Paper Hearts

(MAD LOVE) X: UNFINISHED BUSINESS

.

"Hey! Guys! Look!"

Noo'y kakapasok lang ng mga magpipinsang lalake sa mansion. Tiningala nila si Santino sa ikalawang palapag. Sumenyas ito na lumapit sila. Nang marating nila ang second-floor ay sinundan nila ang pinsang huminto sa tapat ng pintuan ng playroom.

They peeked inside.

Elaine and Dylan are having a tea party with her dolls and stuffed toys.

Nakaupo lang ang prinsipe habang pinagsisilbihan ito ni Ellie ng laruang cake, tasa at mga kubyertos.

Kumunot ang noo ni Fire. "And... what are we looking at exactly?"

Inayos ni Noah ang suot nitong glasses. "They're playing."

Umingos si Santino. "Yeah! They're playing a tea party! It's girly!"

"Well..." Nagkibit-balikat si Isaac. "Dylan won't play outside. Elaine can't play outside. So, they're obviously playing to not get bored."

Umiling ang masakiting si Noah. "Santi is just making a big deal out of this."

Sa hiya at inis na hindi na-we-weirduhan ang ibang pinsan sa pambabaeng laro na sinalihan ni Dylan ay sumigaw ito na ikinagulat ng dalawang bata sa loob ng kwarto. "AHHHH! DYLAN IS A GAY! HE'S PLAYING A TEA PARTY WITH A GIRL—"

Mabibigat ang mga paa ni Elaine na nagmartsa papunta sa pinsan.

In one motion...

"Ow!" Sabay na napapikit si Noah, Fire at Isaac nang malakas na pinalo ni Elaine ng plastic plate sa ulo si Santino.

Natigilan ito sabay hinawakan ang tuktok ng ulo.

Namumula sa galit na nameywang si Elaine. "...and I rather play with Dylan than a bad boy like you Santino! Hmp!" Lantaran itong umirap.

"What's going on?" Ten-year old Claudia approached her younger cousins while wearing an apron, obviously having a baking session with her Aunt Charlotte, Isaac and Elaine's mother.

"Nag-aaway po si Elaine at Santino," sumbong ni Noah.

Tiningnan ng dalaga ang dalawang bata. "Santino..."

"What?!" Lumabi ang mangiyak-ngiyak na batang lalake. "Siya itong namalo ng plato sa ulo!!"

Claudia looked at Elaine.

She pointed at Santino. "He called Dylan gay!"

Nanlaki ang nakakatandang Miller at binalingan uli ang salarin. "Santi!"

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin.

Lumapit si Claudia rito sabay lumuhod. "Hey..."

Yumuko ito.

"Listen, Santi. I know you are still young but that is not an excuse to let this pass. As early as possible, I need to break this cycle of using the word gay as an insult." She looked at her younger cousins. "Gay is a sexuality, okay? Like a boy and girl.... there is also a gay."

Tahimik na nakikinig ang mga ito.

"It is not a word to hurl on people just because they don't fit the standards you are used to seeing." Binalingan ni Claudia si Dylan sa loob na noo'y nakaupo pa rin at nakatingin sa kanila. "A girl can ride a bike. A boy can cook. A girl can play a ball. A boy can play... tea party. There is no gender when it comes to doing things you love." She looked at them again. "Playing tea party will not make you a bad boy or a bad girl."