When The Curtain Falls

13

My head hurts so bad! What the fuck happened last night?! I roamed my eyes around the room, and I realized na nasa kwarto na ko. Pag tayo ko ay parang biglang umikot ang mundo ko. 

"Sige inom pa." I heard a familiar voice, BAT SIYA NANDITO?!

"Bakit ka nandito?!" What the fuck happened last night?! Pag tingin ko sa damit ko ay iba na rin.

"Chill! Pinalitan mo sarili mo kagabi while you're singing Top of Your World. Ang ingay mo nga eh." What the fuck did I do?! 

"Bakit ka nga nandito?" Nilapag niya ang hawak niyang tray, probably foods ang dala niya.

"You're wasted, as well as your friends. They can't control you, and ako nalang yung hindi masyadong lasing, so I took care of you. Don't worry, sa other bed ako natulog." I'm not worried naman gusto mo tabi pa tayo eh EME!

"Sorry..." I said without looking at him.

"Okay lang. Hindi ka naman mahirap alagaan pag lasing," he said, and I smiled. "Kumain ka na muna. May meds dyan para sa sakit ng ulo." Jusko sinong di maiinlove rito?!

"Thank you." Lumabas na siya ng kwarto, and I don't know what just happened. I finished my food and lumabas ng room. Its quiet, and siya lang ang nasa sala. 

"Do you know how to drive?" I asked out of nowhere. He looked at me confused. 

"Believed it or not, I do." I grab my keys and bag at niyaya siya bumaba. Sumama naman siya.

"Where are we going?" He still confused sa mga ginagawa ko.

"Let's run away for awhile." I said at bumaba kami sa parking para kunin ang sasakyan ko. Siya ang pinag drive ko dahil masakit ulo ko. 

"HA?! Baka hanapin nila tayo." Obviously they will.

"Saglit lang tayo." Nag pin ako pa tagaytay. I need this. 

"Are you sure?" I nodded at nagdrive na siya. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa sa byahe habang nakikinig ng playlist. My phone kept ringing, but nag do not disturb ako so that they can't call me. 

Napadpad kami sa tagaytay, kumain muna kami ng bulalo para raw pangtanggal hangover. After that, ay nag punta kami sa famous Starbucks dito sa tagaytay, medyo may pila lang, but we sat sa labas like Veranda so that we could relax.

"They are calling me na." he said. 

"Wag mong sagutin." I simply said and sat down. "Freydah... Sorry."

"About what?" He looked at me confused.

"About sa pag iwas ko sa'yo." I said straight forward.

"Ang labo mo no?" he said. I finally looked at him.

"What do you mean?" he sat down and faced me.

"Sinasabi mong nandyan ka lagi, pero nasan ka? Nasan ka, Ciara? I was waiting for you; I was looking for you. Ni hindi ako makapag show nang maayos cause I was looking for you sa crowd everytime na nag p perform ako. When you said na nandito ka lagi for me, saan? I get it, Nandyan ka to support me, to love me as Freydah, pero as Kali?" Tama ba tong naririnig ko? He needs me.

"You... you need me?" He held my hand, and I felt a tear na bumagsak sa kamay ko.

"More than anything." Ano to? What's happening?

"I'm sorry for not being around for ilang months. I was scared." He looked at me confused.

"Scared of what?" Scared of what will happen.

"Admit it or not, I'm not someone na gugustuhin mo." I simply said.

"Why?" Is he really asking me why?! Obvious naman eh.

"You know what I mean." I said.

"Cause you're a girl? And so? I can't love you?" Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa bawat salita na binibitawan niya. 

"Yes. Alam kong hindi mo magagawa yon." I said at binawi ang kamay ko.

"I can, sa'yo. Kaya kong gawin sa'yo. Kasi sabi ng puso ko. Hindi mo naman yon matatakasan diba? Pag puso na ang nagsalita. Look, yes, I'm gay, but I can treat you better than any man in your life." That was smooth. But one thing is for sure: nabunutan ako ng tinik sa dibdib. Every heavy feeling is now fading away. He gave me assurance that no one ever did. 

"Sigurado ka ba? Hindi ka ba napipilitan kasi I was there with you a lot of times. You have a name now, hindi ka ba natatakot sa possible na consequence ng mga mangyayari?" I'm overthinking too much; I can't help it. 

"Don't overthink it. Anong consequence? Yung mawala yung boys na lalapit sa'kin? Syempre meron pa rin yan, but it doesn't really matter now. What matters is, tayo. This is what I wanted for months, Ciara. Alam kong totoo tong nararamdaman ko, I know I love you and no one or no circumstances can erase that." Tears are now forming in my eyes. I'm so overwhelmed. What the fuck? 

"Thank you for this." I was crying kaya tumabi siya sa'kin to hug me.

"No, thank you! Kasi, you came into my life. You gave me a reason to keep going. Every time na feeling ko wala ng nag mahahal sa'kin, lagi kong iniisip na may isang Ciara ba handa akong mahalin at suportahan kahit anong mangyari." Am I really hearing these words from him? It feels so good tf.

"You don't have any idea how many times you saved me from my thoughts, from my own emotions. I met you in the darkest time of my life, and you are the reason why I get through that rough time. Ikaw ang dahilan ko sa lahat ng ginagawa ko. You are my reason to stay longer in this world. Kasi when I met you, life is worth living."

"Hindi ko inexpect na mamahalin kita. But here we are. And I'm happy na naramdaman ko to. My age is not a joke, natatakot akong baka hindi na ko makahanap ng totoong taong mag mamahal sa'kin. Not until I found you, I found my soulmate. I know you felt the same. And I'm so happy na you felt it, na the feelings are mutual." 

"Thank you for loving me." I rest my head on his shoulder while he's hugging me. 

"Thank you for existing."