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DIANA'S POV

It's Mommy's birthday today and she has been buzzing my phone out since five a.m. Apparently, she can't wait to meet Franki, her future daughter-in-law; her words, not mine. She hasn't even met her yet she is already calling her that and I hate it. Franki doesn't even love her son!

Your mom's right, Diana...Think about it. 

I wonder what her reaction will be when she'll learn about my little secret with her future daughter-in-law...

Mommy and her sister Tita Kelly are very active in the church services in our province. Both are very Christ-centered, especially my aunt who is almost close to being a religious fanatic.

That is another reason why I've kept my sexuality to myself and just shared it with a few chosen close friends later on. If they will find this out, they would definitely tie me down to a chair and blast my ears with neverending preachings and sermons about homosexuality and how it is an abomination according to the Bible. 

I'm quite scared to disappoint Mommy but, to be honest, I'm starting to consider the idea of finally coming out to her since last night. I only slept for like only half an hour because I can't stop thinking about Franki. Her last words struck me like a thousand cups of espresso and now, I'm like a walking zombie. Mommy may not accept me for who I am at first but a part of me believes that she will, eventually, because that is how a mother love her children, right? They love us unconditionally.

I turn my head to the window side to see who finally emerged out of the basement door. I'm hoping that it would be Franki but it was Sky instead. He looks so fresh in his floral polo shirt and casual white shorts while smiling so widely the beautiful curve reaches his eyes and made them even smaller than they already are. There's an orange Adidas duffel bag hanging on his shoulder which looked like he put much stuff on.

I didn't bring any clothes with me because I have tons of it back home. My left brow automatically rises when he casually enters in the shotgun side and clambers beside me. 

Uhm, hello?! That is Franki's seat?!

"How was your sleep last night, Dee?" he cheerfully asks as if he has done nothing wrong. A muscle in my jaw ticks in irritation as I watch him lean back on the seat comfortably as if the chair was solely made for him.

"It was fine, Sky." I dismissively reply before continuing, "Where are they? I don't think we'll be able to reach lunchtime if they will take more time," I not-so-cheerfully mutter under my breath.

"Whoa, relax. Nagsusungit ka na naman. (You're being grumpy again.) David's packing some egg sandwich so he can some breakfast in the car,"

"Packing a sandwich? Jusko. There's a lot of Drive-thrus in Metro Manila to order breakfast from," I can have a bad temper sometimes. "How about Franki?"

"She's doing her hair and make-up when I left the unit,"

My eyes automatically roll at the information but my lips have managed to curve into a subtle smile. She always takes forever to prepare and I don't like maarteng  girls (super girly in an annoying way) but why the hell do I find her cute?

Malala ka na, Diana. (You're getting worse, Diana.)

Sky opens a topic about our childhood in our hometown but I am a bit distracted because his strong perfume starts to irritate my nostrils.

Everything about him irritates you, Diana.

"So hey listen. What are your plans next week?"

Okay, here we go. If I'll tell him that I'm free, he'll definitely ask me out and I seriously don't have the mood to hang out with anyone right now apart from Franki.

Where the hell are they anyway? It has been twenty minutes since I went down here. Images of David delaying this shit by tickling her to death made me even more impatient.

"A lot of things, why?" I answer Sky's question as I continue to imagine what the two of them are possibly doing upstairs.

"Just some party at BGC. I was wondering if you would like to come. It will be on Friday night but if you'd like to stroll somewhere first then I'm down for it."

"Oh Sky, I'm sorry but—"

"You can bring Franki if you want," he cuts me off and throws me a knowing smile when I glanced at him. 

Wait, are we that obvious? My paranoia fills my mind as I anxiously stare back at him...

I blink twice before nonchalantly averting my gaze away from him. I then casually clear my throat, "Let's see about that,"

Before he can talk further about that, Franki and David finally emerged from the basement door. My blood rushes all over my body in excitement as I drink the sight of my girl in; she's wearing a short maong shorts and her black sweater from Guess. Her wavy hair is combed neatly and I can see that she's wearing light make-up which made her look even prettier.

Kailan ba pumangit si Franki sa paningin mo, Dee?

A huge smile appears on her lips as our eyes meet through the window. I adjust excitedly on my seat as I watch her bounce enthusiastically towards my car. I take a deep breath as I suppress the urge to come out of this car and eat the hell out of her in front of these guys.

David is behind her looking sleepy as hell, wearing a matching outfit with his "girlfriend"; a black and gray sweater from Guess, white cargo shorts and black Espadrilles. I have to compose myself and control my jealousy  I have to always put in mind to trust her and wait for the right time...

I lean over Sky's lap to slide down the car's window on the passenger side so I can get a better view of Franki.

She should sit beside me. I should find a way...

"Oh hey, Sky! I can see you're seating on my seat."

That's my girl! A triumphant smile swelled out of my lips at what she just did. She may seem friendly and sweet as she said that but I can feel her slight hostility from here and it excites me.

"Oh, you want to sit here? Sorry!" Sky genuinely panics as he immediately moves out of the car. "I just thought you want to be beside your boyfriend at the back,"

"No, it's okay, Sky! I just wanna sit beside Diana!" Franki explains with a giggle. I can't help but smile and shake my head in amusement. Good thing this girl is generally clingy and bubbly; she can have her excuse for her questionable actions...gay actions.

I am surprised when David suddenly opens the door at my side with a grumpy face.

"What," I snap at him with an eyebrow raised, as usual.

"I'll drive," he lazily replies with a shrug of his shoulder.

I want to agree with him and transfer at the back so I can take a nap but that won't be possible if I am in the same room with Franki.

I turn to her at my right side to see her reaction, only to see her looking like a mistreated puppy with her lower lip pouted in an adorable way.

We clearly both want the same thing.

"It's okay, Dave. I'll drive. You still look sleepy because of last night so..." I flash my brother a fake, caring smile. He literally woke up in the middle of the night to find his girlfriend outside the condominium building when she was just actually inside his sister's room...I feel bad for him in that part, to be honest, but loving Franki makes me selfish so...

Diana, it's only seven in the morning. Who wouldn't be sleepy?

"Come on, Davey. Let them girls be," Sky chips in as he beckons for him to sit beside him. David brushes it off without a sound and finally enters from the back. He wearily leans on the seat and drops his head back on the headrest as he closes his eyes.

Sky worriedly leans in closer to him and peers on his face for a second before turning to us with a creased forehead.

"We should drop by Starbucks to buy coffee," he suggests as I finally start the car.

"Sure. I need one too," I say as I finally drive out the basement parking.

"Me three!" Franki chimes in with a snicker while evidently checking me out.

"What?" I ask with a chuckle, getting a little conscious of the way her eyes rakes my form. I'm wearing a girly outfit this time except for the beige cap; maong shorts and black sleeveless shirt which shows off my cleavage. 

"Nothing. You look good with a cap on and...nice shirt."

I glance at her again and send her a message through my eyes to tone it down with the gayness, to which she replied with a cute frown, apparently disagreeing with me.

With his eyes closed, David starts a topic about our mom in which I'm thankful for because Franki finally sits back properly on her seat and is now looking straight ahead.

That's right, Boo. Behave.

"I've only seen Rowena in pictures. I wonder what she's like in person," she comments, and I particularly took note of how she called my mom.

"Tita looks really strict but she is actually makwela." Sky comments from the back. I press my lips inwardly to suppress a smile when I notice that he got closer to David in the backseat. I met Franki's eyes once again in the mirror in front and she must be thinking what I am thinking too.

"Makwela? What's that, Diana?" she asks me.

"Kwela means, funny, Franki," I answer with pleasure.

"Ooh...I can't wait to meet funny Rowena!"

"Franki, you should call her Tita Rowena." Sky corrected her. "It would sound impolite to those who don't know you."

"But why, Diana?" she instead turns to me. Goodness. Why does it seems like I'm the only person she sees in this car?

"Tita means Aunt, Franki. It is a part of our culture here, a sign of respect for the elderly."

"Oh, I see! But she is not my aunt though!" she cocks her head to one side as if thinking deeply.

"Jesus, baby. It's not literal," David snaps in a drowsy tone.

"We call the older ladies that are not related to us as Tita...or Ma'am. But the latter is often used in formal settings." I love teaching her things like this and I don't think I will ever get tired of it. I just want her to learn more about this country, most especially in speaking Tagalog because a huge part of me is wishing that she would just stay here...forever...with me.

An hour had passed already and we are now in QC. David has already fallen asleep while Sky is wearing his AirPods as he looks outside the window. Franki has been blabbering non-stop about the most random things and here I am, enjoying every bit of it with genuine laughter. 

Driving is generally boring. I prefer to drive alone but with Franki, I don't think it can be any more fun.

"Give me your phone, Diana," she says in a dominant tone while extending her hand out to me with her eyes straight on the road.

"Why?" I ask while immediately handing it to her. I don't know why but I always follow everything she says even if I don't know her purpose yet.

"Put your password and open your Spotify. I'm in the mood for some music," she orders, and I did as what she told me to do. She immediately browses through my Spotify and moments later, Hey There, Delilah starts echoing in the car. 

Her head starts dancing with the music, which eventually fell into her singing the lyrics out in her singing voice which is deep and raspy. She seems to be enjoying this a lot and I like seeing her having fun like this. 

"Come on, Diana. Sing with me!" she moves closer to me and leans her head on my shoulder.

"I'm good Franki. I'm fine with listening to your golden voice."

"I like that about you. Your honesty—Oh...It's what you do to me! Oh, it's what you do to me...What you do to me..." she dramatically sings while clenching her hand against her chest as if she herself composed the song and all I did is chuckle.

"I just hope it won't rain later, Franki." Sky casually teases her from the back but we both ignored him.

James Blunt's You're Beautiful plays next and there is a small silence at the beginning of the song. She is miraculously quiet during the first stanza, prompting me to turn my head toward her in question.

"My life is brilliant. My love is pure...I saw an angel, of that I'm sure," she emphasizes the word angel and points her finger at me at the same time. 

Oh, I just can't stop chuckling at her amusing antics.

"Franki what are you doing...Stop." I softly ask her with kilig in my tone. She just continues singing and I think I just dropped my heart upon seeing her just gazing intently at me with affection gleaming in her doll-like light brown eyes. 

"You're beautiful...You're beautiful...You're beautiful, it's true..."

Ampota feel na feel niya...

She is singing the lyrics as if every word is meant for me, and I can't help but be worried and flustered at the same time. Worried that David might wake up and see her getting weirdly mushy with me and Sky might notice something fishy between us. I blink a little, sinking in what she has been trying to do.

"Why don't you try this one out, Franki." I immediately replaced the music with a more upbeat one to dissipate the brewing intimacy from her which might cause us trouble.

Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl takes the scene and she starts singing so hyperactively while waving and popping her body from side to side and flopping her arms around with the beat of the song.

Seriously, this girl has endless energy! She keeps on leaning her head on any part of my body from time to time as she dances with the music.

And you're enjoying it.

"Come on, Dee. Don't be a killjoy! Join me," she insists as she pulls my other arm.

"Franki I have to concentrate on the driving..." I politely turn her down.

Moments later, both of us are now singing and laughing our hearts out as I drive. I started to have a hard time concentrating on the road when Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl pops in without any warning.

"Get it, girl! Whoo!" Franki exclaims as my energy increased a thousandfold. I know this song so well; every lyric and every tune. 

(A/N: You can listen to the version of this song from the video attached above as you read for a better reading experience, as usual. Sorry for the soundtracks in almost every chapter! Music helps me get through with all these chapters 😅)

🎵This was never the way I planned
Not my intention
I got so brave, drink in hand
Lost my discretion

"It's not what, I'm used to. Just wanna try you on. I'm curious for you—I don't know the lyrics in this part but shit I so love this song!" Franki exclaims in between her giggles.

I keep bobbing my head from side to side a little more energetic this time while tapping my hand on the steering wheel.

🎵I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it🎶

We are surprised when Sky suddenly joins us. David, who is apparently disturbed by our loudness is finally awake and is currently reaching out to his bag to get some food to eat.

🎵No, I don't even know your name
It doesn't matter
You're my experimental game
Just human nature
It's not what, good girls do
Not how they should behave
My head gets so confused
Hard to obey🎶

"Have you ever kissed a girl before, sis?" David suddenly asks out of nowhere in between chewing his sandwich which ensued silence inside the car.

"Ha?" I ask, acting clueless. I meet Franki's cautious eyes in the rearview mirror and I don't know how to respond to it.

"You heard me," he shrugs his shoulder nonchalantly while having another bite from his homemade sandwich. 

"Why are you asking?"

"Nothing. The song just made me curious," His darkened gaze meets mine in the mirror which made me swallow in tension but of course, I have to keep my cool, as always.

"Nope. I haven't. It will be weird right, Franki?"

"No, it's not! I think it's fun!" she instead replies with pure enthusiasm which made me regret including her in the conversation.

David reaches for Franki's arms in front of him to caress it, "You can always try my sister, babe, I won't mind."

"Yeah. Two hot girls kissing for fun is hot." Sky's thoughts just made it worse.

Putangina. Are they serious?

Franki turns back with an enjoying grin,

"Are you sure about that? Because Diana is so hot I won't have any second thoughts of trying her out if you know what I mean." 

Oh, God. I almost step on the brakes in these contradicting emotions. She then turns to me and continues with a wink at the end,

"Not sure if she's down for it though." she meaningfully says with her eyes fixed on me.

Sky chuckles, "I don't think she will. She pretty much declines almost everything,"

"Are you sure about that, Sky?" Franki asks him in a challenging tone. I think it's my lucky day today because we are suddenly stuck in a traffic jam which made the moment more awkward.

"He's right. My sister's kind of boring." David butts in again, looking more alive now. 

Franki pushes her head between our seats and snaps at both of them at the back, "Diana's boring? I don't think so! You guys just don't know her yet!" 

"And you do?" her boyfriend rebutted.

"Yes!" she turns to me again and closes her eyes as she leans her face closer towards me. I got alarmed when she pouts her lips as if asking for a kiss, which made Sky laugh like there's no tomorrow.

"Franki, what are you doing?!" I leaned away as if she has some sort of a deadly and communicable virus.

"Kiss me." she sofly requests with her eyes half-open.

"Are you serious?!" I exclaim at her with bulging eyes.

"Come on, Dee!" Sky insists.

"No!" I firmly decline.

"See? I told you. She's boring," David casually says in between chewing his fucking sandwich. I know him too well to feel that he has some sort of motive in this. He is trying to provoke me. He probably has an idea about Franki and I now.

"Are you sure you don't wanna kiss my girl, sis?" he asks with a smirk, igniting the fire even more. 

"What the hell is your problem, David?" I snap in a not-so-soft voice. I am near to losing it. Franki might have noticed it because she has her hand gripping my arm, ready to stop me.

"Nothing. I just find it weird that a party girl like you hasn't kissed another girl her entire life. Even with men."

"She's pretty secretive, buddy."

Seriously, Sky is not helping. Why is he even here in the first place?

"I second that." David confidently agrees. 

"Sorry if I wasn't informed about the memo that I should report to you every detail of my life,"

"See? That's the problem with you. You don't share that much. Are you really my family? Because living with you feels like living with a stranger."

"It's none of your business, David. I have the right to choose whatever I want to share with you."

"Are you guys serious? It's your mom's birthday today! Chill," Franki's head pops in between us, blocking our view on each other.

Our little bickering is interrupted when Franki suddenly snatches my phone and plays the music back on. Charli XCX's Boom Clap then starts popping on the player.

(A/N: You should know the drill by now. Play this song in the background as you read; Spotify, Youtube, Music player, etc.)

The music has somehow managed to put the fire off. I check David out from the rearview mirror to see his reaction. It looks like he finally decided to calm the fuck out. He is just looking outside the window as if drowned in his thoughts. 

I'm starting to get worried about my thing with his girl. It is not impossible that he and Sky are starting to get a little suspicious about us. I should blame it on Franki. The girl's mouth has no brakes!

But look at her, Dee. Look how adorable she is despite her imperfections.

Instead of getting mad at her, I just find myself chuckling in delight while staring intently at her as she starts singing her lungs out again along with the lyrics while doing her little dance moves as if nothing happened earlier. 

🎵Boom boom boom clap🎶

🎵You're picture perfect blue
Sunbathing on the moon
Stars shining as your bones illuminate🎶

🎵First kiss just like a drug
Under your influence
You take me over you're the magic in my veins
This must be love🎶

I like the way she pops her chest out and claps her hand in the chorus, and just like a magnet, I am again drawn into the amusing beauty of this woman. The way the strands of her hair dance in the air like in a slow motion as she gracefully moves and the sound of her voice as it cracks in the higher notes has got my stomach flutter in...a lot of emotions.

At this moment, I just want to hug her and cuddle with her all day but...

Hindi pwede. Hindi pa pwede. I can but I shouldn't...at least for now.

But at least, she has assured me that her heart is mine, and that is what matters more to me.

🎵Boom clap
The sound of my heart
The beat goes on and on and on and on and🎶

🎵Boom clap
You make me feel good
Come on to me, come on to me now🎶

🎵Boom clap
The sound of my heart
The beat goes on and on and on and on and🎶

🎵Boom clap
You make me feel good
Come on to me, come on to me now🎶

I didn't realize that I was smiling the whole time as I think about us. I caught David's eyes as mine passed by the rearview mirror. 

Shit. He must have seen me gawking my fucking eyes out on his girlfriend. But whatever. I should not let his nosiness ruin my day and Mommy's birthday. Franki's singing is suddenly replaced by her ear-piercing scream as she points something ahead.

"Brat, look out!" David exclaims which has completely pulled me back to Earth. I gasp in surprise when I finally returned my eyes on the road and saw another car suddenly crossing in front of us.

*****To be continued*****

A/N:

Thanks for reading! Did you like this chapter? Sorry if it was a bit boring. The next chapters won't be though.

Vomments ( Votes + Comments ) are greatly appreciated! ♥️