JUST ONE SOBER (frankiana)

Chapter 8

Franki's POV

Napagdesisyunan naming magpalipas ng gabi sa isang malapit na hotel. Buti nalang nadala ko ang wallet ko.

Sa kwarto.

"Ano nang gagawin natin ngayon?."

"Ano pa nga ba?. Edi susunduin yung bilin ng kapatid nung mangkukulam na si Henry." Sagot ni Diana tila naiirita.

So, talagang naniniwala narin siya.

"K-kaya mo?."

"Ang mahulog sayo?. Bakit?. May magagawa pa ba ako?. Gosh, I can't believe that this is really happening right now. This is a nightmare. Diana, gumising ka. Nananaginip ka lang." Sabay sampal pa nya sa sarili. Pero walang epek kasi totoo to at pareho kaming gising.

FLASHBACK

"There are two types of lovers. One is just high and realizes how stupid they were the next day. The other is sober, where the person is well aware of their feelings and actions. But I think it's really rare for people to be sober when they're in love."

EOFB

Sobrang hirap. Tama si Diana when she said that people who are sober when they're inlove is rare. At ngayon, she's sober while I'm half-drunk inlove with her. Half kasi, a part of me is well aware of my feelings for her, but I know I can't do anything about it kung ako lang. Kailangan ko ang tulong ni Diana.

"Mahirap ba talagang mahalin ako?." Tanong ko kay Diana.

"Hindi. Alam mo, mahal naman kita eh."

"Kung mahal mo pala ako, bakit ayaw parin matanggal ng sumpa?."

"Ang sabi, mahulog ako sayo. Iba ang love sa in love, Franki. Kung kaya ko lang pilitin ang sarili ko na mahulog sayo para matulungan ka dyan sa problema mo, ginawa ko na. Pero mahirap talaga Franki eh. That curse is asking me something that I don't have any control of."

"Mahirap pero hindi imposible. Sabi mo nga diba, madali lang yan if you know how to break it down into a simpler form. So, the major question here is how do I make Diana Mackey fall for me. Ayan, let's start from a simpler question like, anong type ni Diana?."

"You mean what my genes and brain are familiar to?."

"Maybe."

"I don't know. Kilala mo naman ang parents ko diba?. Someone who has the same presence as them."

"Okay. Noted. Next is, what makes people feel attraction?."

"Attraction is based in brain chemistry. A group of neurotransmitters called monoamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) creates the feeling we experience as attraction."

"Daming alam talaga pag galing sa med school ah. So pano ba yan mapoproduce yang neurotransmitters ek ek na yan?."

Kinuha nya ang phone nya at nag-search.

"Ayan, basahin mo. Pakibilisan lang, 5% nalang battery life nyan." Sabay higa na sa kama.

[ Dopamine is one of your brain’s “feel-good” chemicals (it’s where the term “dope” comes from). It’s also involved in your brain’s motivation and reward systems. When you meet someone you’re attracted to, dopamine starts sending feel-good chemical “rewards” to your system.

Norepinephrine, sometimes known as noradrenaline (but not the same thing as adrenalin), delivers messages to your central nervous system. Norepinephrine is responsible for your ability to “block out” information that isn’t as interesting as the smart partner in front of you.

Serotonin regulates a lot of functions in your body, including sexual behavior and body temperature. When you are very attracted to someone, serotonin decreases your body temperature, which makes your skin slightly more able to conduct electricity. This is the reason that love can literally make your skin tingle.

In fact, experts say that attraction stimulates the same chemicals in the brain that addiction does, such as dopamine and oxytocin. If a girl isn’t attracted to you, it’s nothing to do with you: it’s all down to the chemicals in each person’s brain. ]

Hindi ko akalaing kailangan pa ng mahaba habang research para lang imanipulate ang feelings ni Diana.

[ Take care of yourself. Women are generally attracted to people who demonstrate that they are able to care for themselves. This includes good grooming and an overall healthy look. Keeping your body feeling and looking strong and healthy, is a big evolutionary sign of your “reproductive fitness” — basically, a sign that your genes are strong and healthy too.

Keeping yourself well-groomed and healthy suggests self-confidence and a healthy respect for yourself, which most people find attractive.

This does not mean you have to go overboard and become a marathoner or a bodybuilder. You may, however, want to consider join a gym or an ultimate Frisbee team to feel healthy and more confident about yourself, and thus be more attractive. Be the best version of yourself and be true to yourself, and remember that you do not have to be the best looking to be good looking. ]

Ginagawa ko naman ang lahat ng to noon pero wala parin. Talagang hindi nya lang talaga iniisip na mahulog sakin.

[ Look for open body language. Body language cues that say “I’m available” and “I’m approachable” suggest that the other person is in a state of mind that is receptive to your advances.

Look for things such as:
Smiling
Making eye contact with you
Looking up (instead of staying absorbed with a phone, etc.)
Standing or sitting with the arms and legs relaxed and uncrossed
Keeping her feet pointed toward you if you’re having a conversation
Glancing at you from a distance, looking away for a time, then looking at you--not staring. ]

Isinaisip ko lahat at ang isinapuso ang mga ito.

KINABUKASAN

Bumalik na kami sa amin. Well, sumama lang si Diana sakin sa apartment ko since pinaghahanap na sya ngayon ng pamilya nya. Nagdala ako ng mga magagamit namin tulad ng mga damit, pera at pagkain.

Nag-research narin ako about sa isang isla na pwede din naming pamalagian muna for the mean time habang ginagawan pa namin ng paraan itong problema namin.

Lesson number 16

Be patient. Remember that love doesn't always happen at first sight. Give yourself the chance to feel comfortable with the person. Notice the stirrings of affection as they bloom within you, slowly, like the coming of spring. Separate love from lust, and try to truly appreciate a person.

Okay na sana ang plano pero talagang iba mag-isip ang mga magulang ni Diana. At talagang may checkpoint pa. Nakita namin sila sa daungan ng barko. Buti nalang naka disguise kami as tourists. Grabe, sobrang init na nga nitong suot naming blonde wigs.

"Okay, change of plans. Di tayo pwedeng umalis, sakay ang barko o eroplano." Sabi ko.

"Eh san tayo pupunta?."

"Kailan ka ba huling naghiking?."