JUST ONE SOBER (frankiana)

Chapter 21

Diana's POV

Imbes na distorbohin pa sila, umalis nalang ako.  Alam kong masaya si Franki ngayon, pero bakit ang bigat sa loob?.

Nakipagkita nalang ako sa lawyer ko sa isang coffee shop.

"Kamusta na? Nakahanap ka na ba ng pwedeng magpanggap na girlfriend mo?." Tanong niya.

"Hindi pa nga eh. I mean--sa tingin mo, maniniwala talaga sila na I'm into girls? They could ask our friends about it and I'm sure gugulo lang tong storya that we're trying to pull."

"Diba sabi mo you're doing this for Sky because you love him?. Because you want him to be happy and free. And this is the only way Diana. You just need to meet the perfect girl."

"But I don't want to be with a girl. Baka di ko lang masikmura yun."

"Diana, girls are wonderful creatures. Soft and definitely smells good."

"I can't even imagine myself kissing one, isn't that gross?."

"So, you never did anything with a girl before?."

"Never in my wildest dreams, it's just creepy and weird."

"Gagawan natin yan ng paraan. I'm sure the right one will come. Si Franki, bakit hindi nalang siya?."

"Hasna, she's my bestfriend."

"That's it. You can use that as a foundation of a relationship. Pwede mong sabihin na sya ang girlfriend mo."

"Are you serious? May sakit yung tao. I can't just take advantage of that. Besides, she has a boyfriend."

"But she's not thinking that he is her boyfriend diba? She's thinking that she's inlove with you."

"Ayokong manira ng relasyon."

"Anong relasyon ba ang pinagsasabi mo?. Diana, Franki is not thinking about being taken. I'm sure naman papayag si Argel because if you really love someone, you'd let the person happy even if it has to be with someone else. Just like you did for Sky."

Buong gabi, halos hindi ako natulog. Ayokong umasa si Franki sa wala, ayoko syang saktan sa huli.

Sa mga sumunod na araw, hindi parin ako pumunta kina Franki. Nanatili lang ako sa condo ni Veah. At nagulat ako nang biglang dumalaw si Argel.

"Halika pasok. Napadalaw ka?."

"Diana, si Franki--"

"Bakit? Anong nangyari sa kanya?."

"Wala, wala. She's fine."

"So, anong problema?."

"Hinahanap ka niya. Diana, naaalala mo pa ba nung sinabi ko sayo na sabayan mo lang si Franki? I mean that. Gusto ko siyang maging masaya. So please--give her a chance." Nakikita kong naiiyak na sya. Sobrang mahal niya talaga si Franki to do this.

"Are you seriously asking me na patulan ko ang girlfriend mo?."

"No Diana, I'm asking you to make her happy. Bring back the best version of Franki."

"Argel, I'm not a miracle worker. At saka, ayokong saktan si Franki--"

"Then don't hurt her."

"Pano? Eh dito palang sa inoofer mo, obligado na akong magsinungaling sa kanya."

"Then make it real,para di sya masaktan."

"Ano? Nahihibang ka na ba?."

"You're doing this for Franki's fast recovery Diana. If you have to actually fall for her for real, it's okay. Maging maayos lang ang situwasyon niya."

"Argel, we're talking about feelings here. MY feelings. I can't just let myself fall for her, and then once magaling na siya, ano? Maiiwan ulit akong mag-isa? You know what I've been through when I was with Sky."

"How could you be so selfish?."

"Selfish?."

"Oo. Selfish ka. Akala ko ba bestfriend mo si Franki? That you really care for her. Turns out, sarili mo parin yang iniisip mo!."

"Sinasabi mo lang yan kasi hindi mo alam ang nararamdaman ko!."

"Trust me Diana, alam ko! You think sobrang dali nitong lahat sa akin? Hindi ko ginusto lahat ng ito! Hindi ko pinangarap na magkasakit yung taong pinakamamahal ko tapos isang araw sasabihin nya nalang na may iba syang mahal. And the only way to make her feel better is to break me and be happy with someone else. Alam mo ba kung gaano kasakit yun?! I sacrificed her so she could save herself! Kaya please, pwede bang itabi mo muna yang personal issues mo at maging totoong kaibigan ka naman!."  Dahil dun, natahimik nalang ako. Kung hindi niya sinabi yun, hindi ko mare-realize kung gaano ako ka self-centered. Kaya siguro ako iniwan ni Sky. Puro kasi ako ako ako ako.

Akala ko ako lagi ang biktima dito. Mahalaga si Franki sakin. She was there when I had no one.

Diana, gusto lang nyang mahalin ka. Pati din ba yan ipagkakait mo rin sa kanya? Anong klaseng tao ka?

Umiiyak na si Argel, bigla kong naramdaman yung bigat at sakit na dala dala niya ngayon.

"I'm sorry." Niyakap ko nalang siya.

"Sige na. I'll do it. For Franki." Sabi ko pa.

KINABUKASAN

Dinalaw ko na si Franki. Kumakain sya ng breakfast. Parang gumaling na nga karamihan ng pasa niya at pilay. Medyo nakakakilos na kasi siya.

"Morning." Sabi ko.

Nang mapatingin sya sakin, abot langit yung ngiti niya na para bang wala lang nangyaring iwasan.

Ganyan ka nya kamahal Diana. She's the person na ilang beses mo nang nagawan ng kasalanan pero nakakaya paring ngitian ka na parang wala kayong naging problema.

"Morning." Bati niya sakin.

"Can I join you?." Sabi ko at umupo malapit sa kanya.

Pero nakatitig lang sya sakin.

"You don't have any idea kung gaano kita namiss." She said with all the sincerity that her eyes could show. Para na ngang maiiyak na siya eh.

"I'm sorry for being a btch."

"You're always forgiven Diana. Ang importante lang naman sakin, andito ka at nakakausap kita."

"Hindi ka na ba bumabalik sa kabilang mundo?."

"Nung mga panahong hindi ka nagpaparamdam, andun ako. Pero wala parin palang pinagkaiba kasi pareho kang wala sa mga mundo ko. Hindi pala ganun kasaya pag walang Diana. But don't worry Diana, naiintindihan naman kita. You don't have to fake that you're inlove with me just to make me feel better."

"But I'm willing Franki. I'm willing to let myself fall for you. You deserve the best types of love possible. And me, I'll be your full-time love sponsor. Kung kailangan ko lang to be there 24/7 para lang mahulog agad ang loob ko sayo, then so be it. Makita lang kitang masaya, masaya narin ako. So, I guess that's the first step. Being happy when she's happy."