisite for magnificence. I seemed on the mirror behind him and noticed my darkish, emaciated reflection.

“So anyway, I used to be washing my face within the floor ground washroom when in comes this actually cute man. I’ve seen him on campus a couple of instances earlier than. So anyway, he goes and takes a leak,” Patrick paused.

“ these FC urinals, proper?”

I nodded.

“No partitions.”

Patrick took one other sip from his cup and continued.

“So anyway, this man sees me checking him out. To my shock, he turns to me, giving me full view of him in all his glory and smiles. I smile again. And,” Patrick took a deep breath, “the remainder is for me alone to know.”

He ended by dabbing the perimeters of his serviette to his mouth. I knew urgent Patrick for extra particulars would shut him up similar to that so I let it go. I may wheedle out all the main points later.

“So what’s his identify?”

“Carlo,” I raised an eyebrow and gave Patrick my you’ve-got-to-be-kidding look. He laughed and nodded in settlement.

“Sure it’s one other Carlo. It’s at all times Carlo, or Paolo, or Mike, or Jay–“

“So what identify did you employ?” I requested, reducing him brief.

“My favourite, Paolo.”

We each laughed.

“Sufficient of me. Inform me about your self. It’s been what, a month since we’ve talked?”

“Extra like three weeks,” I answered as I motioned to a waiter for the cake menu.

“Oh no. You’re ordering cake.”

“Why?”

“You order cake while you’re depressed.”

“No, I don’t. And anyway, I’m not depressed this time.”

The waiter arrived with the cake menu. After giving our orders, Patrick continued urgent me for information.

“I advised you, I lead a boring life.”

“I’m certain,” answered Patrick mischievously.

“So how’s your Chinese language boyfriend?”

Patrick’s query caught me off-guard as I sipped from my cup. I snorted and felt espresso go up my nostril. We each began laughing.

“He’s not Chinese language,” I answered after I had recovered. “He’s Korean. And he’s not my boyfriend, excuse me. I’m his tutor.”

“I’m certain,” stated Patrick needling me. “And what are you tutoring him in?”

“English.”

“I’m certain. Oh good, right here’s the cake.”

As I dug my fork into my cake’s wealthy cream cheese, I occurred to have a look at the mirror and noticed the café doorways open. A dumpy, fair-skinned man walked in.

“Oh my God.” I froze.

Patrick noticed the expression on my face and seemed round for what brought about it. Discovering it, he stated, “Don’t inform me you’re nonetheless loopy over Mark.”

“No I’m not. It’s simply that, properly…”

“Well what?” requested Patrick, his eyes out of the blue alive with curiosity.

“It’s…you understand,” I answered. My eyes advised him the remainder.

“No,” he answered not eager to imagine it. I smiled.

“When?”

“Two weeks in the past.”

“Why didn’t you inform me sooner?”

“You’re at all times busy.”

“Nicely I’m not busy anymore. Inform me every little thing.” Patrick leaned over to me forgetting all about his cake.

“It’s not on a regular basis your finest good friend loses his v***inity.”

“It occurred two weeks in the past. Our instructor dismissed us early so I used to be strolling within the AS parking zone searching for my driver. It was already darkish and just a few automobiles had been left. Nicely, one of many automobiles was his. He smiled at me and requested me what time it was,” I paused and took a chunk from my cake.

“And?”

“And what occurred subsequent is for me alone to know,” I replied mimicking him.

“F**okay. Don’t do that to me. Inform me. I’ve to know. I received’t have the ability to sleep,” Patrick begged. Noticing his unused fork, he grabbed it.

“Inform me or I’ll stab you with this.”

Simply then Mark handed so he hurriedly lowered his fork.

“He seems to be acutely aware. Possibly he suspects you’ve advised me.” I simply smiled.

“I do know some guys who’re like that. As soon as one thing has occurred between you, they out of the blue really feel awkward while you’re round. Ultimately, you find yourself avoiding one another.”

Patrick studied his cake for some time then began consuming. After a while he spoke up.

“I’m so completely happy for you,” he stated smiling as he grabbed my hand and shook it warmly. “I keep in mind all these instances we sat right here consuming cake and speaking about your to-die-for classmate Mark. Mark and his cologne, Mark and his new cologne, Mark and his crew minimize, Mark and his burnt-out cigarette butt.”

He thought-about for a second after which stated, “Boy, am I glad these days are over.”

He laughed. I smiled.

“Is it actually true that you just took puffs from his cigarette butt?”

My ears went crimson and I nodded.

“No matter he touches, he leaves an essence. After I take a puff from his cigarette butt, our essences meld. We grow to be one,” I hastened to elucidate.

“It’s like we’ve shared one thing. Like a bond.”

Patrick gave me a pitying look.

“Not less than you don’t have to do this anymore.”

I smiled and mashed the blueberries on my plate. We completed our desserts as we up to date one another with what has occurred to our highschool barkada. As we waited for our change, Mark stood as much as go away and eventually observed us. He smiled and went out. Patrick pinched me as I smiled again, my ears burning.

PATRICK dropped me off on the College Heart after lunch and rushed to the theater for rehearsal. Having thirty minutes to waste earlier than my subsequent class, I made a decision to go to the FC washroom and tidy up. The faint scent of detergent, cigarette smoke, and off urine greeted me as I opened the door.

As I anticipated, the washroom was abandoned. I stood in entrance of the mirror and took out tissue from my bag. As I dabbed moistened tissue on my face, the washroom door opened and a woody cologne scent wafted in. It was Mark. He went straight to the urinals. I pretended to not discover him. When he completed peeing, he joined me by the mirror, washed his palms, after which straightened his shirt collar.

As he checked out his reflection, he noticed me watching him and smiled, “It’s you once more.”

I smiled again and supplied him a tissue. He declined and left. When the door closed, I hurried to the urinal. I unbuttoned my fly and peed. I seemed down and watched my pale yellow fluid be a part of his, a bit darker and frothy towards the white porcelain.

As I watched the fluids combine, their colours getting an increasing number of tough to tell apart till lastly no distinction could possibly be seen, a heat pleasurable sensation from inside me slowly surged, rising an increasing number of highly effective, till lastly shudders of ecstasy racked my nonetheless untouched physique. 

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