straight as guitar strings!

chapter 35 [tag/fil]

AS the night wore on and the party reached its peak, I was just observing things around me and what caught my attention was Grace. She was fueled by alcohol with a misplaced sense of mischief. Boring, like the victory party, she decided it was time to stir things up.

She swayed toward Leo, her movements unsteady from the alcohol. "Hey, Leo," she slurred, offering him a shot. "Care for a drink?"

Leo smiled politely, accepting the glass. "Thanks, Grace," he replied, raising it in a toast before taking a sip.

Light lang ang drinks pero dahil nga nasobrahan sila, lalo si Grace na ayaw paawat. Akala mong wala nang bukas o ngayon lang nakatikim ng alak. Marami na rito ang lasing, maliban sa'kin.

Lumapit ako nang bahagya sa kung saan sila nakapuwesto ni Leo nang hindi ako napapansin; malayo sa kanila pero sapat lang para marinig ang kanilang usapan.

Grace's gaze turned flirtatious as she leaned in closer. "You know, Leo," she said, maintaining her modulated voice para hindi matabunan ng live band music ng nagpe-perform sa stage, "I've always admired you. You're so talented, so fucking... attractive."

Napangiti ako nang umisang hakbang paatras si Leo, he chuckled nervously. "Uh, thanks, Grace. Appreciate it."

"Try harder bitch," sa loob-loob ko nang mapahiya siya dahil sa pag-iwas ng mukha ni Leo.

But Grace wasn't deterred. "I've been thinking," she continued, her voice growing more insistent. "Maybe we could be more than just friends. What do you say?"

Mas naging seryoso lalo ang ekspresyon ni Leo, he gently declined her advances. "I'm sorry, Grace. I'm with Colleen, you know that."

Nagbago ang timpla ng mukha ni Grace, her tone becoming accusatory. "Colleen? Really, Leo? Or is it because of Liam?"

Mas lalong lumakas ang pandinig ko matapos marinig ang pangalan kong madamay sa usapan nila. Muntik ko nang maibuga ang shot na iniinom ko sa pagkabigla.

Leo's eyes widened in surprise, laughing in disbelief. "What? No, Grace, you've got it all wrong."

But Grace wasn't convinced. "Don't lie to me, Leo," she snapped, her voice rising. "I know the truth. You're gay, aren't you? And it's because of Liam!"

Leo's jaw clenched in frustration. "That's not true, Grace," he insisted, his tone firm. "I'M NOT GAY, and Liam has nothing to do with this!"

Ngunit hindi pa tapos si Grace. With a defiant glint in her eye, she stumbled toward the stage, snatching the microphone from the band's vocalist. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to her, waiting for her next move.

"Liam," she called out, her voice echoed in every corner of this hall, "I have something to tell everyone!"

A sense of dread washed over me as I realized what she was about to do. I tried to intercept her, but I think it was gonna be too late.

Grace raised her glass high, commanding the attention of the room. "Attention, everyone!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing out across the crowded venue.

Lahat ng mga mata ay napatingin sa kanya, kuryosidad ang hatid ng kanyang biglaang anunsiyo.

"I have some juicy gossip to share," Grace continued, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "It's about our band Libertadlibs' dirty little secret."

Sobrang kinabahan na ako kaya naman sinubukan kong hawiin ang mga tao sa daraanan ko; binilisang maglakad palapit sa stage pero nahirapan akong gawin 'yon kaya natagalan bago makapunta roon.

"Trivia muna tayo, s'yempre para naman may alam kayo sa'min, right? By the way, we're very grateful na nanalo kami and congratulations sa'ting lahat! OMG, nahihilo na yata ako," aniya at napasapo pa sa sentido nang maramdaman ang tama ng alak sa kanyang sistema.

Nagpatuloy siya nang makuha muli ang balanse, "Pero wait... ito na nga." Then she saw me, "Oh! There you are! Come here, darling!" Nang makarating ako malapit sa stage ay inabot niya ako, hinatak papunta sa kanya at kinuha, kaya naman magkasama na kami ngayon sa ibabaw ng stage.

Standing beside her, I felt so nervous.

She cleared her throat as she flipped her hair with so much confidence. "Did you know that Liam here has a crush on someone?"

Whispers and murmurs erupted throughout the crowd as people exchanged curious glances, wondering who the object of my affection could be.

"Well, I'll tell you who it is," Grace declared, her voice dripping with mischief. "It's none other than our very own Leo!"

Napuno nang katahimikan ang paligid at tila tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso ko, umalingawngaw sa hangin ang rebelasyong aking tinatago at pinagpaplanuhang isiwalat pero wala na, nasira na ang balak ko.

I felt so exposed, unsafe and vulnerable from judgments. My secret laid bare for all to see, as Grace's outed me as gay that made the crowd stunned.

I saw Leo, rushing to get on stage. Inagaw niya ang mic kay Grace. Huminga siya nang malalim at panandaliang pumikit. Pagdilat niya ay mukhang desidido na siya sa kanyang naiisip sabihin.

Nang magsimula siyang magsalita ay dumoble ang kaba sa aking dibdib. May nafi-feel akong mali o something na hindi magandang mangyayari pero alam kong wala akong magagawa para mapigilan pa 'yon. It felt as though everything that was about to happen had already been written, and I was powerless to change it.

"Sorry 'bout the drama, folks. She was totally wasted, talking outta her ass." Everybody laughed as if this was just a big joke. Leo, what were you really doing? Don't make me hate you, please. Don't be an asshole.

He looked at me na para bang pinapaintindi sa'kin ang katotohanan, "Plus, I'm taken. Yeah, I've got a girlfriend." Humarap siya sa madla at tahasang sinabi, "I'm straight, straight as guitar strings, and so is Liam. You know what I mean?"

Tuluyan niyang nakuha ang simpatya ng madla; nag-ingay ang lahat at nabuhayan. Nagsigawan sila na siyang lalong nagpabigat sa kung anong nakadagan sa dibdib ko.

Once the crowd quieted down, he continued, "There's no fucking chance we're into each other, we're just tight mates, okay? Like best friends... l-like brothers, you know that Grace?"

Grace rolled her eyes, mouthing 'whatever'.

Leo ended his speech as if he didn't care for me at all, "Sorry again for the mess, let's keep this party rollin'!"

He dropped the mic... just like how I should have dropped my feelings for him the very first moment I started to feel them.