CORA'S POV
The reunion goes on. Everyone appeared to be having the time of their lives. The music was very nice and beautiful. The DJ is incredible! He kept the mood going by playing something cheerful, followed by something gentle and slow.
I brought a glass of classic drink from our table and sat quietly around the corner, enjoying the music and watching everyone else dance, but I had no intention of joining them.
I saw Zella dancing with her high school buddies while her ex-boyfriend stood next to them, staring at her. Tss. What a pity!
And look at this crazy woman dancing! Mukhang wala na ring pake si Dahlia kung sino na ba iyong kasayaw niya.
But I'm intrigued as to why she returned alone after they'd been gone for about thirty minutes. Pakiramdam ko ay nag-away sila dahil pagbalik niya ay galit na galit ang itsura niya. Tsk, I feel so sad for her.
As I sipped this classic cocktail, my gaze was drawn to Freiya, who was dancing with my friends. With them, he seemed so assured, and vice versa. Well, that makes me happy.
Pero, sandali nga lang akong nalingat ay iba na agad ang kausap niya ngayon. Hindi sila sumasayaw at may kung ano silang pinag-uusapan. But, look at the gay's smile! Talagang ang laki.
My God! Ang baklang ito talaga. Napailing na lang ako.
Bahagya akong nagtaka nang ituro niya ako at nakangiting tumango ang tatlong lalaking kausap niya. He then swivels his eyes in my direction.
“What was that?” I asked him while he draws closer to me.
He took a seat next to me and said, “Tinanong nila kung dito ba raw ako nag-aral dati, sabi ko hindi, sinamahan ko lang 'yong girlfriend ko. Tinanong kung sino, syempre tinuro kita. Ang hirap pala.”
“Anong mahirap? To be my boyfriend?” I asked with my brows knit together.
“Hindi, ang hirap magpigil ng harot at karupukan! Shuta, ang gagwapo ng mga schoolmates mo dati.”
Baklang ito!!! Mabuti na lang at kami lang ang nandito kaya ako lang din ang nakarinig ng reklamo niya.
“If you don't keep it under control, Freiya, we're dead.”
He simply nodded as quickly as he could.
“Nakita ko pala ex ko dati, akalain mo 'yon ang ganda niya na ngayon, tinalo ako.”
I'm both fascinated and perplexed. He mentioned ganda, so he's likely gay, or is she a woman? Oh, my God!
“Who?”
When I looked at him, he was dead set on... no way!
“Si Gizelle.”
And, that's it! My mouth dropped open!
Gizelle is one of the most attractive women in our class; she was crowned Miss Pressian when we were in fourth-year high school, and she's held numerous titles at this university. It's a good thing I'm not into beauty pageants because otherwise she wouldn't have all those titles.
“How come she's your ex-girlfriend? Have you two already spoken? Did she take notice of you? Are we doomed to fail?” Sunod-sunod kong tanong.
Nakangiti niya lang na hinaplos ang likuran ko, as if he's trying to calm me down! Ugh! I'm just worried.
He sat up straight and drank the entire glass of wine in one gulp, and sais, “Nagkatinginan kami kanina, pero mukhang hindi niya ako nakikilala.”
I released a sigh in relief. Thank, God! I thought the game was over and I had lost!
“Naging ex ko siya dahil nagkakilala kami no'ng may nangyaring interschool dati, second-year high school, tapos sa school namin ginanap 'yong championship ng volleyball, women's category...”
Oh, and she used to be a varsity player in the past. She'd be a near-perfect woman If I had not existed. What a pity.
“...siya 'yong unang nagka-crush sa'kin. Hindi pa kasi ako baklang-bakla noon, tapos 'yong eskwelahan ko pa dati bawal magpahaba ng buhok at mag-cross dressed, pero choks na makeup basta 'di lang 'yong mukhang a-attend ng party, light lang gano'n, pero may slight lalaki pa rin 'yong itsura ko kaya naging crush ako ni Gizelle. Tsaka, 'di rin naman maipagkakailang ang gwapo ng baklang 'to dati,” he continued with a smile across his face.
He's been incredibly good-looking up until now, so it's no surprise that these single ladies have been stealing a glance at him right now! Tsk, tsk. Should I tell them to back off because he's mine right now and to get lost since I'm paying him? Hah! They're lucky I'm not into scandals.
“So, what happened next?” I asked. I felt like I was drawn in by their story.
“Dahil makapal ang mukha ni Gizelle, harap-harapan niyang tinanong kung pwede makuha 'yong number ko, tapos ako naman itong si Bakla na mabait, edi ayon, gora, binigay agad kasi gusto ko ring makipagkaibigan sa kanya baka may gwapong kuya, gano'n. Kaso, imbis na 'yong kuya 'yong harutin ko, ayon, kay Gizelle mismo tumibok ang pusong maharot. Girlfriend material din naman kasi si Gizelle, 'yon nga lang after six months naghiwalay rin kami kasi nalaman ng parents niya na bakla ako, at medyo na fall out of love na rin ako dahil may nakilala akong cute guy noon. Nabali ulit ang meter stick.”
But the essential point is that homosexual men can still love women! Wow! When it comes to love, gender really doesn't matter.
“Si Gizelle lang ba 'yong naging girlfriend mo?”
“May tatlo pa before Gizelle, pero siya talaga 'yong minahal ko kasi 'yong tatlo laro-laro lang.”
I am curious as to what Freiya does in a committed relationship with a woman. And, what if Gizelle had transformed him into a straight man? They're probably married now. What a sweet story they could have had if they hadn't broken up.
“May masama ka bang balak kay Gizelle, Missy?” With a cheeky grin on his face, he asked.
“What?” I muttered, raising my left brow.
“Kanina mo pa kasi siya tinititigan.” He burst out a light laugh. “Huwag ka ng magselos sa kanya, past is past,” aniya.
I smacked him with all my strength, as swiftly as I could!
Ang kapal ng mukha!!!
“Who said I am jealous? And what makes you think I'd be jealous?” I frown, but he simply chuckles softly.
“Joke lang, apakaseryoso mo,” natatawang aniya.
“Whatever, Freiya.”
“Linya ng mga pikon.”
“Ano?”
Pikon? Ako? Bakit naman ako mapipikon? This gay is a story maker!
“Sabi ko hanapin mo na siya.”
For a little moment, I was speechless before I could manage to ask, “Who?” I know he was referring to Silver, but I'm confused as to why he wants me to look for him.
“Sino pa ba? Edi 'yong ex mo.”
“I was under the idea that you were going to help me forget about my feelings for him and carry out some sort of vengeance, so why would I have to look for him?”
“Oo nga, pero alam kong kanina mo pa siya gustong sundan, Missy, at 'wag kang kokontra dahil hindi marunong magsinungaling ang mga mata,” he stated this with his eyes locked on mine.
Yes, I wanted to follow him and question him about why he had abruptly left, whether it meant anything else, whether he was jealous or what. But, I kept my cool. I have to. Ayokong magmukhang naghahabol sa kanya. My God! Corazon Peters chasing a man is a slap in the face.
“Ayaw mo ba ng closure? Tsaka, gusto kong mag-usap kayo at ipakita mo sa kanya na naka-move on ka na, na okay ka na, masaya ka na, at hindi siya kawalan para sa'yo. It's the first step toward your sweetest vengeance, Corazon, showing him that you're better off without him.”
Napaisip ako agad and I think he is right; we must have closure. That way, I can finally break free from our traumatic past and begin my plan without giving him the opportunity to discover it. Syempre, aakalain niyang okay na kami, hindi na ako nasasaktan, and we can now begin a fresh chapter, but the truth is that I intend to hurt him badly! I couldn't just let him be happy without going through an absolutely unbearable amount of anguish and grief!
“Wishing you luck, Bu!” Freiya said as I stood up, and my face lit up with a bright smile.
“Hoy, 'wag na 'wag kang haharot while I'm away, ha?” I warned him.
He bit his lower lip and nodded, then said, “Don't worry, sa'yo lang ako haharot,” in his firm, manly voice, and beamed breathtakingly at me. He even winked.
Kadiri!
Just kidding! He was actually pretty cool when he did it. Tsk!
“Basta ha, kahit one thousand na lang na increase,” pang-aasar niya.
“Ewan ko sa'yo!” I finally walked away. Mamaya tataas na naman iyan sa five thousand, eh, mukhang mamumulubi talaga ako sa kanya. God!