FREIYA'S POV
Hoy, shuta! Alas diyes na pala?! Bakit ba kasi bet na bet ako ng marami kaya halos gabi-gabi na akong nagshoshow at araw-araw na rin na ang tagal kong nagigising! Jusko, nakakapagod! Every gising ko rin tuloy stress na stress na ang beauty ko.
Bumangon na ako at sakto namang tumama sa feslak ko ang mainit na sikat ng araw, ang sakit! Pero mas masakit iyong maiwanan, maloko, maghost, maging kabet, ipagpalit, at ako ay may lawit! Haaaay!
"Oy, gising ka na pala, Frieya," nakangiting sabi ni Cindy nang makita akong pababa ng hagdanan at saka niya ipinagpatuloy ang pagwawalis.
"Hindi, actually sleeping beauty pa rin ako," sagot ko naman sabay abot ng kape na nasa mesa, "Akin na lang," sabi ko kay Mona at nakangiwi siyang tumango.
Asus, mamimigay na nga lang may kasama pang attitude!
"Ba't ba kasi ngayon ka lang nagising?" tanong naman ni Cheska na busy sa pagpupunas ng mga mesa.
Ito kasing hindi kalakihan na two-storey building na ito ay bahay namin sa umaga at Comedy Bar naman sa gabi para tipid na, kaya ayan, todo linis ang mga vakla.
"Ikaw kaya kumuda nang kumuda halos buong gabi, Bakla, tingnan natin kung makakakita ka pa ng sunshine kinabukasan," sabi ko naman.
Bahagyang napailing si Cheska. "Napaka-in-demand mo kasi, Bakla, pa'no ba 'yan, share it mo sa'min," aniya.
"Bili ka muna ng cellphone na touchscreen, nasa Bluetooth ka pa lang, Sis, mga boyfriend mo de-iPhone galing naman sa'yo. Jusko, utak mo nalaglag na naman."
Ka-stress itong si Cheska, eh, kayod nang kayod papunta naman lahat sa mga depungal niyang jowa.
"Ano ba, Freiya! Hayaan na ang utak, puso naman ang nagmamahal," walang-kwentang sagot niya.
"Ayan, diyan ka magaling! Pakibuksan nga 'yang ulo mo baka puso rin laman. Iyang atay mo, kidney, check mo baka korteng puso. Puro ka puso!" asar kong sigaw.
Kasi naman, ilang beses ko na siyang sinasabihan na sarili niya naman muna ang unahin niya, pero ayan, ang tigas ng talong ng Baklang ito!
"High blood ka na naman, Mader!" Lumapit sa akin si Mona at saka hinilot ang ulo ko. "Dahan-dahan at baka ma-heart attack, ikaw pa ang mauunang 'di makakasilay sa sunshine," dagdag pa niya.
"Iyang si Cheska kasi, konti na lang mapuputulan ko 'yan ng bayag," inis ko pa ring sabi.
"Bet ko 'yan, hehe," sagot pa ng bruhang Bakla! Hay, jusko!!!
Tinapos ko na lang iyong iniinom kong kape saka ako tumulong sa paglilinis. Isa-isa ko munang inilabas ang mga halaman para masikatan ng araw. At nang ilalabas ko na sana ang panghuli ay may nakita akong papel na mukhang sinandyang inipit sa mga dahon.
Binasa ko iyong nasa pinaka-itaas at saka ako mahinang natawa. "Wanted Gay Boyfriend?"
Shuta! Sino na namang baliw ang nakapasok kagabi at naglagay nito rito? Haaay!
"Mga, Bakla, dati puro trabahong pang ibang bansa ang nababasa natin sa mga flyer, pero look, ito flyer para mangtrip," sabi ko sabay abot sa kanila ng flyer at gaya ko ay natawa rin ang mga Bakla.
"Actually, ay charot, maypa-actually!" natatawang sabi ni Cindy.
Saan na naman kaya niya iyan narinig? Mabuti naman, nadagdagan na ang mabibilang lang na alam niyang English words.
"Pero, 'yon na nga, actually, ang daming ganiyan kanina, pero tinapon ko na. Gay boyfriend daw, ulol, sino naman kaya ang papatol sa trip ng nagkalat niyan dito?"
Muli kong kinuha iyong flyer at binasa ng buo. May sweldo! Shuta!
"Paano kung truth naman pala itey?" tanong ko.
"Hoy, Mader, 'wag ka ngang uto-uto, itapon mo na 'yan," sabi naman ni Mona.
Shuta talaga iyong sweldo, eh! Kailangan ko pa naman ng pera ngayon, as in kailangang-kailangan!! Kaya instead na itapon ko iyong flyer ay palihim ko iyong itinupi at pinasok sa bra ko. There is no harm in trying, at... shuta sayang iyong sweldo!!! Mahirap pa naman makahanap ng dutch ngayon. Hmmph!
CORA'S POV
“Will you tell me the truth, Cora? Did you get enough sleep?” While we were enjoying our breakfast, Zella asked.
I sighed deeply and smiled a little. “I went to bed at 4 a.m. and woke up at 6 a.m., so I only got two hours of sleep.” I proceeded to savor my meal.
“Ano?” she enquired, frustrated, but I simply jerked my head twice, indicating that I am exhausted and lack the energy to explain. But, she yelled, "Tell me immediately, Cora, why you only got two hours of sleep?!"
I let out another sigh. “I haven't gotten enough sleep since I've been keeping an eye on my phone in case someone calls and I want to answer it straight away. I'm scared that if I don't answer the phone, that gay would think I'm playing a joke,” I explained. “So, that's it, I've been watching my phone since I got home from the Comedy Bar until 4 a.m., but I haven't received a single call! Nobody ever calls me! Do they really believe I'm attempting to deceive them?” I asked, frowning.
“I can't believe what I just heard from you, Cora,” Zella said and shook her head. “But, can't you wait long enough? Are you really in such a rush?” she inquired, but I simply pouted and returned my gaze to my phone. After that, I heard her sigh. “I believe you've had your fill of food, Miss Peters, why don't you take a bath now? O talaga bang plano mo lang titigan 'yang cellphone mo buong araw?”
I grumbled and rolled my eyes. “I'm only going to take a bath if I get a phone call.” I returned my focus to my mobile phone.
“Paano kung wala?”
“Then I'm not going to take a bath—”
“My gosh, Corazon Peters!” she exclaimed again, stopping me from speaking. “You've lost your mind! If a gay man is interested in applying, he will definitely contact you, all you have to do now is wait!”
I glanced at her in ire. Can't she simply keep her mouth shut and do whatever she wants?! But wait, she's meant to be in the hospital right now because her schedule has shifted from night to morning, so why is she still here? Get involved in my business?! Tsk!!
“Don't you have a work, Zella Amore Hernan?” As I asked her, my left brow furrowed.
Her eyes widened as she drew back her mouth. “I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!!!!” She screamed angrily and dashed to her room.
Oh, good luck, my best friend!
But, damn!! It's already 10:30 a.m. and still, no one has called me! Oh, goodness!
Busy pa naman ako ngayong araw na ito. Well, a customer has been asking that I provide the five-ring designs by 1 p.m., but I've only completed three so far. I need to finish it as quickly as possible.
So, if you're the right gay, hurry up and phone me right now!
And, I almost jump when an unregistered number flashed on my phone's screen! “O-Oh, sh*t!” I mumbled with glee.
This is it! My prayer was finally granted by the Almighty!
I took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. In a normal tone, I said, "Hello."
“Ikaw ba 'yong baliw—I mean, ikaw ba 'yong naghahanap ng Gay Boyfriend?”
Did she say baliw? Baliw daw ako?!
But nevermind. I don't have time to be puzzled about it, but I do have time to be happy now!
Oh, my goodness! She is gay! Her valiant attempt to sound like a woman can obviously be heard.
“Are you interested in applying?”As I walked into the living room, I inquired with a huge grin on my face.
“Totoo ba talaga itey, Missy, or cheka-cheka lang?”
I sat down on the couch. “Of course, this is completely legit, no one is attempting to deceive you here. So, if you're interested in applying, please let me know right away, but first and foremost, what is cheka-cheka?” I replied. That 'cheka-cheka' is so weird!
I heard her laugh on the other line. “Ma-no-nosebleed ako sa'yo, Missy, buti na lang best in English ako noong kindergarten at elementary,” she said and her laughter burst out again. Tss!
Is it fair to hold me responsible if my parents only taught me the English language when I was a child and I only became a little fluent in Filipino in high school?
Tss, it actually makes me sad that so many people find my Filipino accent amusing and strange.
“Ay, pero 'yong cheka-cheka, joke-joke 'yon, Missy, ganern,” she went on, which brought me back to reality.
“Well, I'm not joking at all,” I replied.
She then double-checked, “May sahod talaga 'to?”
“Of course! But, can we talk about this personally?”
“Sure, Missy!” On the other line, she exclaimed, and I could hear a tinge of excitement in her voice.
“Okay, I'll send you my address. I anticipate you to arrive before 11 a.m.” I instantly hung up the phone and texted her my location.
And, as I lay down on the couch, I unconsciously embraced my cellphone.
Seriously, I'm looking forward to getting to know her! I can tell she's the right gay!