Chapter Thirty Nine
"Cruella de Vil"
Daniel Rouge Gustilyo's Point of View
At first I thought the party was just a normal one, like the ones you see in typical movies, but it was different, it looked more like a costume party — 'yun nga lang you have to wear revealing clothes and reveal something with you also, andaming tao pala sa Club Monaco na 'to. Everyone was wearing fabric laced like those worn for intimate romances — staying true to the theme I guess. But I'd never thought I'd stand out dahil sa suot kong itim na faux fur coat, well thanks to Prada for this expensive coat.
Everyone was staring at me dahil ako itong ang laki-laki ng coat at nasa harap pa nila na nakatayo.
I'm not used to this.
"You'll get used to this." Ani Hans sa akin habang hawak-hawak ako sa bewang ko — he squeezed it. I just rolled my eyes at him atsaka naunang naglakad sa kaniya kaya nabitawan nito ako.
I walked myself in front of everyone and they just kept on staring at me as if I'm some sort of a devil.
"Cruella de Vil." Bati sa akin ni Romeo. He wore his usual smug with him.
May kasalanan pa 'tong gagong 'to sa akin. "You showed up! Akala ko 'di ka dadating dito." I noticed he was wearing a black ruffled chiffon long sleeves. Bagay sa kaniya, bagay para ibalabad sa leeg ang ruffles at isakal sa kaniya.
"Oh, I had to. After all I was invited and needed publicity." Sagot ko rito. "At isa pa, I've been searching for you." I added. "You haven't showed up ever since you spilled some beans at home!" I yelled at him trying to fake a laugh.
Napalunok naman si Romeo sa akin pero ngumiti lamang ito. So I just smiled at him coyly too. Nabigla na lamang ako nang lumapit si Hans sa akin atsaka ako pinalayo sa kaniya. "'Di mo ba alam na kinakausap ko pa ang tao?" Maktol ko sa kaniya dahil hinihila niya ako papunta sa isang kwarto. Hans just smiled at me.
"I know, but I want you to meet these people." 'Di na ako nakapagpalag dahil pinaharap niya ako sa tatlong lalaki. "They're models too. Top models." Dagdag pa nito.
"That's Dimitry." Pakilala ni Hans sa akin atsaka nginuso ang lalaki, agad naman na inalok ng lalaki ang kamay nito sa akin. But as a Gustilyo, I didn't accept it.
I observed Dimitry, he was tall, hunky and quite bearded, parang isang Palestinian prince. He was somehow attractive but his facial hair is a no to me. I don't know, I just want to kiss that hair.
Hindi nabigla ang Dimitry na'to sa akin dahil 'di ko tinanggap ang kamay niya. "Well I guess the rumors are true. Gustilyos don't do handshakes."
I just gave him a fainted smile, "It's a tradition." And smiled at him.
Tumawa naman ito sa akin. "Anyway, Dani I also want you to meet Kiefer and Levine." Tumango lang ako sa kanilang dalawa. "They're brothers."
"Well I don't see the resemblance." Bigla naman akong kinurot ni Hans.
Hans whispered something, "Behave Daniel, you're in front of some top models." I just rolled my eyes at him at pinaupo nito ako sa gitna ng tatlong lalaki. "I'll be back so enjoy ka muna dito." Utos nito sa akin at lumabas ng kwarto.
As if maeenjoy ko 'tong party kasama 'tong tatlong lalaki. Ugh.
Lumapit ng bahagya si Kiefer na'to sa akin. "Rinig ko ang dami daw ng offers na natanggap mo. But you ignored them." Tanong niya sa akin.
Sinuri ko naman ito. Tall, tan, musky scent, brown haired and fervent looking eyes. He was attractive but stupid was my first impression of him. He was wearing a violet sleeveless sheer fabric and paired it with a black tight pants. Tumango lang ako sa kaniya.
Bigla naman akong kinalabit ni Dimitry kaya nabaling ang atensyon ko sa kaniya. "Tequila?" Alok nito sa akin, he eyed me for awhile then just nodded at mez
"No thanks." I smiled at him.
"Say, Dani. Is it true na androgynous ka?" Tanong sa akin ni Levine. Maputi si Levine, matangos ang ilong at kulay itim naman ang buhok. Ang layo ng mukha sa kapatid.
I just nod at him as a response.
"Well, parang ayaw kong maniwala eh. You look more like a woman to me." Ani Kiefer sa akin.
"Looks can be deceiving." Naiilang kong sinabi sa kaniya.
"Then show us something to prove it." Alok ulit ni Kiefer sa akin kaya napakunot noo ako.
"What do you mean?"
"Show us something." Sagot pa ni Levine.
"Yeah, take your clothes off." Dagdag pa ni Dimitry, he leaned in closer to me para isandal ako sa sofa. Lumapit din si Kiefer sa akin at natrap ako sa dalawang lalaki.
"You're crazy." Bulyaw ko sa kanilang dalawa. "Ba't ko naman ipapakita sa inyo?"
"Come on we're both men, but you're both. A man and a woman."
"What the f-uck? Do you want me to throw my shoes at you?" Nabigla naman ako dahil bigla akong inakbayan ni Dimitry at unti-unting ginapang ang kamay nito sa binti ko at pinasok ito.
I tried to shove him away but he held me by the neck. Kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya na natatakot. Kiefer was just staring at the both of us, parang 'di ito makagalaw sa ginawa ng kaniyang kasama sa akin. Bigla namang pinihit ni Dimitry ang isa niyang kamay sa dibdib ko hanggang sa makapasok ito sa loob ng damit ko. His hands roamed inside and touched my breast. Then I realised that he was squeezing my breast.
"Shit 'tol, 'di nga siya babae. Walang dibdib." Natatwa nitong sinabi kay Kiefer at kay Levine. I was taken aback with what he said. It was humiliating. So I stood up and slapped him in the face.
Nabigla ito sa ginawa ko kaya napahawak siya sa mukha niya. "Don't you know that what you just did was sexual harassment?" I yelled at him. "I could sue you immediately!" Nagagalit kong tinanong sa kaniya habang nakatayo sa harap nito.
"Come on sue me." Parang 'di pa ito natakot sa sinabi ko sa kaniya. "You were wearing that dress, don't you think it was consensual already? Tss." Napatingin ako ng masama sa kaniya, I can't believe he just said that to me. "Ano?" Subok na tanong nito sa akin. "Don't even act like a woman. Tss. You don't even have 'that'" singhal nito sa akin at tinaas baba ang tingin sa akin.
I gritted my teeth in disbelief. So I just took the nearest glass of tequila I could find and spilled it right on his face. That left him off guard. "If you're going to act like this, you'll be going nowhere. Don't you try me Mister Dimitry. 'Di mo alam kung sinong kinakalaban mo. Baka nakakalimutan mo ang pangalang Rouge Gustilyo?" Banta ko sa kaniya.
"I'm out of here, I don't like spending time with brainless creatures like you. Who doesn't even know what consent is." Bulyaw ko rito atsaka tumalikod na at lumabas ng kwarto na'to. I fixed myself up and composed myself as possible as I can. Ayaw kong magmukhang kawawa sa harap ng mga taong walang ginawa kun'di ang humusga.
Lumapit ako sa part na kung saan pwede kang umupo at um-order ng drinks. I sat on the bar stool and just stared at the people who were busy talking to each other.
Nabigla naman ako nang umupo sa tabi ko si Kiefer na'to, sinundan pala nito ako. "What do you want?" I asked him. Don't tell me he wants to harass me too?
"You're really something Dani."
I rolled my eyes at him, he offered me a drink. "Say, you're already 18 right?" Tanong nito sa akin. "Do you want to try this?"
"Anong gusto mong ipalabas? Na I can't drink this?" Naiinis kong tanong sa kaniya.
"Well, if you can show me you can drink this. I'm not gonna doubt you." I glared at him at kinuha ang basong binigay nito atsaka tinunga.
Shit. It was my first time drinking Tequila actually.
Bigla namang lumiyab ang laman ng lalamunan ko. F-uck, there's this burning sensation inside my throat and it made me cough at him. "You're supposed to put salt on the edge of the shot glass."
"Eh ba't walang asin sa dulo?"
"I took it. Also, here's a lemon." He gave a squeezed lemon to me.
Pinagkakaisahan ba ako ng lalaking ito? I glared at him as I threw the already squeezed lemon on his face. "Are you trying to play games with me?" He laughed at my sudden outburst. "Here." He offered me a drink again. "Come on just drink it." Natatawang utos nito sa akin.
He was convincing me again so I drank it again. Call me a fool but it seemed to me that Tequila tastd nice so I did not hesitate to drink it in front of him. Until I felt dizzy.
Pasuroy-suroy akong nakaupo sa harap ni Kiefer na'to but I'm still conscious 'yun nga lang 'di ko alam kung ano ang ginagawa ko sa harap nito but I could still talk to him. Abala din si Kiefer sa paguusap sa akin kaya 'di ko na alam kung ano ang pinaggagawa naming dalawa — specifically him.
I was so focused at staring at Kiefer dahil parang nagtatatlong ulo na ito. But I diverted my attention when I saw a glimpse of Romeo.
Kaya napatayo naman ako at pasuroy-suroy na lumapit sa kaniya. Romeo squinted his eyes on me at tiningnan niya akong nagtataka nang makalapit ako sa harap nito.
"You're drunk." He coldly told me.
I chuckled. "No need to state the obvious. Pero I can still see you." I smiled at him although I can't see him clearly. "I can still see through you." Ani ko rito habang hinabaan ang pagsasalita. This time I was the one who squinted my eyes at him.
"Cut to the chase Daniel." Utos nito sa akin.
"Ba't mo sinabi kay Theo that me and Eric had sex?" Nagagalit kong tinanong sa kaniya. I clenched my fist. "'Di mo ba alam ang salitang privacy?"
"Oh about that." He smirked at me. "Why? Don't you think Theo deserves to know the truth?" Sagot nito sa akin. "Ba't mo naman siya pagkakaitan?" Dagdag pa nito.
"Romeo, tell me. Ba't g-ganyan... na lang ang pagta-trato mo sa'kin? I have n-never done anything w-wrong with you." Nauutal kong tanong sa kaniya. Galit na galit na ako, kahit na alam kong medyo may tama na ako, I can still feel emotional.
"I just like seeing you being miserable."
"Is that it?"
"At isa pa, you don't deserve Eric. Ba't ka ba niya nagustuhan? Eh wala naman siyang mapapala sa'yo? You always look miserable, you're just adding weight to his pain. Why did he like a whœr like you? 'Di mo ba alam na pabigat ka lang?" Nagulat ako dahil sa sinabi niya sa akin.
Was I a burden to Eric?
Was I a whore to him?
'Di ko pala alam na naitaas ko ang kamay ko at napasampal na lamang kay Romeo.
Puta nangangalay na ang kamay ko sa kakasampal sa mga tao dito.
I realised that everyone stopped and stared at the both of us. 'Di ko pala alam na nasa harap kami ng mga tao. Sh-it I thought we were inside a private room. S-hit.
S-hit!
But still, I kept my composure and went out of the bar eventually as if that incident did not happen.
Saan na ba si Hans na'yon? I tried to look for him outside kasi baka nasa labas lang pero nawalan ako ng pasensya, ayaw ko rin namang pumasok sa loob. I already made a mess in there.
I know I was already dizzy but still, I decided to find a taxi. Pinapara ko ito atsaka nagpahatid sa bahay.
Alam kong para akong zombie na lumalakad but I still managed to walk myself in front of our house. Nang nasa labas na ako ng bahay ay nakita kong nakaupo si Theo sa front porch ng bahay habang umiinom ng Yakult. He was in his usual sleepwear.
I looked at him.
Is he really here?
I took a good look at him. Am I hallucinating?
Theo was waiting for me outside?
Lumapit ako sa kaniya at kinapa-kapa ang mukha nito.
"Ha-ha" I laughed. "Were you waiting for me? Like I used to?" I know I'm already drunk, I might really be hallucinating. "Theo?" Tanong ko, 'di ito sumasagot sa akin.
Bigla namang nagsituluan ang mga luha sa mga mata ko. F-uck, I really missed his smell. "Theo, I really love you. P-please forgive me." Nauutal kong sinabi sa kaniya. I was crying, I was drunk crying in front of him.
Then suddenly everything just went black.
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AN
091520 — Sorry for not updating 😞 pero today's my birthday so here's an update for all of you sana naman nakabawi ako. Happy 25.8k