JUST ONE SOBER (frankiana)

Chapter 19

Franki's POV

Kung babae naman pala ang gusto ni Diana, ibig sabihin may pag-asa nako sa kanya sa mundong to. Pero sa tingin ko hindi naman ganun kadali yun.

Nakikinig lang ako habang nag-uusap usap sila kasama si JM nang biglang nag-play ang music na,

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?

"Wait, I know that song--" Sabi ko.

"Oo nga pala, nung nasa uhm-- other world ka pa--pinapatugtog namin yan lagi nina Jodie and Julia kasi favorite namin si Taylor Swift." Paliwanag ni Maza.

"Tapos napansin namin na parang gumaganda yung mood mo pag pinapakinggan mo yun kaya naisipan namin na i-play yun on repeat, as in araw araw." Sabi pa ni Jodie.

"Talaga?."

"Oo. Sabi mo pa nga nun na nung bata ka pa sinabi ng lola mo na when you fall in-love para kang nasa music video." Kwento ni Julia.

Napatingin ako kina Diana at JM na nag-uusap,

"Can I have this dance?." Offer pa ni JM sa kanya at pumayag naman siya agad. Sumayaw lang sila sa dancefloor. Pati ba naman dito may ganun paring eksena?

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

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

Nakatingin lang kami sa kanilang dalawa kasama ng ibang sumasayaw din. Ang kaibahan nga lang, sila kinikilig ako nasasaktan. Mas masakit pa sa lahat ng pasa at pilay ko sa buong katawan. Kung nakakalakad lang sana ako, ako sana yung kasayaw niya ngayon at hindi ang lalaking yun.

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

Sa mga sumunod na araw I asked Diana to help me na makalakad ulit, dahan dahan lang naman. Pumunta kami sa doctor para tingnan kung okay lang ba at ang sabi niya hindi naman malala ang pilay ko. Pwede ko tong subukang ilakad siguro twice a week lang kaya yun ang ginawa namin. Madalas akong natutumba pero ayan naman si Diana para saluhin at alalayan ako.

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

Each day with her is making me fall deeper. The same Diana I fell inlove with in the other world. At napapansin ko rin na hindi nako madalas nakakabalik sa mundong yun, probably because I love this place more because it has Diana. Buhay at wala sa ilalim ng lupa.

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

Isang gabi,

"Here's your meds." Bigay niya. Ininom ko agad.

"Goodnight Franki, see you again tomorrow."

"Teka lang, eight thirty palang naman--aalis ka na?."

"Oo. Kailangan eh. I have this online class pa."

"Oh okay."

"Sige." Palabas na sya ng tawagin ko sya,

"Diana--" napalingon siya.

"Yes Franki?."

"Can you please visit me in my dreams?."

"Why?."

"So I could go wherever you go without restrictions." She smiled looking at me.

"Okay Franki, I'll see you in your dreams. Goodnight." At lumabas na siya. Kahit sa mga ganung moments lang masaya nako. Excited na tuloy akong matulog.

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

..

Diana's POV

I don't get it, Franki's innocence and sweetness felt weird. Dati nakikita ko lang yun as a cute asset of her by now is different. Parang may mali.

You're just guilty kasi niloloko mo siya. Pero atleast hindi na sya masyadong pumupunta sa mundong yun. Gusto kong makasama lagi si Franki, yung nakakausap ko sya at napapatawa.

She's a bit older than me but this time, I'm treating her like a little sister.

And that song, nung time na kasayaw ko si JM. Hindi ko sya makita. Parang biglang si Franki nalang yung nakikita kong kasayaw ko. Siguro sa kakasama ko to kay Franki that I'm also starting to question my sanity too.

KINABUKASAN

Nakipagmeet ako sa lawyer ko which is also my friend Hasna.

"Maaari nilang isipin that you're just faking it at walang makakapagtestigo na talagang nakikipagrelasyon ka sa babae. I'm sure Mr. Quizon already lied to his lawyer about some certain details." Sabi niya.

"Are you saying that I have to actually find a girlfriend? Parang sobra naman ata. Unang una lang attorney, pwede naman nating gamitin ang reason na we fell out of love or di kaya kawalan ng time pero ang sabi mo hindi yun enough because iisipin ng lahat na magagawan naman yan ng paraan through counseling."

"Diana, you're my friend at pinapadali ko lang ang lahat for you. Ganito kasi yan, you will tell them that you're gay and pinilit ka lang ng parents mo to marry him because they think that it would cure you. Pag hiningi ang testimonya ng parents mo ofcourse susuportahan ka nila dahil alam nilang hindi nila pwedeng sabihin ang totoong dahilan kung bakit ka nila pinakasal kay Sky. Kaya lang, ang problema is yung in-laws mo. Kasi hindi natin alam kung makikipag cooperate sila sa atin sa puntong ito."

"Teka lang ah, dun sa sinasabi mong rason. Adultery parin yun at pwede akong makulong dun."

"Oo. It is certainly punishable by law. 2-6 years yun, kasama ang kabit under Article 333 of the Revised Penal Code."

"So makukulong ako?."

"Hindi. Luckily, Criminal charges for same-sex affairs involving married individuals are, however, non-existent. Because according to the Government, adultery is when "your husband or wife had sex with someone else of the opposite sex, and you can no longer bear to live with them." It's not a valid reason for divorce but could be an excuse for annulment."