Straight Girls' Game (FRANKIANA)

Chapter 7

Diana's POV

Nang makarating kami sa apartment ko, kinausap na namin agad ang landlady. Nagbayad na rin si Franki ng down payment. At once makapasok na kami sa loob, sobrang busy na si Mae ang naabutan namin.

"Good evening Miss Hardworking." Beso ko kay Mae.

Nakatingin lang siya kay Franki.

"Hello, I'm Franki. Nice to see you again." Bati ni Franki dito. Nakipagshake hands naman si Mae.

"Sya nga pala Mae, simula ngayon makakasama na natin si Franki dito." Sabi ko.

"Ang bilis naman, jowa mo na agad?." Si Franki naman wala lang reaction, syempre hindi niya naman naintindihan yung sinabi ni Mae.

"Hindi. Sira haha. May nangyari lang kasi dun sa hotel."

"May nangyari sa inyo?!."

"M-mae, ang OA ah. Buti nalang hindi nakakaintindi masyado ng tagalog tong isa. Hindi ganun. Ano kasi--basta, ipapaliwanag ko sayo bukas. Akyat lang namin sa kwarto tong mga gamit niya."

"Sige. Franki, just feel at home lang ah? Don't worry, we're harmless here." Sabi ni Mae kay Franki.

"Okay haha. I'm more than glad to be here."

"Franki, tara na."

So, umakyat na kami. Inayos lang namin ang mga gamit ni Franki. May dalawang bed sa kwarto.

"Dito ba natutulog si Mae?." Upo niya sa bed.

"Ah nope. Dun sya sa baba."

"Oh I see. Was it the room downstairs?."

"Yes. We don't like distractions kasi when we're both studying so we chose to sleep in two separate rooms."

"But I'm here now. Baka maging distraction mo lang ako."

"Depends. You'll distract me ba?."

"I don't know. Am I distracting enough for you?."

"Mmm. I think I could handle it. Anyways, bukas aalis ako ng maaga for work. Hapon pa ang schedule natin kaya ikaw na bahala whatever you want to do to spend your time just like the usual. Kaya lang, minimize nalang yung paglabas labas."

"Yeah yeah I get it. Pero, can you believe it? Those people, they're all just too good to be true. We had real supporters na Diana." She said with a wide smile.

"About that, are we really--"

"Yes Diana, itutuloy natin to. We started this. Don't worry, I'll double your pay naman. We're friends naman diba? What's mine is yours na rin."

"I don't know Franki. I think this is just too much."

"No Diana, I swear it's okay. We're in this together." As she held my hand staring intently into my eyes.

At heto na naman ako sa karupukan ko. Diana, ano ba? Nakalimutan mo na ba ang Rule number 15?: Kaibiganin mo ang taong kaibigan lang ang tingin sayo.

That is the best way to save your heart from breaking apart.

Never mistake a straight girl's kindness as flirting. Wag kang marupok.

Gosh, this would be a long long night.

..

Franki's POV

FLASHBACK

In New Zealand.

I've been crying for 9 consecutive months.

"I've been telling you since the beginning, he's only gonna hurt you anak. Franki, it's been 9 months. You're not even going out of your room to see the sunshine. He's not worth it. You know, why don't you try dating a Filipino para maiba naman?. My friend who's an OFW has a son. He's here for vacation."

"Yeah yeah, whatever."

But the day I finally met this Filipino guy that mom told me about, I was suddenly swept off my feet. He's tall, dark and handsome. Nothing like my jerky Australian ex.

The way he treats his mom made me more interested in him. His name is Argel. He's such a gentleman.

One afternoon, we went to a nearby coffee shop. We're both obsessed with coffee. That's really nice to know that we have a lot in common.

"So, Argel. What's your type?. Uhm do you like blonde, brunette--"

"Uhm siguro, a Filipina. I like Filipina girls."

"Oh that's cool."

"Yeah and someone who's influenced by the culture of the Philippines and who is really fluent in speaking Filipino. You know, speaking english causes more nosebleeds that actual violence." I just giggled. He's funny. I like him already. But I kinda feel bad that I can't even speak the Filipino language and I'm half Filipino.

The following week, he went back to the Philippines. His vacation has finally ended.

I want him to like me. Two months later, I miss him already. When my mom mentioned once that we're going to the Philippines, I didn't even have second thoughts. This is it, I'm finally going to see him again.

But the problem is, I haven't learned and mastered Tagalog yet. I wanted my mom to teach me but she's too busy managing her businesses here in the Philippines and meeting our relatives here.

EOFB

And that's how I met Diana Mackey, the best tutor in the world. At least for me.

Because of her, nagiging mas madali ang lahat at nagiging malapit na ako sa goal ko. I just can't wait to see him again.

..

Diana's POV

10pm.

Nakahiga na ako sa bed ko habang nagbabasa ng isang book nang biglang tumayo si Franki sa pagkakaupo sa bed nya after icheck ang YouTube channel nito.

Bigla siyang naghubad. Sira ka Diana, wag kang titingin. Nagbibihis yung tao eh. Wag mo namang pagpantasyahan.

Okay lang sana ang lahat ng hindi siya biglang humarap sakin na walang suot na bra. Gaga ka talaga Franki, pinapahirapan mo ako. My gay heart is melting af.

I tried to focus my eyes on the book I am reading.

"By the way Diana, do you have any other ideas or suggestions on what we're gonna do next in our vlogs?."

"I-I don't know, a-ano bang gusto mo?."

"Ikaw? What do you want?."

"I want you to wear your shirt na gosh. You're a vlogger, not a stripper." I said still avoiding eye contact.

"What? Is this making you uncomfortable? Haha."

"Yes it is, so cover that thing. I don't want to sin."

"Okay haha. Are you really this conservative or are you--"

"I'm just conservative Franki." Nagsuot na sya ng damit sa wakas.

"Why? Women's bodies are beautiful. You don't like it?."

"That's not what I meant. I mean here in the Philippines, you are not allowed to show your private body parts to a stranger." Sabi ko at nilapag na sa side table ang book na binabasa ko.

"But you're not a stranger Diana. Remember, we're friends."

"Ay basta. Kung magbibihis ka, tumalikod ka."

"You're weird. But okay. As you wish my Queen." Sabi niya at humiga na.

"Goodnight Diana." She said facing at the other side with her back facing me.

"Goodnight Franki." Sabi ko, finally turning off the lampshade beside me.