Ova Da Rainbow: HAWAII'S STORY (3)

Lavender's Green

A/N: Happy May, everybody! This month is my favourite month for a number of reasons. <3

Yua and Hawai'i had always had a unique relationship. Yua had always been the more outgoing one, constantly reassuring Hawai'i that there was nothing wrong with their circumstances. She was the one who would go out of her way to find other people like them. Hawai'i, on the other hand, was more reserved and content with their bubble.

Yua had always been the one to express her desire for romantic activities. She wanted to be taken out on proper dates, even though she understood that being affectionate in public could be dangerous. Yet she would still drop hints and make subtle suggestions.

Everything seemed to be going well until one day when Yua had surprised Hawaiʻi with a date to an off-the-beaten-path restaurant. It wasn't exactly sketchy, but the thought of being seen in public made Hawai'i feel uneasy. The nervous tapping of the patrons' fingers on the window panes only elevated her discomfort.

"I can't, Yua. I can't..." Hawaiʻi said, feeling herself start to hyperventilate at the thought of being seen out and about. "Only Sikaiana and Cali... and you. You are the only people to know what we are. And isn't that the one with the māhu performers? I can't be seen with māhus."

"Yes, you can, you prudish baby." Yua said, sounding slightly amused. "But honestly, Lani, you're being ridiculous. Are you telling me that being gay is okay, but being around a māhu is too much for you?"

"I'm not saying that. I am saying.. I don't know, Yua... it's... old beliefs die hard." Hawaiʻi shifted nervously, feeling her face turn red as Yua ushered her girlfriend into the building.

Yua rolled her eyes. "Fine, whatever. But you're missing out on a lot of fun, you know."

The pair found themselves among a rather interesting crew of customers, ranging from gay men and lesbians to māhu with their "I'm a boy!" pins displayed proudly. Despite her reservations about this all, Hawai'i had to admit that it wasn't as bad as she had feared.

It was actually... not that bad.

Calm down, Wai. It's okay. It's okay. Just talk to no one. They don't know you, you don't know them.

"Come on." Yua said. "One of my cousins work here. I promise, it'll be just us and some other people who are like us."

Hawaiʻi nodded slowly, smiling wearily, as Yua seemed to enjoy being here. She could suck it up, for Yua.

Minutes passed and nothing exploded, so it was going great. Hawaiʻi felt her eyes wandering around the room, before she thought she saw someone familiar. She ducked her head down, trying to lay low.

"Lani... you okay?" Yua asked, and Hawaiʻi nodded.

"Thought I saw someone I knew." Hawaiʻi said quietly.

Yua shrugged. "I guess that's the good thing about me being from the Big Island. Barely anyone knows me."

That face again. This time, Hawaiʻi tried to make out the features, and her eyes widened. Not one, but two very familiar faces were there.

"Oh my god, is that-" Hawaiʻi said, her eyes widening with joy. "Hey!"

"No fucking way." A man lit up, walking over to her. "Why are you here? I thought you were straight!"

"I thought you were! I thought you both were!" Hawaiʻi said, before enveloping Alab in a hug, lifting him up, and spinning him around, "I'm so happy to see you. So Yua-"

"And you know Raymond. We're-"

"You two are dating now?" Hawaiʻi smiled happily. "That's amazing! I thought that you-"