CHAPTER 26

Christmas that year was a rather sedate affair. Since there were only three of them, Kyle's mother decided that Christmas dinner was to be prepared and held at his grandmother's.

So the morning before Christmas, we arrived at Bea's country-style home, arms laden with goodies, groceries and gifts, much to Bea's delight. Kyle's mother did not waste much time before she started with dinner preparation. Kyle and I helped whenever we could, while Kyle's father busied himself with Christmas decorations.

Later on, while the turkey was baking, we were all in the main family room, putting up the Christmas tree. It was a perfect picture, Kyle and his parents at the tree, putting on their favourite pieces of ornaments, supervised by Bea in her rocking chair. My mind wandered to Trish.

We did not see each other again after that fateful encounter at Kyle's den. Lisa had mentioned briefly that both she and Trish would be leaving the day after Christmas for Thailand, where they planned to meet up with some friends. I would not be seeing her again, and I felt a pang of regret.

On Christmas morning, Kyle roused me early, saying that everybody was waiting downstairs to open the Christmas presents. I quickly brushed my teeth, splashed some water on my face and made my way down. I received a Seiko from Kyle's parents, and a complete set of English-French reference books from Bea. Kyle got a brand new tennis racket from his parents, and a novel by his favourite author from his grandmother.

Later, when we were in our room, Kyle produced a small box from a drawer and handed it to me. "From Trish," he said.

I took the box and gingerly untied the tiny string that held it together. Inside was a delicate gold chain, and the small card attached read, "Love, Always. Trish."

CHAPTER 25

"Are you a virgin?" Trish asked suddenly, her pale blue eyes intensely looking into mine.

I was taken aback, embarassed at first. But, remembering all the exploits I had had in school, I told her that I was not. She looked sceptically at me, and after a while, held out her empty lemonade glass. "Would you get me a refill, please?"

I got up from the sofa and took the glass from her. As she let go of the glass, her hand deliberately brushed against my crotch, stirring a familiar sensation in me. I quickly went out to the poolside to get a refill for my thirsty new friend.

When I returned to the den, Trish was lying on the sofa clad only in her pink panties and strapless matching bra. I handed her the lemonade. She sat up, took the glass from me and placed it on the coffee table. Then she coyly looked at me and smiled.

"Why, you look flushed!" she remarked. "Are you uncomfortable?" Without waiting for my answer, she went on, "It's OK, we'll soon fix that..."

She slowly unzipped my tennis shorts and pulled them down, together with my underwear, slipping them off one ankle, then another. "My, you are nice, very, very nice," she murmured, and without looking up, started to kiss me there, her mouth a soft, warm receptacle entrapping me in a tingling embrace.

I gently pulled her up, my lips seeking hers. With my free hand, I unfastened her tiny bra, exposing pert boyish breasts. I pushed her back onto the sofa and began to nibble on her rosy nipples. Trish shuddered as my lips traveled downwards, getting acquainted with her navel and her smooth belly.

"Hold on," she gasped, quickly slipping out of her damp, filmy panties. I seized the moment to take off my own clammy T-shirt.

We had barely finished putting our clothes back on when Kyle poked his head into the den about 20 minutes later. He eyed us curiously.

"Well, I see that the air-conditioner has not done much good to you two," he said, looking at our flushed, sweaty faces. "Wanna join me and Lisa for a swim?" Without waiting for an answer, he made his way to the pool, Trish and I a few paces behind him.

Later that day, propped up in bed in Kyle's room, I closed my eyes and smiled to myself as I gave out a long, deep sigh. Kyle threw me a suspicious look.

"Knowing you, I'd say that you've had sex!"

I opened my eyes and sweetly asked him. "Why Kyle, whatever do you mean?"

He put down the book he was reading, his limpid eyes narrowing as I turned my back to him and drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER 24

I like Kyle's family immediately. His father, a hefty, broad-shouldered and handsome retired army officer sometimes indulged us with amusing tales of his army days.

While Kyle inherited most of his father's good looks, the soft limpid brown eyes were definitely his mother's. She was a petite, youthful lady, and stood a good foot shorter than her husband. Even so, it was clear from the first night I was with them that it was she who ruled the household, the pillar of strength not only to her three sons but also to her doting husband. Kyle's two older brothers were studying abroad.

The first week I stayed with the family, Kyle introduced me to Lisa, his Caucasian neighbour's 19-year-old daughter who was back from college for Christmas. She brought home her room-mate Trish, who wanted to spend her first Christmas in the tropics.

Lisa was a vivacious girl who had a habit of tossing back her long, blond tresses whenever she laughed, showing off her white, elegant neck. She was pretty, but I found Trish more intriguing. A brunette, she was about five-foot-four, and weighed not more than a hundred pounds. Her pale blue eyes were carefully penciled with eye-liner of the same shade, and her lips were glossed pink.

That day, when Lisa invited Kyle and I over for a game of tennis, Trish was wearing a white tube top and a very short tennis skirt. The pink panties she had on underneath matched the colour of her lips.

After a couple of games, we declared Lisa and Kyle winners of the day and adjourned to the poolside where the maid had placed a pitcher of lemonade and some glasses before she went off to the market. Lisa and Kyle then opted to resume the game, to work out more sweat. Trish and I decided to cool off in the den instead.

We took our drinks along, and once inside Trish pushed the sliding glass doors shut and turned on the air-conditioner. We sat down apart on the sofa, facing each other, kicked our shoes off and got to talking about school, college, and eventually ourselves.

Trish propped up one foot onto the sofa, her toes touching my knee. Her skirt was hiked up in the process, revealing a generous view of her pink panties.

I shyly looked away.

CHAPTER 23

I returned to school the following January very excited to be reunited with friends and classmates. Ben had spent the holidays in Bali and took loads of pictures to show me. Kyle was in Adelaide to visit his aunt and uncle and came back sporting a nice tan.

Although I no longer needed to sleep in Kyle's room, we saw each other almost everyday. Sometimes he would stop by my room after meals and would talk to Ben and me for hours. The three of us then decided to form a study group to prepare for the O Levels at the end of the year.

The school Yearbook came back from the printers in the middle of February. Adrian stopped by one day and dropped me a copy. I eagerly leafed through it. Everything looked good. The school principal was extremeley pleased, Adrian said.

"Adrian," I opened my mouth as he was about to leave my room.

"Yes?"

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah. Only sometimes I get nervous thinking about the O's. Especially when last year had been a complete honeymoon."

"Well, me, too. I wish I had spent more time with the books. Listen. Kyle, Ben and I have formed a study group. Would you like to join us?"

"You, and I, together? In a group? No, I think I'll pass...," he smiled.

"Erm, yeah. I suppose that's not a good idea," I said.

"Well, goodbye Gabe, and good luck."

"You, too."

And then he was gone.

The O Levels were extremely important as they would determine the academic future of a student. Good grades would secure a place in a local university or a bursary for further studies abroad. Mediocre or poor performance would get students almost nowhere.

I was understandably nervous and promised myself to work hard. Often times, Ben and Kyle would find me at our regular study place ahead of schedule, already buried in books. I would also be the last to leave.

December came and we sat for the exams. I felt such a strong relief once it was all over, although there was always a nagging uneasiness at the back of my mind. I found Chemistry and Calculus extremely difficult.

Kyle and Ben asked me not to worry too much. The results would only be announced in March, so there was no sense in ruining the long holiday now. I could worry later, they said. We had better start packing, anyway.

Two days after the exams were over, Ben's parents came to pick him up. After he left, Kyle and I resumed packing our things. I had accepted Kyle's invitation to spend the first couple of weeks of the holidays with him and his family.

I sent word home and received no objection. I was, after all, seventeen years old.

CHAPTER 22

When we were obliged to break apart for air, Adrian had managed to slip out of his shorts and was tugging at my jeans. With the last of our clothing items removed, we were at each other again, grappling and gropping. Flesh abused flesh. Our minds were blank, concentrating only on reaching an explosive end of our journey.

It seemed like it went on for hours. Months of separation (and celibacy) had brought on a thirst for each other that took forever to quench. But in the natural way of things, thirst, once quenched, tends to return again and again. So as soon as the first was satisfied, another would soon come to be pacified.

Our efforts were such that we both came away with second-degree sheet burns, and my lips bled a little.

Later, as we laid together bruised and spent, Adrian breathing softly in heavy sleep, I realised then that would be the last time we were to be together. I slowly lifted his arm off my waist and swung my feet to the floor.

Adrian stirred. "Heyyy...where are you going?"

"I'm taking a shower."

"Come back here," he pulled back into bed, my back to him, and put his arms around me.

"Adrian?"

"Hmm..?" his forefinger traced the hollow of my back.

"You realise that this will be our last time..?"

His finger stopped.

"Yeah," he said after a while. "But, as long as we are here, tonight, let's make it as memorable as we can!"

The following week, after we finished putting together the yearbook, the editor got us together to celebrate a job well done. I shook everyone's hand and bade Adrian goodbye. I would leave for home the next morning.

As I was getting into a taxi to take me to the railway station, I saw Nicky at the school gate. He waved at me through the wrought iron bars.

That was the last time I saw him. Nicky didn't return to school in the new year. They said he didn't do very well in his exams.

CHAPTER 21

After dinner one evening, I was in Kyle's room, getting ready to retire early, when there was a small rap on the door. Kyle had left me the key to his room, just in case I needed anything while he was away.

I opened the door, and my heart missed a couple of beats on seeing Adrian, standing in the corridor with his trademark shy half-smile.

I invited him in.

"Nice," he said, scanning Kyle's cubicle. He sat on the bed, while I took out two cans of soft drinks from Kyle's mini refrigerator. When I handed him a can, our fingers touched. I looked at him, to see his reaction, but he was looking at all the trophies that lined up the book case.

"Impressive. He won all these?"

"Yes. He is a good tennis player."

"And he has been your good friend for the past four, five months..."

"Yes, he has."

I studied his face to try to read his thoughts, but the cheerful expression he always sported revealed nothing much.

"Look, Adrian. Why are you here?" I asked after a while.

He rose from the bed. "Didn't you want me here?" he whispered. "I know you wanted me to come. I've been watching you, Gabe. You were always looking at me in the editorial room, with that look in your eyes, the look you have when you're horny and want some action."

I was speechless, hot blood rushing to my face.

"Well, what are you waiting for? I'm here, you're here. Let's get started. It's been way too long since we last did it. I'm anxious to find out how improved are you after eight months and numerous others."

He began taking off his clothes. His face still wore that same cheerful facade but his eyes were hard and cold. I was seized with sudden fear and got up to leave.

"Oh no, you don't!" In a flash he grabbed my arm, took my hand and thrusted it into his shorts.

"You bloody.....," but before I could complete the outburst, his mouth clamped mine, his tongue flicking, searching, awakening old sensations in me.

I pushed him backwards and we both fell on the bed, my hand still in his shorts, our kiss still intact.

CHAPTER 20

The incident behind us, Kyle and I remained good friends. I continued seeking refuge at night in his room, and he helped me with my reports for the yearbook, giving suggestions and opinion from an athlete's point of view.

I felt truly contented, and at peace with myself. I was happy in Kyle's company; he was a perfect friend. He was a stabilising influence that I badly needed.

The school term ended in November. Those sitting for their O levels had to stay behind to face the exams the first week of December. They were housed in a dormitory closest to the examination hall. The year book editorial committee was given rooms in another dormitory block.

With Kyle gone for the holidays, I felt a little strange. Working in the same room with Adrian was quite unnerving at first. I was still feeling guilty over the incident where I had badly bruised his pride -- and body. So I avoided him as much as I could.

Of Nick, who was sitting for the exams, I saw plenty -- at least two times a day during lunch and dinner. We never spoke to each other, although sometimes in rare bursts of friendliness, I would nod at him when I caught him staring at me.

However, flesh is flesh, and its temptation I greatly felt as I sat in my chair typing and editing, with Adrian sitting right opposite me.

His mere presence evoked memory of our exploits, stirring old passion in me.

CHAPTER 19

It took Kyle a full minute to recover from the shock. When he finally looked up at me, I noticed a tiny trail of blood at one corner of his mouth.

I panicked and quickly went to the dining hall and asked for some ice cubes from the kitchen. When I returned, he was sitting on his bed, groaning. He looked suspiciously at me as I prepared a cold compressor.

"Don't worry, I won't hit you again. Not for now, at least," I assured, handing him the ice pack. The rest of the ice cubes I put in a small bucket.

"Thanks. This feels so good. Why did you have to hit me so hard? A simple 'no' would have sufficed."

"Yeah, right," I retorted, dipping my own aching knuckles into the ice bucket.

After a while, I took his hand and spoke to him.

"You see, Kyle, I'm flattered that you feel that way about me. But I don't feel the same about you. What you have heard about me with the other guys could well be all true, but they are different. They are not my friends. I don't feel anything for them. I don't respect them. You Kyle, are my friend. I do like you a lot, and I respect you a great deal. I expect the same from you," I said.

By then, tears started to well in my eyes, and I got up to leave.

"Gabriel, wait," Kyle said. I turned around. He was on his feet now. "Look, I know I was way out of line, and I am so very sorry. Do you think you could ever forgive me?"

He held out both of his hands to me. I slowly took them in mine.

"Of course I forgive you."

"Friends?"

"Friends," I said, hugging him while my hand traveled down to squeeze his behind teasingly, "as long as you promise not to do it again."

I winked at him and left the room. What a pity. He had such a nice, tight body.

CHAPTER 18

Kyle became my good friend after he agreed to give me an interview for the yearbook on behalf of the school's tennis team.

He often caught up with me to see whether I needed more information about the team, team members or team activities. On many occasions he helped me with my maths homework, and pretty soon we became study buddies and spent a lot of time together poring over those mathematical equations alien to me.

He was such a nice kid, so when Ben suggested that I needed to find another place to sleep to escape my nocturnal visitors, I naturally thought of Kyle. As head of his room, Kyle did not have to share his cubicle with anyone, giving enough space for a 4-by-6 carpet on which he carefully placed a couple of cushions and a low Japanese-style coffee table. I asked him whether he would terribly mind if I were to spend nights sleeping on the carpet. Not at all, he said, although more often than not, it was he who would end up sleeping on the carpet, as he would always insist that I took the bed instead. He was truly sweet.

Until that afternoon.

After tea, we were in his room getting ready for games, as he had promised to give me a few pointers on tennis. The room was already deserted. I was bending over to lace up my tennis shoes when he came from behind me, his hand reaching between my legs.

I spun around. "What do you think you are doing?" I demanded.

"Nothing," he grinned.

"Yup. That's what I thought. Well, hurry up. I don't want to lose our turn at the tennis court," I handed him his T-shirt.

"I don't feel like playing tennis today," he replied, sitting down on the edge of his bed.

"What do you mean? You promised to teach me..."

"Let's play something else, something that you could teach me instead."

"But Kyle, what could I possibly teach you? I'm lousy at sports, and you don't like badminton or volleyball."

"True. But I like playing with these balls," he pointed to the bulge in his shorts," and I know that you do, too," he advanced.

I took a step back and asked him to stop whatever it was that he thought he was doing.

"Why? You do it with other guys. All the time. They talk about you in the locker rooms."

I felt sick.

"Yes. I do it with other guys. I will not do it with you. Let's go play tennis and I'll forget that this ever happened."

"But why? Am I not good enough for you? Come on, Gabe, try me."

He came towards where I was standing, his arms outstretched to embrace me. I was seething with anger, and as his hands touched my shoulders, I sailed into his stomach with my right fist, and my left landed on his jaw. He reeled backwards, knocked against the coffee table and stumbled onto the carpet.

I felt a stinging pain on my knuckles. But the hurt I felt in my heart was indescribable.