Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

COVER by @zi_thirteen

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FANART by @jkookeii_ BACKGROUND EDIT by me

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PLAYLIST

Wade x Adler

This story is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and scenarios depicted in this story are purely products of imagination and creative interpretation. The personalities, actions, and narratives presented here are entirely fictional and do not reflect, represent, or claim to portray the real individuals behind the names. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental in context, aside from the use of publicly known names and images for transformative creative purposes.

This work is written solely for entertainment and non-commercial purposes, and no harm, disrespect, or misrepresentation toward portrayers is intended. Please read with the understanding that this story is a fictional exploration and not a reflection of reality.

All rights to the original names, likenesses, and source inspirations belong to their respective artists and agencies. I do not claim ownership of any real-life figures referenced in this work.

The plot, original characters, dialogue, and unique creative elements of this story belong to me. Please do not copy, repost, or distribute this work without proper credit.

Characters' Profile

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Wade Rodrigueza (jlg)

Mikhail Saavedra (pjw)

Gio Mitchell Cuevas (kjh)

Illad Alcantara (cwk)

Paris Quinn Martinez (zsb)

Adler Saint Arellano (sk)

Eden Cortez (jce)

Troye Walter Aquino (khs)

Archer Alfonteza (ph)

Jeremy Soriano (sjw)

"Where are you?"

"Why?"

"Just answer the question."

"Library. What do you want?"

"I need you."

"Now?"

"Yeah. Can't help it. Been itching for a smoke."

"Saan ka? Puntahan na lang kita."

"Carpark. Fuckin' hurry up, Wade."

"Lol. Fuck you. I don't want people ordering me around, Adler. Maghintay ka."

Chapter Text

Fucking hell.

Napakaganda naman talaga ng bungad sa kanya ng mga kaibigan niya—kaya kung pwede lang ay sinabunutan na niya ang sarili niya.

Umabsent siya ngayong araw dahil may emergency siyang kailangang asikasuhin, but the last thing he expected was to be greeted with news the moment he came back to his condo.

Now, he’s seated by his desk, his phone propped up as the sound of an ongoing group call echoes faintly across the room. Habang patuloy siyang nag-oopen ng mga tabs at nagda-download ng articles at kung anu-anong resources para sa final thesis nila, he tries to focus—”tries” being the operative word.

Yes, he’s finally graduating. And Wade Rodrigueza, for lack of a better word, is one competitive, overachiever motherfucker.

Which is exactly why, after hearing the news his friends just dropped, gusto niyang magmura nang magmura hanggang maubos ang hangin sa baga niya.

“Wade, since you were absent today, relay lang namin ‘yung announcement kanina. Nagbigay na si Sir ng final project. Photography class. To be submitted in a month—by partners.” Rinig niyang kwento ni Paris. From the angle of his phone, Wade could see him sitting on his bed, calm and unbothered, as he folds his laundry while talking. 

“Right… thanks, Paris. Who’s my partner then? Nag-assign ba si Sir or kanya-kanyang pili?”

“Nag-assign,” sagot ni Illad, his tone way too cheerful for Wade’s liking. “But take a wild guess first kung sino partner mo!”

Wade tore his eyes from his laptop to glance at his phone screen again—and there it was. That stupidly wide grin plastered on Illad’s face.

But Wade was far too tired for games and funsies, so he just rolled his eyes and said the first name that came to mind.

“Dunno. Julia?”

Illad groaned dramatically while the rest of his friends chuckled in amusement.

But then Paris muttered something under his breath, soft and unnoticeable, if it weren’t for the name that made his entire body freeze.

“It’s Adler.”

Well, that name actually did wonders.

He instantly buried his face in his hands. From the other side of the call, he could hear his friends laughing like they’d just won the lottery, clearly enjoying his misery more than they should, while Wade was seconds away from losing his mind.

He asked again—just to make sure he wasn’t hearing shit and hallucinating from stress—but all of them gave him the same answer.

He’s partnered with his one and only nemesis.

Adler fucking Arellano.

“What were the odds, huh? Sa dami natin sa klase, sila pa talaga ang nagpares,” Ngisi ni Illad na nagpakunot ng noo ni Wade.

“Fuck… As long as he doesn’t get in my way, I think I could put up with his ass,” he muttered, exhaling a heavy, shaky breath. His fingers found his temples, massaging the growing headache that was threatening to burst. “We can just divide the tasks, do our parts until the end of the month, and be done with it. Simple. Yeah… I think I could do that.” He mumbled. He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else, but nonetheless, his friends heard every word.

And Mikhail being Mikhail—he grabbed the opportunity to make Wade’s headache worse.

“Well, yeah… about that…”

Wade’s brows furrowed. “What? What is it, Mika?”

“It’s a project that can’t be done through Zoom meetings or e-mails alone. You actually need to be physically present for this one.”

Tangina talaga. Pakiramdam niya ito na ang karma niya. He’d managed to survive three whole years of college without ever having to work with—much less associate himself with—that jerk. Pero bakit kung kailan graduating na siya saka pa nagkaroon ng ganitong klaseng project? At bakit si Adler pa ang nakapartner niya?

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“No.” Mikhail deadpanned, leaving no room for hope.

Wade groaned, facepalming as he sighed deeply. “What’s the project about?”

“A zine. We can choose the theme, but the subject of the project is… your partner.”

Tangina talaga. Pang-ilang mura na niya ba ‘to?

He lost count of how many times he’d cursed in the last five minutes.

“Sino bang partner mo, Mikmik? Pwede bang palit na lang tayo?” he asked, tone half-joking but mostly desperate. “Just the thought of Arellano being my partner is already giving me a severe headache.”

Mikhail let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Haha. Si Eden.”

And just like that, the whole gang burst into laughter.

“Oo nga pala, isa pa tong si Mikmik. Akalain mo nga naman,” Gio chimed in, grinning as he raked his fingers through his long hair. For the first time that evening, Wade actually heard him speak.

He couldn’t help it—he laughed too, the whole situation being absurd in itself. Like, holy shit. The universe had really decided to fuck things up for them.

Well, at least I’m not the only one suffering this month.

“Sayo na pala ‘yan, Mika. Hirap makatrabaho niyan. Walang emosyon.” Wade said between laughter. “Okay, medyo guminhawa pakiramdam ko nang malamang hindi ako mag-isang maghihirap.”

He leaned back on his desk chair, arms crossed, finally feeling a bit lighter.

Then, on screen, Paris stood from his bed—probably done with his laundry duties. The camera wobbled for a moment before he set the phone on his desk and sat down.

“If you’re going to think about it, wala ka talagang karapatang magreklamo, Wade,” Paris said as he tied his long hair into a neat man bun. “Adler is way better than his friend. I mean, imagine, Mika’s a ray of sunshine—like an open book. You could literally tell what he’s thinking or feeling just by looking at him. Eh ‘yung isa?”

That earned a bark of laughter from Gio, who was clearly just waiting for a chance to jump in.

“Tangina, pre,” Gio said between snickers, “nakakasalubong ko pa lang ‘yang si Eden sa carpark tuwing lunch, pakiramdam ko mabubugbog ako sa sama ng tingin niya!”

Wade couldn’t help but laugh again, because—well—Gio wasn’t wrong. Eden really did have that aura that screamed ‘back the fuck off’. The kind that made you lower your head and rethink your life choices after just one look.

It was kind of funny, actually, how two complete opposites like Mika and Eden ended up being paired for the project.

Though his laughter died down pretty quickly when it hit him—he wasn’t exactly in a better situation either.

Paris must’ve read the shift in mood, because he sighed, then smiled faintly at the camera. “Exactly. Naiimagine ko na ‘yung stress ni Mika,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Well, good luck to us, I guess. Good luck din sa inyo, Mika. Wade.”

Wade couldn’t do anything but nod. He was too tired to overthink this, too drained to even form a comeback.

Not until Illad spoke up. “I don’t even remember what made Wade and Adler hate each other. Like, ano ba’ng pinagmulan niyan?”

Good question. Ano nga ba?

Something happened back in their freshman year—something Wade refused to revisit. Their competitive nature in class (and a few other things he’d rather not mention nor think about) only made it worse—fueled their hostility with each other.

“Nako, nagpataasan lang ng ihi ‘yang mga ‘yan noong freshies pa tayo,” Gio snarked. “If I know better, these two have unresolved sexual tension, and they’re like a ticking bomb waiting to explode anytime. Sino’ng gusto pumusta? Even before the end of this project, nagkakantutan na ‘yang dalawa na ‘yan?”

Napaupo nang diretso si Wade nang dahil sa rinig. “The fuck? Tangina mo, Gio. Keep your opinion to yourself because that’s NEVER gonna happen.” He seethed. Halos duru-duruin na ang kaibigan sa cellphone na lalong nagpalakas ng tawa ni Gio. Wade could hear Illad’s hysterics echoing through the mic, which made his blood pressure spike even more.

“Saka ano’ng ‘unresolved sexual tension’ pinagsasasabi mo? Eh hindi nga ako matingnan o mahawakan niyan!” He grabbed his phone from the stand, leaning back in his chair with a heavy sigh. Siraulo talaga ‘tong mga kaibigan niya.

“Pfft. You sound disappointed,” Mika teased, giggling. Wade shot him a deadpan look. Brow raised in utter disbelief.

“Haha. No.” he replied flatly. Then, after a pause, his tone darkened. “Ipapaalala ko lang ha—mukha kasing nakakalimutan niyo na. You all know how he humiliated me when we were freshies, right? Talk about crushing someone’s ego and dragging it through the dirt for everyone to see.”

Ayaw niya talagang pinag-uusapan ito dahil lalo lang siyang naiinis, but it can’t be helped. “Just because he’s the Dean’s nephew,” Wade continued, his jaw tightening, “he thinks he can trample on someone that easily?”

Paris sighed, clearly hesitant to step in but too reasonable to stay quiet. “I was there when that happened, Wade,” he said gently. “And I honestly think it was just a big misunderstanding. That’s my personal take, so please don’t hold it against me. But you do tend to jump to conclusions, and I think the reason it never got fixed is because you two never actually talked after that. You’ve been treating each other like some kind of virus for three years now.”

The rest of the group nodded in agreement, the air suddenly turning serious for a moment—as if they were all reflecting on what Paris had just said. Then Paris smirked, shattering the silence. “My money’s going into the pool. My bet’s the same as Gio’s.”

At pinagpustahan na nga ng mga tarantado.

“HAHAHAHAHA! WALANGYA, NAGPUSTAHAN NA!” Illad’s shriek nearly made Wade’s eardrums bleed, forcing him to lower his phone’s volume despite being completely alone in his condo. “Hmm… ang pusta ko ay… walang mangyayari. Matigas ang bungo niyang si Wade. I hope you guys remember how stubborn he could get.”

Wade smirked, nodding in satisfaction. Buti pa itong si Illad, may isip.

“Same with Illad,” Mika said between bites of his McDo Chicken Sandwich. Mukhang ito na naman ang dinner ni Mikhail ngayong gabi.

Illad laughed. “Mas pupusta siguro ako kay Mika at Eden. Tangina, ang funny talaga! Niliteral ‘yung ‘He was sunshine, I was midnight rain’ ni Maem Taylor. Ganda ng dynamic niyo, Mik. Sana mapaamo mo ‘yan soon.” Illad said it way too enthusiastically that Wade kinda felt bad for Mika, but he also couldn’t help but laugh. For he too, was curious.

“Illad, please. Kilabutan ka,” Mikhail deadpanned, face blank, which only made everyone laugh harder.

They went on talking for a few more minutes before deciding to call it a night so everyone could eat their dinner.

Wade sighed, leaning back on his chair as he covered his eyes with his hand, shielding them from the bright light above. Naramdaman niya ang pagod dahil sa mga nilakad niya ng araw na ‘to, plus the sudden announcement about the project. Kung kailan talaga umaabsent ka, saka maraming nangyayari eh.

His stomach growled in protest. With another sigh, he stood up, deciding to head to the kitchen, planning to reheat the leftover pizza from lunch. But then his phone pinged, lighting up the desk with a soft glow.

1 New Message

 

From: +63 912 345 6789

 

Wade.

He froze. For a moment, all he could do was stare at the screen. He felt his whole body going rigid. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kaba.

Hindi naman siguro siya ‘to, ‘no?

There’s just no fucking way. It’s too soon.

But when had Wade Rodrigueza ever been right about these things?

Tangina. So si Adler nga.

He doesn't have a choice. Sumalampak muli siya sa upuan para replyan nang maayos si Adler. Narito na rin naman. Bakit pa nila patatagalin? Sooner or later, they would actually need to talk about this project. So, might as well do it soon.

Might as well do it NOW.

Halos ibalibag ni Wade ang cellphone matapos niyang mag-reply. Ramdam niya ang bigat ng paghinga niya, each exhale sharp and uneven. His heart was pounding in his chest, fueled by pure, unfiltered irritation.

Wala siyang ibang nagawa kundi magpakawala ng mura.

Fuck you, Adler Saint.

Adler swiveled his chair lazily from left to right, eyes fixed on the screen as he reread Wade’s message for what felt like the tenth time. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, thumb tapping idly against the edge of his desk while he debated whether to reply or just let the silence taunt him longer.

A faint smirk curved his lips when he read the message again—Wade’s temper practically leaping off the screen.

“You haven’t changed, Rodrigueza,” he murmured under his breath, the words laced with amusement. “It’s always so easy for you to set me aside.”

He leaned back, gaze drifting toward the wide glass window of his condo. The city sprawled before him—streets glowing and buildings alive with light. His reflection stared back at him, faintly illuminated by his laptop’s glow.

“Ah…” he exhaled, almost to himself. “Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, peach.”

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Chapter Text

Yup. He was dreading it already.

Pagpasok niya sa classroom, agad niyang iginala ang paningin. It didn’t take long before his eyes landed on Adler—nakaupo sa sulok at nakapangalumbaba sa armchair.. The moment their eyes met, Wade looked away first, pretending to be busy before settling beside Gio as if nothing happened.

Gio glanced at him with that knowing look—the kind that made Wade want to roll his eyes. But this was just Gio being Gio, and Wade had learned to live with that.

Pumasok ang propesor, at nagsimula ang klase. Everything moved like clockwork. By the time 5PM rolled around, their classes for the day were done. Wade stayed behind to pack up, dragging his feet more than usual. He didn’t know how to approach Adler—or if he even should. A part of him regretted being too emotional in their chat yesterday; now, he could barely look at him without feeling stupid.

Maybe the heavens took pity on him.

Because Adler was the one who approached first.

“Wade.”

The sound of his name made him glance up instinctively, but just for a brief second; Adler stood there, leaning on the armrest of a nearby chair, casual but unreadable.

“Hm?” Wade hummed, slipping his laptop into his bag, hoping to sound unaffected.

“Hindi mo man lang ba ako titingnan?” Adler’s tone was low, followed by a soft, almost humorless chuckle.

Wade shut his eyes briefly, exhaling through his nose. What the hell was that supposed to mean? He was packing his things, for god’s sake. They weren’t even close—barely acknowledged each other, if not for this goddamn project.

He finally faced Adler, locking eyes with a blank stare. “There. Happy?”

Adler smirked, adjusting the strap of his backpack higher on his shoulder.

“Oh ano, where do you wanna talk?” Wade indulged him, slinging his bag over one shoulder and turning to face him properly.

“Up to you. Where do you want?” Adler replied, his tone effortless, like he didn’t really give a fuck.

Wade sighed. “Walang mangyayari if we keep exchanging questions. Tara sa condo ko. It’s just across the uni.”

And Adler? The motherfucker let out a laugh.

Yes. This is Adler. This is how he always makes me feel. Wade thought bitterly. Pakiramdam niya, isa siyang malaking joke para rito. Walang sineseryoso. Lahat nakakatawa kahit wala namang nakakatawa.

This wasn’t new. Kada reportings, other projects or presentations—kada dadako ang paningin niya kay Adler, laging may naglalarong ngisi sa mga labi nito na para bang laging may nakakatawa.

He clenched his eyes shut. “Adler.” He warned, tone sharp.

“Fuck, sorry. It’s just…” Adler’s laugh faded into a dry chuckle. “It’s just ironic. We’re not even friends. Hell, we’re only in this situation because of the project. And now you’re inviting me to your condo? That’s some personal shit, Wade. Don’t you think?”

Ah. So that’s it. That’s why he’s laughing. Madumi lang pala talaga mag-isip ang puta.

He sighed heavily. “Adler, I suggested the condo because it’s just right across the uni. I figured baka matagal tayong mag-uusap since we’re gonna brainstorm pa. My time is precious too, you know.”

He paused, giving Adler a pointed look. “At isa pa, hindi ba’t sa Makati ka pa umuuwi? You asked me where I wanna talk. Ayan, sa condo. So tara na, bago pa kita matadyakan.” Wade rolled his eyes, then turned towards the door, intending to leave first.

What he didn’t notice was that he had completely caught Adler off guard.

So he knows where I live? Can’t believe Wade Rodrigueza is considerate enough. He might have actually thought this through bago pa sila mag-usap.

Adler’s lips curled into a faint smirk as he shook his head slightly, then quickly followed Wade towards the door. Pagbukas ni Wade ng pinto, tumambad ang buong barkada sa harap nila. Sila na lang pala ni Adler ang naiwan sa room. The others had been waiting for them.

Gio gave him a look.

And a smirk.

Wade raised an eyebrow in return.

“Bat ang tagal niyo sa loob, pre?” Jeremy greeted, nodding toward them.

“Ah, pinag-usapan lang yung project…” Adler replied casually, then pointed at Wade as if to say he’s with him.

Wade noticed Adler’s friends glancing at him, then giving small smiles. He returned them politely. He was actually… pretty close with some of Adler’s friends. And just thinking about it made him realize: na talagang itong kaibigan lang nila ang isang malaking salot sa buhay niya.

Ano bang ginawa ko para parusahan nang ganito?

He didn’t even know.

He faced his friends. “Guys, mag-uusap pa kami ni Adler about the project. If may lakad kayo, mauna na kayo.”

Paris nodded. “Alright. Just chat us pag nakauwi ka na, Wade.”

“Uh… about that…” Wade bit his lip, hesitating.

“What?” Mika asked, curious.

“Sa condo kami mag-uusap. So, yeah… Makakauwi na rin talaga ako,” he answered awkwardly.

Gio snorted, laughing under his breath. “Fuck, Wade. Ang bilis.” He muttered just loud enough for Wade to hear.

“Oh, shut the hell up, Gio. Nothing’s going to happen,” Wade scowled.

“Yeah, right. Usap sa condo? Usap na may balak kamo.” at humagalpak ulit ito ng tawa, causing Adler and his friends to glance over briefly.

“Sige, pre. Mauna na kayo. Pag-uusapan pa namin ni Wade yung gagawin namin sa project,” Adler called to his friends, motioning towards Wade.

The group nodded and began walking away, exchanging farewells with Wade’s friends as they left.

Eden, meanwhile, walked straight to Mika and handed him a flashdrive. “Here, Khail. You can check my portfolio.”

For someone who usually screams bloody murder at every little thing, Eden was surprisingly soft-spoken around Mika.

Mika accepted it, slipping the drive into his pocket.

“Just chat me pag may napili ka. I’ll check your e-portfolio later, too,” Eden added, then walked away without even glancing back—hindi man lang sila tinapunan ng tingin.

Mika sighed bago nito sapuhin ang dibdib. “Waaaah… Akala ko mamamatay na ako.” Natawa naman ang apat sa reaksyon ni Mika.

When Wade saw Adler waiting for him, he finally spoke. “Sige, guys. Una na ako. Ingat kayo. Mika, ilagay mo yung flashdrive sa bag mo. Babyahe ka pa. Burara ka pa naman.” At sabay silang nagtawanang magkakaibigan.

Hiniklat na niya ang palapulsuhan ni Adler na nagpaawang ng bibig nito.

“Bye, guys!” Sabay kaway sa mga kaibigan habang hila-hila ang isang Adler na nagtatago ng ngisi.

Only after they were a good distance from the group did Wade let go of Adler’s arm. They walked in silence. Wade had braced himself for unbearable awkwardness, pero baka dahil mas nauuna siyang maglakad ay hindi niya nararamdaman ang pagkabalisa.

They reached the tower, and Wade instructed Adler to leave his ID at the lobby before pressing the button for the 17th floor in the elevator. Once inside the condo, Wade offered him an extra pair of slippers. That’s when he noticed something.

Adler seemed restless. His eyes darted around the room, fingers twitching at his sides—completely unable to stay still.

Then Adler’s gaze landed on the balcony, and for the first time, he visibly relaxed.

“Wade,” he called, almost apologetically. “Quick yosi lang. Okay lang ba? Pwede ba sa balcony mo?”

Ah. So that’s why he’s been fidgety and getting agitated.

Wade blinked. He didn’t even know Adler smoked.

Napangiwi naman siya kasi ayaw niya sa sigarilyo, at sa amoy ng sigarilyo.

“To be honest, Adler… I really don’t like the smell of cigarettes. Parang sumisikip kasi yung dibdib ko pag nakakaamoy. Kahit yung kumakapit lang sa damit, ganun. But if you really need to, you can use the balcony. Sara mo na lang yung glass door.”

Adler immediately shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Baka bumaba na lang ako. Kabisado ko naman na ‘tong daan papuntang unit mo. Sorry about that, Wade.”

Wade let out a breath. Naiintindihan naman niya.

Alam niya ang epekto sa katawan ng smoker pag hindi ito nakakapagyosi, lalo na kung medyo adik na talaga sa nicotine—he’d seen it before. His older brother, Yohan, had been a smoker too. That was partly why, even though they went to the same school, they lived in separate condos until Yohan graduated. And he knew that by now, his brother had already quit.

He knew about the cravings. The kind that gnawed at you. He understood the itch, the need, the sudden pull. He understood Adler.

An idea crossed his mind to make things easier. “You can just take off your polo and leave it here. Para sa undershirt mo na lang kakapit yung amoy. Pwede ka namang magyosi sa balcony. Pag tapos ka na, suot mo na lang ulit yung polo mo. No big deal.”

Adler looked surprised, still hesitating slightly. Wade caught the hesitation and gave a small nod of reassurance. “Sige na, okay lang. Bilisan mo lang.”

“Thanks.” Adler muttered, giving in. He quickly removed his polo, tucked it into the bag, then pulled a cigarette pack and lighter from his slacks.

He stepped onto the balcony, closing the glass door behind him as Wade had requested, then lit up.

Wade watched him from the kitchen.

The moment Adler took that first drag, his body visibly relaxed, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The rush hit him fast—the high he was chasing, now finally within reach.

Wade turned away and started prepping drinks for the both of them—juice or iced tea, maybe. Something cold, smooth, and easy. Pero habang gumagalaw siya, napapalingon pa rin siya sa balcony to check on Adler. That’s when he noticed Adler lighting another cigarette.

Another one?

Halos mapamura siya nang makitang mauubos na ang nasa isang kaha na nakita niyang medyo nangangalahati pa kanina. Ganon kabilis? Was he stressed? Chainsmoker din ba siya?

He chewed on the thought while mixing the juice, then froze. Shit. Is this going to be his routine? A month of smelling smoke on Adler? Putangina.

He needed a solution.

Think. Think. Think, Wade. Gamitin mo ‘yang utak mo.

Paano nga ba tumigil sa pagyoyosi ang kuya niya—

Ah.

Right.

Napangisi siya. Tangina mo talaga, Wade Rodrigueza. Isang malaking kabaliwan ‘yang naiisip mo.

Because the only reason his brother quit smoking… was when he got himself a girlfriend.

A girlfriend that always kissed him.

He remembered: Ate Danah, his brother’s girlfriend, occasionally brought candies for Yohan whenever she visited their house. He recalled the bowls always scattered around the living room, kitchen, or his brother’s room—filled with all sorts of candy and gum she had brought.

He also remembered catching them kissing, making out. At one point, he even asked his Ate Danah why. He’d always been curious: what did it feel like to kiss a smoker? Didn’t it taste like ash, like an ashtray? How could his Ate Danah even enjoy it?

But he also remembered her response:

“Ah, eh kasi ‘yang kapatid mo, ang lakas manigarilyo! Ayoko sa amoy! Pinapabawasan ko nga. Sabi ko, labi ko na lang ang hipakin niya.”

And then she laughed—loud and unapologetic.

The memory hit him like a slap. A ridiculous, hilarious slap.

Wade could feel the heat rushing up his neck. Bakit iyon pa ang naalala ko sa lahat ng bagay?

And worse—his mind had the audacity to picture it.

His cheeks warmed. Shit.

Kissing Adler? He didn’t ask for that thought, yet it barged in—loud, unwelcome, and visceral.

Putangina.

He almost spilled the juice he was stirring as he gripped the spoon too tightly. Then, without meaning to, he glanced towards the balcony—and completely froze.

Because Adler was looking at him.

Adler, who was leaning against the railing, with trails of smoke curling from his lips, a cigarette resting between his fingers, and glasses slipping slightly down his nose. His eyes weren’t teasing—just quietly observing Wade lose his shit while he’s making their drinks. Nakita niya ang maliit na ngising nagtatago sa labi ni Adler na siguro’y dahil sa halos pagkakatapon niya sa juice.

His face flushed even more.

Hah. Putangina talaga.

Baliw nga ata talaga ako.

Wade noticed that Adler was taking his sweet time smoking out on the balcony. It’s been several minutes now and they still had a project to discuss, but the other man seemed in no rush to come back in. With a small sigh, Wade grabbed his phone and typed out a quick message, fingers hesitating for a moment before hitting send.

Mula sa pagkakasandal sa railings, unti-unting napatuwid ang tayo ni Adler.

Fuck.

Fuck you, Rodrigueza.

Hindi niya napigilan ang kumawalang mahihinang mura sa mga labi niya habang nakatitig sa litrato ni Wade sa phone. He could feel his throat tighten, the air getting heavier in his lungs. Kaya mabilis siyang humithit muli ng sigarilyo, hoping the smoke could somehow drown the sudden rush in his chest. Pero habang pinapanood niyang pumanhik ang usok sa malamig na hangin, mas lalo lang siyang binabagabag ng init na hindi niya maipaliwanag.

Napahinga siya nang malalim habang ang panga ay nag-iigting gawa ng hindi maipaliwanag na pakiramdam, his cigarette trembling slightly between his fingers.

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Chapter Text

Nang matapos manigarilyo, akmang papasok na sana si Adler sa loob ng condo nang mapansin niyang may nakalatag nang toothbrush, tuwalya, at bagong shirt sa sofa malapit sa pintuan ng balcony.

Natawa siya nang mahina, sabay iling. Grabe si Wade. That guy was seriously committed to erasing every trace of cigarette smoke from him.

But Wade was nowhere in sight. Baka nasa kwarto, he thought.

Adler stepped back inside, the cool air from the AC meeting his skin. He headed towards the living room where his bag was. The first thing he did was take off his undershirt—grabbing the hem and tugging it over his head, the fabric brushing against his skin before he folded it neatly and slipped it into his bag. He then reached for the gray cotton shirt Wade left for him, but before he could put it on, he felt eyes on him.

Natigilan siya.

Wade was there.

Leaning against the wall near the couch, arms crossed loosely over his chest. He’d already changed into a plain white cotton shirt and black joggers, looking effortlessly calm and composed—which his eyes were anything but.

Their gazes locked for a fleeting second. Adler expected him to turn away, to look disgusted, or at the very least, express discomfort. After all, Wade never really hid how much he hated him.

Pero hindi.

Wade didn’t look away.

Instead, his gaze dropped, slow and unapologetic, tracing the sharp lines of Adler’s collarbone down to the faint rise and fall of his chest. The air between them thickened, heavy with something neither of them wanted to name.

Adler chuckled under his breath, trying hard not to show how flustered he actually felt. He leaned down and reached for the towel and toothbrush laid neatly on the sofa. “Liking the view, Rodrigueza?” he asked, his voice laced with teasing, masking the way his pulse betrayed him.

He was halfway through a smirk when he heard Wade’s reply.

“Yeah.”

Absent-mindedly. 

Barely above a whisper.

Almost as if the word had escaped before Wade could stop himself. Pero narinig pa rin niya.

Adler froze mid-motion, the towel hanging loosely from his fingers. Slowly, he looked up again—half-expecting Wade to be smirking for catching him off-guard, to throw in a sarcastic remark, to laugh and brush it all off as a joke.

But no.

Wade did none of that.

What he saw was Wade, still staring at him, eyes darker than before with something unreadable swimming beneath that calm exterior. The silence that followed stretched, taut and electric, until Wade finally tore his gaze away. He turned on his heel and walked towards the kitchen, like nothing had happened.

“Bathroom’s on the left, Arellano.” Wade called out, his tone deceptively casual.

Adler adjusted his slipping glasses before he exhaled a quiet sigh.

Jesus, Wade.

You’re like a poison disguised as an aphrodisiac.

You let your enemies beg for a taste—

—and then you kill them slowly.

They were both seated on the couch now, their knees nearly brushing against each other as they shared the limited space. On the small table in front of them sat two half-empty glasses of juice and a few bowls of snacks—chips, mixed nuts, and some sweets like chocolate-covered almonds that neither of them seemed particularly interested in anymore.

Wade sat cross-legged, his laptop balanced on his thighs. The soft glow from the screen bathed their faces in muted light. His portfolio filled the display—carefully curated over the years, neatly sorted into folders by themes, moods, and styles: Street Silhouettes, Portraits in Light, Architectural Bones—every photo was a piece of him.

“Okay,” Wade started, adjusting the screen so Adler could see better. His voice was calm and measured. “Since we’re going to be each other’s muse for the project, we need to pick a concept that fits both of us.”

Adler nodded. He leaned back against the couch, his posture relaxed, fingers gliding over the trackpad with unhurried pace. The proximity was dizzying, and Wade could feel the faint brush of air each time Adler moved beside him.

He shouldn’t really care. But he did. Each flick of Adler’s finger across his work felt like a blade grazing at his pride. Wade’s eyes betrayed him, darting towards Adler’s face, waiting for any micro-expression of judgment. Maybe a twitch of his lips. A furrow in his brow. Anything. 

“Show me yours?” Wade finally asked, his tone softer now, almost drowsy. Medyo inaantok na rin kasi siya. They had a long day today. 

Adler hummed in response, reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone. “Here,” he said, unlocking it and opening his Instagram profile. “Dito ko ina-upload lahat. Hindi pa masyadong organized, pero…”

Wade leaned closer to see.

And he went completely still.

What filled the screen hit him like a punch in the gut.

The gallery was alive, like someone had torn open their ribcage and turned emotion into light. The screen was filled with images—some in harsh, high-contrast black and white, and others so rich in saturation that they almost looked like paintings that come to life: A still shot of a dying flower with droplets of morning dew, its petals nearly translucent against a gray background. A crowd of people in LRT station, frozen mid-step, but with one figure in sharp technicolor. A pair of hands, ink-stained and a little blurry, like it was captured whilst trembling, reaching for the morning light…

Each photo speaks to him, and he didn’t like how it’s making him utterly overwhelmed.

Wade swallowed. His throat felt dry. “What the fuck…” Wade whispered in astonishment, eyes fixed on the screen. “This—This is actually insane.”

“Which one?” Adler asked, voice steady, still scrolling through Wade’s portfolio like it was nothing extraordinary.

“Both.” Wade answered without hesitation. He can’t help it. His voice carried a quiet awe he didn’t bother to hide. “The extremities of two ends of the spectrum—both sides shown vividly. Sobrang raw ng emotions from the monochromatic shots, pero yung coloured shots mo…” he trailed off, exhaling a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “They felt like they were leaping off the screen. Like the subject’s about to step out of the frame.”

“Hm.” Adler hummed, nonchalant as ever, eyes flicking up for just a second. “You think so?”

“Yeah.” Wade said firmly. Kahit kaaway niya ‘tong si Arellano at bwisit na bwisit pa rin siya rito on principle, Wade had always been fair when it came to art. Talent deserved acknowledgment—enemy or not. He doesn’t discriminate.

Adler merely shrugged, as if the praise didn’t really matter to him. “Well, gusto ko lang kasi laging may contrast. Real life’s never one tone, right?”

Wade nodded slowly, gaze softening. “Right…”

They went back to Wade’s portfolio. Adler scrolled through his work, and it was his turn to be tense. The air felt heavier with every flick of Adler’s finger across the trackpad. He scrolled and paused on a portrait taken under the harsh afternoon light where the shadows cut across the subject’s face like knives.

Wade could feel his pulse spike. That photo had been one of his favorites.

Adler zoomed in. Still silent.

Wade’s throat tightened. Say something, damn it.

Why isn’t he saying anything? Does he hate it?

Then, Adler looked up. “How about you choose for me, Wade?”

Wade blinked, thrown off. “What?” he breathed. “Why would I—Wait, ‘di ka ba makapili kasi wala kang nagustuhan? Kasi pangit lahat?” The sarcasm slipped out more defensive than intended, and Wade hated himself for it.

Adler’s brows lifted slightly, genuine surprise flickering across his face. “What? No!” He shook his head, eyes softening in a way that made Wade look away for a second. “Hindi ako makapili kasi maganda lahat. I think any concept I choose from here could be beautifully taken by you. I can’t decide—so I want you to choose for me.”

For a brief while, he just stared at him. Something in Wade’s chest twisted, quietly. He remembered what Paris had told him once—that he overthinks too much, that he always jumps to the worst conclusions because he’s scared of being seen as someone who’s ridiculous, rejected, and misunderstood.

And right now, he felt it—that tug of guilt for assuming too fast.

Wade exhaled shakily and reached for his laptop. “Alright, fine.” he said, his voice more grounded this time. “At least choose three photos and I’ll decide from there.”

Adler obliged. He settled back into the couch, posture loose but thoughtful, as he scanned Wade’s portfolio again. After a few minutes, he picked three photos and Wade bookmarked them for later, planning to analyze them for thematic patterns once he was alone.

For now, though, napansin ni Wade na lumalalim na ang gabi. They’d been at it for hours, and time had quietly slipped past them. Yet, there were still things they needed to talk about.

Especially one.

Isa pa’y magmamaneho pa pauwi ng Makati si Adler, so Wade decided to bring it up now—before he could back out of it.

“So…” Wade began, voice careful and almost tentative. “I was wondering… Is there any possible way to stop you from smelling like cigarettes, or smoking near me, at least—just for a month?”

Adler tilted his head in faint amusement. “You saw me earlier, Wade. I don’t think I can actually refrain myself from smoking. For a month? That’s tough.”

“What about substitutes?” Wade offered. “Nicotine gums? Patches? Candies?”

Adler sighed, leaning his head back against the couch. “Never worked. I always go back. I still look for the feeling of a cigarette between my fingers.”

Wade nodded, lips pressed into a thin line as silence settled thickly between them. He hesitated for a heartbeat, eyes flicking toward Adler before he spoke again. “When did you start smoking?”

Adler gave a low chuckle, almost fond. “Ano ‘to, Q&A?”

Wade frowned. “This is about my health, dumbass. The least thing you could do is answer me honestly.” He pushed at Adler’s chest lightly, a frustrated gesture that made Adler laugh again

“Okay, okay! Relax, peach.” Adler chuckled. the teasing nickname rolling off his tongue like second nature that Wade almost forgot to glare at him for it. With a mischievous grin, Adler reached out—fingers curling around Wade’s wrist. His thumb brushed over the delicate skin near his pulsepoint, drawing slow, soothing circles.

Wade should’ve pulled away. He knew he should’ve. But somehow, his body didn’t listen. He felt his heartbeat slowed down, syncing to the pace Adler was tracing on his wrist.

“Started when we were still in our first year.” Adler admitted, tone almost reflective.

“Hmm. So it’s been three years, huh?” Wade murmured, not even realizing that Adler was still rubbing gentle patterns against his skin—thumb moving in steady, hypnotic swirls.

“What made you smoke?” Wade inquired, his eyes still on the floor, a little dazed.

Then it stopped.

The brushing. The movement.

Adler’s hand stilled, and so did the air around them. The change was subtle, but enough for Wade to notice the sudden change in the atmosphere. like a string between them had gone taut. His gaze lifted slowly, just in time to catch the way Adler’s expression subtly darkened.

“You don’t have to answer if it’s making you uncomfortable,” he said quickly, not wanting to cross a line. There was a flicker of guilt in his voice, like he regretted pushing too far.

Fuck. Since when did he get nosy? Gusto niya lang malaman kung paano niya mapapahinto si Adler sa paninigarilyo sa loob ng isang buwan. Why was he asking irrelevant and personal questions now? Napapikit nang mariin si Wade, clearly frustrated with himself.

Adler simply hummed, eyes flickering down before he let go of Wade’s wrist. The sudden absence of his touch felt colder than it had any right to be.

Then came the silence—not awkward nor suffocating, but still heavy. In that silence, there were too many thoughts circling in Wade’s head. Why did Adler resort to this vice? Was he influenced? Was it a way to cope with things he can’t show to anyone else?

The other thought that’s been boggling his mind was about the remedy for this. How could he actually stop Adler from smoking for a month without pushing too hard?

“Wanna bet?” Wade blurted out absentmindedly. The words slipped out of his mouth before he even realized what he was saying—hadn’t even realized he was thinking aloud until it was too late.

Adler turned his head towards him again, lifting his hand to adjust the bridge of his glasses, eyes narrowing just slightly in confusion. “Hmm? About what?”

Wade’s blank gaze was still fixed to the television in front of them, the rest of his thoughts tumbled out in a rush he didn’t bother to filter. “Wanna bet that I could make you quit?”

Adler’s breath hitched.

And then Wade froze mid-breath. Every muscle in him went rigid.

That was the exact moment he registered what the hell he just said.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang mapagtantong nasabi niya nang malakas ang mga salitang tumatakbo sa utak niya. Napapikit na naman siya nang mariin dahil sa katangahan.

He groaned internally. Putangina naman, Wade. Why would you even say that out loud? WHat were you thinking?!

“Yeah? You’d make me quit, Rodrigueza?” Adler’s voice was low, roughened at the edges. Not mocking, but dazed, like the idea was so absurd and intimate at the same time, and he didn’t know how else to respond.

“Nevermind. Forget what I said,” Wade mumbled, the words rushing out of him like water bursting through a crack. His ears were burning. He shot to his feet, desperate to outrun the embarrassment curling in his stomach.

Lalagpasan na sana niya si Adler para kumuha ng tubig nang hiklatin siya nito sa palapulsuhan. Adler’s grip on his forearm was firm, halting him mid-step, pulling him back just enough that Wade had to meet his eyes. 

“I’m not done with you yet,” Adler said, voice dipped lower than before, dangerous in its seriousness. “What did you mean by that?”

Wade exhaled sharply, swallowing the lump in his throat. Ang tanga tanga mo talaga, Wade.

“Pwede inom muna po ako? I’ll tell you later,” he murmured, voice a little shaky. 

And maybe it was sincerity in Wade’s voice or the way his eyes flicked to Adler’s, pleading for a breather, but Adler let him go. Slowly, reluctantly. Wade moved past him as he made his way to the kitchen, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.

Behind him, Adler remained seated on the couch, gaze fixed on Wade’s retreating figure. His mind replayed the words “I could make you quit” over and over like a broken record in his head, each repetition sending his heart thumping harder in his chest, and he couldn’t quite figure out why.

⊹₊⟡⋆

Chapter Text

Nanginginig pa rin ang kamay ni Wade habang nagsasalin ng tubig mula sa pitsel. He still couldn’t believe he’d been so out of it that he’d said something embarrassingly cringe to Arellano. Ano na lang ang iisipin ng isa? Na siraulo siya?  Fuck. His pride wouldn’t let him admit that.

Huminga siya nang malalim. Biglang nag-vibrate ang phone niya sa bulsa ng joggers niya. Kinuha niya ito at tiningnan ang notifications mula sa group chat nila. Alam na niyang mga nagreact ito gawa ng tweet niya few minutes ago.

He tapped the app and began scrolling through the messages in their group chat.

Well, fuck. And his dumb ass went ahead and made a ridiculous bet on it.

Get a fucking grip, Wade.

Before he could even reply, a new notification buzzed on his phone, making his brows furrowed. His chest thudded as he saw the sender: Adler.

Tangina mo talaga, Arellano.

You really have a talent for getting under my skin.

⊹₊⟡⋆

Nang bumalik si Wade, may dala itong isang baso ng malamig na tubig. Tahimik niya iyong iniabot kay Adler, na agad namang tinaasan siya ng kilay.

“I’m not thirsty, Wade,” Adler said flatly. But despite his tone, his fingers still curled around the glass.

“Uminom ka pa rin,” Wade replied, voice blunt but not unkind. “Juice pa lang ang nainom mo magmula dismissal. Your lips are chapped and cracking already.”

Adler blinked, caught off guard by the observation. He glanced down at the glass for a second—clear water with two ice cubes clinking softly against the sides—then sighed. Defeated, he finally took a sip. Wade settled back beside him on the couch with a soft thud, one leg folded under the other. His eyes stayed on the television, pretending to focus, though his mind was elsewhere.

Pagkatapos uminom ni Adler, maingat nitong inilapag ang baso sa ibabaw ng mesa. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Adler turned his head towards Wade, who still wasn’t meeting his gaze. “Mind explaining what you said earlier?” Adler started, direct and firm.

Wade inhaled sharply, Napaghugot siya nang malalim na hininga bago muling hinarap si Adler. “Adler…” he began carefully, “do you want to quit?”

Adler frowned. “What? Wade, you’re not making any se—”

“Just answer the question, Arellano.” Wade cut in—not with force, but with something close to urgency.

Adler’s jaw tightened, muttering a curse under his breath. “Yes! Fuck, yes. I’ve been trying, Wade. You think I like being dependent on something that’s slowly killing me?” He let out harsh breaths, frustration bleeding through.

“There we go,” Wade murmured, almost to himself, a faint exhale escaping his lips. “That’s what I was waiting for.”

Tahimik silang nagkatinginan. And for once, Adler noticed the absence of sarcasm or smugness in Wade’s eyes; only a steady, quiet kind of resolve. Something that almost felt like concern.

“Then…” Wade’s voice came out quieter than he intended, his words hovering uncertainly between them. “Want me to help you quit?”

The question hung heavy in the air. In that breath of time, Wade barely noticed it, but a thought crossed his mind—Adler really did look good with glasses. Come to think of it, he’d never seen him without them since that first meeting during their freshman orientation—back when Adler didn’t have them yet.

Nagpakawala ng malalim na buntong hininga si Adler bago nagsalita. “What’s in it for you?” he asked, brows knitting together out of confusion. Was Wade really that desperate to avoid the smell of smoke that he’d go this far?

Wade met his gaze. “We’ll be working together for a month, Adler. I can’t stand the smell—and I know it’s not easy for you to just stop.” He exhaled, looking down at his hands resting on his lap. “But I figured… instead of asking you to refrain or limit yourself, maybe I could help. Help you quit.”

His voice softened at the end, almost hesitant. “I can’t think of any better fix maliban sa tulungan ka na lang sa pag-quit mo, and be there whenever you experience withdrawals.”

Pumungay ang mga mata ni Adler. He didn’t consider how serious this is for Wade. Maybe may underlying health issues talaga siya, or maybe something else he couldn’t say kaya ganito na lang ito kadesididong mag-isip ng paraan para magawa nila ang final project nang maayos.

Whatever it was, Wade looked like he had already made up his mind to something.

Adler had tried to quit before. Once. Twice. But the withdrawal always hit him hard: cold sweats, trembling hands, headaches, cravings that chewed on his sanity until he gave in. And no one stayed long enough to help him through it.

No one cared enough to stay.

Until now.

Maybe Wade being paired up with him for this project was more than just bad luck. Maybe it was a sign.

His turning point.

“Okay,” Adler whispered softly.

Wade turned sharply, disbelief flashing across his face. “What? You serious? You’d consider quitting?” He breathed out a laugh that came out more like a stutter, as if he didn’t expect Adler to actually be this easy-going. 

Adler shrugged, a small, wry smile tugging at his lips as he leaned back into the couch, closing his eyes. “You suggested it. You offered help. Who the hell am I to say no?” His tone was light, but there was something else—resignation, maybe. Or hope.

“So,” he continued after a beat, cracking one eye open, “how are we gonna do this? What’s on your mind, peach?” Adler asked, curiosity laced in his tone.

At heto na naman ang utak ni Wade na hindi mapirmi-pirmi.

He already pondered this a while ago habang nasa kusina siya. Wala eh. Hindi rin niya maintindihan ang sarili niya. He’s trying to convince himself that this could actually help Adler.

I mean, what other alternatives could there be aside from gums and candies—something that could keep his tongue and lips preoccupied? He thought quietly, running a hand through his hair. God, Wade, you’re losing it.

“From those alternatives you’ve mentioned earlier—like the gums and candies,” he threaded carefully, though his voice betrayed a tremor, “ano’ng naging favorite mo?”

Adler blinked, confused. “Na ano?” He turned to look at Wade, at napaiwas na naman ito ng tingin.

“What kinds of candies or gums do you… usually chew on?” Wade rephrased, this time his fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Adler noticed the movement, the restlessness, and the sudden heat coloring Wade’s ears. He stared, trying to figure out what exactly was making Rodrigueza so damn uneasy.

Mas lalo namang nag-init ang mukha ni Wade nang maramdaman ang bigat ng titig ni Adler sa kanya.

“Hmm… Nicorette. Sugar-free mints. Monami…” He paused to think, eyes unfocused.

Wade let out a small laugh at the unexpected mention of the brand. “Monami?”

“Mhm.” Adler replied, turning his gaze back to him.

Wade chuckled, shaking his head. “Let me guess, the strawberry one?”

A grin tugged at Adler’s lips. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those stereotypical, judgmental bastards who associate flavors and colors with someone’s personality?”

“God, no!” Wade laughed—really laughed this time. “Paborito ko lang kasi ‘yan noong bata ako.”

“Ah, so paborito mo rin pala…” Adler teased, leaning slightly closer.

Dahan-dahan namang humupa ang ngisi ni Wade saka tinapunan ulit ng tingin si Adler. “‘Rin’? So… paborito mo rin ‘to noon?”

“Up ‘til now,” Adler admitted with a tired grin, scratching his nape. “That’s the only candy I can stomach aside from mints.”

Wade’s lips parted slightly. “So… you like strawberries?”

“Yeah.” Adler hummed. “Why?”

Wade laughed under his breath, almost like he was mocking himself.

“What’s funny, Rodrigueza?” Adler pressed, eyes narrowing with amusement.

Wade shook his head, his soft laugh dying down. “Don’t worry, it’s not about you liking strawberries, ‘cause I like them too.”

“Then what is it?” Adler demanded. But then he saw how Wade’s pupils slightly dilated as his gaze dropped from Adler’s face, down to the long stretch of his neck, to his collarbones barely hidden beneath that gray cotton shirt lent to him. Napakagat ng labi si Adler.

“I just think I’m crazy enough to suggest this…” Wade muttered, still dazed.

Adler felt his throat tighten as tension crept up on him. He tilted his head slightly. “Suggest what, Wade?” he asked softly, a quiet murmur that filled the small space between them. They were the only ones in the condo, yet the sudden closeness between them made their voices drop to a whisper.

Wade’s gaze lifted slowly, sharp and burning. He stared at Adler as if he were looking straight into his soul.

“Hey, Arellano…” he whispered, voice low and trembling slightly. “…wanna use me?”

Medyo natigilan si Adler sa sinabi ni Wade. But he didn’t quite get it. “...Mind elaborating, peach?”

Namula si Wade sa narinig. Adler’s been calling him that nickname a few times already, and it’s only now that he’s suddenly conscious of it. But for some reason, he couldn’t bring it up—didn’t have the guts to ask Adler about it, much less make him stop. And it frustrates him, because why the hell is he being like this in the first place?

Hinayaan na lang muna niya.

“What I’m saying is…” Wade stammered. “If you ever have the urge next time, tawagan mo ako. Or text me. I’ll bring you something.”

“Bring me what?” Adler’s brows furrowed, clearly confused with whatever this is.

Lalong nag-iwas ng tingin si Wade. “You’ll know soon. Just—just promise me. For a month, no cheating. Even for a day. That when an urge comes, you’ll call me. I’ll handle it. Just for a month, Adler… And if by the end of it, hindi pa rin kita mapahinto sa paninigarilyo, then you can decide for yourself if you still want to quit or give in to your vices.”

Adler just stared at him, trying to figure out what kind of help Wade actually had in mind. But maybe that was part of the deal—trusting him enough to find out. That thought alone was enough to make him hum in agreement. “Okay, Wade. I promise.”

Wade let out the breath he didn’t realize he was holding, then turned towards the balcony. “It’s getting late. Magda-drive ka pa pauwi,” he whispered softly.

“It’s fine. Wala naman akong hinahabol.” Adler shrugged, casual on the surface, though the truth was—he didn’t really want to leave yet.

Wade nodded, deciding to wrap things up. “Alright. So just like what we agreed earlier, we’ll start this weekend. I’ll message you the concept I chose from the three pictures you chose earlier. As for the theme, I actually liked how you play with the two tones in your portfolio. So, if you're okay with it, then let’s go with monochrome and technicolor.”

The words started to fade into background noise for Adler, who now rested his head against his knuckles, elbow perched on the backrest of the couch. He watched Wade animatedly talk, hands gesturing and head bobbing slightly with each point. Those little quirks of his brought a quiet smile to Adler’s lips.

“...and I guess that’s i—hey, were you even listening?” Wade suddenly asked, catching Adler staring at him that made his face flushed again.

“Yes, Wade. I heard everything. I agree with whatever you said.” Adler kidded with a lazy grin. Wade could only sigh and stand up, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up his neck.

“Then I guess we’re done here. I’ll see you tomorrow in class, and… when you decide to call…” Wade’s voice trailed off as he averted his gaze again. How many times has it been now?

Adler, ever the tease, stood up and tried to catch his eyes. “You’re being awfully shy right now, Wade. What’s got you so flustered, hm?”

Wade shut his eyes for a moment, as if gathering patience. “Wala, Arellano. Umuwi ka na. Babalikan mo pa ‘yung kotse mo sa carpark. Sige na.” He started shoving Adler towards the door, kinda desperate to get him out before his face burned any redder.

Adler chuckled, slinging his bag over his shoulder. But even at the door, hindi pa rin pinalagpas ni Adler ang pagiging kupal at inalaska na naman si Wade. “I’ll go now, peach. Wala ba akong kiss diyan?”

Napangisi si Wade sa narinig. He smirked and shot back, “Makukuha mo ‘yang punyetang halik mo when you call me next time.”

That made Adler stop in his tracks. His grin faltered just a little as he turned back. “What? What do you mea—hey! Rodrigueza!”

But Wade had already shut the door in his face, laughter spilling from the other side as Wade retreated into his room.

Be sure you’re fucking ready the next time we meet, Arellano.

Wade was at a printing shop in Dapitan, entertaining himself while waiting for his turn by scrolling through his friends’ messages. A small chuckle escaped him when he saw Mikhail ranting about Eden in the group chat. He even cursed—something he rarely ever did. Everyone was shocked; who would’ve thought that Eden, of all people, would be the one to bring out Mikhail’s “evil” side?

Apparently, the two couldn’t agree on a single theme for their project, even though Mikhail had been willing to compromise and adjust just to get things started.

Paris then chimed in, asking where Mika was and if he was free, offering to treat him to some coffee at Calle Café in España. Even Wade felt a pang of sympathy for his friend. He thought about tagging along, maybe buying Mika a pastry to go with his coffee—just a small gesture to cheer his baby up.

When his documents were finally printed, Wade started heading towards Calle Café. But just as he was about to cross Noval, his phone buzzed. Adler was calling. Wade sighed, feeling his plans shift. He had no choice but to message Mika, saying he’d treat him next time because of an “emergency.”

Guilt settled in his chest. He hated lying—especially to his friends—but what else could he do?

They didn’t need to know.

They shouldn’t know.

He brushed his thumb over the “Answer” button, and lifted the phone to his ear.

"Wade..."

 

"Adler? Are you having urges now?"

 

"Yeah. Where are you?"

 

"Tell me where you are at ako ang pupunta diyan sa'yo."

 

"Nasa sasakyan ako. Kukuha sana ako ng yosi, pero naalala ko yung kadaldalan mo kagabi."

 

"Hahaha. Tangina mo. Sa carpark ka ba nakapark?"

 

"Yep. Third level. Gawing likod."

 

"What's your plate? Ano'ng kulay ng sasakyan?"

 

"N**1234 Black Subaru na SUV dala ko ngayon."

 

"Alright. Stay where you are. Papunta na."

 

"I still have no idea how you're going to help me quit. Well, see you, Rodrigueza."

 

"Hmm. You'll see. Wait for me, Adler."

⊹₊⟡⋆

Chapter Text

Nang makita ni Wade ang sasakyan ni Adler, agad niyang kinatok ang bintana nito. Lalo siyang napangisi nang mapansin na halos wala nang ibang nakapark sa paligid—at sa pinakadulo pa talaga nagpark itong si Arellano.

And what made him grin even wider?

The car was big. And heavily tinted.

It practically screamed, “We can do whatever the fuck we want inside, and no one would even know.”

Tangina.

Hindi niya mapigilan ang ngising naglalaro sa mga labi niya dahil sa mga naiisip niya ngayon. Ilang segundo pa’y biglang bahagyang bumukas ang pinto sa passenger seat. Tuluyan niya itong binuksan at pumasok siya sa loob.

“Hi, Arellano.” bati niya rito. Adler, on the other hand, was in the driver’s seat, breathing a little heavily. He looked like he’d been itching for a smoke. Mabuti na lang at hindi amoy sigarilyo rito sa loob ng sasakyan; instead, it smelled clean—crisp, and masculine.

Finally, Adler looked up to meet his eyes. “Hey, Wade.” Adler breathed shakily.

Wade hummed in response. “Adler, iusog mo yung upuan.”

Adler frowned. “Huh?”

“Adjust it. Patalikod. Give more room.”

Adler’s brow furrowed deeper. “Room for what?” he snapped, irritation slipping into his tone. He just wanted to smoke, for fuck’s sake. But now Wade was here, making things more complicated and hard for him. “What the hell do you even want to do?”

Wade let out a sharp breath. “Fucking Christ. Stop asking questions and just do what you’re told, yeah?” He hissed, clearly annoyed by how Adler was asking him too many questions. Adler clicked his tongue in irritation but still complied, adjusting his seat with a mutter under his breath.

Pagka-adjust ni Adler ng upuan, agad namang kumandong si Wade nang makita niyang may sapat nang puwang.

“What the fuck—Rodrigueza, what the actual fuck are you doing?”

“Listen to me, Adler. I want you to really listen,” he said, settling in like he belonged there. Instinctively, Adler’s hands went to Wade’s waist out of reflex, afraid the other might lose his balance. 

Wade leaned in dangerously close. “Remember when you asked for a kiss last night? I’m giving it to you. Right now.” He uttered.

Napamura si Adler. “Putangina, Wade. Do you even hear yourself? This—This is how you’re gonna help? By keeping my lips busy? You’re fucking insane.”

“What? Ayaw mo ba? Masarap ako humalik.” Wade shot back, tone playful and all too daring, like he knew exactly what he was doing.

“That’s not—” Adler squeezed his eyes shut, dragging in a deep breath to steady himself. This was absurd. Unbelievable. Infuriating. What the hell is going on in this guy’s head? How could Wade turn his struggle into this… this kind of madness?

“Why the fuck are you going to such lengths, ha, Rodrigueza?” Adler fumed. “Let me remind you—you fucking hate me.”

“Oh, shh.” Wade silenced him, almost ‘tenderly’. “I can ignore my hatred for a few days if it’ll keep you from lighting that cigarette. And yes—” he smirked faintly, “I’ll let your lips be occupied with mine. Kung may problema ka ro’n, sabihin mo na ngayon, Adler. So I can get out, walk away, and act like none of this ever happened.”

In that short while, neither of them spoke. Wade’s eyes traced the familiar planes of Adler’s face—the deep furrow of his brows, the thick lashes behind those damn glasses, and the sharp line of his nose.

Hah. Pogi talaga ng gago.

Adler closed his eyes again. The thought of Wade stepping out, walking away, and never looking back stirred something sharp in his chest that he couldn’t just ignore.

Fuck.

Well, there goes his sanity flying out the window.

He sighed, then gripped Wade’s waist tighter, pulling him in until their chests almost brushed. The air between them thickened. “Alright,” Adler surrendered. “Let’s see how good you really are.”

Adler opened his eyes, gaze locking with Wade’s. “Make sure I won’t crave a smoke after this, or your efforts are fucking useless, Rodrigueza.”

Wade gave him a smug little smile before reaching into his pocket.

Napasinghap si Adler nang mapagtanto kung ano iyong inilabas ni Wade.

A packet of Monami—strawberry and cream flavor.

His favorite.

Wade was already watching him, of course. He caught the way Adler’s eyes lit up just a little too fast, too unguarded. It made him chuckle under his breath. Parang bata, amputa.

With one hand holding the packet, Wade tore it open using his teeth, slow and unbothered, never breaking eye contact. Then, he slipped the candy onto his tongue, savouring the taste for a second before leaning in.

Without warning, he gripped Adler by the nape and pulled him close until their noses brushed. “Focus on me,” Wade murmured, his breath warm against Adler’s lips. “Just me, Arellano.”

And then he kissed him. Deep, strawberry-sweet, and unapologetically bold.

Wade kissed him like he knew exactly what he was doing. Sure, Adler was aware that Wade had experience, but what caught him off guard, what made him gasp against Wade’s lips, was how good of a kisser he actually was.

Adler’s hands instinctively tightened around Wade’s waist. And now, it was him chasing after Wade’s mouth, needing more.

The familiar taste of Monami passed between them with each deepening swipe of their tongues. Since it was Adler’s favorite, it left him feeling heady and disoriented. Their shared saliva was sweet, tinged with a memory of comfort, now twisted into something far more intimate and dizzying.

Wade pulled back slightly, just enough to look at Adler with half-lidded eyes. He was catching his breath, then reached up and carefully removed Adler’s glasses, prompting the other to blink and look up at him.

Without the frames, Wade finally saw them—those deep, onyx eyes. He couldn’t stop himself; as if entranced, his thumb brushed gently beneath one eye, finding a small mole there like it was a secret only he was meant to discover.

Wade looked in awe. Then his gaze dropped back to Adler’s lips. He didn’t waste any second, and he dove back in.

The kiss turned heavier this time. Adler’s strong arms wrapped around Wade’s back, pulling him close, while Wade clung to him in return—arms held tightly around Adler’s shoulders, one hand buried in Adler’s hair, the other still clutching his glasses. Their bodies molded together, mouths moving in sync, and tongues tangling with increasing urgency.

“Mhmm… Wade…” Adler moaned, a little breathless as the candy shrank between their mouths, almost completely melted now.

Wade didn’t stop. He kept kissing him like he was trying to erase every craving Adler ever had. His tongue flicked across Adler’s lower lip, making the lingering taste of Monami even more potent, like he was sealing the flavor into Adler’s mouth himself.

Adler, meanwhile, was losing his goddamn mind. Wade hadn’t lied—he was an incredible kisser. And if Adler wasn’t careful, he could see himself getting drowned in this.

Scratch that.

He wanted to drown in whatever this was.

“Adler…” Wade murmured against his lips as he pulled away—well, barely, because Adler leaned forward again, chasing his mouth for another kiss. Wade tried to stop him with a thumb pressed lightly against his lips.

“W-Wait a minute…” Wade breathed, lidded eyes flicking between Adler’s lips and eyes.

But Adler wasn’t listening anymore.

His pupils were blown wide, eyes clouded with want. And if he couldn’t get more from Wade’s lips, then better bet he’d find it somewhere else.

He tilted his head and pressed soft kisses to Wade’s cheek. Wade closed his eyes, a quiet shiver running down his spine at the contact.

“Adler… s-sandali lang,” he gasped as Adler kept going, littering tender kisses wherever he could reach. Adler’s mouth trailed lower, down to Wade’s jaw, towards the slope of his neck. His lips ghosted over Wade’s skin, warm and unhurried, until Wade’s resolve began to crumble.

“Haaah… Adler…” Wade bit his lip, trying—and failing—to suppress the sound that escaped him. Adler only smiled against his skin before finding his way back to Wade’s lips with a grin hiding behind the kiss.

He thinks he’s found the perfect alternative.

And God, he could definitely get used to this.

After such a long day, the first thing Wade did when he got home was reach for his phone and send a message to Adler.

"Oh, ano?"

 

"?"

 

"Sarap ba?"

 

"Tangina ka talaga."

 

"Bibig, Adler."

"Did you crave?"

"Tell me the truth."

 

"No."

"Not today. But I still feel a little restless. Maybe because I haven't held a cig, but it's manageable."

 

"Hmm..."

 

"Ano na naman, Rodrigueza?"

 

"Wala. I'm just thinking..."

"Ano kayang pwede kong gawin diyan sa mga daliri mo para hindi mangating humawak ng yosi?"

 

"Putangina."

"Wade... what are you doing, hm?"

 

"I am trying to help you."

"That's my goal for a month, Adler."

"So be a good boy, and just take it all in. Yeah?"

 

"Tangina mo. Sige, ituloy mo 'yang kalokohan mo na 'yan Wade at bubugahan na lang kita ng usok sa mukha."

 

"Nanakot pa nga amputa."

"Kauwi ka na?"

 

"Oh tapos ngayon, gaganyan ka?"

 

"Just wanna know if nakauwi ka na, Adler."

 

"Not yet. Driving."

 

"What? Shit. Kaya pala ang bagal mong magreply. Huwag kang magtext habang nagmamaneho. gago."

"Stop texting and focus on the road."

 

"Lol"

"Bakit, inaabangan mo ba ang replies ko?"

 

"I said stop texting, Arellano."

 

"I asked you a question, peach."

 

"...Yeah. Been waiting for your reply since I got home lol."

"Sige na, Ingat."

 

Hindi mapigilang mapangiti ni Wade matapos i-lock ang phone niya. He stared at the screen for a moment longer, resisting the overwhelming urge to send another reply. He had to stop himself—force himself—because Adler was still driving. He didn’t want to distract him any further, no matter how badly he wanted to keep talking to him.

He tossed the phone aside and lay back against his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling of his dimly lit bedroom. Kasalukuyan siyang nakahiga, bagong bihis, suot ang maluwag na puting t-shirt at gray na joggers. Pilit niyang inaalis sa isip niya ang nangyari kanina—yung init ng halik ni Adler, yung bigat ng titig nito bago sila tuluyang naglapat ng mga labi.

He raised a hand to his mouth, fingertips grazing the curve of his lips, as if trying to etch the memory deeper into his skin. Napapikit siya.

It was still vivid—too vivid—in his mind.

The way Adler’s hands fit perfectly around his waist, firm but gentle, grounding him, owning him. His grip had been just right, as if Wade was made to be held, and Adler was made to hold him. The way he pulled him closer, pushed him down harder on his lap, until there was no space left between them.

Tangina.

Wade knew there was nothing inherently romantic about kissing a smoker. It’s not as good as how fiction romanticizes it to be. With Adler’s chapped lips, he doesn’t really expect anything. He braced himself for that disappointment when he kissed him, expecting nothing more than bitterness and roughness.

But when their lips finally met, when he finally had a taste of Adler…

Rationality abandoned him like a fickle lover.

The breath of mint lingering between them, the underlying scent of Adler’s skin, warm, masculine, wrapped around Wade like a drug. The taste of him wasn’t laced with the bitterness he anticipated. Instead, Adler tasted inexplicably fresh, maddeningly addictive, like a different kind of oxygen he never knew he needed until now.

Wade sighed shakily, a sound caught between frustration and longing. Ramdam niya ang naninigas na umbok na gustong kumawala sa joggers niya. the fabric doing little to hide his arousal. Tangina talaga. Just thinking about Adler was enough to get him like this.

Hard, needy, trembling.

He didn’t want to acknowledge it, to admit how deeply Adler was getting under his skin. But his body betrayed him.

With a shaky hand, he palmed himself over his joggers, feeling the heat radiate through the thin fabric. His breath hitched, short and shallow, as he squeezed, imagining Adler’s mouth ghosting along his skin—pressing kisses along his jaw, down to his neck. Napasinghap siya, pinipilit ang sarili na huwag bumigay pero lalong nagliyab ang katawan niya.

He could already feel the wetness spreading inside his underwear, a sticky, telling sign of how far gone he was. Napapikit siya nang mariin, inipit ng mga ngipin ang laylayan ng puting t-shirt niya, exposing the taut lines of his abs, his lean waist catching the cold air from the air conditioner. There was something shamelessly erotic about the way his moans were muffled against the cotton fabric, kahit mag-isa lang siya sa condo.

Hindi na siya nag-aksaya ng oras. He pushed his joggers and boxers just halfway down his thighs, freeing his hard, leaking cock from its confines. Sa isang dampi lang ng mga daliri niya sa ulo ng tite niya ay nanginig siya. His thumb and forefinger teased the tip as he smeared the precum lazily over the sensitive head, prolonging the pleasure.

He thought of Adler again—imagined Adler, with his strong hands and filthy mouth, murmuring praises in Wade’s ear as he held him down, claiming him.

“Fuck.” he hissed into the quiet of his bedroom, bucking into his own hand.

He glanced at his bedside table and saw some packs of Monami there. With his free hand, he grabbed one, tore it open, and savoured the strawberry milk flavour once again, reminding him of Adler.

Adler.

He sighed. He dragged his shirt up again, biting on it while he has a candy on his tongue. He started moving his hand up and bown. Mas lalong ikinalat ang sumisirit na na katas para mas dumulas ang kahabaan. His body shook in fervor.

He imagined Adler, holding him down, pushing him on his lap, humming and grinding against him while murmuring sweet nothings on his ears. Napasinghap siya nang malakas, body arching slightly off the bed. His hand drifted lower, cupping his balls, rolling them carefully, feeling how heavy they were, so full of cum begging to be released.

He was so close—

Naudlot ang pagroromansa sa sarili nang marinig niyang magring ang phone niya.

He cursed under his breath, but a sick, thrilling twist tightened in his stomach the moment he saw the caller ID.

There he is.

The subject of his fantasy.

Tangina. Pinanganak lang ata si Wade para maging baliw.

Because he just thought of something so filthy that tightens that knot in his stomach.

He fucking answered the call.

“Wade?” Adler’s voice came through, deep and gentle, making his whole body tremble even harder. Wade bit down harder on his shirt to keep himself from gasping aloud.

“Hm?” he managed, feigning sleepiness, hoping Adler wouldn’t catch on. His fingers never stopped moving, his body burning hotter with every second.

“Fuck, sorry. Were you sleeping? Sorry to bother you,” Adler murmured, and Wade could hear the soft ticking of a turn signal in the background—Adler was still driving.

“I-it’s okay, Adler… Haaah.” Wade exhaled shakily, gathering more precum and tasting it on his fingers, the Monami candy still melting in his mouth, making everything sweeter, dirtier.

“...Are you okay?” Adler asked, concern lacing his voice. With half-lidded eyes, Wade glanced weakly at the phone lying beside him and forced a weak smile.

“Y-yeah, I-I’m fine. Just getting chills. I think… I might have a fever.”

He nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of the lie.

Adler let out a heavy, frustrated sigh. “Jesus. Take care of yourself, Rodrigueza. I’ll just call you next time.”

“No... W-wait, Adler…” Wade blurted out before he could stop himself, desperate to keep him on the line, to keep hearing his voice, even if it destroyed him.

“Hm?” Adler’s voice dropped even lower, rougher, and Wade nearly whimpered.

“C-can you keep talking? J-just until I fall asleep?”

Tangina mo, Wade.

He was beyond shame now.

“Well… What do you wanna talk about?” Adler asked.

“Anything… just… just keep talking.” Wade closed his eyes, his hips jerking up into his hand.

“Okay. Uh, I called because I was gonna ask about the venue for the first shoot. I know I could’ve just asked you through text, but… I don’t know. For some reason, I guess I just wanted to call…”

Wade bit back a breathless laugh, his heart clenching, and his cock throbbing even harder.

Tangina, Adler. Guess I’m not the only one crazy.

Wade could feel himself on the edge. Adler’s voice was like pouring a gasoline onto the fire raging inside him. His hand sped up, his muscles tensing.

“Gods… Adler…” he whispered, nearing the brink.

“You okay, Wade? Sure ka bang okay ka lang?” Adler asked again, sounding more worried now.

Wade couldn’t answer—not yet. He was too close, too far gone. Tangina, lapit na…

And then Adler murmured, soft and low, “Peach…”

That was it.

That single, low whisper from Adler shattered him.

Wade bit down hard on his lower lip to stifle the guttural moan tearing from his throat as his orgasm hit him hard, pleasure crashing over him in messy, blinding waves. His cum spurted out in hot, thick ropes, pooling at the base of his cock, dripping onto his abs.

He kept moving his hand, riding out every last shudder of his release, his mind a haze of Adler, Adler, Adler.

“Hey, peach… Are you asleep? I’m here na sa parking ng condo ko. I need to end the call na. If you’re still awake, please tell me if you’re okay?”

Still trembling, Wade somehow found the strength to croak, “Y-yeah. M’fine, Adler…”

He heard Adler exhale in relief. “Alright. I’ll ask you about the project some other time. Go get some rest.”

“Mhm… Thank you, Adler…” he whispered.

Adler chuckled lightly on the other end, the sound tugging painfully sweet at Wade’s heart. “No worries, peach. Good night.”

“Good night.”

And the line went dead.

Wade lay there, flushed, spent, breathing heavily, before reaching for the tissues on the bedside table to clean himself up. His hands were shaking. His heart was still racing. He didn’t know what kind of madness he just surrendered himself to.

But gods.

If you asked him right now, he wouldn't even hesitate.

He’d do it again...

And again...

And again.

On the other hand…

The moment the call ended, Adler let out the shaky breath he had been holding in for what felt like forever. A breath he fought so hard to keep steady while Wade was still on the line.

No, he wasn’t imagining things.

He knew exactly what he heard.

The wet, obscene sounds faintly filtering through the call—subtle, almost masked, but impossible to miss if you were really paying attention. And Adler, hyperfocused and hopelessly attuned to Wade, heard everything.

The labored breaths. The soft, broken gasps Wade tried to swallow down. The slight, rhythmic hitch in his voice each time he moved his hand.

Adler clenched his jaw so tightly that the muscle ticked visibly. He stayed frozen in his seat, the engine long turned off, the dim lights of the parking lot casting lonely shadows over him. His hand stayed loosely gripping the steering wheel, knuckles white.

Wade.

Wade fucking Rodrigueza, pleasuring himself while listening to Adler's voice.

Adler leaned his head back against the seat, his eyes squeezing shut in a desperate attempt to banish the image burning itself into his mind. His breathing was heavy, uneven, betraying the storm brewing inside him.

Goddamn it.

Wade’s sweet, shaky voice rang in his ears again—how he stuttered, how he moaned through shaky breaths like he was losing his fucking mind.

And fuck, Adler had indulged him—let him lie about not feeling well just so he wouldn’t feel embarrassed. Let him pretend it was all innocent when both of them knew it wasn’t.

Because the last thing Adler wanted was to make Wade retreat from him.

But now... Adler was the one left trembling, breathless, his cock straining painfully against the fabric of his slacks.

He cursed low under his breath, resting an arm over his eyes like that would somehow block out the vivid, agonizingly sweet images of Wade he’s fabricating in his head. He shifted restlessly in the car seat, fighting the insane urge to unzip his pants right there, fuck his hand to the memory of Wade’s muffled whimpers, to the way he called his name like a plea.

He growled, frustrated at himself, frustrated at the universe for putting Wade—that Wade—within reach but so impossibly out of bounds.

He wasn’t going to survive this war that the other had unknowingly started.

Putangina mo talaga, Wade Rodrigueza.

⊹₊⟡⋆

Chapter Text

Wade couldn’t sleep.

How could he?

After that fiasco earlier? Sobrang kapal na lang siguro ng mukha niya kung makakatulog siya agad matapos ang lahat ng ginawa niya. His mind was a mess, replaying every breath and sound he made on that damn call.

Hindi siya makapaniwala sa sarili niya. Dito niya tuluyang napagtanto na wala palang isang salita si Wade Rodrigueza. Because he swore—swore on everything—na hindi siya bibigay sa kabaliwan na ’to. Na hindi niya hahayaang magkaroon ng satisfaction si Arellano. Na hindi siya maililista sa listahan ng mga nabaliw sa kupal na ’yon.

Pero ayan. Look what just happened. Ano na lang ang sasabihin ni Adler if he ever found out? Ano na lang ang iisipin nito kung malaman niyang nagsasarili siya habang kausap ito?

Putangina. Nakakahiya.

(At talagang ngayon pa siya nahiya.)

He stepped out of the shower, steam still rolling off his skin, a towel hanging low on his hips. Huminga siya nang malalim, ihinilamos ang kamay sa mukha, then looked at his own reflection with his brows furrowed, like he was staring down an enemy.

“Tangina mo, Wade…” he spat, voice tight with shame and frustration. “Hindi ka pinalaki ng mga magulang mo para maging pokpok ng kung sino. Umayos ka.” Halos ilapit na niya ang mukha sa salamin at duru-duruin ang sarili. He shut his eyes, trying to breathe past the agitation pounding in his chest, then forced himself to get dressed.

Since sleep was a lost cause, he grabbed his phone and headed to his bedroom. Baka sakaling gising pa ang mga kaibigan niya. He opened their group chat and sent a message, hoping someone—anyone—would reply fast enough to shut his brain up.

“Guys, gising pa kayo?” 

Paris to Singles Inferno:

“What’s up, Wade?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Anyways, suggest nga kayo.”

[Gio]

“Ng ano?”

“Best momol spots in USTe.”

[Gio]

“Amputa. 😂”

“At sino ang imomomol mo ha???”

“Si Adler?!”

“Tangina nitong si OA. Kita mong hindi naman kami nag-u-usap nung tao maliban doon sa project, momol pa kaya?”

“Hindi para sa’kin ‘yan.”

“For research purposes lang. Kasi isipin niyo, bukod sa Botanical Garden, saan pa ba pwedeng humarot ang ang hayok na estudyante? Pati ako napapaisip tuloy.”

[Paris]

“LOL. ‘Di ko alam if kasama ‘to, pero… likod ng Grandstand.”

“Tangina, may nahuli kami ni Mika na nagsesex doon.” 

[Illad]

“Sa may gazebo sa tapat ng Beato beh. Pag gabi. Malamok nga lang.”

[Mika]

“Sa Lover’s Lane…”

[Illad]

“Jusko, ang inosente, Mika.”

[Mika]

“Wdym ‘inosente’? Eh hindi ba’t momol spot naman talaga ng uste ang Lover’s Lane? Lalo na pag alas onse ng gabi, jusko. Ang haharot ng mga tao. 😭”

[Gio]

“Hmm… Sa carpark.”

Natigilan si Wade nang mabasa ang message ni Gio.

Ito talagang si Gio ang nagpapakaba sa kanya. He’s always been the most perceptive among them—sharp in ways that feel unfair sometimes. Kahit wala kang sabihin, kahit wala kang ikwento, as long as he can read you like an open book, para ka na ring hubo’t hubad sa harap niya. He sees through people. Always has.

Kaya ngayon… hindi niya alam kung paano magrereact.

Tangina, Gio… may alam ka bang gago ka?

The back of his neck prickled. He hated this feeling—being seen too clearly by someone. Parang isang maliit na galaw lang niya ay sasabog ’yung buong sikreto na pilit niyang itinatago.

Naputol ang pag-iisip niya nang tumunog ulit ang cellphone niya, the notification slicing clean through the silence of his room, almost too loud.

[Paris]

“???”

“Carpark?”

“Ba’t doon? Eh ang inet doon?”

[Gio}

“Oh eh bakit? ‘Di ka ba pwedeng makipagmomol sa loob ng sasakyan? May aircon.”

Tarantado talaga. Imposibleng walang alam ‘to.

“Hahaha. Sige salamat sa mga suggestions ninyo. Bye.”

He ended the chat before he could divulge anything else. He sighed heavily and slumped back into his desk chair, letting it sway left and right in slow, restless arcs as he tried to calm the buzzing in his head. His fingers tapped restlessly against the armrest, mind drifting—unfortunately—back to Adler.

Right. Arellano.

The shoot. The venue.

He had actually planned it out days ago, neatly, carefully, para wala na silang problemahin. He meant to tell Adler sooner, but… well, circumstances happened. And just the memory of what he did made his face heat up all over again.

“Fuck.” he muttered under his breath, dragging a hand down his face. This was getting ridiculous. If he let his brain wander any further, malulubog na naman siya sa kahihiyan—pondering over things he had no business thinking about because it already happened.

Before his thoughts could spiral, he grabbed his phone and opened his iMessage to talk about the venue of their first shoot.

The sooner they get this shit done, the better.

Because God knows if he spends one more day like this, he’s not walking out of it sane.

"Adler"

 

"Hey, peach."

 

"LOL. So about pala doon sa venue ng first shoot. Nagbook na ako ng isang Rave Room. I'll send you the address."

[address attached]

 

"Oh."

"Lapit lang pala sa condo ko."

"Alright. I'll see you soon, peach. Maayos na ba pakiramdam mo? Bakit hindi ka pa natutulog? I thought you're sick?"

God, Arellano. You have no business being worried like that. Don’t be performative.

Naiirita si Wade for reasons he didn’t even want to unpack. Sure, he knew Adler was just being respectful, maybe even considerate. But in the three years they’d known each other, never niya nakita si Arellano na ganito.

And that only pissed him off more. It annoyed him, because it almost felt like Adler was playing him—like this sudden change of attitude towards him was some kind of twisted joke. Parang pinapaikot lang siya, and Wade couldn’t stand the thought of that.

And fuck, that goddamn nickname…

Peach.

Peach, peach, peach.

"Adler."

 

"Hm?"

"Peach?"

"Hey, what is it? Still there?"

 

"Would you please stop calling me that?"

 

"Huh?"

"Call you what?"

 

"..."

"Nevermind."

Wade gave up. Talking about this to Arellano only made his head spin even worse.

“Hah. Pinapaalala kasi ng nickname mo na ’yan kung paano ako nabaliw dahil sa’yo,” he muttered against the air, voice low and almost defeated. He shut his eyes, finally letting the heaviness of his lids pull him under. At last, he could drift into the embrace of sleep.

The next day, the cycle repeats itself.

Aside from their final project, they also had to juggle their thesis and a bunch of other requirements that all seemed to be due at once. Kaya ngayon, nasa library si Wade after grabbing a quick lunch, with large frames slipping down the bridge of his nose. 

Across him sat his thesis partner, Paris; both of them hunched over their laptops like their lives depended on it. Finals were fast approaching, and they were trying to cram as much work as they could now, para later on, puro polishing na lang sila.

Napahugot ng malalim na buntong hininga si Wade nang maramdaman niyang sumasakit na ang ulo niya. The screen was beginning to blur in front of him. Paris looked up from his laptop and frowned.

“Wade,” he called out gently, “don’t push yourself too hard. Okay lang, hinga ka muna.”

He nodded, grateful, and did exactly that. He leaned back on his chair and opened his Instagram, mindlessly scrolling through his feed. That’s when  a notification popped up.

A message.

His lips curved into a small smile before he could even read it. Napangisi siya habang nirereplyan ito, eyes sparkling with interest, his fingers flying over the keyboard faster than usual. Paris noticed immediately. He tilted his head, curiosity piqued, watching Wade’s grin stretch wider with every word he typed. 

Clearly, whoever Wade was talking to had his full attention.

Wade stood abruptly. “Paris, punta lang ako sa carpark. Bili lang ako ng Mogu-Mogu sa Lawson.”

Ah, right. Wade and his Mogu-Mogu… Paris didn’t question it—he just gave a knowing nod, assuming he’d be back soon to grab his things before their 1:30 class.

Meanwhile, in his car, Adler sat with the engine running, the AC blasting at full force—but it didn’t help. Sweat still clung to his skin, dampening the collar of his uniform.

He sighed, undoing the first two buttons of his polo, hoping for a breath of relief, but it was useless. The gnawing tightness in his chest refused to ease. His throat felt constricted, each inhale he took was shallow and sharp.

His fingers tapped anxiously against the steering wheel matching the pounding in his temples. His eyes darted over the dashboard, the rearview mirror, the other vehicles parked ahead of him—yet nothing had anchored his attention.

Finally, he pulled out his phone and texted Wade.

Tutal siya naman ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakaganito siya ngayon.

When Wade’s reply popped up, telling him that he was already on his way, Adler exhaled a long, shaky breath. Relief washed over him, but it barely calmed the palpitations in his chest or the tremor in his hands. He forced his mind to latch onto anything else, anything to distract himself for the meantime.

Tangina, gustong-gusto na niyang humipak.

Pero kung papipiliin siya ngayon, mas gugustuhin muna niyang hipakin ang mga labi ni Wade.

"Where are you?"

 

"Why?"

 

"Just answer the question."

 

"Library. What do you want?"

 

"I need you."

 

"Now?"

 

"Yeah. Can't help it. Been itching for a smoke."

 

"Saan ka? Puntahan na lang kita."

 

"Carpark. Fuckin' hurry up, Wade."

 

"Lol. Fuck you. I don't want people ordering me around, Adler. Maghintay ka."

When Adler saw Wade’s silhouette approaching the parked car, he immediately unlocked the doors.

Fuck, Wade. I wanna smoke, but I missed your lips on mine more, he thought.

Nang buksan nito ang pinto, akmang papasok pa lang si Wade sa loob ng sasakyan nang bigla siyang hiklatin ni Adler para paupuin sa kandungan niya.

“Aray! Tangina, Arellano! Dahan-dahan naman…” Wade hissed, his hand still clutching the bottle of Mogu-Mogu he bought earlier from the convenience store. But whatever irritation he felt instantly melted away when Adler wrapped his arms around his waist and buried his nose into his neck.

“God, peach… you smell so good.” Adler murmured against his skin, drunk on Wade’s scent.

He never expected Wade to smell this good. He caught a whiff the first time they made out in this very car—when Wade was still trying to deny him kisses, and Adler was being shamelessly persistent. His lips trailing down to Wade’s jaw, and there it was—that scent. That maddening, unforgettable scent that sent Adler into overdrive.

Hindi niya alam kung ano’ng klaseng pabango ang gamit ni Wade, o kung may ginagamit nga ba itong pabango in the first place—pero ito na ata ang pinakapaborito niyang amoy.

It was a delicate yet heady blend of crisp florals wrapped in a masculine undertone, laced with something sweeter, that if you breathed in long enough, you’d catch hints of soft mallows melting into the air.

Wade sighed heavily, his body slowly relaxing into Adler’s embrace. He leaned forward to place his Mogu-Mogu into the cup holder beside them, then lifted a hand to rake through Adler’s locks, whose face remained nestled in his neck.

“Adler… malelate tayo. Tell me, what do you want?" Wade mumbled softly, his cheek resting against Adler’s head.

Nag-angat naman ng tingin si Adler sa kanya—with eyes slightly wide and crazed, lips already parted with shaky breaths.

“A smoke… I need a cig, Wade…” He confessed like a desperate child asking for a toy. Wade could hear his voice hoarse and restrained with want.

Nagpakawala naman ng mahinang tawa si Wade as he glanced at Adler’s half-unbuttoned  polo shirt—and the teasing flash of collarbones beneath it.

Well, fuck.

“No can do, darling.” Wade muttered with a smirk. Adler’s pupils dilated when he heard the little endearment slip from Wade’s tongue. The word hit him like a rush of nicotine for reasons he couldn’t even explain. He blinked, clearly stunned with the unexpected nickname.

“As long as I’m here, you can’t. So, come on. Tell me what I’m really here for, Arellano.” Wade prodded, his voice low and inviting.

Adler seemed to surrender under Wade’s gaze, as if all resistance he got had slipped away. He swallowed, Adam’s Apple bobbing nervously—a subtle but telling sign that Wade didn’t miss. The tension in the air made every second feel charged and drawn out. He parted his lips, hesitating just long enough for Wade to feel the weight of anticipation pressing between them. Then, in a barely audible voice, he let the words escape. “Wanted to kiss you…”

A breathy, amused laugh escaped Wade. “Hah. There we go.”

He leaned back just slightly, letting his eyes wander over Adler’s throat again—the delicate slope of his neck, the subtle rise and fall of his chest, the exposed curve of his clavicle. Every small detail seemed to ignite something primal in him.

His body betrayed him, instincts overriding reason. Every fiber of his wanted to brand and mark Adler—to leave evidence of this moment imprinted on him. Yet, even as the desire surged, he forced himself to pause and savor the tension; to let Adler submit under his gaze, completely unaware of just how dangerous the pull between them had become.

“Tangina, Wade… hindi ko na kaya.” Adler’s voice cracked, desperation spilling into every syllable. “Please… pahipak na. Kahit labi mo lang… Please.” He sounded like he was losing his mind—like Wade was the only antidote keeping him alive.

Gods. The sound of Adler begging like that made something dark and tender curl in Wade’s chest. It was pathetic—pathetically addictive. Adler sounded like someone starved for touch, like a sinner craving for a mere kiss instead of salvation.

And to think Wade was the one who suggested this arrangement. Yet here he was, on the brink of going insane every time Arellano came apart like this.

“Alright, Adler.” He muttered. Wade pushed his glasses up to rest on top of his head so they wouldn’t get in the way, his fingers sweeping his fringes back and exposing his forehead. He should’ve left the damn glasses in the library, but he forgot—and now he had no choice.

Adler froze. His breath hitched as he took in the sight of him. Wade, with his forehead exposed like that, looked unfairly beautiful—a piece of art no one else should ever get to see. He won’t even deny it: Wade Rodrigueza was a beauty, and today he was radiant enough to be lethal.

Habang tulala pa rin si Adler, abala naman si Wade sa paghahanap ng candy sa bulsa ng slacks niya nang maalala niyang hindi siya nakapagbaon at naiwan niya ito sa bedside table niya kagabi. 

Namula siya nang bahagya at mabilis na nag-iwas ang tingin, because the memory of last night hit him harder than expected. Pagharap niya ulit, Adler was still staring at him—pupils blown wide, and chest rising and falling in shallow pulls.

“Sorry, Adler… I forgot to bring a candy with me.” He murmured in apology, almost embarrassed.

“It’s okay, peach.” Adler’s voice dropped low, breath harsh as he dipped his head. His gaze flicked to the Mogu-Mogu bottle Wade had placed beside them.

A flash of mischief sparked in his eyes.

He thinks he already found the alternative for the candy. Natawa siya nang mahina nang mapansing strawberry flavor ito.

He grabbed the bottle and took a long drink.

As Adler tilted his head back, Wade watched every swallow; the way his throat bobbed and the slight tremble along his jaw. His hand moved on its own, fingertips tracing the long expanse of Adler’s neck. Adler visibly shivered, lashes fluttering shut as he continued drinking.

Then, in a moment that felt like pure sin, Adler didn’t swallow the last mouthful.

Instead, he leaned forward, fingers curling around Wade’s jaw, and pressed his lips to his. The juice spilled between them as Adler poured the remaining liquid and the soft nata into Wade’s mouth. Some dribbled past their lips, warm and sticky on their skin, but neither of them cared at this point.

Napasinghap si Wade—for Adler was kissing him like he intended to devour him whole.

“Mhmm… Adler…” Wade moaned against his lips. Their kiss was unrelenting—fiery and all too desperate—until there was no trace of the strawberry flavor left between them.

Adler picked up the drink again, tilting it back for another sip. And this time, the dazed, undone Wade—finally giving in to everything he’d been holding back—let his lips trail from the corner of Adler’s mouth down to his jaw, then lower, onto the warm column of his throat. He kissed everywhere his mouth could reach, licking a slow stripe over Adler’s Adam’s apple. With a quiet rasp of fabric, he gently tugged Adler’s undershirt down, exposing more skin for him to brand with lovebites.

Adler jolted when Wade’s teeth grazed the side of his neck, followed by a deep, possessive suckle that left him groaning and a little breathless. But that didn’t repulse him. Instead, it made him want Wade more. He let Wade mark him as he pleased. Hinagod niya ang kamay sa likod nito habang abala si Wade sa pagpapaulan ng halik sa leeg niya.

Adler’s fingers curled tighter around Wade’s back, pulling him flush. Closer. Tighter. He could feel Wade’s hot breath ghosting over his skin, the sound of his panting syncing with the frantic beat of his own pulse.

Then Adler took Wade’s face in his hands once again and pulled him up into another kiss—harsher this time, hungrier, and more demanding. Their mouths crashed together like they were trying to rewrite each other’s DNA through a kiss, imprinting themselves in ways they could never take back.

Humiwalay nang bahagya si Adler to unfasten Wade’s uniform. SInubukan namang habulin ni Wade ang mga labi niya, chasing after his lips blindly, but Adler was moving away, pulling back just enough to stay out of reach.

When Wade realized what Adler was doing, his gaze dropped—and his breath hitched. Adler undid the first three buttons of his polo, then used a finger to drag Wade’s undershirt down. In the next heartbeat, Adler’s mouth was on his neck, raining kisses down with hungry precision.

Wade let out a broken moan.

Adler hugged him tighter, arms locking around his waist, while Wade’s arms circled Adler’s shoulders, pulling him impossibly closer. Halos mapasabunot siya kay Adler nang maramdaman niyang nag-iiwan ito ng marka sa likod ng tenga niya at sa ilalim ng kanyang panga.

“A-Adler… no visible marks, please… h-hah…” Wade gasped, breath thin and shaking. Natawa naman nang mababa at mahina si Adler—but still obeyed. He trailed his mouth downwards, and then pressed one deep, claiming hickey on Wade’s exposed collarbone.

Pareho silang napapitlag nang biglang mag-ring ang phone ni Wade.

Humiwalay muna si Wade saglit kay Adler, though Adler refused to let him go—arms still firm around his waist, pressing his nose into Wade’s neck, trying to get a whiff of that scent he liked so much.

Wade sighed and checked the caller ID. It’s Paris.

“Be quiet for me, Arellano. Sagutin ko lang ’to.” he forewarned softly. Adler hummed against his throat—obedient, just as Wade thumbed the ‘Answer’ button.

“Wade? Asan ka na? Yung mga gamit mo… Time na.” Paris prodded, urgency threading through his voice.

Wade glanced at the time. Putangina. 1:20 PM na.

“Paris, babe, could you gather my things for me? Bawi ako sa’yo, promise. Pasensya na, may binalikan lang kasi ako sa dorm na nakalimutan ko.” His voice stayed steady—pigil na pigil na magpakawala ng ungol, because he was trying so damn hard not to give in to the heat of Adler’s mouth branding his neck.

“Langya ka, bading. Naging tagabitbit mo pa ako ng gamit mo.” Paris cautioned, grumbling under his breath. “Bilisan mo. Baka mamarkahan ka pang absent ni Sir Cee. You wouldn’t want him throwing shits at you when you enter the classroom late.”

Wade smiled softly. Paris always sounded annoyed, but this was just him showing his caring side. He’s their designated mom friend—their cranky guardian angel. And God, Wade was grateful.

“Thanks, Paris. I owe you one. I’ll see you later.” He hummed, then ended the call.

The second the line dropped, his breath came out shaky.

“Adler…” he called out softly.

“Hm?”

“We need to go. Malelate na tayo,” he reminded gently. But Adler only tightened his arms around him, burying his face deeper into Wade’s neck.

“Hmm… don’t want to, peach. Let me kiss you more…” he whined, voice slurring with want—like he was drunk on Wade, high on the taste of him, far too gone to think straight.

Tangina naman, Adler. Huwag ka namang mang-demonyo at mahina ako sa mga ganyan.

“Fuck… mamaya na. If you have urges ulit mamaya, then we can. For now, we need to go. Tara na.” Wade insisted, though Adler clearly had no plans of letting him go anytime soon.

Wade let out a heavy sigh. “Darling…” he mumbled softly, almost tender. He didn’t even understand why he was calling Adler with such a nickname, but maybe because it was kinda unfair that only he got flustered and affected every time Adler called him peach. So he made one for Adler, too—something that could pull a reaction out of him.

And maybe, it worked.

Adler stilled. His eyes lifted to meet Wade’s, dark and wide, as if that endearment struck something deep inside him.

“Let’s go, hm? Mamaya na ulit.” Wade coaxed like he was talking to a child. “Don’t be stubborn or I swear, hindi ka na makakaulit.”

Adler snorted in response, his forehead creasing. “Bakit? Sino bang nag-suggest nito? Hindi ba’t ikaw? Pwede naman akong bumalik sa paninigarilyo ulit—”

He never got to finish. Wade’s hand shot up, gripping the back of Adler’s neck, clutching his locks, and pulling him in until their foreheads touched—firm and intimate at the same time.

“Subukan mo lang, Arellano. Don’t fucking test me. You promised, didn’t you? No cheating.” Wade seethed, but without real bite. He stole another kiss from Adler, letting it linger just a heartbeat longer than necessary. When he pulled back, he couldn’t resist a trace of mischief—he bit Adler’s lower lip hard, a teasing punishment for his stubbornness.

Adler only smirked and resigned, with a quiet surrender in his eyes. He leaned into Wade’s hold, tracing his nose on the other’s cheek, defeated and content all at once. He felt like he could never win against Wade—and God help him, he didn’t even want to.

Wade caught a glimpse of his neck reflected on Adler’s eyeglasses, at napamura siya nang malutong the moment he saw na visible lahat ang hickeys na binigay ni Adler sa kanya. “Putangina! Gago ka ba, Adler?! Paano ako papasok nito?!” He shrieked.

And the motherfucker had the audacity to grin. Didn’t even show remorse. Parang proud pa sa ginawa niya.

Wade immediately pulled away and slid into the passenger seat, fumbling to open his front camera. And there it was—his neck littered with bites and love marks, obvious and blooming like Violets.

Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Adler at nagpakawala lang ito ng ngisi. Then he felt it: Adler’s hand wrapping around his wrist, thumb brushing lightly over his pulse point. Before Wade could pull back, muli na naman siyang hinatak ni Adler paharap sa kanya at halikan nang banayad.

“Mhmm… Adler… s-stop. Malelate tayo nito…” Wade murmured against his lips between kisses, trying to push him away. But Adler caught the hand pushing at his chest, holding it still.

“Just one more, peach. Please?” Adler breathed, kissing the apple of his cheek softly.

Fuck.

And who was he to deny Adler what he wanted? Kahit siya may hangganan—even someone like him had their limits.

So he gave in.

After a few more kisses, they alighted the car. He instructed Adler to go to class first at susunod na lang siya. Nang tinanong nito kung bakit, sinamaan niya lang ito ng tingin at mas lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya.

“I’ll think of ways on how to cover up these marks. Siraulo ka kasi.” He seethed, na nagpalakas ng tawa ni Adler.

Look at this jerk. He didn’t even feel sorry about it! Not even a hint of guilt can be seen on his handsome face. Kung alam lang ni Wade agad ay ginantihan na niya sana ito kanina sa sasakyan.

Well… Adler secretly hoped Wade wouldn’t cover them at all. But Wade didn’t need to know that. He didn’t want to annoy his peach further, so he simply nodded and let him be.

Hinawakan niya ulit ang palapulsuhan ni Wade, gently stroking it three times with his thumb before he let go, almost reluctantly, as he started walking backwards a few steps bago tuluyang tumalikod at nagsimulang maglakad palayo papunta sa building nila.

Sa kabilang dako, si Wade ay pigil-hiningang kinokontrol ang pusong nagbabadyang kumawala sa dibdib niya. He raised his uniform’s collar to hide his neck and the half of his face, then hurried off to Lawson and 7/11, searching desperately for a concealer or anything that could patch up the marks: a gauze, bigger band-aids, kahit ano.

Thankfully, nakahanap siya.

1:36 PM.

Fuck, he’s already late.

Pumunta siya sa CR at nagsimulang ilagay ang patch na nabili niya, sinisiguradong matatakpan ang kademonyohang ginawa ni Adler. Once he was satisfied that nothing was visible, he headed straight to class.

1:45 PM.

Binuksan niya ang backdoor, and instantly the room went silent—nagsilingunan ang lahat sa kanya because of the interrupted lecture.

“Mr. Rodrigueza, bakit late ka na naman?” The professor’s voice cut through the silence, his expression clearly irritated. Wade’s gaze flicked to Adler who was seated in front, grinning at him like the devil incarnate that he is. Wade felt a small smirk tug at his lips, which he quickly suppressed.

“Sorry, Sir. Galing po ako sa UST Hospital for my scheduled check-up. I didn’t inform the President because I thought I’d make it to class, but the doctor conducted more tests.” He reasoned out smoothly. 

Good job for thinking quickly on your feet, Rodrigueza. Tangina, pagdating talaga sa kalokohan, buhay na buhay ang utak mo.

He could see the professor assessing his lame excuse. “This is your second offense. Sit down,” he said firmly before resuming the lecture.

Wade muttered a quick ‘thank you' and walked to his seat, practically at the far end dahil alphabetical ang seating arrangement sa klase na ito. Pagkaupo ay dumakong muli ang paningin niya kay Adler na nakaupo sa harap—na ngayon ay seryosong nakikinig sa proposer.

He let out a sigh.

Fuck you, Arellano. Babawian kitang gago ka.

⊹₊⟡⋆