Chapter 64 : Identity

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Online Identity.

“Star light, Star bright.. Where the hell is my Mr.Right?”

Keith? Do you really use that headline on your Grindr profile? – tanya Cyrus sambil melongo memandangi foto- semi nakednya di deretan grindrnya. “Sooo mismatching!”

“You know me… Shy in real life, but a bitch on internet...” Phuihh!

“You’re looking for the right guy? They always look right at the start.” Saya ikut melongo.

“You want to find a right guy by putting those stimulating picture? This picture is more like : do me do me right now, Mr.RightNow!” tambah Cyrus.

Keith tak peduli. “Bukan gue banget kalo elu suruh gua pasang foto formal pake baju komplit demi nemu pria baik-baik. Screw it. I’m doing it my way…! Provocative it is.”

“See this guy with graceful picture? Adorable effortless smile, charming pompadour sleek hair, and a bit of mysterious glance? Now I feel like saying hi to him. Not you.” saya jadi salah fokus.

“These guysss, they think they’re too mysterious. But most of them are really transparent. They’re all bitches in real life. And that guy, Chris, I fucked him. His first line was : Your place or mine?” Checkmate. Saya batal ngetik.

One message received :

Hi there GymBunny89, you are so my type. Would like to know you more.

Kami bertiga melongo. “Would like to know me more? Did he mean my size, my fave pose, and do I prefer bareback or…”

“He means your identity, airhead.” Bungkam saya.

“Hasn’t he read my online identity yet?”

“Your. Real. Identity. Keith. Not this fake-ish online identity.” Keith nyengir.

One message sent :

Hi LonerGun!! You are so my type as well. Call me Bunny, 22 years-old, live in the same city as yours. I only see ur biceps pic here, it will be fair if you send some of your face pics.

 Will you?

One message received :

I can’t tell u much about myself for now. Care to have chat via ym?

Two hours later, Keith hooked to his phone. Leaving his Americano and hot bun cold.

--

“This is suck, Chris. Berjam-jam gua berusaha ngumpulin semua picisan tentang dia. Foto muka satu aja kaga dikasi, foto petunjuk melulu. This is why I hate puzzle.”

“What you got?”

This mighty-biceps-guy only gave me three pictures. His smile, his stocky solid chest, and his muscular legs. “Lu nyadar ga background foto dia itu di gym semua? Bukannya itu di gym elu?”

Kami bengong. “Whoops... He knew you…”

LonerGun : I love it when you moaning on bench press section. I love the way you sweating. And my eyes just can’t stop starring at you.

Kami bengong. “Whoops... He knew you…”

GymBunny89 : Aww thanks. Seriously, I'd like to know who you are. For million times, please give me more clues. And photos! Pleaseee. : ( Or we could just meet now! We’re like 5 miles away, anyway. Com’on!

LonerGun : Bunny… I can’t. I’m afraid u will not like me. You… weren’t even smiling back at me. And your eyes are only into lean-muscle guys, as I watched.

Cyrus melirik dalam : “Sukurinnn…”

GymBunny89 : Nooo! I’m into any type! Ughh!

Cyrus melirik lagi. “Really? Why don’t you do quickie that bookworm guy on the corner?”

LonerGun : Okay, I will try to be fair. I’ll give you one clue everyday. Is that okay, Bunny?

GymBunny89 : Yes please! Thanks. Hugs!

“He may have no identity, but he does have wonderful teeth…and chest!” Oh my… I recognize this kind of voice. Someone’s gonna fall.

Secret Identity.

“Any luck?” tanya saya di hari ketiga.

“Selain : jarak kita yang konstan 5 miles aja menurut Grindr?” saya mengangguk.

“He lives on west-side alone. He’s a newcomer in this country, that’s why dia engga bisa ngomong bahasa kita.”

“Another one?”

“He’s been watching me for two months, and I had no idea! One more : he just shaved his goatee this morning cuz his boss hated it. Engga sengaja tadi dia bilang gitu.”

“That’s all? Geez.” Rutuk saya sambil mengamati lagi foto-fotonya.

“Pernah kepikiran ga buat jagain gym seharian buat ngamatin member satu-persatu?”

“Horrible plan, Chris…”

“I know. Thanks God you don’t even consider it.”

--

“No. No luck. Still clueless.” Tukasnya ketika saya melintas masuk. Padahal baru buka mulut mau nanya.

“It’s the sixth day.”

“Yeah… And seventh would be the end of wondering.”

“Gua ga ngerti yah, kenapa sih takut amat ketauan aslinya. He’s hot! I’m sure of that!” 
rutuknya lagi.

“Okay, what if... those identity are all fake?”

“I’ll accept the way he is. Nothing of me is original anyway, I am the combined effort of everyone I’ve ever known. No one can keep up sugarcoating me, but he did.”

Saya hapal deh ini nada. “Keith… Don’t tell me you’re falling to a person that you haven’t even met yet.”

Keith diam. “Spill it. Its not like I’m gonna judge you, lahh.”

“Okay. Fine. Yes. Well. I like him! It started with butterflies on my tummy and finished with bee stings on my heart!” mukanya langsung resah.

“Screw butterflies! When I think of him, I get elepants on steroids running in my stomach. Ouch!” lanjutnya tanpa jeda.

“You can let it go… You always have two choices.”

“Tomorrow. 20 hours to go.” Wink.

Real Identity.

“Dear YOU. This is the seventh day, and I no longer big fans of this clue-game. Wondering isn’t my hobby. And Yes, by writing this, what I’m trying to say is : I QUIT. Hope you find a good partner for this identity game. Hugs. Keith. (Oh btw, this is my real name. At least I’m being real).” Sent. Without a doubt.

Three hours later, Keith seems like back to his routine. Sipping his hot coffee less than 30 minutes, tweeting like there’s no tomorrow, “And no more Grindr?” tanya Cyrus tak percaya. Profil Keith sudah melompong. Tanpa foto, hanya identitas.

“It’s over… Call me silly, but I did really like him.” Aww…

“Nooo hug, and stop staring at me with that pity look. I’m fine.” Geez! He reads us!

And there were we. Stuck in a moment.

--

“Hey Keith? Feel like join combat at five?” tanya Bob, another gym-bunny.

Keith menggeleng. “Too tired. I’ll go to sauna. Joining the old guy.”

“Keith! Yuk Arnold-Press barengan.” Now Hank, another lean-muscle guy.

Bleh, boring. “Nahh… Next round ya, pusing. Mau sauna aja.”

“Oh hi… Sendiri?” sapanya pada gym-member yang duduk diruangan sauna. 

Pria itu mengangguk. “Oh. Yap.”

“Sorry before but I’m gonna cover my face with this towel. Forgive my manner. I had a bad day.” Ijinnya sambil kemudian duduk dan menaruh handuk basah kecil menutupi mukanya.

“Bad day? Feel free to share?” tanyanya.

Keith menjawabnya sambil ogah-ogahan. “You know… I met this guy, and turns out he didn’t feel the same. I guess…”

“What’s wrong? You’re cute and desirable.”

“He never showed up. For a week, I had been wondering what he looks like. It’s not that 
I’m curious. But I need to put an image to a guy who I like, right?”

“So you like... HIM?” tanyanya, menekan pada kata terakhir.

“Oops sorry. I hope you’re not homophobe.” Keith panik sebentar sambil membuka handuknya. “But yes, I did like him.”

Pria bertubuh kekar besar itu menggeleng. “I’m okay with gay guys. Tell me more.”

Dua puluh menit, Keith menumpahkan semua keluh kesahnya pada total stranger ini. “So why do u think he never reveals his real identity? Was he never into me? Was he just playing me? Or what? Arghh I’m mad!”

“What if… He’s just afraid.”

“Afraid of whattt?” Keith baru saja menumpahkan dua gayung air ke heater saking kesalnya.

Pria itu sampai mengerang kepanasan.

“Afraid of what? Me?” Keith hampir mewek.

“Nooo. Not you! Arghhh dammit maybe he’s just afraid to show up cuz he’s a bear!” keringatnya mengucur deras.

“Whaaat isss theee proooblem withhh bears?! I’m not that judgementaal arghhh!” Umpatnya kesal. Tak terima. Sambil menuangkan segayung air ke heater.

“Maybe he’s afraid. I don’t know, ask yourself! Do u like bear?”

Keith memutar matanya berpikir. “Hmm… Stocky bear? Totally! To be honest, your stocky body is a perfect example. Huge shoulder, solid chest, regular abs-not sixpacks but strong and stiff, a bit hairy on chest.”

“Really?” dia melongo.

“Yea. Too bad you’re straight. Arghh I’m still mad of him!” Keith menyambar gayung itu, bersiap menambah air ke heater.

“Bunny, no! I could get killed! It’s too hot already.”

Keith mangap besar. “Bunny? Loner...Gun…?!!"

“Wow, he did really make you mad, didn’t he.” Kulitnya meradang merah.

Keith cries. Oh my! Keith Cries! “How dare you!”

“Bunny, forgive me. I was just too afraid. This city and the people are the whole new environment for me. But I do like you.” Peluknya erat sambil menenangkan.

They wore nothing but towel wrapped around the belly. When we’re barely naked, is identity still needed? Keith feels frozen in time.

“Bunny… You towel is fell-off.” Dia menunduk, mengambil handuk Keith. “Wow you got hard on…”

“Crappp…” Ucapnya pelan dan malu sambil menutup mukanya.

Pria itu memeluknya lagi. “I’m sorry, okay? Give me one more chance, and I will tell you all.”

Keith mengangguk pelan. “It’s forgiven. Don’t do that again, kay?”

“I promise… My name is Kenichi Ryota. People call me Ken. Call me whatever fits you. I’m a chef. And I like you since the first time I saw you.” Ken melilitkan handuk itu kencang pada pinggang Keith.

“I’m Keith Wang. College student. I’ll be your favorite hello and your hardest goodbye.”

Ken tertawa sebelum akhirnya mencium pipi Keith. “Naughty Bunny.”

“For a second I thought you were going to do me… I don’t mind anyway.” Bisik Keith malu-malu, namun Ken menggeleng.

“You said you were looking for the Mr.Right…?” Keith mengangguk.

“…then I will use my second chance the right way.”

“As in…?”

“You jump to the shower now, get your clothes on and I will cook for you at my place.”

“Thanks for being real, Ken-Bear.”

“I love that name.”

“You better so.”

By.C