JUST ONE SOBER (frankiana)

Chapter 13

Franki's POV

Sumama na si Diana sa akin sa apartment ko, at habang kumakain lang kami ng pancit canton dahil nakalimutan kong mag grocery.

"Pano ka nakarating dun sa bundok ng sobrang bilis?. Parang hindi ka man lang na haggard tulad ko--"

"Ginamit ko tong utak ko. Nagtanong ako ng pinakamabilis na daan papunta sa lugar na yun. Biruin mo, sa tinagal tagal nating nagstay dun, hindi natin napansin na may cable car pala."

"Talaga?. Wow, halos bumigay na ang buong katawan ko sa sobrang pagod para maglakad papunta dun tapos may short cut pala--para tayong mga tanga haha."

"I'd rather be stupid than nothing without you."

"Humuhugot si Ate Franki, para makalimutan naming hindi sya nag grocery kaya wala kaming ibang makain."

"Masarap naman ang pancit canton ah."

"Mas masarap ka."

"Gaga haha. Sya nga pala, pano mo nalaman na peke pala yung gayuma?."

"Si Maza. She saw the letter in my bag. Manghihiram daw sana sya sakin ng USB nang makita nya yung letter."

"Pero diba? Sabi mo nung mismong gabing kinain mo yung cake may kakaiba ka nang naramdam. Ano yun?."

"Ever heard of viagra?."

"Seryoso ka?."

"Oo nga. Hay naku, tagal ko rin na gets eh. Nabasa mo yung nasa likod ng papel? may nakasulat dun na, hindi ako nagsisisi na fem vgr ang nilagay ko."

"Hindi ako makapaniwala na may taong gumawa nun."

"Bakit? Pinagsisihan mo bang minahal mo ko dahil lang sa akala natin na totoo yang mga sumpa sumpa na yan?."

Lumapit pa sya sakin at held my hand kissing it.

"Franki, I did fell for you. Hindi ko lang basta inisip na mahal kita just because of the curse. I did not want to pero nahulog parin ako. Sana nga totoo yun eh."

"Love is a lifetime curse Diana. We're always loving something and someone, and at the same time getting hurt because of them. But you know what, I'd rather get hurt than feel nothing at all." I sincerely said to her.

"You don't have any idea how happy I am to have you in this life. Life wouldn't be life without you. I wouldn't understand how it feels to be sober or drunk if you never came. And I wouldn't understand how it feels to be cursed and still be happy. Kasi nga diba?. Walang Diana na masaya kung walang Franki."

We could leave the Christmas lights up 'til January
This is our place, we make the rules
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear
Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?

Hindi ko lubos maisip na aabot kami ni Diana sa ganitong punto. Yung bestfriend ko nung elementary na kasama ko sa lahat ng kalokohan, kalungkutan at kasiyahan andito parin kasama ko.

Nung mga bata kami, syempre wala akong kaideideya na mahuhulog ang loob ko sa kanya pagkalipas ng isang mahabang panahon.

Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out and take me home
You're my, my, my, my
Lover

FLASHBACK

Grade 2. Inaaway ako ng mga ibang classmates namin kasi di pa ako masyadong marunong magtagalog nun dahil lumaki ako sa New Zealand.

Akala ng ibang bata pipi ako at anak ako ng engkanto. Diana's there to protect me. I admired Diana dahil sobrang tapang niya.

"Are you okay Franki?. Next time, when those kids bully you just call my name. Okay?." Tumango naman ako. Since then, we became really close friends. Sa kanya ako unang natutong magtagalog and tumayo sa sarili kong paa. Na dapat hindi ko hinahayaang tinatapak tapakan ako ng ibang tao.

We could let our friends crash in the living room
This is our place, we make the call
And I'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you
I've loved you three summers now, honey, but I want 'em all

Grade 6, sumali sya ng little miss sa school namin. Todo support naman ako. First runner up lang siya pero atleast she tried her best naman. That time, I taught her to accept losing because,

"Life isn't about being the winner, it's about surviving.
Winning takes time and effort, but surviving takes a courageous heart. And that's what you got Diana. So what, if you're not number one?. I'm still gonna be very very proud of you."I said to her, and she just looked at me appreciatively and then hugged me really tight.

"I love you so much Franki, you're the best soul sister ever." Sabi niya.

Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out and take me home (Forever and ever)
You're my, my, my, my
Lover

Grade 8. Sa school cafeteria.

"Diana, this girl kept on bothering me eh--" sumbong ko sabay kapit sa braso ni Diana.

"Hoy, ikawng tomboy ka ha. Tigilan mo na nga si Franki, di ka na nakakatuwa. Ilang beses ba namin dapat sabihin sayo na lalaki ang gusto ni Franki, naiintindihan mo? Lalaki! Kaya umalis ka na dito bago pa kung anong magawa ko sayo!." Pananakot nya sa tibo na pinipilit akong pormahan.

"Oh? Ano pang tinitingin tingin mo dyan?. Tsupi!." Tulak ni Diana dito. Kaya umalis na yung Butch kong suitor. Ka batch lang namin yun.

Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand?
With every guitar string scar on my hand
I take this magnetic force of a man to be my
Lover

My heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue
All's well that ends well to end up with you
Swear to be over-dramatic and true to my
Lover

Sa kasal ni Diana,

"I do."

"Pero bago ko ituloy ang kasalang ito, gusto ko sanang itanong kung may tumututol ba sa kasalang ito." Sabi ng pari. Walang nagsalita.

Ano ba Franki? Ikakasal na sya sa iba, ano bang iniisip mo?. Di mo pwedeng sirain ang araw na'to, matagal nya tong hinintay.

Napatingin ako sa mukha ni Diana, takot na takot siya. Alam ko namang ginagawa nya lang to for her parents. Ayokong maging miserable ang buhay nya lalo na't alam ko na ang katotohanan na niloloko lang sya ng parents niya.

"Inuulit ko, may tumututol ba sa kasalang ito?."

Chansa mo na yan Franki, it's now or never.

"Ako!." Napatingin silang lahat sakin. Si Diana naman, mukhang naguguluhan.

EOFB

And you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me
And at every table, I'll save you a seat
Lover

Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out and take me home (Forever and ever)
You're my, my, my, my
Oh, you're my, my, my, my
Darling, you're my, my, my, my
Lover

Napapangiti nalang ako habang naaalala yun. Nandito ngayon si Diana sa kwarto. Nakatulog na sya. Pinapanuod ko lang siya. Sobrang ganda mo paring babae ka. Sana pwede kitang anakan. Natatawa nalang ako sa sarili ko habang iniisip yun.