Barely Naked

Chapter Four

Tangled

Ica's

"Oh my god, you make tahan na! It's so sad like four huhuhuhu in the end, seeing you like that, Ica. I know that you're lesbian, and it's okay, like fike no!"

Gusto kong tirisin si Pan ngayon. Actually, tapos na akong umiyak. Napakalma na ako ni Tita Gianna at kung may nararamdaman man ako ngayon, init na lang iyon ng ulo para kay Pan.

"Alele, make her shut up, please." Wika ko sa pinsan ko. We were in the living room of their mansion. Pan looked as if she just got him from school, si Dione ang kasama niyang dumating but she went upstairs to Ate Amal, may gagawin daw siyang homework, so I am stuck with Pan and Alele.

"Shut up nga Pan." Alele said.

"What did I do? I'm just making her tahan, kasi nga it's so masama to iyak for something like that. You should know, that you're not a disappointment in the clan, if there's a disappointment, it's Apollo because he seldoms ligo. Like fuck no."

I rolled my eyes. Nasaktan talaga ako sa sinabi ni Papa kanina. Pinipilit kong ipakitang okay ako at hindi ako nasasaktan masyado. Iyong tingin palang ni Papa sa akin na para bang hindi niya ma-figure out kung anong mali sa akin ever since I came out, iba-iba na ang dating niyon. How can I live with that?

Nagtatampo rin ako kay Mama dahil imbes na i-comfort niya ako, she's trying to make me into something that I am not. Gusto kong i-please sila, pero hindi ko kaya iyong pinagagawa niya sa akin. I can't date men, I'll only end up sleeping with the waitresses in every restaurant I'll go and that's not good.

Nakakapagod rin makipag-sex no.

I envy Alele. Tanggap na tanggap siya ng Dad niya.

"Pap! Ica's here!" Sumigaw si Pan. Agad namang nagpunta sa living area si Uncle Zeus. Si Tita Gianna ay nasa kitchen at nagpapaluto ng early dinner. Tumayo ako para magmano sa kanya.

"How are you feeling, Ica?"

"Not so good, Papa." Pan said. "She's like sad with four huhuhuhu because Uncle Yto told her that she's papansin that's why she's tomboy."

Napangiti si Uncle Zeus. Hinaplos niya ang ulo ko. "Hayaan mo na muna ang Papa mo. He's just shocked."

"And were you? With Alele?" I asked him.

"I was. But it's fun. I love him just the same. Actually, hinihintay ko na lang si Kairos na mag – out rin."

"Pa!" Napatawa si Alejandros.

"I'm serious. If it weren't for his girlfriend, iisipin kong ganoon. Ica, dito ka na mag-dinner ha. Nasaan ba ang Mama ninyo?"

"In the kusina." Pan said. Nagpaalam si Uncle Zeus na pupuntahan muna si Tita Gianna. Muli akong naupo sa couch kaharap si Alele at Panpan.

Napansin kong bumakas ang pinto ng bahay at mula roon ay pumasok si Kairos at may kasama siyang babaeng naka-nursing uniform. They smiled at us. Si Pan ay ngising – ngisi. Si Alele rin.

"Who's that?" I asked Alele. I was intrigued. Pan answered.

"Oh, that's like Kairos' love of his life, Cachi!" Pan giggled.

"May girlfriend na si Kairos? Akala ko magiging bading din siya parang si Alejandros." Komento ko.

"Like fuck with seven omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg! Kairos is not bakla unlike my baklang brother Alele he's so manly no!"

"Is that his girlfriend?" I asked again. Medyo sumakit ang tainga ko.

"No, they're best friends." Wika ni Alele. "But they'll end up together no. We know."