Gravity—an invisible force that draws objects in space toward one another. But it pulls people too. That's what it felt like with him: a quiet, irreversible tug that stirred something curious in me.
I already knew his name—Eduardo Martinez. Ordinary, almost forgettable, yet there was something about it that lingered. Alluring in its simplicity.
Our first interaction was barely that—more of a passing acknowledgment than a real exchange. We didn't know each other then, not really. But somehow, I found myself pulled closer. That summer, we ended up working at the same World Fair that year. Community service—250 hours, assigned by our university to a place of our choosing, pending approval, of course.
Our part of the World Fair was a curious one. It documented the implementation of the railroad in Mexico, with a surprising side focus on volcanic activity and tectonic plates throughout the peninsula. There was even an odd little light-and-sound show, part history, part spectacle, celebrating the foundry's hundred-year legacy. They used to melt metal there, centuries ago. The building itself—massive, industrial—felt like it had lungs, like it remembered everything. Host to the fair, it felt like we had to show off.
During lunch we would meet up with friends from other countries. There were so many outside exhibits too. Whenever we had a break we could go explore the rest of the park. Countries had their own little booth. The Japan exhibit had a real life chef that was preparing delicious food. To the side, a kabuki-sho exhibit, an interactive VR walk through the streets of Shibuya. We were also supposed to stay together in case anything happened.
Eduardo was stuck with me whether he liked it or not. I was actually really enjoying myself. Each country was like its own booth inside the park, with different interactive elements. I could have sworn he was having fun too. We had to help full time for a full two weeks - that way our hours would be covered. This was way too much fun!
We were assigned to Mexico specifically because they chose people from that country to tour the exhibits. We were lucky enough to be chosen from all the applicants this year - as they only needed two volunteer service workers. I guess it pays to have the best grades in school. Of course only second to guy who topped the rest of us. He had straight 100's in every subject. No one in our school had those grades, and he did sports clubs too. Why not pick him. It was kinda obvious. When his name got announced he brimmed, all hope leaving my body.
But then my name was also called - and I had to join him on the stage.
"I'm glad it's you - " he whispered in my ear. And bumped playfully into my shoulder while brimming with a smile. The principal went on to lecture about how we were gonna represent not only our school but our country. He announced this was actually pointed at a state level. Student's from other states would also participate. We would represent the northern part of the country. The difference between choosing me and another guy had been down to the decimal. Just lucky I guess.
Our booth at the World Fair also had a fun dinosaur exhibit - explaining how the meteor that killed them created the Chicxulub crater, located in the Yucatán Peninsula.
It was fun at first, but eventually, the novelty wore off—the material got repetitive, and so did the people who came just to test your knowledge. This was a multicultural event. Some of our tour guides even spoke Chinese! I had to give them the whole tour in English. Mind you to the incredibly jealous Eduardo. He was cute when he pouted.
In some cases, some tourists thought they were smarter than us. Occasionally, they were. But more often than not, it was frustrating to realize how little they actually knew about our country. Especially from locals!
We were made to study and memorize it all by heart.
Every now and then, I got to lead tours in English. Since it was the second language I dominate the best. Eduardo was a little jealous of how easily I navigated the material, even though it was all originally given to us in Spanish. But I got a little jealous of him when he finally got to flex his French with a large group of European tourists. Tourists tipped well—about 25 USD, or 500 MXN. A small gesture for them, but for us, it meant something. Starving collage student's and all.
I'd stumble over the harder parts, sure, but there was a kind of performance to it all—a song and dance routine we did to keep our guests entertained. Community service is quid pro quo, by the way. But at least we got to keep the tips.
Still, what stood out most was the connection I had with Eduardo. Whenever a group arrived and one of us got called to give a tour, it was like flipping a switch—turn it on! That shift into customer service mode. And yet, there was always this small, mutual disappointment in having to part ways for the next hour or so. Out there, we had to play a role. But with each other? We could just be ourselves.
We weren't exactly subtle about the way we liked each other. Some of the other male tour guides started calling us the F-slur behind our backs. The girls, on the other hand, either watched us like it was free entertainment or rooted for us with open, playful encouragement.
That week - I fell for him fast. It went by in the blink of an eye. My love for him doubled as we got to play house for a couple of hours. My crush had lasted at least two years now.
Our last day came sooner than expected—cut short when our supervisor showed up and handed me my certificate of completion. I was shocked. Why me first?
That was it. I was officially done, which, for security reasons, meant I had to leave the premises immediately. Just like that, our little escape was over. Eduardo looked genuinely disappointed.
I was too.
I decided to wait for him and skate around the park one last time, checking out anything I might have missed.
I felt bad leaving him behind. He could've left early that day if he wanted—he only had about five hours left to complete his service—but he chose to stay. He stuck it out, even though I was already gone. Turns out my early mornings had paid off. All hours accounted for. Ed always came a little late because he couldn't miss a morning class.
The park outside the museum was enormous—a wide, open courtyard where kids skated, biked, and carved lazy circles in the pavement.
I walked to my car, grabbed my skateboard, and let myself coast around for a while, earphones plugged into my old MP3 player, music spilling into the early evening.
Edgy teen 2000's music filled my ears. Classics like Britney, Gaga, MCR, and harder stuff like disturbed. I was in love with underground EDM no one else knew about too.
Eventually, I collapsed onto the grass, staring up at the sky. The fair was being dismantled already. People seemed to be leaving.
I picked a flower - he likes me.
He like me not.
He likes me.
He likes me not.
Well dam… I decided to take a quick nap.
Moments passed, and that's when I heard a voice I knew by heart.
Night had fallen.
Only the last, dying slivers of light clung to the mountain edges in the distance.
"Hey there sleepy head -" a familiar voice rang through my ears.
It was Eduardo. I had his voice etched into my brain.
Eduardo's voice had that kind of depth you don't expect—low, steady, with a warm vibrato that clung to his words like smoke, it's presence felt lasting, yet fleeting , as if every sentence carried the weight of something he hadn't said yet.
"Ed! What time is it?," I stumbled my words, as I managed to get up from the grass, my skin hurt.
"Whoa, you're all red, did you sleep in the grass again?!" Ed complained.
"Yeah - I was skating and decided to take a break - must have fallen asleep." I bickered in return.
"Take your shirt off- " he demanded suddenly.
"W-W-What!?" I shouted my face turned even more red!
"Shut up! We're both guys! - I mean because I'm gonna apply some aloe vera bro!" Eduardo said, shushing me. I was instantly shy about him seeing my bare skin - but I also mustered the courage, this might be the last time he touches me without feeling grossed out.
I was gonna tell him - I loved him soon, and if experience is anything - I never get what I want. For all I knew he was straight. This type of situations, I know he's being nice. There's nothing sexual about it. I can't help it though. I took the opportunity anyway.
"You just happen to carry aloe vera with you? Like all the time?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yeah - Can we just get over this? I just do! Okay?!" He expelled like he was about to get mad.
"Okay - Okay, sorry, really convenient though." I sat down and took my shirt off, he sat down on the grass, facing my back, and started applying the nice refreshing jelly like substance to my skin.
People passing by started staring.
The cool surface against my skin offered instant relief, and suddenly, I could feel everything—every nerve, every cell, like my skin had been quietly screaming for help.
I burn far too easily.
His touch was soft and carrying, his big hands were able to fill my tiny shoulders, I could feel how rough they felt. The ridges between his skin, sliding against my back.
I was very much skinny, not even a twink. I was a pool noodle compared to him. Eduardo had some muscle. I wouldn't say bodybuilder type - but he was welt built. He had that body of a guy who eats high protein - but exercises a lot! I can barley keep up with him sometimes.
Ed is that guy who eats fast food and orders 12 cheeseburgers. I on the other hand could barely eat one.
I didn't have much body mass.
And the few times I tried bulking, I would actually loose weight.
So I kinda just kept doing what I've always done.
Eat 3 meals a day, never limit myself to my cravings. I did practice skateboarding as a hobby and basketball for university. And did cardio semi regularly at the gym with Ed. We even went hiking on weekends.
My nutritionist said I just have a high metabolism. That's why I can never gain any weight. On the other hand Ed seems like one to many fried chicken and his muscles are about to explode.
I was blushing my face turning red, he literally applied jell to my shoulders, neck, arms and my back, carefully touching my lower half as well.
He had always been taller than me. Just a couple of centimeters though.
"All done!" He said, the moment was gone just like it had started.
Well it kinda made sense right - we were gonna be under the sun this week a lot!
Ed did many things to keep in shape.
Football
Gym
Basketball (with me)
Hiking (with me also)
I knew all about it thanks to the free time we had together at the museum. And he always met me in the court after hours. We had a little rivalry going on that I quite enjoyed. Not heated - just friendly.
He was literally perfect. Uncaring and free.
We started hiking on the weekends - he's always the one who waits for me at the top, meanwhile I'm breathing heavy and sweating buckets. Maybe it's altitude sickness. And he challenges me to a one on one on the b-ball court on the daily.
"There they are at it again," our friends would say watching from the sidelines. Ed would always show up in jeans and a t-shirt tucked under his pants. Like he was some kind of software engineer, or he worked at some big IT company. Meanwhile I was wearing the school uniform.
It was really comfy.
Unfortunately for him - basketball is the one thing I beat him at. All that weight lifting robs him of his reflexes. Meanwhile I'm like a cheerleader on the bench whenever our school has a football match. He secretly loves it, even waves at me sometimes when he catches my gaze in between plays. My friends squeal at me as I turn red.
"Thanks!" I pulled my shirt only for the liquid and cotton to mix. It was a weird sensation but helped me soothe my burns.
"How's that?" He asked. As I spun around to meet him.
"Actually not so bad, it's kinda refreshing!" I said and smiled at him, a bright white sunshine smile.
He blushed a little. Cleaning the excess jelly from his hand with a tissue.
"Anyway - " he scratched the back of his head.
"I know it's out of your way - but any chance you could take me home?" He looked so cute when he said it like that. Yet there was an assertive tone to him. He asked nicely and in a cute way. How could I say no? I basically could never say no to him.
He was just a little bit taller than me. So I got to look up at him. He seemed apologetic and his smile read like he knew he might be taking advantage of me. But he still didn't have a car. His apartment was walking distance from the university.
It was out of my way just a little - but nothing too major. We just lived opposite sides of the same sector of the city. It would take at least 25 minutes if traffic wasn't too bad. It wasn't that much at all. 45 if we slowed to a crawl.
"Yeah - I can do that," I nodded dosing off in his eyes.
"Thanks," he said and smiled back - there was something sweet and bright about his smile, yet it shined like the sun, pulling you in, burning constantly and intense. It made me want to protect that smile, and also weirdly cuddle with him.
Am I weird?
I shook of the nerves and pretended that didn't just happen. People say Eduardo is very clearly flirting with me. But I don't know…
He's way too much of an extrovert - so I can't tell.
I've been burned by boys who were clearly flirting with me before as well.
When it gets public - people tend to run.
He's literally just my perfect type.
A guy for me has to check 3 boxes.
1. He has to be polite, sweet and nice, especially to staff workers.
Like restaurant servers and stuff, you can tell a lot about someone's upbringing by the way they treat servers. Even if servers treat you 'badly', you never really know what's going on inside their head. Or if they're having a bad day.
Servers are like cats, they can scratch you, but you can't scratch them.
Believe me I worked a summer in a fast food restaurant. One of my dad's hazing rituals. He threatened to take away my plastic if I didn't do this. Aka, my credit cards.
2. He has to be hot AF AKA have a good bod!
That body must be tea! I can't be parading him around my friends if he doesn't work out. Most of my friends are part of this country club. My parent's are members, and we frequent it 2 or 3 times per week. They have a massive Olympic pool. Tennis courts. A full fledge gym with crazy machines - I don't even know how to use. A golf course. A cafeteria with a Starbucks! It's seriously massive country club. Girls wear those white tennis outfits that reveal a little too much.
They're seriously very nice.
I would kill for them!
They took me under their wing.
After I came out in high school I lost all my friends. Everyone abandoned me - a small community of rich posh elite people will do that.
After the bullying started - from people I thought were my friends too.
It's always the same thing - I crush on someone - that person finds out - and starts treating me like I'm some kind of bug they can just swat away. They're grossed out by me. People take the side of the other guy - always, and I'm left alone to wonder the halls with no purpose during breaks or hide away with my lunch in a corner of the cafeteria.
I had to move schools at least once a year because it all got to be too much.
I am not about to eat in the bathroom, that's just gross!
But I've found people who love me. Friends who accept me for who I am.
And you don't know the girls like I do - they're genuinely nice, sure they're posh and rich, sure - but they have good hearts. Can't hide from where you grew up after all. And of course every single one of them has a boyfriend. It's about time I get one too - that way country club social event's wont be so cringe anymore.
And when it comes to faces - I tend to find unconventional looking people attractive. My country club friends are nice enough not to tell me - but I can see how they look at Eduardo in pictures.
It's not nice. They just don't say it to my face. I don't mind really - I know what I like after all.
3. He must be extroverted - me an introvert, really wants a golden retriever boyfriend. Otherwise I won't stoop for less.
-
During the ride home. We sang full volume in the car to California Girls by Katy Perry. The song ends and he pulls the volume down.
"Hey, thanks for always taking me home," he started. "I know it's out of your way - I really appreciate it. You could stay over if you wanted to." He said inviting me like it was nothing. "You know, we could play video games until 3AM, I could make popcorn, we could watch a Ghibli movie!" Eduardo said excitedly.
Nothing ever happened during our little sleepovers. Nothing of the third encounter at least.
Eduardo and I are best friends - we have sleepovers all the time - we make popcorn and watch scary movies until we fall asleep. Nothing has ever happened. It's a little disappointing.
Ed usually stays in a t-shirt and jeans, until like 10PM where we have settled into a routine then he changes into shorts and a tank top. That's how he usually sleeps. During summer one time he even walked around shirtless. Just casually toying with me like that.
I've only taken peeks when he's not looking. His golden honey colored skin peeking through his lazy tank top shirts. A loose shoulder. A peek of his abs when he stretches, the way his eyes gloom over from the blue light of the TV. The way his beard ruffles as he scratches it.
When he just lazes around with his shirt off - he might find me staring. He chuckles it off and says a corny line like. 'Take a picture - It'll last longer." I just silently blush red and go back to looking at the TV. I might mutter an apology under my breath.
He scoffs and ruffles my hair.
"Can't bud - I have this paper due tomorrow, haven't even started." I said, my gut wrenching. I did have a stupid paper due tomorrow and not a single word had been written! I needed to start ASAP and soon as I got home. I hate past me right now!
And it wasn't even the weekend.
I sometimes wondered if he let me stay over just so I could take him to uni the next day. Pretend house with him for a day. Cook dinner and feed him my delicious food. Then he'd pay me back with fan service. Not actually letting me touch him.
Not that I have ever asked.
Of course - I also took advantage of the situation. Pretended to go to sleep, only to look at him longer. He didn't use a blanket or anything. I looked over from the other side of the bed. Seeing his chest rise and fall. His shirt sliding over to reveal his stomach. His shorts a little too low on his waist. It always felt kinda creepy after a minute, so I stopped.
Yes, we shared the bed.
I just didn't have it in me.
A quiet win for the both of us, I guess?
"Okay - next time then." He said a little disappointed. He took a beat. "Place felt different without you," he suddenly started, a quiet smile.
I had to process what he was saying for a moment.
"It's just a booth, what are you saying?! Plus it's over now, we finished our hours." I started chuckling a bit. Anxiety sweeping through my body. He said stuff like that sometimes.
"Sure. Just a booth," he paused and looked at me. I pushed my eyes to him and noticed him staring. I blushed and kept my eyes on the road. What would I even say?! He broke the silence again.
"Your car still smells like strawberries and sunscreen!" He said gleefully, breaking the ice.
"Only because you spilled that drink in my basket!" I chuckled, weird, I actually had it powered washed the other day. And my air freshener was mint scented.
"Right. My bad." He said quietly, we shared a chuckle, his face turning towards the window. He took a melancholic stance and stared at the passing view. Slumped in his seat. The mountains in the distance not ever moving with their blue tinted glow. Only the city lights illuminating them now. The moon peeking out behind them. We were tired, it had been a fun - but long week.
"Still. Kinda glad it lingers." He said in a whisper.
I smiled and pretended I didn't hear that.
Even though I did.