Simula

This story is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, events, and incidents portrayed in this book are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, institutions, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

This novel may contain themes involving gender identity, discrimination, emotional conflict, and romantic relationships. It is written with the intention of telling a heartfelt story about love, self-discovery, acceptance, and personal growth.

This story features a transgender woman and a straight man in a slow-burn romance. The experiences and perspectives presented are fictional and created for storytelling purposes.

Reader discretion is advised for discussions of prejudice, family conflict, and emotional struggles. Thank you for giving these characters a chance to tell their story. May their journey remind you that love sees beyond labels, and that everyone deserves to be loved for who they truly are.

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“A-Are you guys sure about this?” kinakabahang tanong ko kina Reese. We were inside a local tattoo and piercing shop here in BGC to get our navel piercings done.

I probably looked so pale right now.

The shirt that Reese let me borrow from her wardrobe felt so uncomfortable because it was too tight and way too small for my size. Wala namang kaso sa akin kahit medyo nagpapakita iyon ng balat sa tiyan at baywang, kaya wala sa sarili ko na lang iyong binababa.

Reese frowned the moment she caught me tugging at the shirt. Before I could react, she smacked my hand lightly.

“Vienne, ano ba?! Stop pulling it down,” she snapped, a hint of impatience in her tone. “Ang ganda at ang sexy mo kaya! Show some confidence!”

“I know that!” I hissed back. “Hindi lang talaga ako kumportable—”

“Excuses, Ven! Sa ating apat na tranene, ikaw ang may pinakamagandang katawan. Maaga ka kasi uminom ng pampa-aning, excited ka masyadong makarat ng mga lalaki.” Reese and her palengkera mouth…

Hinawi niya ang kaniyang bangs bago ako inirapan. Pumunta siya sa likod ko, hinawakan ang laylayan ng damit, at bigla iyon hinigpitan. Nilingon ko siya agad.

I blinked in surprise when I felt the tight pull at the back of my shirt. “What are you doing?” I asked, a mix of confusion and panic in my voice.

Reese didn’t answer right away. Instead, she tied the fabric tightly at my back, pulling it so hard that I could barely breathe.

I gasped as the fabric dug into my skin. “Reese! Ang higpit!” I squeaked, squirming a bit. “Ang liit-liit na nga ng shirt na ’to!”

Reese stepped back, looking at me with a proud grin as if she had just pulled off a masterpiece. “Ayan! Kung ganiyan lang ang katawan ko? Aba’y talagang hindi mo ako makikitang umaarte, Ven! Talagang ipaglalandakan ko ang sexy hot body ko sa madla!” She chuckled loudly.

Sa aming apat kasi, siya lang talaga ang sexy manamit—’yung tipong kita na talaga ang kaluluwa. Wala na nga ata siyang pakialam kung makita ang singit niya sa mga shorts na sinusuot niya. Confident talaga siya sa katawan niya, at kahit may mga tingin na dumaan sa kaniya, wala siyang paki.

“Ngayon ka pa ba magba-back out, Ning? Nandito na tayo,” natatawang sabi ni Mhojie bago pinaglaruan ang mahaba kong buhok na kinulot ko ang dulo.

“At aalis na si Mhoj, Vienne. Let’s do it! Ang sexy kaya tingnan kapag may piercing sa pusod,” hagikhik ni Serena. Kasama namin ang bagong boyfriend niyang si Jericho, na kung makalingkis sa baywang niya ay wagas.

Sanay naman na kami na paiba-iba ang lalaking nakakarelasyon ni Serena. Wala nga lang tumatagal kaya minsan, pinagsasabihan siya ni Mhojie. Ang ending, away. Ang lakas nilang magprangkahan nang harap-harapan, pero kung sino ang unang mainis, siya ang asar.

Silang dalawa talaga ang madalas mag-away sa amin. Ewan ko ba naman kasi kay Serena. Nasasaktan na nga siya, pero hindi pa man tumatagal ang pakikipag-break niya, may bago na ulit siyang boyfriend.

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumango na lang. Getting a navel piercing was like a symbol of our friendship—our shared mark. It hurt, though. Matagal ang healing process kaya tinitiis ko na lang kapag nasa bahay ako. At ang hirap linisan! Sometimes, I’d forget about it and end up scratching it without realizing. Whenever that happened, it hurt like crazy, and I couldn’t help but wince just thinking about it.

I laughed a little at myself. Minsan lang akong maging ganito—trying something new—and yet, I knew my parents would go crazy once they found out. I could already hear them: “Bakit mo ginawa ’yan?” “Anong ginagawa mo sa buhay mo?” I could almost picture my mom’s face: half disapproving, half worried.

Nalulungkot ako na aalis na si Mhojie. Umalis na sina Hayme at Jasper noong bakasyon, at ngayon, si Mhojie naman. Nababalitaan pa namin na na-approve na ang visa niya at ng pamilya niya pa-Australia.

I couldn’t help but feel a little empty inside. Isa-isa silang nawawala—ang mga kaibigan kong parang naging bahagi na ng buhay ko, bigla na lang aalis. Hindi pa yata ako fully nasanay sa mga ganitong paglipat at pagbabago.

Laging may isang parte ng puso ko na nalulungkot kapag naiisip ko ang malalayong destinasyon nila. Masaya ako para sa kanila, of course, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being left behind. Mhojie was one of the few who really understood me. And now, she’d be so far away.

But life moves on, and maybe this change would make us all stronger. Still, the thought of her being miles away made everything feel a little too quiet.

I was happy for her, though. Magkakasama na silang magpapamilya, pero nakakalungkot pa rin. Our friendship was so strong that I didn’t think I’d ever find friends like them again. I could truly be myself around them: the nerd that I am, the quiet one, the one who preferred observing over speaking. They accepted all of me, kahit hindi ako kasing-outgoing o kasing-lakas ng loob nila.

With them, I didn’t have to pretend. We could talk about anything—silly stuff, deep topics, or even our favorite anime and random trivia that never seemed to end. I could be awkward, and they’d just laugh with me, never at me.

I knew Mhojie deserved this new chapter in her life, but a part of me still felt sad. Ang hirap palampasin ng mga ganitong moments. It felt as if our best memories became a little more distant each time someone moved away. But I guess that’s how life goes—you hold on to the good memories and let them guide you forward.

“Vienne! Come here!” Bigla na lang hinigit ni Reese ang pulso ko at hinila ako kung saan, kaya sininghalan ko siya.

“Reese! Ano ba? Mambabali ka ba ng braso?!” I glared at her as she pulled me along, my wrist throbbing a bit.

Kakatapos lang namin magpa-piercing pero ang hyper-hyper pa rin niya. Takas talaga sa mental… I couldn’t believe she was still this energetic after what we had just gone through. Para akong naglalakad na may kakaibang sakit sa tiyan, tapos siya, parang walang nangyari.

My eyes sparkled when she picked up a K-pop album from TWICE—one of my ultimate favorite girl groups. Instantly forgetting the discomfort from my new piercing, I focused on the shiny album in Reese’s hands.

“Oh my God, TWICE!” I squealed, my voice betraying the excitement I was trying so hard to hide.

The shelves were lined with albums from groups I loved, but seeing that specific TWICE album in Reese’s hands felt like a sign. I could already picture the photobook inside, the postcards, the stickers—everything I could ever want.

Reese chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction. “I knew you’d love it,” she teased. “Walang makakalusot na K-pop merch sa’yo.”

“And you listen to them, right? Ano nga ulit ’yon? ‘I wanna know know know know, what is dick?’” Reese grinned mischievously, raising an eyebrow like she had just dropped the funniest joke.

I rolled my eyes at her. “Reese, that’s not even how the song goes,” I said, trying to keep a straight face, though the playful twinkle in her eyes made it hard to stay serious.

Kinuha ko iyon at tiningnan, my excitement building up. This was legit—a physical copy of their What is Love? EP. The packaging was even more beautiful up close: the pastel colors, the group’s stunning photos, the sleek design. I felt like I had hit the jackpot.

“You look like this girl,” turo niya kay Nayeon.

Inirapan ko siya. Nambola pa talaga! Ang layo-layo ng itsura ko kay Nayeon. Hindi naman ako singkit, at wala rin akong bunny teeth.

Kaya pala niya sinabi ’yon kasi magpapalibre siya ng album ng paborito niyang OPM songs, kaya wala akong nagawa kundi bilhin iyon para sa kaniya.

“Thank you, Vienne!” Sinundot niya ang kaliwang dibdib ko, dahilan para uminit ang pisngi ko. Matalim ko siyang tiningnan, pero natatawa lang niya akong hinalikan sa pisngi.

My heart swelled at her antics.

I really thought our friendship would stay strong forever—until Cleo and Sean had a major falling out. Serena and I tried talking to both of them, hoping to fix whatever was going on.

It was hard seeing them fight. Cleo and Sean were usually the couple who laughed at the smallest things, always so comfortable with each other. Pero lately, tension hung heavy whenever they were together.

Serena and I did our best to play mediators, but it was tough. We didn’t fully know what happened, and none of us were used to this kind of drama.

Nakikita ko ang sakit sa kanila, pero ayoko namang mag-take sides. Hindi lang nila problema ’to; problema naming lahat kasi pakiramdam ko, may nabago na talaga sa grupo. Hindi ko alam kung magiging okay pa kami katulad ng dati.

“Vienne, anong tingin mo?” tanong ni Serena habang nag-iisip kami kung paano kakausapin si Cleo.

I sighed and rubbed my temples. “Hindi ko alam… Gusto ko lang magkausap sila nang maayos,” I said softly. “Ayokong makita silang ganiyan.”

Tumango si Serena, seryoso ang mukha. “Oo nga. Mahirap, pero tutulungan natin sila. Kailangan nila tayo.”

Kahit natatakot akong baka magbago ang lahat, alam kong kung magtutulungan kami, baka maayos pa natin ’to. Or at least, I hoped so.

Umuwi na rin kasi si Reese sa Bicol, sa hometown niya, para doon ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral niya. Laking lungkot ko nang malaman ko ’yon. Parang bigla na lang nagbago ang lahat. Hindi na namin siya madalas makikita.

I understood that she needed to focus on school, but her presence was irreplaceable. Si Reese ’yung tipong kahit anong mangyari, laging may dalang saya at kalokohan. Sobrang kulit niya, at hindi ko alam kung paano kami mag-a-adjust nang wala siya.

Now, my days felt a little dimmer without the energy she always brought. But I also knew she had to do what was best for her. “We’ll still keep in touch, right?” I kept telling myself, hoping we could stay close despite the distance.

Sana maging okay siya doon, at sana maipagpatuloy niya ang mga pangarap niya habang nananatiling buo ang pagkakaibigan namin.

And deep down, I understood why Reese left, even if she didn’t spell it out for me. I knew the real reason: Sir Avellana. She didn’t feel safe here in Manila anymore.

She didn’t have to say it directly—I could see it in her eyes every time his name came up. Sir Avellana, her former professor, had questionable intentions toward her.

And yes, iyon ’yung hayop na muntik na siyang galawin. Mabuti na lang at natanggal na ito sa trabaho, at sana talaga karmahin siya sa ginawa niya kay Reese.

Reese had always been strong and confident, but that incident changed her. Parang nagbago ang tingin niya sa mga tao at sa paligid niya. She no longer felt secure, especially after everything that happened.

Hindi ko siya masisi. Wala nang ibang lugar na gusto niyang pagpatuloy ng studies kundi sa hometown nila sa Bicol, kung saan mas kilala siya at mas pakiramdam niyang ligtas siya. It broke my heart knowing she had to leave just to escape that fear.

Kahit malayo siya, I just wanted her to be okay. I wanted to remind her that we were always here for her, even if we weren’t physically together. But for now, I respected her decision. She needed time to heal and feel safe again.

A few weeks after Reese went back to her hometown, Cleo and Sean officially broke up due to a cheating issue. Everything we built—their relationship, our group’s friendship—felt like it was going to waste. Lalo na’t ako ang naging takbuhan nilang dalawa para maglabas ng saloobin. Ni hindi man lang namin ni Serena nabalitaan agad na nagkakalabuan na pala sila. Gulat na gulat kami.

Nung nalaman ko, parang nawasak ang puso ko. Hindi pumasok sa isip ko na mangyayari ’to sa kanila. Akala ko okay sila; they seemed to have fixed their issue before, but now everything was completely broken. Cleo and Sean were so close, and we all thought their relationship was solid. Then this cheating scandal came out of nowhere.

It hurt so much to think about. Sa lahat ng pwedeng mangyari, ito pa talaga. Ang hirap maging nasa gitna, trying to be there for both of them when they couldn’t even fix things between themselves.

Nag-away pa sina Sean at Serena. Gigil na gigil si Serena kay Sean dahil sobrang unreasonable nito.

I watched as Serena’s face flushed red, her voice shaking with anger. She wasn’t usually like this, but I could tell she had reached her limit. Sean was being stubborn, acting as if he hadn’t done anything wrong and constantly defending himself.

“Kahit anong paliwanag mo, Sean, wala na akong maririnig!” Serena snapped, tears brimming in her eyes. “Nagkamali ka! Hindi mo ba naiisip kung anong nararamdaman ni Cleo?!”

I stood there frozen, watching them fight, feeling completely helpless. It hurt seeing Serena like this. She was usually the calm mediator, but seeing Sean act this way pushed her past her breaking point.

“Serena, please! Makinig ka muna sa akin!” Sean tried to reach out, but Serena pushed him away with trembling hands.

I stepped forward to break the tension. “Enough, both of you,” I said softly, yet firmly. “Serena, Sean, please. This isn’t helping anyone. We’re all hurting right now, but fighting won’t solve anything.”

I was close with Sean, but I basically grew up with Cleo. Still, I refused to take sides. I loved them both, and it pained me to see their long-term relationship end like this.

When I asked if they still loved each other, their answers hit me hard. Both said no. I didn’t know what to say. Everything I thought I knew about them was shattering right before my eyes.

Habang lumilipas ang panahon, lalo kong natatanto na unti-unti na kaming nawawatak.

Hindi ko alam kung kailan eksaktong nagsimula, pero unti-unti nang nagkakalayo ang loob namin sa isa’t isa. Cleo and Sean’s dynamic was completely destroyed, and between Serena and me, it felt like there were unsaid things lingering in the air. Reese was far away, and even though we kept in touch, a subtle distance had grown between us.

I kept dwelling on how quickly everything had shifted. We used to be inseparable, constantly laughing and spending time together, but now… now we were just trying to figure out how to function.

It felt like we were all drifting in different directions. No matter how hard we tried to hold on to the past, things just weren’t the same.

It hurt to admit, but something vital was missing: the effortless conversations, the comfort of just being together for hours. Now, everything felt forced, like we were all putting up a front while silently struggling inside.

Still, I cared for them deeply. I wanted to keep our bond intact, even if it meant giving each other space. I just didn’t know how to bring us back together—or if we could ever return to how we used to be. For now, all I could do was hold on to the hope that we’d find a way through this.

Nang lumipat si Cleo sa Iloilo para doon mag-aral, halos mawala ako sa sarili ko. Ang hirap tanggapin na siya lang mag-isa sa kabilang dako ng bansa, habang kami lang ni Serena ang naiwan dito.

Then there was Sean. He joined a new circle of friends at school and stopped talking to me altogether, as if I had never been his friend. Looking at him now, he seemed like a completely different person. Hindi ko na siya kilala. Mas madalas pa niyang kasama sina Princess at ’yung bagong barkada niya kaysa sa aming matagal niyang nakasama.

I tried reaching out a couple of times, but it felt like speaking to a stranger. Wala na ’yung bond na minahal ko sa pagkakaibigan namin.

I tried convincing myself that it was fine, but deep down, I was hurting. It was painful accepting that the people I thought would always be there were slipping away one by one. I couldn’t figure out if the situation changed us or if it was just time doing its work. I wanted to keep our connections strong, but no matter how hard I tried, I kept losing them.

I sat with those heavy feelings for a while, wondering if they’d ever fade or if I just had to learn to move forward without them. It was lonely, but I knew I had to accept a harsh truth: not everything lasts forever. Maybe this was just a chapter I needed to close. That didn’t make it any easier, though.

Gusto ko rin sana siyang kausapin, pero parang iniiwasan niya ako. Tuwing magkakasalubong kami, tinataasan niya ako ng kilay o kaya’y tinatarayan.

Parang hindi na kami ’yung magkaibigan na pwedeng magbiruan at magtawanan nang sabay. He was actively distancing himself from me, and it hurt more than I expected.

“Not surprising na mag-isa na siya. ’Di ba nga ang sabi ni Sean? She’s fake.”

The words stung as they echoed in my mind. I wasn’t sure if Sean actually said it or if someone else made it up, but the bitterness in that statement hit hard.

Nanlamig ako habang nagkukuha ng gamit sa locker ko sa eskwelahan.

“Kaya siguro hindi na sila magkakaibigan? Narinig mo ba ’yung scandal ni Serena? What a slut! Gumawa-gawa ng nakakadiring video—”

I hated the way they talked about her, as if they had any right to judge. Serena might not have always made the best choices, but she didn’t deserve to be dragged through the mud like this. My mind raced with memories of everything we had been through together—all the moments we shared, cried, and laughed over.

Hearing them talk like that about someone I cared about made me sick to my stomach.

Pabagsak kong isinarado ang locker at hinarap ang dalawang babaeng nagtsitsismisan tungkol sa amin. I gritted my teeth in rage. I couldn’t hold back the anger surging through me anymore. I couldn’t just stand by while they tore Serena and me down without knowing anything.

“Kung magpaparinig lang kayo, lakasan niyo pa! Hindi halata, e,” I said, my voice cold, sharp, and controlled. “Bago kayo magkalat ng mga walang kwentang tsismis, alamin niyo muna ang buong kwento.”

The two girls froze, their eyes wide in shock. They clearly hadn’t expected me to speak up. But I didn’t care. I was tired of staying silent and letting people talk behind our backs.

“You have no right to judge her—or me,” I continued, keeping my tone ice-cold. “Wala kayong alam sa mga pinagdadaanan namin.”

Hindi na namin ito sinabi kay Reese. I didn’t want her thinking our group was completely falling apart. Napansin ko rin na hindi na siya masyadong nagse-social media. It felt like she was hiding something, or maybe she was just exhausted by everything happening with us. I chose to keep this to myself. But I needed to talk to Sean. I needed to hear his side and understand his reasons.

It had been weeks since we last spoke properly. Every time I saw him around campus, he looked completely distant and cold, actively avoiding me. I couldn’t understand how everything turned into such a mess. I was frustrated, confused, and hurt, but I couldn’t leave things unresolved. I needed the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

“Anong gusto mo? Libre na kita!” I said enthusiastically to Sean, who stood there looking stern. Kanina pa siya umiirap, kaya pilit ko na lang kinakalma ang sarili ko. I didn’t care if he was acting distant or annoyed—I needed answers.

“Let’s get straight to the point, Vienne,” he said coldly.

My smile faded. I stared at him as he smirked at me.

I felt the shift in the air; any remaining lightheartedness completely evaporated. It was as if Sean had built an impenetrable wall between us, making my chest tighten. I wasn’t sure where this conversation was headed, but I forced myself to stay calm. I wouldn’t let him play mind games with me.

“What is going on, Sean? What’s happening to you? Bakit mo kami sinisiraan—” I started, my voice trembling with confusion and anger. My heart pounded as the frustration bubbled up inside me.

“Sinisiraan? For sure, you took Cleo’s side! You grew up with him!” Bahagyang tumaas ang boses niya, dahilan para mapatingin ako sa paligid. Mabuti na lang at hindi masyadong nakuha ang atensyon ng mga tao sa loob ng coffee shop.

Gulat na gulat ako sa sinabi niya. What was he even talking about?

Seeing my reaction only seemed to fuel his anger.

“Oh? Gulat na gulat ka, Vienne? Hindi ba’t ikaw ang nagsabi kay Cleo na kung wala na talaga, e ’di huwag nang ituloy?” Inirapan niya ako ulit. My breathing slowed. Where was this coming from?!

I let out a sarcastic laugh, making his eyebrows furrow even more.

“Bakit? Mahal mo pa ba si Cleo? Who cheated first to begin with, Sean? Sino sa inyong dalawa ang nauna?”

Bahagya siyang natigilan. Galit na galit siyang tumingin sa akin habang umiigting ang panga.

“So you really are a bitch—”

“If that’s what you think! But I didn’t take any sides. Bakit ako magte-take ng sides? Pareho ko kayong kaibigan, pareho ko kayong mahal—”

“Cut the crap, Vienne! That’s what you really are, ’di ba? A snake in the making!” he spat out.

lalo akong natawa—hindi ko alam kung sa kabobohan niya o sa mga paratang niya sa akin. Is he really risking our friendship over this? Does he truly think I am that shallow? They were my friends; I would never take sides!

I felt deeply betrayed, a heavy sense of disappointment settling in. I had known Sean for so long, so why was he questioning my loyalty like this? As if I would just drop him for Cleo without a second thought?

I thought we were better than this. I thought he knew me. I wasn’t some fair-weather friend who abandoned people when things got tough. I cared about both of them, and the fact that he couldn’t see that ate me up inside.

“You two brought us into your mess, tapos sa akin mo ibubunton ’yang galit mo? How immature can you be, Sean? Mahal ko kayo pareho! Pero ang isipin mo na kinampihan ko si Cleo dahil lang sa sabay kaming lumaki—ang laki mong tanga!”

I grabbed my purse and walked out of the coffee shop.

Hindi ko akaling ganoon na pala ang tingin niya sa akin. I had always been real with him—with all of them. Sa kanila ko lang naipakita ang totoong ako, tapos sasabihan niya lang ako ng ganoon?

Later that night, tears streamed down my face while I watched a K-drama. I let out all the pent-up pain while watching the confrontation scene between the two leads. I cried until my body shook, eventually falling asleep from exhaustion.

The next day, I sat numbly at our usual spot, packing up my lunch box. I had been with Serena earlier, and we were both quiet. She had wanted to confront Sean, but I stopped her. She eventually left for the Dean’s office to settle some matters, leaving me alone.

“Tabihan mo, Elijah. Childhood friend mo ’yan, ’di ba?” narinig kong bulong ni Livy kay Elijah.

Wow. After calling me a basic bitch multiple times, she had the nerve to say that to Elijah?

“Livy…” mahinang suway ng isang trans friend nila na singkit ang mata. I had caught her looking at our table before. I knew she was a problematic person, just like Reese could be, and right now, I could feel her heavy stare on my back.

Hindi naman ako manhid para hindi mabasa ang inggit sa mga mata niya. I just couldn’t understand why she was envious. Everyone has their own struggles; there was nothing to envy about my life.

Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako at akmang aalis na sa cafeteria nang hilahin ni Elijah ang upuan sa tabi ko at umupo.

Ngumiti siya sa akin, and our eyes met. Oh? Bakit nandito ’to?

He couldn’t even defend me against his own friend who blamed me for failing our thesis. It was his friend’s fault, not mine! Was it my fault that I was the one who put in the effort, pulled all-nighters, and actually worked on it?

I had contacted his friend multiple times, asking him to help, but he kept making excuses, saying “bukas na lang” or “mamaya na lang.” Was I supposed to wait forever for his “tomorrow”?

Elijah’s expression quickly turned serious. “Ayos ka lang? I… heard about what happened…”

I nodded softly. “Oo, ayos lang ako. I’ll get going.”

“Saan ka naman pupunta? Baka gusto mong kaladkarin na naman kita?” He narrowed his eyes at me playfully.

Naalala ko na naman nung kinaladkad niya ako pabalik sa bahay mula sa bar noon. Isinumbong pa niya ako kay Daddy, kaya na-grounded ako nang isang linggo.

He was such a snitch. I’d rather go out with my friends than study with him—besides, our study sessions never actually involved studying because something else always happened.

He had invited me to his house before to help him review for a unit exam, but I was so drained that day that I rejected him. Some of his friends took pictures of me and sent them to him. I didn’t even know why they did that. What was my role in Elijah’s life anyway?

Oh, right. I was his childhood friend—and his secret fuck buddy.

We grew up together and were extremely close. And now, even closer behind closed doors.

I straightened my expression. “If you think I’m skipping classes, go fuck yourself, Ejay. That’s your thing, not mine. Tapos na akong kumain kaya aalis na ako.” Tumayo ako at pinagpagan ang skirt ko habang nakatingala siya sa akin.

He chuckled. “How am I gonna do that? I may have a massive shaft, but wouldn’t that hurt? Babaluktutin kasi—”

Naiirita ako sa kabastusan ng bunganga ng isang ’to. Sanay naman ako sa bastos na biruan dahil sa mga kaibigan ko, pero kapag ibang tao na ang kausap? I drew the line.

“How massive? Baka nga protractor lang ang haba niyan,” I shot back.

He smirked tauntingly. “You need a fucking meter stick to measure this, Ven.” He winked.

I smiled at him mockingly. “Meter stick? That’s so small!” I chuckled before turning away. Narinig ko pang tinawag ako ni Elijah, pero hindi ko na siya pinansin.

“Anong small? Huy! Baka nakakalimutan mo na—”

“See, Noelle? She’s a basic bitch…” bulong ni Livy sa kaibigan niyang trans, na tahimik lang na nakasunod ang tingin sa akin.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin ’yon at ipinagpatuloy ang paglakad, until Elijah pulled my arm. Iritado ko siyang nilingon. Nakangiti na naman siya.

“Ito naman, binibiro lang kita! Protractor man ’tong si junjun ko, nasasarapan ka naman. Saan ba kasi ang punta mo?”

“Will you shut your mouth?! Sa classroom ako pupunta!”

He pouted his lips. “Ang aga pa, ah? Mamaya na lang! Takot ako mapahiya mamaya habang nagde-demonstrate ng Health Assessment.”

Seriously? Bakit Nursing pa ang kinuha nito?

“Well, that’s not my problem anymore, Ejay. Let go of my arm nga!” Pinalo ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa braso ko.

He smiled cheekily. “Ang arte, ah! Walang germs kamay ko. Oo, hinahawakan ko ’to, pero naghuhugas naman ako after—”

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. “Go tell that to your girls, Ejay. Bakit sa akin mo sinasabi? I’m sure mas matutuwa sila, at baka sila pa ang humawak niyan,” inis kong sabi bago siya tinalikuran.

“Punta ka mamaya sa bahay! Tulungan mo akong mag-aral!” malakas niyang sigaw mula sa likod ko, kaya napailing na lang ako.

“You’re like fine wine, Vienne. Habang tumatanda ka, lalo kang gumaganda,” Tita Emily complimented me in the middle of their family dinner. She had invited me over, so I couldn’t say no, especially since Dad was picking me up afterward anyway.

“Thanks, Tita,” I smiled at Tita Emily, who looked at me with genuine warmth and adoration.

“Maganda? Panget niya kaya, Ma. Kaya nga wala pang boyfriend, e,” Elijah snorted. “Mga boyfriend niyan, ’yung mga Koreanong retokado!”

Kumunot ang noo ko at napailing na lang kay Elijah na humahagalpak ng tawa. Sinimangutan siya ng kapatid niyang babae, na katulad ko ay K-pop fan din. She smiled sweetly at me, and I smiled back.

“Kuya, have you seen your girlfriends? They look like whores! Ate Vienne is so much prettier than them,” mataray na sabi ni Maurine sa kuya niya, who immediately scowled. She flipped her hair and rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Huwag ka ngang makisali sa usapan—”

“You two, stop it! Nakakahiya kay Vienne!” sita ni Tita Emily sa dalawa niyang anak. Tahimik lang ang bunso nilang si Evander. Nasa States kasi ang Daddy nila.

“Sorry, Ma.”

“Pasensya, Ma.”

Sabay nilang sabi, dahilan para mapatawa ako nang mahina.

“And Ejay, that’s not a nice thing to say to your friend. Apologize. She’s gorgeous, and your sister is right—ayaw ko rin sa mga gine-girlfriend mong mukhang clown.”

Napakamot si Elijah sa batok niya at nakangusong tumingin sa akin. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya.

“Ma, she’s giving me that fake smile again! See? She’s evil! Tiyanak ’yan, Ma! Pandak!” reklamo niya kay Tita Emily, who glared at him sternly. Magsusumbong pa talaga.

“Isa, Ejay.”

“I’m sorry,” mabilis niyang sabi. Ngumiti ako ulit at taas-noo siyang tiningnan while he glared back at me.

I smirked.

Well, at least I still have him…

Still, I hoped to see Reese again someday. I really missed her. She and Serena were the only ones I was actively communicating with at the moment. The rest of our friends were either too busy or busy enjoying their new circles.

Gusto ko sanang sabihin sa kaniya ang lahat ng nangyayari rito sa Manila, pero mas mabuting saka ko na lang sasabihin kapag nakapagbakasyon na siya rito. Knowing how she runs her mouth…