Veiled In Matrimonial Shadows

3

tw: self harm

"You're up early, what time did you wake up?"

I asked Solana who is wearing an apron while her left hand was holding a steel whisker.

Solana's hair was also in a messy bun and she looks lovely and care-free in that hair, her natural beauty didn't go unnoticed because it literally outshines her beauty with makeup.

Her Filipina-British beauty was different from the others, her Filipina-British beauty suits her, mas nag suit yung Beauty Queen features niya dahil sa Filipino-British blood and beauty niya. No wonder why she always win in pageants being held on our high school days.

"I didn't sleep, ate brie." Simpleng sagot nito sa tanong ko. Ipinagpatuloy na niya ang paghalo sa ginagagawa niya.

"Why didn't you sleep?" I decided to ask again.

"I am a college student ate, and it's our finals tomorrow so I need to study." Oo nga pala.

College student nga pala siya and is only in her very early 20's.

"Oh yeah right, I'm sorry I forgot," I apologized which is she just granted with a smile.

Naisipan kong tulungan nalang si Solana sa pagluluto, she was going to bake cupcakes and cookies daw kasi for us to eat later. I said I would be the one making our breakfast which is I decided to go cook foot long hotdog, bacon, sunny side up and scramble egg, longganisa, ham and also a fried rice.

The pride rice have egg, ham, maling and toyo, I can't eat breakfast without a rice so I decided to cook a fried rice. For the drink, I just made a smoothie and a nestea juice.

"Tulungan na kita diyan, nahihirapan ka sa pagmix eh." I offered to Solana which is she gladly accepted.

I was supposed to get the whisker to Solana's hand so I held her hand that has the steel whisker but I felt like my hand froze when Solana flinched. I looked at her with wide eyes when I felt and kinda saw a fresh scar against my palm. I parted my lips and slowly and gently got the steel whisker on her hand and also letting her go the moment I saw her feeling uncomfortable.

I saw her how she pursed her lips and gave me a small smile that obviously didn't even reached her eyes. "I'll just wake the girls up!" Her voice sounded enthusiastic just to cover up what just literally happened.

I felt like she really didn't like to talk about it, so I just remained silent.

What's happening to you, Lana?

"O-okay!" I tried to match her voice so she wouldn't feel even more uncomfortable.

"No need to call us, we are already here!"

Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Solana sa nagsalita, sino pa ba ang pinaka may malakas na boses dito? Edi si Irene na naka pajama pang may design na mini rainbow flags that clearly represents the LGBTI flag.

Ngayon ko lang naalala na next month na pala ang Pride Month, napag-usapan na naming magkakaibigan na sasama kaming lahat sa Pride March sa June 22 upang suportahan ang mga nagpoprotesta para sa equal rights. Me and my friends are allies of the LGBTI community.

June 24, 2023

...

"Argh I don't want to eat this, it doesn't fit in my mouth. It's so mahaba!"

Halos mabilaukan na kaming lahat maliban kay Sofia na siyang nagsabi non. Napainom ako sa juice ko at pagkatapos non ay tinignan ko si Sofia na saktong naabutan kong umiirap at naka cross ang arm over her chest, para itong bata na nahihirapan ubusin ang pagkain.