I LIVE a pretty exciting life.
My life story is convoluted, but interesting.
I actually said that thrice to someone I met over the weekend.
Three times in a two-hour period.
I mean, in our first two hours together.
*
The guy actually stayed up with me.
We watched the complete first season, two-episode “Neverland” on Amazon Prime in my man-cave.
Over bourbon whiskey on the rocks!
Until very early the next morning.
*
At one point, we hit the pause button of the video streaming.
And just talked.
I like talking to him. He likes talking to me.
Or so it seemed.
Whatever! We were both enjoying each other’s company.
*
Okay, let your imagination run wild.
At one point in our discussion, we talked about HIV status.
I told him I’m a nurse. And a staunch HIV testing advocate.
I showed him my personal supply of OraQuick Advance HIV Rapid Antibody Test.
He got interested. Wanted to be tested.
So I swabbed him.
*
He’s 24. And gay.
And he said his last test was about two years ago.
I was pretty surprised.
He claims he hasn’t had sex with another man in fourteen, maybe sixteen months.
I told him, “Still, you should have at least a yearly HIV test.”
I actually suggest twice a year.
*
So, he asked me to clarify what I meant by “having sex”.
I told him, for the purposes of the HIV test, sex means exchange of bodily fluids.
I told him about high risk sex behaviors like raw anal sex, meaning without a condom (it doesn’t matter if he topped or bottomed), the risk levels of blow jobs, sex with strangers (or partners of unknown HIV status).
He got excited. Wanted me to test him.
*
To calm and relax him, I swabbed myself, too.
It’s May, a new month, and I had to do my monthly test anyway.
And we talked about my advocacy while waiting for the result.
What appears to others as my “HIV paranoia”.
Or, why I test myself every month.
And why I post my result on social media, especially on Facebook, where most of my fans are following me.
*
We turned out to be both negative.
Thank God for that!
Can I kiss him now?
Can we get naked now?
It’s like three in the morning.
We are in my den. Where the bed is comfy.
*
I am not a prude.
I don’t want to be a prude.
If a handsome 24 year old desires me, who am I to resist?
Still, I told him, “Maybe we should take it slow.”
“How slow?” He asked.
I laughed. Haha!
We both laughed.
*
My den, in my basement, is cooler than most of the other rooms in my house.
So I still have polyester blankets which are very soft to the touch.
Even in the winter, I can sleep naked with my polyester blankets and sheets.
I like the feel of the sheets.
So, I am okay with nothing between me and my sheets.
*
He went to take a leak. Or whatever he did in the bathroom.
When he returned, I was on my orthopedic mattress ready to turn the remote button on.
I was determined to continue my movie.
He joined me on my bed.
I mean, there’s a reason why I have a queen size mattress in the den!
*
I set the night light.
Turned off the dimmable bedside lamp.
Turned on my purple fairy lights.
I have purple LED string lights in my bedroom.
It is very sexy!
The TV will turn itself off after the movie, if nobody touches the remote.
*
I gave him the remote control.
Just in case I fall asleep, and he wants to watch something else.
After a while, he asked me, “Are you still watching this?”
I was so sleepy.
He’s really cute. But I cannot stay up any longer.
I have a meeting at nine in the morning.
*
He turned the TV off.
Started talking to me in the dark.
In the light of the purple fairy lights, really.
Do I like him? He asked.
“What’s not to like?” I told him.
He groped for my hands.
*
A few hours later, my alarm rang.
I needed to be up.
I told him, he needed to get up in 30 minutes, too, if he wants to have breakfast with me.
I told him I’ll just take a shower. Then, we can go get breakfast somewhere.
From there, we can part ways. And I can go for my meeting.
*
He said he’s not hungry.
I told him I don’t even have decent coffee in the house.
I was thinking fancy Keurig coffee maker.
I only have Nescafé instant coffee. Microwaved water. Or a boiling kettle, if I’m having more than just a cup.
He said he’s gonna get coffee somewhere before going home.
So, we just stayed in bed for another half hour.
Spent the first thirty minutes of our waking hours, just, what’s the word, spooning?
*
I hope I get to see this boy again.
He’s really amazing.
I mean, let your imagination go dirty.
I’m just saying, I like him.
Maybe more than just like!
*
I hope I didn’t frustrate him.
I mean, was I right when I tried to de-escalate his desire?
When I suggested we take it slow?
How slow?
Haha!
*
This is the question: If such first meeting was an audition, do you deliver everything and give your all?
Or do you hold back some, to get them coming back for more?
Life can be tricky.
And that’s how I like it. (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
