EVERYONE is busy, ilang oras na lang ay magaganap na yung beach wedding ni Kian at ng fiancee niya. My head is still aching, yet I need to compose myself para hindi ako magmukhang lantang gulay mamaya sa venue.
Nakaharap ako sa vanity mirror and I saw my reflection, looking like a pathetic witch. Everything that happened last night flashes in my mind, vividly. Hindi ko maatim na magpakita kay Francis dahil sa nangyari kagabi, I humiliated myself in front of him and to other people.
Yet, everything was enchanted. His kisses ignited something inside my heart---arghhh, wala nga kasi akong pag-asa sa bading na yun.
"Zely babes, pumunta ka na dun sa dressing room dahil andun na yung mga make up artists na mag-aayos sayo--"
"What happened to you? Mukha kang aswang bes," natatawang ani ni Kiana ng makita ang kabuuan ko. Kabaliktaran ko naman yung ayos niya.
"You look so gorgeous, parang ikaw yung ikakasal," biro ko sa kaniya. She's a goddess, ang ganda niya sa suot niyang kulay peach na high-slit flowy dress na naka-ayon sa theme ng kasal and she's just wearing a simple make-up na nagpatingkad lalo sa ganda niya.
"Really? Thanks, alam mo namang mana ako sayo," at tumawa kaming dalawa.
"Ugh. I'm still in my hangover, nalasing ba naman ako---"
"Mabuti at nakauwi ka ng maayos, nakita mo ba kagabi si Francis? Pinuntahan ka niya kaagad pagdating na pagdating niya kahapon," I got shocked sa sinabi niya. I should avoid thinking about delusional thoughts, walang meaning yun sa kaniya.
"Yeah, I saw him--" I was startled sa sumunod niyang sinabi.
"Lokong yun, ang saya-saya pag-uwi sa room niya. May nakita ka bang kalandian niya kahapon? Naku, ang bading na yun parang naka-score."
Don't tell me, he was happy after our kiss? Of course he's not dahil silahis siya. Oh gosh, I really need to stop myself from falling. Nahuhulog na ba talaga ako? Sana hindi, I should not fall for him.
PAGKATAPOS kong maligo at magbihis ay sumunod na ako kay Kiana patungo sa room kung saan ako aayusan, hindi naman ako kasali sa bridesmaids pero as a guest, they also take care of me.
Napapitlag ako nang makita di kalayuan si Francis, ugh. I rehearsed earlier sa CR kung ano yung magiging reaksyon ko pag makikita siya, yet I panicked at hindi ko pala kaya na mag-act like nothing happened between us last night.
I am slowly walking backwards para makahanap ng tyempo at umalis but Kiana called his cousin.
"Franny!"
"Nana, you look fab." bungad niya kay Kiana at nagbeso sila.
Then, he turned his gaze towards me. Arghh, I should act cool. Let's say, I don't remember anything.
"Hi!" I exclaimed, at tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay. That's awkward.
"Saan kayo pupunta?" It seems like ako lang yung tinatanong niya dahil sa akin lang siya nakatingin. Badinggg, bakit ka ganyan? Nagiging jelly na yung mga tuhod ko dahil sa tingin mo.
Umiwas ako ng tingin at nagkukunwaring nakatingin sa karagatan. I can see it sa peripheral vision ko na he's still looking at me.
"Well, ngayon lang kasi nagising si Zely kaya ngayon lang din siya pupunta sa dressing room for her make-up and dress."
"There are still many people there, baka hindi siya agad aayusan. Well, I gotta go," then, he walks away. Nakahinga na rin ako ng maluwag.
"Ay babes, maraming bridesmaid pa nga ang need ng makeover kaya kay Francis ka na lang---"
"Ha? Marunong pala siyang mag-makeup?" Obvious ba? He even put light make-up to himself the first time I met him.
"Oo, he is a cosmetic chemist and makeup guru. You never did a background check about my cousin? I thought friends na kayo," napailing-iling lang ako sa tugon niya.
What would I expect? I met him sa Watsons, maybe he has dealings there dahil isa nga siyang cosmetic chemist and he came from a well-known family, the Ortiz. I guess he also dominates in his own league and passion.
"Bakit hindi ko nakita si Francis during nung mga party sa bahay niyo na invited ako?" I asked out of nowhere.
"Sa States kasi siya nag-aral ng college, he pursued his dream na maging chemist and makeup artist at last year lang siya nakauwi dito sa Pilipinas."
During freshman year sa college din kasi kami naging magkaibigan ni Kiana at kaya nga siguro never ko pang nakita si Francis noon.
"Bading na ba siya noon pa lang?"
"Yieee, bakit ang dami mong tanong patungkol sa cousin ko? Do you have a hidden desire towards him?" Umiling-iling ako sa tugon niya, malisyosa talaga masyado ng babaeng to.
"Actually, he was a closeted gay back then nung nasa States pa siya and nagulat na lang kami dahil he became more open nang makauwi siya dito. Yet, hindi naman siya nag-cocrossdress."
"Anyways, tapos na yata si Francis sa pagme-makeup kay Alexane," she's talking about Kian's fiancee.
"Kaya pumunta ka na dun sa room ni Francis, katabi lang ng room ko. Hindi na kita masasamahan dahil I need to look for my parents, baka hindi sila umattend sa kasal ng sarili nilang anak," napailing-iling na lang ako sa sinabi niya.
Wala na akong choice kaya pumunta na lang ako sa kwarto ni Francis. Hindi pa ako nakakalapit ay nakita ko si Alexane, she's already in her make-up and looks so endearing, yet still wearing a satin bathrobe. Bakit hindi pa siya nagbibihis?
Hindi naman ako nagalit sa kaniya, medyo slight lang nung nalaman ko na siya pala ang dahilan kaya Kian broke up with me. She's really pretty and rich, but she's quite a bitch because she thought that I envied her for everything. Partly true, but not at all.
I saw her na pumasok sa room ni Francis or maybe she mistakenly entered his room at baka sa kwarto talaga ni Kiana yung pupuntahan niya.
I didn't mind and walked closer towards Francis' room.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Gay's Kisses (One-off Series #3)
RomansAnother gayxgirl short-story. This story comprises of an approximate 10,000 word count xo. The story of Zely and Francis ♡ Book Cover: Pixabay & made from Canva