Blind Date

3rd Date

Their drunk ass were a proof that she really enjoyed this extraordinary night who seems to be just starting. She likes it whenever she's drunk. She's becoming creative.

Just like Emi, she's also an artist. She only works digitally, most of time cause she couldn't get her hands dirty. Maarte and tiyahin at ang magulang niya ay hindi tinotolerate (maski) ang pangarap nyang matuto kung paano magpaint. So she secretly hides a canvas under her bed and painting materials. Sketch pads, charcoal, pencils and watecolors. Determinado sya matuto.

And all of those stories were heard by Emi.

"May dalawa pa nga kong klase ng social media accounts. The other one's a secret so I could post my artworks sa groups like Guhit Pinas or flaunt them on instagram. I love receiving good feedbacks. Namomotivate ako lalo." She told him before finishing her (god knows what number she drank already) bottle.

"Tingin nga ko," Emi told her. Sumandal ito sa upuan at iniabot nya ang phone na nasa gallery. He swiped. "Wow, ang gaganda kaya beh. Bet ko to oh. . ."

Naiinggit sya kay Emi. Ang magulang kasi nito, supportado sya sa mga ginagawa nya. Hindi naman nito sya pinaghihinalaan na medyo pinagtataka nya. Emi is a strong person for he--or she made it this far to act tough all the time he's with his family. Unlike her, she could act anything she wants. Normal lang naman kasi sa paningin ng society ang maging boyish.

But they were the same about their perception on their looks. Ari likes it the way it is. Hindi sya mahilig sa mga girly na bagay but she wouldn't like to transform herself just like the others. Wala lang, hindi nya lang talaga type. She doesn't care that much about the looks anyway.

Ganun rin si Emi. Kahit pa pangarap na pangarap nito na gumanda at maging ganap na babae, hindi raw nito balak na gumaya sa ibang bakla na naglalagay ng make up at nagbibihis babae. Because it would just make it harder for him to keep it to his father and also, he doesn't have that confidence just like the other guys who embraces their beauty that much. As much as he wants to, he also preffers to look as what he looks right now. Hassle daw kasi.

But he's willing to exchange bodies with her. Natawa sya. Lasing na rin ito. Lumalawak na ang imagination.

She was observing the other costumers at the place. Mga masinsinang naguusap ang mga ito. Ang iba naman nageenjoy lang. A typical bar scene. She was searching for a girl that might catch her interest but Emi's sister never really got off her mind. She's really pretty.

--okay she cares about the looks. She won't be hyprocrite.

Suddenly, siniko sya ng kasama. "Lowbat na yung phone mo beh," saka iniabot sa kanya ang phone. Kinuha nya ito at nilagay sa puting sling bag na may golden chain bilang supporta para maisabit nya ito sa balikat. Paired with her shoes.

Emi yawned. Nagkusot ng mata. Sumandal sa balikat nya.

She wanted to asked more about his sister a while ago. But she held on to her curiosity. Ayaw nya nang magtanong pa tungkol rito dahil Emi must've sensed she was her type, malakas kasi sya nitong tinapik sa braso at sinamaan ng tingin. He even shouted, "That's my sister bitch!" Making the other people on the stop look at them.

Pinanlakihan nya ng mata si Emi at sinabing, "I was just complimenting her." As an excuse. But deep inside she wanted to know more details. Kahit pangalan manlang para mahanap sa facebook.

She opened another bottle of beer. Paniguradong aamoy ito mamaya. But she doesn't care. She's pretty sure her aunt's rejoicing because she's not home yet. Thinking she's with a man.

Natigilan sya ng maramdamang gumagalaw ang balikat ni Emi. Yun pala'y umiiyak na ito.

"Bakit kasi," humihikbi na ito. "Bakit hindi nalang ako?"

She sighed. Kumirot ng kaunti ang puso nya sa narinig. Inakbayan nya si Emi at inalo sa pagiyak.

"I want him. . .pero bawal kasi straight sya."

Yeah. She could completely relate to it. Ilang beses na rin yon when she attempted to flirt with straights, but she was completely rejected. Walang kahit isang hint ng chance na baka sakaling patulan sya. She's not dressed as a man though. Baka siguro isa 'yon sa mga dahilan. But after those incidents, she doesn't want to be rejected so she made sure the girl she was hitting on to is also a lesbian or even a bisexual.

A reason why she definitely has to pull back on being interested with Emi's sister.

"Ilang taon ko na tong tinatago. . .I want him to know Elly! Call him, please."

Emi pleaded. She's confused and it's very confirmed that he's drunk. Napadami sila ng inom. She sighed and stood up. Inalalayan itong tumayo.

"Napapagod na ko magpanggap! I want him to know. . .baka matanggap nya ko baka--baka mahal nya ko! Rita," Emi pleaded once more despited of being dragged out of the place. It was embarassing for her.

Rita? Who's ri---oh.

"Im Ari. Don't call me that. It's disgusting."

Wala na sa balance si Emi. Nahirapan siyang magalalay. Plus the guys outside taking cigarettes made her pissed off because they seem to be insulting them by their stares.

"Emi come on, help me. Just even try to stand up." She whispered to Emi.

Maybe having friends isn't really her thing.

She still walked a bit. Hahanap nalang sya ng taxi nila na masasakyan. She really hope Emi would be easier to carry because his weight were making everything hard for her. Her feet really aches so much because of her stupid heels.

Ngunit hindi na nya kinaya. Also, Emi just puked out all of his sorrows on the corner. Mabuti na lamang at sa medyo madilim na parte ng gilid ng kalsada ito sumuka. Nakaupo na ito sa sahig. Halos humiga na.

Digusted by the smell, she just traced his back to give him comfort. So he could get it all out. Baka mabawasan ang pagkalasing nito at mahimasmasan matapos.

She's thinking of what she can do. Lowbat ang phone nya. Hindi nya makocontact ang driver para sunduin sila sa may Padi's point. She looked around if someone could help them. But who would volunteer if she looked like she could kill if a man would try to approach them? Wala ding magpapasakay sa mga random strangers na katulad nila. With Emi's situation? Their hopeless.

She looked at Emi's pocket. It suddenly caught her attention nang mapansing umiilaw ang cellphone nito at walang tigil sa pagbavibrate.

Nang matapos sumuka si Emi ay muli itong umiyak. She felt sad for Emi. Alam nya ang pakiramdam ng hindi tinatanggap. Ng hindi inaacknowledge. Ng iba. Ng feeling na isa kang maling pagkatao even though all you did was make things right so they would have nothing to say. But there is. There is and they will always have something to say.

Nalungkot sya para kay Emi. Alam nya kasing hindi mababalik ang malalim nitong pagmamahal para sa bestfriend because of his sexuality and gender.

She bit her lip. The phone didn't stop ringing. Her thoughts clouded her but she grabbed it out on his pocket.

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso nya nang makita kung sino ang caller. She tighted her grip on the phone. The same picture was there. The picture of Emi's sister earlier. Iba nga lang ito sa caller's ID. Mas mukha itong maganda.

She looked at Emi once more.

They needed help.

She took a deep breath before answering.

"H-hello?"

"Oh my. . .mom! Kuya's with a girl. She answered the phone!"

Halos maubusan na sya ng hangin sa narinig.

She panicked.

Pinatay nya ang tawag.