Cinderella is Gay (EDITING)

Special Chapter

THEN
PHIL'S POINT OF VIEW

MASQUERADE ang theme ng birthday party ko. Can you fuckin' believe it?

   This is all my mother's fault. Gusto niyang gawing isang malaking business event ang birthday ng sarili niyang anak. Lahat na lang, business para sa kanya. She saw everything as an opportunity to make our company more profitable. I couldn't blame her though, because she's been the head of our family business eversince my father died from a terrible accident. Nagbago siya dahil sa tragedy na iyon sa buhay namin. She became tougher and...in some ways, ruthless. Pakiramdam ko ay nawalan ako ng ina. She was more concerned about her works than checking up on what's going on with my life. Unti-unti akong napalayo sa kanya dahil doon. There was a gap between us now at madalas ay hindi kami nagkakasundo. 

   Isa na ang birthday ko sa hindi namin pinagkasunduan. No'ng umpisa ay galit na galit ako at ayoko talagang pumayag. Really? Masquerade? So gay! Hindi ko ma-imagine ang sarili ko na nagpa-party na gano'n ang theme. I was really determined na hindi ako papayag sa gusto niyang mangyari. It's my birthday kaya ako dapat ang masunod. But Yohan put some sense into my head. Na-realize ko na tama siya, wala akong choice kundi sundin ang gusto ni mommy dahil siya pa rin naman ang bumubuhay sa'kin. 'Pag hindi ako sumunod sa gusto niya, mafi-freeze ang credit cards ko at hindi ko na mabibili ang mga gusto ko. So, ayu'n, no choice ako.

   "Do you know that our mothers are very close friends?" mahinhing sabi ng isang babae na nakasayaw ko sa party ko. She was petite and had a shoulder-length hair na hinayaan lang niyang nakalugay. She was exactly my type, and most of all, she's been deliberately flirting with me since we started dancing. "Sabi ng mommy ko, it would be great if we get to know each other rin. Don't you think so?"

   "Uhm, yeah, sure." The truth was, I was already thinking of kissing her senselessly until she gets addicted to my lips. "Let's meet some time soon."

   I could've settled with her, but I didn't want to disregard my other options. Marami pa akong ibang pwedeng makasayaw sa gabing iyon. Baka may mas maganda pa sa kanya na mas makakakuha pa ang atensyon ko. She was nice and I liked her personality, but I wanted someone naughtier.

   Kakaalis lang niya nang may narinig akong matitinis na tinig sa likuran ko.

   "Excuse me, wait for your turn. Hindi lang ikaw ang gustong makasayaw ni Phil," narinig kong sabi ng isang mataray na babae. Lumingon ako sa direksyon nila at nakita ang isang babae na pinipigilan niyang lumapit sa'kin.

   I couldn't explain the strange emotion I felt the moment my eyes landed on her. She was wearing an aqua blue Cinderella-inspired ball gown. Her silvered mask covered her whole face which made her very interesting and mysterious. Hindi niya hinayaang pigilan siya ng babaeng kumausap sa kanya. Nilampasan niya ito na parang balewala lang ang presence nito. She looked determined to approach me.

   "Hey, didn't you hear me? Marami pa ang gustong makasayaw si Phil na nauna sa'yo. Kung gusto mo siyang makasayaw, pumila ka."

   "No, just let her come to me," I said with conviction. I actually wanted to meet her and get to know her as soon as possible. She totally got my attention and interest.

   Finally, hinayaan na siyang makalapit sa akin. Each step she took was making me feel more giddy and excited. Hindi pa ako nakaramdam ng gano'n kahit kailan kaya alam kong may kakaiba talaga sa kanya.