THE FORBIDDEN LIST (UNIPHANT)

Chapter 20

Jaydee's POV

9pm.

Pinapunta ko agad si Frances dito sa bahay once ma crack ko ang code ng briefcase. Magkatabi lang naman ang bahay nina Ninang Gia at bahay namin.

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"I wonder what that means. But wow, I can't believe this thing is finally open. Galing mo talagaaa." Sabi ni Frances sabay yakap sakin. Well, that gesture still makes me feel uncomfortable.

"Yeah yeah. Can we just look what's inside?." So kinuha nya na nga. It looks like an old journal wrapped in plastic.

"Woah, this thing is cool dude. Malalaman ko na yung mga pangyayari dati sa buhay ni mommy! Oh wait--" may isang nakaipit na papel sa journal na nahulog. Pinulot ko naman to.

"Ano yan?." Tanong ni Frances.

"Hmm looks like a forbidden list to me."

"Forbidden List? Ano yun?."

"Yung parang listahan ng mga bagay na ayaw o di mo pwedeng gawin. And this looks like she broke some of it. Your mom seems to be a little wild back then."

"What? Let me see." Lapit nya sakin.

Binasa nya to at medyo nagulat dahil sa mga nakita nya.

"Oh my, this is literally a whole collection of tickets to hell. Wait, Gabrielle Skribikin?. Sino to?. Why is it here?."

"I'm seeing adultery. There's an x mark. So that must be--"

"What? No. I don't think mom's capable of doing that. She would never."

"Eh ayan nga oh, nakasulat. Adultery. If it's not Gabrielle Skribikin, who could it be?. Well, there's one way to know. Basahin mo yang journal niya."

..

Frances' POV

"Sige. And I'll prove it to you na walang kabet si mommy. Pero before that, pwede favor?. Hehe."

"Ano na naman?." She said rolling her eyes.

"Pwede bang dito muna ko?."

"What? What do you mean?."

"You see, tumakas lang kasi ako and Ninang Gia is a little impossible to wake kaya--"

"No."

"Come on Jaydee--"

"Di mo ba nakikita tong bed ko?. Pang isang tao lang. Di rin tayo magkakasya."

"Sus, kasya yan. Of course if you remove this." Kuha ko ng dantay niya.

"I can't sleep without a bolster." Hila nya nito.

"Edi pretend nalang na bolster ako."

"Haaayst fine. Basta wag ka lang malikot."

"Yey! Sabi ko na nga ba di mo ko matitiis eh!." Yakap ko sa kanya.

"Pwede ba? Pakihinaan mo boses mo. Baka magising sina Mommy tsk. Goodnight." Sabi nito at nauna nang humiga.

Niligpit ko naman muna yung journal. Nilagay ko sa drawer ni Jaydee. Di ko pwedeng ibalik to sa bahay, baka malaman ni Ninang Gia na nasakin to at di ito nasama dun sa libing 2 years ago.

Humiga nako sa tabi ni Jaydee, nakatalikod lang siya sakin. Tanging yung ilaw nalang sa side table lamp sa side ko at nakabukas. Tinanggal ko ang bra ko at nilagay sa side table. Humarap ako kay Jaydee at niyakap sya under the sheet. 

"T-teka, anong ginagawa mo?." Bangon niya.

"Uhm bakit?. Did I do something wrong?." Tanong ko tila naguguluhan.

"You're not supposed to do that. You're a bolster remember?. Bolsters don't have arms."

"You should've ask me to pretend I'm not here."

"Being a bolster is better than an invisible Frances. Again, goodnight." Higa niya. Humiga nalang rin ako facing to the opposite side. Okay? That's weird.

KINABUKSAN

Sabay kaming pumasok sa school, well nakisakay siya samin ni Ninang Gia as always. Habang naglalakad kami papuntang classroom.

"Yung bra mo pala naiwan sa bahay." Sabi ni Jaydee.

"I figured."

"So, kailan mo sisimulang basahin yung journal?."

"Later, after class. I left it in your drawer. We can read it together if you want."

"Kung wala tayong assignment. Sige."

"Good morning beautiful. Good morning four eyes." Biglang sulpot ni Kiel sa gitna namin ni Jaydee.

"Morning babe." Sabi ko with a smile.

"So what are you girls up to?." Sabi ni Kiel.

"Well, Jaydee here cracked it. Turns out to be my mom's journal."

"Woah, really?. That's cool. Nice one there four eyes."

"Pablo." Biglang may tumawag kay Kiel sa likod. 

"Morning po Coach. Uhm girls, una na kayo. Susunod ako." Kiel is a football varsity player. MVP. Malapit na kasi yung Palarong Pambansa kaya medyo magiging busy na sila sa trainings. 

Recess.

"..babe, don't worry naiintindihan ko naman. Saka andito naman si Jaydee eh. Right Jaydee?."  

"Oh come on, guys get a room." 

"Magjowa ka na kasi para di ka nagrereklamo for being a third-wheel. Si Peter, kursonada ka nun. Ano? G?." Sabi ni Kiel. 

"No thanks." Jaydee said rolling her eyes.

"Alam mo, yang books before boys motto mo ang pumipigil sayong magkaboyfriend eh. Sige na, try mo lang. Para naman di ka palaging bitter samin ni Frances. Diba babe?." sabi ni Kiel.

"I totally agree."

"Bitter na kung bitter but I don't need a boyfriend. Period. I'm happy with my life. Saka ano naman kung single ako?. Ang pagkakaalam ko di naman nakakamatay yun." sabi ni Jaydee.

"Well, trust me babe changing her mind is like walking on water." sabi ko.

"The truth is people were thinking that we're in a poly-amorous relationship. I mean what in the world--" paliwanag ni Kiel.

"Yuck Pabs. As if namang papatulan kita." sabi ni Jaydee tila diring diri.

"As if din na papatulan kita. Kala mo naman.." sagot ni Kiel sa kanya.

Haaayst naloloka ako sa dalawang to.

Well, I can't blame those people for thinking that what we three have is polyamory. I mean palagi kaming magkasamang tatlo. And 2 out 3 samin ay madalas magtalo like what couples do.

Polyamory by definition is the practice of engaging in multiple romantic (and typically sexual) relationships, with the consent of all the people involved. A polyamorous relationship involves being in a relationship with multiple people, but having one main partner. For others, polyamory is the possibility of being in two completely separate relationships.

AND THAT IS A BIG NO TO ME. 

Saka di ko naman pinagseselosan o ano si Jaydee for being close to Kiel to the point na hindi na sila nahihiyang awayin ang isa't isa. Somehow. Maybe I just don't see Jaydee as a threat, as someone who's capable of stealing my boyfriend from me. Kasi nga Jaydee is Jaydee. Unlike other girls, Jaydee is not that interested in men. Pero naisip ko baka naman mataas lang ang standards niya. I mean smart girls don't usually settle for less when it comes to men. Or maybe she's just--hmm no way, hindi naman siguro.