The Homophobic Series: Book 2-B [I] CHAPTER 7 (The Gay Guy Turns Homophobic)

The Homophobic Series Book 2-B [I]: 

(CHAPTER 7) 

"The Gay Guy Turns Homophobic"
Written by: Adrianne A. Aguilar



Message from yours truly: I am really sorry for the late upload, medyo naging busy this week, tama ung unang nag-comment, next week ko nga na post. Again sorry and enjoy the rest of the story.

The crew for the whole shoot arrived earlier, nag-bigay na raw kasi si Mr. Veraperez ng instruction kung ano ang magiging layout at takbo ng shoot nila for today. Kahit nandoon naman sila business as usual pa rin naman kami, si Ms. Anya Ferrer ang unang dumating. The hair and make up ladies were already there to fix her up.

“Dane, maraming salamat talaga at pinaunlakan mo kami to have our shoot here. We would be starting at around 5pm, anyways on the way na rin rito ung director/TV producer natin. So be ready ha…” at hinaplos nya ang aking mga kamay, some sort of an encouragement.

And after an hour it was around 10 minutes before five in the afternoon ng dumating na ang hinihintay namin na director.

Laking gulat ko ng ang tinutukoy pala ni Anya ay si Mr. Dan Veraperez. For all I know akala ko he was just a production assistant sa show nya. Pero mukhang marami pa talaga akong hindi alam.

“So Snaps of Time Team, Mr. Sto. Domingo, I would like you all to meet our director/TV producer… My fiancé Dan Veraperez… I believe that you have met each other right?” pakilala nito. Matipid namang ngumiti si Mr. Veraperez to acknowledge Anya’s introduction.

Maging sina Jessica at Keiji, kitang kita sa kanilang mga mukha ang pag-ka puzzled sa mga nangyayari.

“So guys, we would be starting in maybe 10-20 minutes, I’ll just check on the lightings…” paliwanag ni Dan.

Tamang-tama naman na kararating lang ng kaibigan kong fashion designer na si Tats Gonzales, Anya requested him to be there for some personal reason. He just walk into the chaos in our studio.

Upon walking in ang unang una nyang nakita was Dan Veraperez.

“Raine, since when…” he was about to talk to Dan ng bigla ko syang nilapitan. “Nope Tats, hindi sya si Raine… Well I am also trying to convince myself na hindi nga sya… Hayyy” napapabuntong hininga ako sa dismaya.

“Huh? Bulag ka ba? Well there might be changes, pero kamukhang-kamukha nya…” reaksyon din nito.

“Hay Tats. Ganyan din ang reaksyon namin ni Jessica, pero mag observe ka pa malalaman mo rin ang tinutukoy namin.” Paliwanag ni Keiji.

After some minutes, nakuha na ni Tats ang sinasabi ni Keiji. To the point na nasabi nya na, “I agree hindi gumagana ang gaydar ko sa kanya. And look oh, may pakiss kiss pa kay Ms. Ferrer. Mag ano ba sila?” natanong ng aming designer friend.

“Fiance” sagot ni Jessica.

“Fiance? Hahaha, never gagawin ng sisterette Raine ko yun, na pumatol with a girl. At mag fifiance pa? Kahit mag ka amnesia pa yun tyak beki pa rin ang sis ko at di papatol sa babae…” natatawang sinabi ni Tats.

On the middle of our conversation, lumapit na ung PA nila, “Mr. Sto. Domingo, 3 minutes mag simula na po tayo, doon po ung spot ng interview nyo…” paliwanag nito.

Naisip ko naman na it was the moment na ipakilala si Tats sa kanila.

“Anya, Dan… This is my friend, Mr. Tats Gonzales…”

“And finally na-meet ko na ang THE Tats Gonzales, I’ve seen your work in some of our premiere wedding magazines and I must say I am a fan…” pag-bigay ni Ms. Ferrer ng compliment sa aking kaibigan.

“The pleasure is mine madame, maraming salamat for appreciating my work.”

“I see, yup nakita ko rin yun, pinakita sakin ni Anya, I must agree with her choice…” paliwanag ni Dan.

“Choice?” nasabi ko sa sarili ko.

“Ahhmmm… With all due respect can you be more specific?” pagtanong ni Tats.

“Oh I am sorry if we vaguely explained it. Siguro excitement na rin siguro. I wanted you to design my wedding gown. Dan and I are getting married this year.” And Anya has dropped the bomb already.

Tats was speechless upon hearing that. “Well Mr. Gonzales, I am also interviewing you later as part of our debutante-prom feature. I’ll just proceed with Dane’s interview, and if it is not too much after the shoot we can visit your place para mapag usapan na rin ung details?” paliwanag ni Ms. Anya sa kanya.

Tats was in awestruck, ang nasabi nya lang is “Sure. Let’s talk later… Salamat Ms. Anya for choosing me…”

“Anya na lang ano ka ba” politely she said.

And so the interview pushed thru, the lighting all over was a bit blinding on my part, medyo hindi pako nakakarecover sa pag iyak ko last night at buti naitago ng concealer ang mga eyebags ko.

“So Mr. Sto. Domingo if you are to answer some of the questions this would be the angle on where you are be looking, and please don’t be shy in doing hand gestures when talking. It gives life to scenes pag natural lang ang mga galaw natin…” as Dan gave me his directions, ako naman eto lunod na lunod sa bawat salita na nariring ko sa kanya. I was intoxicated with how he talk, he really reminder me of my love Raine. Wala pa rin ako sa aking sarili pero narinig ko na ang signal nyang lights camera action!

“So Mr. Sto. Domingo what inspired you to put up this business Snaps of Time?” unang tanong ni Anya sa sakin.

Alam ko naman ang isasagot syempre ang kaisa-isang dahilan is si Raine lang yun, pero right now I am extremely distraught with what I am feeling lalong lalo na na kaharap ko lang si Raine este si Dan.

“Dane, are you okay?” natanong ni Anya.

“I am sorry, but I am just new at this…” pag hingi ko naman ng paumanhin. Nakita ko naman na palapit si Dan sa amin.

“Dane, just be cool. In my very first shoot this year with Anya kinabahan din ako, pero after learning the tricks to the trade, nalaman ko na natutunan din ang lahat, and eventually nakuha ko rin doon yung confidence ko, sige think of it as a very casual talk, like a talk over coffee… Alright…” and he had tapped me on my back. Something that really felt reassuring coming from him.

“Action!” sigaw nito for the second take.

“About your question. It was really a labor of love…” and eventually ikinwento ko nga ang part ng love story namin ni Raine.

While having that interview napansin ko naman how focused Dan is into his work, as if he has been doing this for ages. So I realized na possibleng hindi nga sya si Raine.

My interview eventually ended I just gave Anya answers na hindi ko nga alam if it made any sense. And then it was Tats’ turn. After some time natapos rin ito and it was the time for them to wrap it up.

Ewan ko ba I am still uneasy with this kind of set up. Mas may lalala pa ba rito.

At lumapit si Anya sakin, “Dane maraming salamat at pinaunlakan mo kami… I would love to have some coffee with you again pero pupunta kasi kami sa shop ni Tats tonight…” paliwanag nito.

“It is alright, may next time pa naman. Actually salamat din at you did a feature on my business…” sagot ko sa kaniya.

“Or it might be better kung sasama ka sa amin? Ain’t that a good idea right Tats?” sabi ni Anya dito.

“That is fine with me, cool nga yun eh…” pag sang ayon ng aking kaibigan.

“At kailangan talagang sumang-ayon ka?” sabi ko sa aking sarili. Kung kalian ganito pa ang nararamdaman ko.

“Ah alright so it is all set now. By the way hon, dala ko ung isang sasakyan. So susunod na lang ako sa inyo.” Paliwanag ni Dan kay Anya, and it was the first time na I’ve heard na may term of endearment sila.

“That is fine hon. Si Tats sasabay sa akin, at para mapag usapan namin yung mga details ng gown ko. At di mo marinig, hahaha!” tawa ni Ms. Ferrer, sabay lapit nya sa akin, “Would it be alright Dane kung kay Dan ka na sasabay at least may makakausap sya on our way and at the same time mapag usapan nyo na rin ung para sa aming wedding photography?” pakiusap nito.

“Hon, okay lang naman… I can manage to be alone sa byahe. And besides nakakahiya naman kay Mr. Sto. Domingo.” Ang sabi naman ni Mr. Dan Veraperez.

There is a part of me saying na I should go and be with him and another part na nagsasabi na huwag at masasaktan ka lang, and then I answered, “Nope, okay lang sakin Dan. Wala naman problema kung sayo ako sasabay and at least mapag-usapan din natin yung about sa inyong wedding photography.”

And so nag-paalam muna ako kina Jessica at Keiji.

“Are you sure na magiging okay ka lang?” pag aalala ni Jessica sakin.

“I hope so, sana maging okay nga ako.” Isang tipid na sagot ko rito.

Tats and Anya went to the Mercedes car while I went with Dan sa Pajero nito.

Sa may Ayala-Makati pa ang location ng shop ni Tats, at pagkakataon nga naman syempre we are trapped on the heavy traffic ng EDSA.

“Anya just texted, bili muna daw tayo ng take out coffee sa Ayala vicinity before tayo pumunta ng shop ni Tats…” paliwanag ni Dan sa akin.

I smiled briefly sign na I acknowledged yung sinabi nya.

Wala naman ng lumabas na isa pang salita in the next 15 minutes. He was a really focused driver. Maingat mag-maneho. Naalala ko tuloy si Raine, ayaw na ayaw nya with my reckless driving. Reading his journal entry that was the time ng tumuloy sya ng hotel because I was drunk driving. Malalim ang aking pag sulyap sa langit, ng biglang, “By the way Dane it was nice hearing your story sa interview kanina. It is rare nowadays na makakita ng ganyang klaseng relasyon just like yours and your departed partner. Raine ang pangalan nya right?”

Sa buong oras pala ng interview ay nakikinig sya sa istorya ko. Something na kumurot sa aking puso. Raine kung ikaw man yan sana maalala mo na. Pero the more na nagkukwento sya, mas lumalayo ang katotohanang hindi nga sya si Raine.

“Actually Anya and I met 5 years ago thru one of our colleagues. Junior reporter pa lang sya noon, ako starting director and TV producer pa lang. Pa side line side line lang. Pero there was one time, that was the very first time that we had coffee together sa may Greenbelt ng nakilala ko sya ng lubusan. At nasabi ko sa sarili ko, sya na ang babaeng para sa akin. You cannot meet a lady as sophisticated and classy and gentle as Anya is, it is to good to be true na nakilala ko sya. Hindi naman kami on a hurry na magpakasal. But just last October of 2009, I popped the question anyway.” At bigla syang napangiti.

We are now approaching the vicinity of EDSA Ayala, tuloy naman sya sa kwento. “Naalala ko pa nga rito rin sa vicinity na ito, nag-mamadali ako kasi on that day na I popped the question, nag-MRT ako, nasiraan ako ng sasakyan, nag hihintay si Anya sa coffee shop.” And then I realized sya rin yung same guy na hinabol ko sa MRT ng October 2009. “And there she was, divine as always, alam mo yung feeling na your heart beats slower then faster at the same time.” Kitang kita mo sa mga mata ni Dan how sincere ang kanyang kwento. Hindi ko mapigil ang aking sarili na malungkot upon hearing his story. Kahit ako that day when I asked Raine’s hand in marriage, hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman. Natatakot ako na he might reject me pero buo ang tiwala ko sa kanya na he wanted to be with me. Seeing him in his usual self, na kikigising lang, and that smile na hinding hindi ko makakalimutan. Oh God why of all people sa kanya ko pa maririnig ang ganitong seemingly parehas na story. Naramdaman ko na mamasa-masa na ang aking mga mata. Pilit ko namang pinunasan ito.

“Are you alright Dane?” tanong ni Dan.

Syempre di naman ako nag pahalata, “I’m okay, may naalala lang ako…”

“You must really love him right?” sa lahat ng sasabihin nya yung ang lalong dumurog sa puso ko, those words coming from Raine’s doppelganger.

“Yes, if you just knew how I loved him.” As I passionately answered. At napabuntong hininga ako.

The group decided to stop by sa Starbucks sa may Greenbelt. May I checheck din kasing gamit si Anya na gusto nyang bilhin. Pero we went ahead na sa coffee shop. While sinamahan naman ni Tats si Anya sa gusto nyang bilhin na bag.

“So Frap sayo Dane? Anya texted they would be here in a while, I’ll just get their Caramel Machiatto…” at pumila naman Dan while ako na ang pumili ng pinag-kakaupuan namin.

I just opened my phone and browsed on a picture of Raine and I, habang pasulyap na tumitingin kay Dan. Pilit ko pa ring kinukumbinsi ang sarili ko na kung ano ba talaga ang tama.

After a while ay dumating na sya, “Medyo marami din ang tao dito ngayon, I think ganito rin karami yung tao nung nag propose ako sa kanya rito.” And he smiled again, bawat ngiti nya ay pumipilas sa sugatan kong puso. “By the way, the wedding is on May 28, 2010, we decided to have it on that day for some personal reason. We are expecting our baby by July of this year na rin kasi.” At ayun na, nasagot na ang tanong ko, kailangan ko ng tuldukan ang kahibangang ito. Malayong si Dan at si Raine ay iisa. Lalo pa at mag bubunga pa ang kanilang pag mamahalan. Pero realizing it there is something with that date that tickled my heavy heart but it seems I can’t really point it out.

Hindi na maipinta ang aking mukha, buti na lang tinawag na si Dan for our ordered coffee, tamang tama naman na dumating si Anya, “Oh nandito pala kayo. I’ll just order some pastries and cakes” ng tumayo ako bigla, “Anya, something came up…” pilit kong pinigilan ang pag iyak ko.

“I needed to go, Jessica texted din kasi, something happened doon sa isang print out namin and I need to get at the office quick… And besides napag usapan na rin namin ni Mr. Veraperez yung details sa wedding, I’ll be there…” at kinamayan ko sya at dali daling umalis.

Nagulat ako ng hinabol pa pala ako ni Dan, “Hey Mr. Sto. Domingo, here’s your coffee, take out naman ito. Anyways pwede naman kitang ihatid, pasasalamat na rin sa pag-sama mo sa amin.” At iniabot nya ang Mocha Frap sakin.

“Salamat Mr. Veraperez, medyo in a hurry na rin ako, I’ll just ride on a cab. Text text na lang for the other details.” Pilit ko pa rin ikinubli ang aking sarili, and for the last time, he smiled at me again.

I exited at Ayala Avenue. My hands are all wet di ko makuhang inumin ang ice cold drink na iniabot nya sa akin at sa halip, naihambalos ko pa ito sa isang granite pillar ng isang building, at pinag susuntok ko pa ito. Ang tanging nagawa ko lang ay lumuha ng lumuha… Walang tigil na pag luha hanggang sa umuwi ako sa bahay sa Bel-Air ganun pa rin ang tanging naramdaman ko, na as if I am in this impossible nightmare. I was lost, lost in this labyrinth that fate has put me in.

NEXT:

Chapter 8 - The Homophobic Series Book 2-B [I]: 
http://boykissesbydane.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-homophobic-series-book-2-b-i.html