Her Gay Step Cousin

Prologue;

"Christian! What are you doin'?" Tanong ng batang may mahabang kulot at kulay tsokolateng buhok. Napatingin naman sa kaniya ang isang mistisong batang lalaki na tinawag niyang Christian.

"C'mon, Emerald, How many times do I have to tell you that you should start calling me 'Christine'? I thought you were smart pa naman but I guess you're not as smart as I've thought." Nangaasar na saad ni Christian habang namimili ng bistida ng kaniyang ate.

"You didn't tell me you were also blind. Can't you see that I'm searching for a dress?" Dugtong ni Christian. Napairap na lang si Emerald sa kasungitan ng kaniyang step cousin. They're not blood related because Emerald's mother remarried Christian's uncle.

"I mean, why are you searching for a dress?"

"Duh, of course, for me to wear it." Halata sa tono ni Christian na naiinis na siya dahil sa maraming tanong ni Emerald. Napa-nguso na lang si Emerald at hindi na lang nagtanong kasi wala naman siyang makukuhang matinong sagot mula rito. Sanay na siya rito, alam niyang ayaw na ayaw ni Christian na dinadaldal siya habang naghahanap ito ng susuotin pero dinaldal niya parin ito kanina.

Alam ng mother ni Christian na he's gay. His father naman ay seperated na sa mother niya and has already another family. They're just 14 years old and have already gone through these circumstances.

After about half an hour ay natapos na rin ang pag u-ukay-ukay ni Christian sa damitan ng kaniyang ate.

"O.M.G! I found the most perfect dress for mahself!" Napailing na lang si Emerald nung nakita niya ang dress. Isang black na backless na bistidang may napaka-babang neckline. Hanggang kalahati lang ng hita niya ang dress and since mag matangkad lang ng onti ang ate ni Christian sa kaniya ay nasusuot ni Christian ang mga dresses nito.

"Seriously? You're going to a burial and you're going to wear that? That?" Emerald said habang tinuturo ang dress.

"What's wrong?" Pa-inosenteng tanong ni Christian.

"You're asking me what's wrong?! Everything about that dress is wrong! For heaven's sake Christian, half of your family will be there! You don't want to be judge do you?" Taas kilay na sabi ni Emerald.

"It's Christi--"

"Shut it."

"Grandma will protect me from them." Christian said hoping na mapapapayag niya si Emerald.

"Oh God, The one inside the casket is your grandma Christian." Napasampal nalang si Emerald sa noo niya.

"That's the point! Grandma will hunt them for me." Tinitignan lang ni Christian ang dress na hawak niya habang si Emerald ay tumayo at lumabas ng kwarto ng ate ni Christian.

"Hey, where are you going?" Napatayo rin si Christian at hinabol si Emerald palabas. Dumiretso si Emerald sa kwarto ni Christian at naghalungkat sa cabinet nito.

"What are you doing Em?"

"Duh, I'm searching for clothes." Napairap naman si Christian sa sagot nito.

"C'mon, I'm sorry sa pagtataray ko kanina. Y'know it's the time of the month na naman."

"Wala kang matres." Natatawang sabi ni Emerald

"Ano ba yan Em, why can't you just go with the flow just this once?" Nakangiti na rin si Christian. Hindi na sumagot si Emerald kasi may nakita na siyang bagay na damit para kay Christian.

"Here, wear it for the burial." Binato ni Emerald sa kama ang mga damit.

"But it's not a dress." Nadismayang sabi ni Christian.

"Of course not! Chris, I know they will make fun of you later and I can't argue with them kasi mom's watching. You know how much she hates seeing me act like a knight with a shining armor for you. She keeps on saying that I should be the one being protected kasi I'm the girl. I don't want to see you cry again just because of those kind of people." Bakas ang pag aalala sa boses ni Emerald.

"First of all, We're both girls kaya.." Sinamaan naman siya ng tingin ni Emerald "..Just kidding. I guess you're right, I appreciate your concern Em but I still want to wear a dress." He paused for a minute as if he's reliving some memories then continue.

"My grandmother was the first person to acknowledge me being gay. She didn't judge me and do you know what she said? She said 'You don't have to hide the real you. There's nothing wrong with having another granddaughter.' She said those while smiling! I just want to be me in her last moments in this world. She would be very happy seeing me wear a dress."

Emerald sighed but agreed eventually. "Fine, but I'll be the one to choose your dress." Parang pumalakpak ang tenga ni Christian nung narinig niya 'yon. He's thankful na meron siyang bestfriend slash pinsan na napaka-understanding.

Bumalik sila sa kwarto ng ate ni Christian para maghanap ng damit. Hindi nagtagal ay nakahanap sila ng dress na mas disente kesa sa naunang napili ni Christian.

~*~

Dumating na sila sa burol at lahat ay nagulat sa nasaksihan. Sinong hindi magugulat? Ang kaisa-isang apong lalaki ni Don Raymond at Donya Celestina ay bakla at nakasuot ng bistida. Hindi magkamayaw ang bulungan sa paligid. Ang kaninang tahimik na lugar ay napalitan ng ingay mula sa bulungan ng mga tao.

Nakakapit sa braso ni Emerald si Christian at halatang nanginginig ito. Piniga ni Emerald ng mahina ang kamay ni Christian para ipaalala na andito siya. Napangiti naman ng bahagya si Christian at tinuloy ang lakad nila papunta kung saan nakalagay ang kabaong--sa harap. Mistulang nasa entablado sila dahil lahat ng pares ng mata ay nakatingin sa kanila lalo na kay Christian.

Napatikom ng kamaong si Don Raymond at kung wala lang tao ay kanina niya pa ito na sunggaban ng isang malakas na suntok. He already knows that his grandson is gay but not the whole family. We can say that, he's not very proud of it.

Mag b-bless sana si Christian ngunit mariin itong iniiwasan ng kaniyang lolo. Nag bless lang si Emerald. Lumapit ng kaunti si Don Raymond kay Christian. "Why on earth are you wearing a dress?! Especially on this special event?" He said, emphasising every word. Emerald heard and was about to butt in but Christian raised his right arm signalling her to stop what she's about to do.

"I specially wear this outfit for grandma. I know she would be very delighted to see me wearing this." Nervous as hell but he still manages to held his head up high.

"She would but I wouldn't. Go home now, we'll talk later."

"No! I won't go home!" His voice became louder but there's still a hint of nervousness.

"Are. you. disobeying. me?" Raymond's voice hasn't gotten louder but you'll hear the intensity of it.

"I-I am." He failed to keep his composure.

"GO. HOME. NOW!" The voice was louder and it became harder. Mga bulong-bulongan ay biglang nanahimik.

"No." Seryosong sabi ni Christian.

"You won't budge huh?" Raymond clicked his tongue and called Emerald's step father. "Gerald!" A moment passed and a man in his mid 30's is now in front of them--It was Gerald.

Raymond whisper something to Gerald. "..But Fath--" Gerald has been cut off by Raymond. "Are you gonna obey me or not?" Raymond calmly said, he's confident that Gerald will follow his order and Gerald really did.

"Emerald, I'm sorry but I need to take you home." Napantig ang tenga nila Emerald at Christian. Something's off.

"W-Why? We have just arrived." Emerald nervously asked.

"Tito?" Christian's eyes are asking for an explanation but no words have left Gerald's mouth.

And the last thing Christian knew, Emerald had been taken to Australia.