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Douien and Constance are friends. Yes that’s right, friends. Pero ano nga bang magagawa ni Douien, kung lagi sya na totorpe umamin kay Constance. Sa ganda’t bait ng kaibigan nya, hindi talaga mawawala ang kaagaw (as if naman may karapatan sya). Tulad ngayon.
Tuwing Valentine’s matik na talagang maraming tao ang nag kukumpulan sa labas at loob ng room nila. Samu’t saring regalo at love letters ang natatanggap ni Constance. Minsan nga’y nahihila pa ito sa marriage booth, para “ikasal”. Matik na kapag Valentine’s mapupuno ang listahan ng pangalan ni Constance at ng iba’t ibang estudiante.
Si Douien? Laging laman ng jail booth. Imbes na isa s’ya sa mag papalista sa marriage booth kasama ang kaibigan, e’ hindi n’ya magawa—sino ba kasi nagpauso ng jail booth. Pero ngayon, sisiguruhin n’yang hindi sya magiging laman ng jail booth.
જ⁀➴ ♡
“Yoon? Absent? Students, always remember hindi porket Valentine’s day at event lamang, ay aabsent na kayo. Attendance is always a must, and it counts as your performance.” Ani ni Ms. Lopez, ang pinaka ayaw na guro ni Douien. Paano naman kasi, may event o holiday, nagbibigay ito ng gawain. “Present, Ma’am. Parang nag cr lang, absent agad.” Sagot ni Douien, ayaw nya man kay Ms. Lopez, e’ kailangan nya talagang pumasok dito. Ito kasi ang first sub nila, at ang pinaka mataas magbigay ng grade. Kahit mali-mali sagot mo o late ka nag papasa sa kanya, matik nang mataas grado mo.
“This is your last warning, Douien. Kahit nasa loob ka na ng school grounds, kung wala ka sa room sa oras ng klase ko, I am marking you absent.” Babala ni Ms. Lopez, agad namang lumingon si Constance kay Douien, para tingnan ito ng masama. “Class dismiss, enjoy your Valentine’s day. And, Choi lagi i-check ang attendance from time to time.” Ani ni Ms. Lopez, bago ito lumabas ng classroom.
Nang maka labas na si Ms. Lopez ng classroom, agad na tumayo si Constance at lumapit sa kaibigan. “Douien, I know ayaw mo kay Ms. Lopez–”
“Cons! May naghahanap sayo.” Sigaw ng isa sa mga kaklase niya galing sa pintuan. Napa kunot noo naman si Douien at Constance. Imposibleng may nag palista na agad sa marriage booth ng ganito kaaga. “Sino daw?” Tanong ni Constance. “Si Xian, sa kabilang section. ‘Yung matangkad na singkit, na naka salamin tapos laging tahimik.” Kamot ulo nitong sagot.
Tumayo naman si Constance para i-check ito. Because there’s no way in heaven and earth he heard a guy named Xian na taga kabilang section. “Huh? There’s no Xian sa kabilang section.”
“Meron, gagi. Baka kaya hindi mo alam kasi busy ka lagi sa Dou–”
“Oh my god, France! Can’t you shut your mouth, he might hear you.” Bulong nito kay France, habang naka takip ang kamay nya sa bibig nito. One thing about France, matalas ang dila nito. Legit na walang preno, kaya laging may kaaway.
Unbeknownst to Constance, Douien and Jacob heard them.
જ⁀➴ ♡
“Olats ka pre, may crush na pala baby mo.” Pang aasar ni Jacob kay Douien. Tiningnan nya naman ito ng masama, “ulol! Ikaw nga wala rin pag-asa kay France e’. Patas lang tayo, ‘wag ka mang-asar dyan.” Sagot nito. Agad naman sumimangot si Jacob sa sinabi ng kaibigan.
“Tangina mo, kaya ka laman ng jail booth e’. Napaka sama ng ugali mo. Sana mahila ka ulit sa jail booth ngayon, inaka.” Natatawang sambit ni Jacob, “isasama kita sakin pre, dahil kumpara sakin na masama ugali, ikaw anak ni Hudas.” Agad naman napuno ng tawanan ang room nila, dahil sa narinig ito ng iba nilang kaklaseng nasa loob pa ng room.
Napa lingon naman si Constance nang marinig n’ya ang tawanan galing sa room nila.
“Alam mo, feeling ko nag aasaran sila sa crush nila e’. Tingnan mo si Douien, laki ng ngiti oh. Close na siguro sila ng crush nya kaya ganyan maka ngiti ‘yan.” France whispered, and Constance immediately pushed his face away from her. Grabe maka-selos, asan ang karapatan?
“Shut up, Francine Boo, or else I’ll announce na crush mo si Jacob.” Constance said. France rolled his eyes.
“Hay nako, bakla! Dami kasing pabebe, di pa umamin kay Douien.” Ani France, “I don’t want to ruin our friendship, okay?”
“Hay nako, bading! Take a chance or lose the risk, hello? Kung ayaw mo umamin, baka maunahan ka pa ng crush ni Douien.” France replied, “how can I confess naman? She might not feel the same, okay.”
“Pft! Edi mag send ka sa kanya ng song recommendation, kunwari nirerekomenda mo, pero ang totoo umamin ka na sa kanya.”
“What kind of song should I send?” Constance asked, “take a chance with me, by mother niki.”
Hmm…
જ⁀➴ ♡
“Palabasin nyo ako rito, tangina naman!” Jacob exclaimed, “gago ka tomboy, sabi mo sa akin, ‘till death do us part tayo.” Pag turo ni Jacob kay Douien, na ngayon tumatawa paalis ng jail booth. “Ulol! Ano tayo, kinasal? Asa ka boi.” Yes! Di na sya laman ng jail booth, may improvement. “Sana ikaw naman makulong dito mamaya, pag naka laya ako! May balik sayo ‘to, bading!” Pahabol na sigaw ni Jacob.
“Tangina, ito na chance ko magpalista sa marriage booth, nang maikasal ako kay–”
“With who?” Tanong ni Constance, nagulat naman si Douien. Tangina, bad timing Tance. “Ah, kay a-ano. Basta, hindi mo kilala.” Sagot nito.
“Talaga ba, Douien?” France, who just appeared behind her from nowhere. “Amputek, bakit kinocorner nyo akong dalawa?”
Constance stepped forward, tilting her head. “Come on, Douien. I’m your friend, so tell me. Kanino mo balak ikasal sa marriage booth?”
“France, crush mo si Jacob ‘di ba? Ito two-hundred, palayain mo sa jail booth ‘yun saka ka magpalista sa marriage booth, para ikasal na kayong dalawa.” Douien said, handing the two-hundred pesos to France before running away–fast. Nagkatinginan naman si Constance at France, “bye bakla! Sorry, but I am choosing my crushiecakes. Mwaps!” France immediately skipped his way out, kinikilig pa ito habang naglalakad patungong jail booth.
And Constance was left stunned and confused. Her friend indeed has a crush, and she won’t tell who it is.
જ⁀➴ ♡
So, that’s how Constance purposely accepted every gift and letter from her admirers from different grade levels. To make Douien jealous. Out of jealousy and curiosity about who her friend’s crush is, she told one of their classmates to accept every gift, food, flowers and letter and put it on her table. Some gifts are teddy bears, big enough to swallow you whole if it is a real bear. Other gifts are clothes—pink colored to be exact.
Hindi na rin naman kasi bago sa buong campus, na ang Vice President ng csc ay pink lover. Almost everything she has, hindi mo makikita na iba ang kulay nito. It also adds up that her favorite color compliments her uniform. Plain white blouse, with a blue ribbon and a pleated blue checkered skirt. And when Douien arrived inside their classroom, she saw red.
“At dumating na nga sa wakas ang anak ni Pôncio Pilatos.” Jacob said, expecting Douien to rebut another funny answer. But to his surprise, agad lang kinuha ni Douien ang wallet nya, at saka hinila si Constance palabas.
Of course, France will immediately tell everyone to follow them, to wherever those two lesbians are going. “Okay, everyone alam n’yo na ang gagawin. Follow those two lesbians!” Ani nito sa buong klase nila, na kanina lang nagkakagulo sa rami ng natanggap ni Constance.
જ⁀➴ ♡
“Douien, where are we going? Can you slow down, geez.” Sambit ni Constance, habang inaayos ang sarili.
“Masaya ka ba, Constance?” Douien asked, “of course. Valentine’s kaya, and that means may matatanggap na naman ako from different—” Constance didn’t get to finish her words, because all of a sudden Douien kissed her. What the hell?!
“Shit! Nag kiss sila!” People from the jail booth screamed. Some even took pictures, some even jumped out of kilig. Constance’s face immediately turned pink, out of embarrassment and shock. There’s no way on earth, does she expect her friend would kiss her like that.
“Anong na miss namin? Sinong nag kiss?” Tanong ni France, “hindi ba obvious? Edi ‘yang dalawa.” Turo ng isa sa mga estudyante. Oo nga naman, why would France ask the most obvious thing, e’ halata namang si Constance at Douien ang pinag uusapan na nag kiss. Hello, kumpulan na nga mga estudyante oh.
“Hoy, mga bading. Doon kayo sa marriage booth mag halikan, ‘wag dito sa jail booth.” Ani ni Jacob, habang naka akbay kay France. And so, Douien did what she was planning from the start. Confess to Constance today, and pull her at the marriage booth. When Douien and Constance arrived at the marriage booth, someone from the jail booth called for Douien.
“Douien Sloane Yoon? Naka lista ka sa jail booth, sumama ka sa’kin.” The latter said. “No, she’s not coming with you. Here’s a five-hundred, so if someone tries to list her again.” Constance said. Shocks, sobrang maldita.
જ⁀➴ ♡
After the marriage booth, someone from the journalism club announced something. “Ayan na everyone, confession booth na!” Jacob said, from inside the classroom.
“To, Constance Hong.” The announcer said, “Constance daw! Siguro kay Douien galing ang confession. Yiiee!” Pang aasar ni France na agad naman ginatungan ng iba nila mga kaklase.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve talked. I know there’s a lot of things we didn’t settle on properly, but I just want you to know that I’ve finally moved on. Grabe, dati when we broke up, sabi ko baka hindi ko kayanin. In the first few months of our break up, hindi naging easy. Lagi ko iniisip ang mga possible na mangyayari if we didn’t separate ways. I always overthink a lot before I end up crying. But then, those thoughts slowly left my mind. And slowly, I became happy—for you and me. I transferred in this school, kasi sabi ko gusto ko makita kung okay ka na ba. If you already figured out your true sexuality. And now that I’ve confirmed it, always remember that I’m not just happy for you, I’m also proud of you. - Xiander.”
“Oh, so the Xian na naghahanap sa’kin kanina, was actually Xiander.” Constance said, lumingon naman sa kanya ang mga kaibigan. “Ex mo pala ‘yun?” Tanong ni Jacob, tumango naman si Constance. “Yeah, some things got fucked up kasi. I told him, I need to figure everything out by myself. Hindi ko naman alam na, he knows what I’m talking about.”
“Tahimik nung isa oh, nagpipigil ng selos hahaha.” Ani Jacob. “Tangina ka, di ka sana sagutin nyan ni Francine may Boolate sa puwet.” Pang aasar ni Douien. Natawa naman si Constance, “boolate amputa. Ang ganda ganda ng apelyido ko sisirain mo lang?” Sambit ni France, saka ito hinagisan ng lukot na papel.
“To, Constance Hong.”
“Shuta, kay Cons na naman.”
“Ang dami talagang entry lagi kay Vice Pres. Anyway, back to the entry. To, Constance Hong. Teka, paano ba simulan ‘tong confession, ano ba ‘yan. Ah, simulan natin noong grade 3 tayo. Ano ba ‘tong entry, kaya pala napaka haba kasi may flashback! Constance, naaalala mo pa noong binubully ako kasi, wala daw akong Tatay? Tapos niligtas mo ako, kasi sabi mo hindi naman lahat ng pamilya, kailangan may Tatay o Nanay, as long as mahal ka ng magulang mo, kahit mag-isa sya counted pa rin sa family. Ang totoo nyan, wala talaga akong magulang. Ay wait, hindi ‘to confession parang bini bring up ko lang childhood natin eh. Basta, lagi mong tatandaan ‘to. Crush na kita, noong grade 3 pa lang tayo. - Douien pinaka poging tomboy.”
Nang marinig ng buong campus ang entry ni Douien sa confession, halos lahat ng estudyante ay natawa. Si Douien, nasa loob ng room, nagkakamot ng ulo sa sobrang hiya.
“Hoy, Sloane! Akala ko pa naman intense entry mo, sa sobrang haba, may naka parenthesis pala sa baba na ‘wag basahin dahil hindi na confession. Constance, ‘wag mo sasagutin ‘yan kapag nanligaw sayo.”
Natawa naman si Constance sa sinabi ng announcer, “ano tinatawa mo ryan bading?” Tanong ni France sa kaibigan. “Why naman kasi sinabi nila ‘yun, e’ kami na?”
“HUH?!” Sabay pang napa tayo si Jacob at France, “ganun lang ‘yun? Kayo agad, wala nang ligawan?”
“Bakit pa liligawan, e’ kilala na namin isa’t isa bata pa lang. Pucha, pati nga favorite design ng panty alam na namin e’.” Sagot ni Douien, hinampas naman sya ni Constance sa sobrang tmi n’ya. “Umayos ka nga! Tmi masyado.”
જ⁀➴ ♡
“So, sa araw po ng Valentine’s naging kayo ni Mommy?” Clover asked. “Yes po, baby.”
“That means, it’s your anniversary po ngayon, Mama!” Clover exclaimed, “yes, and your Mama forgot about it.” Constance said from the door, glaring at Douien. “Valentine’s ba ngayon?”
“Yes, stupid.”
“Mama, say sorry na po kay Mommy, kasi you forgot po your anniversary.”
“Sorry, love. Mag gogrocery na lang ako para hindi ka na magalit, hehe.”
“Okay, make sure you check muna sa kitchen and laun
dry what to buy. You should make a list din, so that wala ka makalimutan.”
“Yes po, misis. Dito lang kayo ni Clover, wait nyo ako.”
“So, bakit po Clover name ko? And how nyo po ako ginawa ni Mama, if both of you are girls po?”
જ⁀➴ End. ♡