The Three - Lies

Stereotypes are only stereotypes because they are true. We all belong to one, and it is an inescapable fact. The gays and straights both have their own clichés. Non-conformity is dead because all the non-conformist are dead. We conform to a certain social standards and form cliques of our own. In a city of four million, Singapore is a like a giant high school cafeteria. Popular cliques rule the roost, and we all secretly want to be part of them.

Zat unfolded the napkin and looked around the restaurant with relief. Even if he's not earning that much, or has anybody special in his life, there is still a place like Mikes where there's no pretenses. The food was great and more importantly affordable. Service is not much to rave about, but at least there is no bullshit. You come to Mikes to dine, talk and enjoy the company of your friends. Not to be treated like kings. Unlike restaurants in the upper town – the Mezza or Carrasale, where no one in there really enjoys the food, or the pretentious service. Mikes straddle the line between class and not-really-there-yet which makes it all hip and trendy. It is expensive enough to make the students with too much time stay away, but yet cheap enough for those who just started with their careers to enjoy themselves.

Zat drummed his fingers impatiently as he waited at the table. Wan and Hahn has yet to arrive, but they will any minute now, appear at the door, waved their friendly wave, smile the best smile ever and just non-chalantly ignore the fact that they were twenty minutes late. Being the earliest to arrive, gave him the opportunity to scope out the scene. The first things he noticed were the sudden increase in the number couples. They were practically everywhere. 'Were they always there?' he thought to himself. Did he only begin to notice them, when he is now at his most vulnerable? Vulnerable not because he is alone, but because he was the only one alone. Hahn is now happily attached. Well attached at least. The happily part can come later. And Wan. Well Wan makes everyone feels lonely.

He remembered clearly when Hahn first made the announcement about the boy he's dating. It was at the very same table. 'I'm seeing someone!' Hahn suddenly blurted out then looking around waiting for some sort of excited response. Wan was suddenly very interested with the paper napkins arrangement, pretending to study them, and Zat stopped his sentence mid air. 'You are?' Zat replied cautiously. 'Wow.. who? When? Why? How? What happened?' Zat asked, expecting an answer in the exact same manner it was asked. Zat suddenly noticed, Wan's suspicious silence on the matter. 'Wan... Why are you so quiet?' he questioned. Wan then looked at Hahn pleadingly and nudged his head towards Zat, indicating that Hahn should explain himself. 'Well.. Wan already knew. I told him like two weeks ago..'

'Two fucking weeks!'

Actually it was more like two months. But telling that to Zat would mean treachery of the highest degree. The three did not keep things from each other, especially not someone you are dating. But for some reason or another, Hahn decided that his illicit tryst be kept from the rest. He only told Wan only because Wan found out accidentally when he was playing around with Hahn's cell. Wan really wanted to tell Zat, but he didn't know how he would react to the part where the boyfriend is only seventeen years old.

'You mean he's not even eighteen!' Wan exclaimed in the most dramatic fashion, when he found out he's age. 'Honey, isn't that like illegal over here?'

'Sixteen is the legal age of fornication.' Hahn explained, knowing that using technical legal facts as an excuse would not hide the fact he is dating a child. 'Besides, we haven't even had sex yet!'

'Great! You are not a pedophile.. yet.' Wan replied, rolling his eyes.

The door at Mikes opened, and enter Wan. He's a tall, this time in a casual long sleeve dress shirts and tailored jeans that shows off his long defined legs really well. Wan is not technically a beautiful person. But his height, and his muscled stature was usually enough to impress. And if that was not enough, there was his smile. A smile he used often to get away with things mere mortals could not. He walked over to the table smiling, water dripping from his cuffs and forehead.

'Did you walked in the rain?' Zat looked up at Wan more amused than surprised.

'Well, I didn't have an umbrella with me, and I can't run fast enough with these silly boots,' Wan said, pointing to his shoes. 'Where's Hahn anyway? He's coming right?'

'Oh he's coming. He better anyway.' Zat opened the menu as Wan settled into his sit. 'Let's order first shall we?' he said, waving to the waiter for his attention. 'I'll have one tuna nicoise salad please, with no potatoes.'

'Potatoes on the side at least?' the waiter asked, smiling almost smugly, as if he had suggested something that was clever and unexpected.

'No! No potatoes at all on the plate,' Zat insisted. 'In fact, if you could remove all the potatoes from this restaurant, that would be ideal.'

The waiter looked at the table blankly.

'Ignore him darling,' Wan assured the waiter, almost bordering on flirting. 'He's trying to lose some weight. He hasn't had sex since last year!' Wan added, the waiter now smiling. 'I will have the chicken quiche, with all the potatoes you could fit in it, in it. We'll have real food soon.' he ordered, ending it with a wink.

And as soon the waiter left, Hahn arrived. He walked steadily towards the table, as Wan excitedly welcome his arrival. Zat too was uncharacteristically smiling. This was the moment, where nothing else mattered, they thought. Their friendship came about almost like an accident. Three unlikeliest of people, sharing in common nothing but perhaps their love for dick. As Hahn took his sit, they looked at each other with affection. Their relationships were invaluable, because it is only among the three of them that they could be vulnerable. They could ask from each other for a pat on the back, without appearing hopelessly insecure.

'Sorry, for being late,' Hahn apologized, exchanging caring glances with both Wan and Zat. 'You know the rain and all..'

It didn't matter. They were going to spent the night dining and chatting their fabulous lives away. And when they were done with dinner, they would stroll down the lighted streets of Orchard, passing by the glamorous Paragon, secretly hoping they could one day afford to shop within the guarded walls of the branded stores. They would end their night in the coffeehouse, sipping lattes and eating muffins. In that moment, their life seemed perfect. If they didn't let go, nothing could go wrong.

Almost nothing anyway. A cellphone beeped. 'It's mine!' Wan pre-empted, waving his cell. It was a message from V. He carefully read it, not wanting to misinterpret the meaning of the words – 'Let's do dinner. Tmr. 7.30. Anywhere.'

He kept the phone almost as immediately as he finished reading.

'Who was it?' Zat asked.

'Oh no one important.' Wan lied. This lie however was necessary. He could not tell Zat the truth he believed. It would shake the foundation of his almost idealistic view of relationships, and that sometimes the attraction of the flesh is greater than oneself. He is fucking V and would end it as soon as it gets boring and it would be a clean end. No one needs to know. Not even Hahn, who would probably find the matter fascinating.

So why did he still feel guilty? Dirty? He shook off the feeling and ordered another cake.