Franki's POV
No! Erase erase! Why on Earth would I think of such possibility?! Nababaliw na ata ako! Lumihis ako ng tingin at kumain nalang because food is life.
Naalala ko yung kanina, how Diana held my hand and the way she looked at me. Franki, sira ka talaga. You're not affected, okay? Wala lang yun. Of course, she's doing those gestures because she had feelings for you and not the other way around.
Natapos na rin sa wakas ang kanta pero di parin ako tapos kumain kaya pumunta muna si Sky sa kabilang table kasama sina Gazini at Veah.
But I'm still here sitting finally realizing how beautiful Diana is tonight. Franki, stop. You're staring. So what? I'm attracted to beautiful things. I'm what?
That's how messed up my mind is. Bumalik na si Argel.
"Diana, I'm really sorry. I have to go. May emergency lang sa bahay. Anyway, happy birthday." Sabay beso nito kay Diana at umalis na. I just rolled my eyes for no apparent reason.
Parang sa isang iglap,nawala nalang ang interes ko kay Argel. I think Diana's suggestion is working.
"Oh? What's with the smile?." Tanong niya.
"Diana, I think your suggestion's working."
"Ha?."
"I'm slowly losing interest on Argel."
"R-really?."
"Oo."
"Well, be careful."
"Huh?."
"Be careful for the lies you tell yourself, because they're dangerous. Like really really dangerous."
"What do you mean?."
"Don't tell me those types of things."
"Why?."
"Baka umasa ako." Natulala nalang ako. Her eyes. They looked hurt.
After the party.
"Bye babe." Paalam ni Sky kay Diana. Lasing yung bakla kaya si Diana na magdadrive for herself. May dala naman syang kotse. She asked me na sumabay narin sa kanya.
"Basta wag mo lang akong gagahasain haha." Sabi ko sabay pasok sa kotse niya.
"Ginagalang kita binibining Frances." She said as she slowly planted a soft kiss at the back of my hand. Oh no, how did I let her do that?
"Why?." Tanong niya.
"No kissing." Babala ko sa kanya. Nadismaya nalang siya.
"S-sorry. Don't worry, di na mauulit." Pero a part of me wants her to do it again. No, that's not happening.
Nagpatuloy nalang siya sa pagdadrive. At tahimik lang kami buong biyahe hanggang sa nakauwi nako.
"Text text nalang ah?." Sabi niya. Tumango lang saka siya ngumiti at umalis na.
Napapikit nalang ako. This seems to be a long night. Pagpasok ko sa kwarto, napatingin ako sa oras. 12 midnight narin pala. Walang class tomorrow dahil may meeting ang teachers.
Hmm kung walang klase bukas ibig sabihin hindi ko ulit makikita si Diana. Why do you care Franki? Napailing nalang. Gosh, why am I thinking of her so much? This isn't me.
KINABUKASAN
Argel invited me for coffee and breakfast sa labas.
"I get it Franki. You're trying your best to help me. Pero di mo na kailangang ipagsiksikan ang sarili mo kay Diana to convince her to like me. I give up. She's already taken. And they seemed to be really in love kaya maybe, I should move on nalang." Malungkot niyang sabi sakin.
Naguilty ako lalo. Pano nalang kung nalaman niya na may kinalaman ako dito sa mga nangyayari. Na niloloko lang namin siya ni Diana. Franki, wala ka na ba talagang konsensya? Sinaktan mo yung taong mahal mo.
Baka talaga it's a bad idea na mag move on narin ako. Nagbabasakali parin kasi akong mahalin ako ni Argel balang araw. Pero pano si Diana? Anong pano si Diana Franki? Wala ka naman talagang pakialam sa kanya Franki, pinakikisamahan mo lang siya kasi gusto mong iwasan na niya si Argel. Tama, yun lang yun. Pero bakit? Bakit pakiramdam ko may mali.
FLASHBACK
"Be careful for the lies you tell yourself, because they're dangerous. Like really really dangerous."
"What do you mean?."
"Don't tell me those types of things."
"Why?."
"Baka umasa ako." Natulala nalang ako. Her eyes. They looked hurt.
EOFB
"Franki haha are you okay?."
"Yeah yeah, what were you saying?."
"Na. Forget it. Ano bang nangyayari sayo?. Are you falling for somebody else?."
"Uhm Argel. How did you deal with it?."
"Deal with what?."
"Deal with people who are in love with you."
"Well, what do they want me to do? I can't force myself to love them back. I'm in love with Diana and that's what matters to me. They have to respect that. Pero yang kaso mo, wala talaga akong maramdaman eh. I don't feel like you're in love with me like you always say."
"But I do."
"Be careful for the lies you tell yourself, because they're dangerous. Diana taught me that. Maybe you're a bit infatuated, but you're not in love."
"What do you know about how I feel?."
"Trust me Franki, I know how someone who's in love looks at their love interest. I saw it in your eyes when you're looking at this particular person."
"Who?."
"I won't tell you. You'll figure it out just fine."
"Wait, you're referring to Diana. I know you."
"Bingo haha."
"No. Argel, this is a mistake. I'm not falling for her. Duh."
"Sige. Deny mo pa. Pustahan tayo."
"Kahit ipusta ko pa si Cleopatra. I would never fall for that girl. Come on. You know me, I don't like girls like that."
"Edi maghanda ka nang umiyak. No Cleopatra, no mommy Franki. You're such a terrible mother."
Pag-uwi ko, natutulog na si Cleo. She's 2 years old.
"Don't worry Cleo. Hindi ka makukuha ni Ninong Argel. Dito kalang kay mommy Franki. Mommy Franki's not gay naman diba?. Ewan ko ba diyan sa ninong mo, pinagpipilitan nyang may gusto ako kay Diana. Eh wala naman talaga. Di porket maganda siya at--no, kasi baby she likes me. I know I know, that's crazy right? A girl likes mommy. A girl--likes me." I don't know why I'm smiling at the thought.
Cleo my cat is still sleeping like a real baby.
Tok tok tok!
"Franki anak, Diana's here." Tawag ni mommy sakin and I panicked. Anong ginagawa niya dito?
"Franki, ano ba? Buksan mo nato, papasok siya diyan."
Teka lang, ano?! Diana? In my room?!
