Married By Accident

03: Comfort Crowd

| Diana |

With eyes half-open, I tug the satin sheets away from my body and plant my feet on the fluffy carpet.

It's dark outside, and I just woke up. I groaned while remembering that I have to get ready for the soft opening of Jodie's bar.

Bar. Crowd. Alcohol.

I sighed, heaving myself into an upright position, allowing the pain of my headache to waft all the way down to my gut.

It's only been almost two days since Vegas.

Then my eyes shifted at the photos scattered on the table.

Franki.

Met her, flirted shamelessly, bar hopped and got married.

Quite a normal thing to do while crashing someone else's birthday party. Jodie texted me a few days ago that she was going to be in Vegas with Maza. We haven't seen each other for almost two years. I was there for IFW (International Fashion Week) so I decided to meet up. I'm not some high profile photographer but a friend who owed me big time hooked me up as a favor.

I stared at the photos laid on my table. I looked so happy, felt so happy. That feeling seems foreign to me nowadays.

Then I remember the first time I saw Franki.

I had just stepped out of the elevator and entered a casino floor that was noisy with countless people gambling and enjoying themselves. 

I walked past slot machines, dice, classic games, cards and of course roulette. I planned to hang around the latter but I had to look for Jodie first. I obviously wasn't going to stay at the party.

I think Maza hates me. We never really hung out, she always seemed distant. She can be a bit much, but she's funny and I like it when she starts being savage about petty things. Especially when it involves insulting some arrogant douche who's mostly Jodie's model friends. I don't exactly prefer their company.

Drink in hand, I bounced from one roulette table to another and found one to watch.

Then I saw her.

This petite brunette gingerly sipped her drink from the table across me. She was wearing a denim jacket with red, blue and white color block sleeves. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail with a cute but somehow uneven fringe that stuck to one side of her face. She was sitting on the edge of her seat as she played the game, acting like it was the most exciting thing she's ever done.

Cute.

She noticed me, our eyes met and her mouth twitched up forming a smile. She was still looking at me when she kissed a chip then set her bet on a single number. I haven't had enough liquid courage to start flirting but I somehow raised my eyebrow like I was questioning her number choice. She giggled and mouthed something like, 'I'm feeling lucky.'

My eyes were stuck on her, I may have also been smiling unconsciously as the wheel started spinning. The ball bounced for a while, all eyes were on it until it finally settled on a number. Franki leaned back and gasped.

She won.

She giggled excitedly and may have squealed for a bit, very high-pitched by the way it made me laugh out loud. Then her eyes bounced back at me. 

I started walking towards her.

"Can I buy you a drink?" She asked, no small talk or anything. Her smile was almost as bright as her eyes. Her light brown eyes. I immediately blushed because damn, there is most definitely some sort of a f*****g angel in front of me.

"I think you're my lucky charm, at least for tonight." She chuckled, without waiting for my answer. She collected her winnings and counted them with a pleased smile. Now that I'm beside her I noticed that she's already acting a bit mellow and drunk.

Still beautiful.

I'm just in awe.

I remember telling myself, 'Take a step back, Diana.'

My life may be a series of bad choices after bad choices but I definitely deserved to have a good time that night.

As I was starting to alphabetize my unfortunate life decisions, I finally caught a glimpse of Jodie in a table nearby. Sky was there. He visited me in New Zealand then we headed for a flight together. He met up with Jodie hours ago while I was still at the IFW event. Sky, Jodie and I go way back, our families are very close.

We talked for a few minutes but they were too busy catching up and were already super trashed. Maza was wearing this pink sparkly tiara and gave me a very slurry, 'Heeeeyyy Diyunuh!' after I greeted her happy birthday. I took a photo of that entire messy scene, smiled at the preview on my camera then went back to Franki.

Last thing I remembered was me taking more photos. Then we left and drank some more in maybe four or five other bar lounges. I'm pretty sure we also visited one of those silly photo booths.

Then I woke up in my hotel room.

With her.

It's okay. She'll most definitely be on her way soon. Pretty sure she has someone waiting for her somewhere.

Franki and I totally blacked out that night but I recalled us not running out of things to talk about. I may have asked her how many types of bread there are at one point, then we both laughed hysterically. Not because it was funny, but because we were absolutely drunk. We didn't talk about anything personal, just some random, silly things.

I dated a lot of women in the past but most of those dates were not inclusive of a meaningful or fun conversation. 

I like dating, it helps me get things out of my head. But it's hard for me to open up to someone. I have always been a very private person. From time to time I would just prefer a company, a distraction.

Sky is a different story, we've been tight since we were in diapers. Our families have been rooting for us to get together ever since. I think he may be the only person at the moment who truly understands me. I owe him a lot too, he's always there every time I mess up. Things have gotten more complicated ever since he went to London. His main priority is to please his parents and sometimes at the expense of his own happiness. We both have very chaotic lives but we keep checking up on each other, that keeps us sane.

When he's not around I mostly like being alone but when I find the right crowd, I blend in.

And I struggle to find it, all the time but that night was one of the best.

Thinking about how I almost always never catch a break, Franki definitely took some weight off my chest.

I tried to act poised and self-assured the following morning. I was in that kind of emotional state with her. I didn't even make her a cup of coffee because I sensed that my haughtiness turned her on. In return, she gave me one of the best morning kisses ever.

I've had a lot of morning kisses but it was different with her.

Her eyelids fluttered while I drowsily kissed her. Her tongue brushed against my bottom lip softly. It was so quick I wasn't sure if I imagined it so I wanted more. I begged for more by grabbing her and hungrily kissing her.

It was too good that something had to mess up. I knew this was going to happen. I knew something had to go wrong.

I can't remember when and how we decided to get married but it happened.

I mean, being married to Franki? Absolutely not a bad thing.

But when reality hits me, I think about all the things I have to deal with when I get back. I have to get a new job. A new place. Talk to my mom. I also needed to talk to Sky about some stuff. And Franki, I don't exactly know her.  It'll be too difficult and weird to explain to my friends and family, that's a lot of awkward conversations

Get your s**t together, Diana.

It was not my intention to ignore her that morning but I was so distracted thinking on how to go about things.

I asked around about quick annulments and sent Franki messages on i********: but she didn't respond.

She probably thinks I'm a d**k.

Fair enough.

I thought she wasn't going to my hotel room after how I acted that morning but there she was, on my bedroom door.

Next thing I knew my hands were buried in the back of her neck, kissing her, while I tangled my fingers in her messy but soft hair. She smelled like lavender.

I kept thinking, 'I'm sorry, I swear I'm not an asshole but I have a lot of things on my plate and my life's a mess. You deserve better.'

But I think I may have said something cliche that involved the words complicated and friends.

She asked me to go with her to the airport but I was on a flight with Sky. She was too sweet and too kind, and I was a jerk.

Now I'm here staring at the ceiling asking myself what am I doing with my life?

My former employer f****d me over because I found out he was a total creep. Everybody was talking about it but no one wanted to call him out. I think my last words were, 'What's the point of raising your issues? We can't just raise issues and do nothing.'

Then I may have done something and got fired.

They banned me from all the important clients in New Zealand. I couldn't get a decent job anywhere. They were powerful. I was ruined.

I had money saved up from my last few gigs and that Vegas job but it's not enough to keep me going for the next few months if I plan to stay in the Philippines.

Then I remembered my mom, I haven't spoken to her in so long. My dad and I were very close and when he died I didn't know how to manage my grief at a very young age. I acted out, associated myself with the wrong people and after a few years decided to move out. If she finds out I got married with a current career crisis she'd give me one of those, 'hate to say I told you so' looks. She said a lot of things when I moved out.

Sky is the only person my mom talks to. I miss her sometimes but I wanted to prove something to her before going back home. Finally got a big break in New Zealand, I was living grand but it didn't last long. I had to mess it up. 

I know I did the right thing but I still feel like a complete and utter failure. My heart suddenly sunk.

Times like these I would call Sky but he's currently busy having dinner with his family. He wanted to invite me but I said no.

I wanted to see Franki.

Stop.

I think I may have just rolled in bed all day waiting for a text from her. And eventually just fell asleep.

No texts.

I'm disappointed... mostly with myself.

Then Jodie called me and told me that her friends are already downstairs. Her friends that I absolutely detest but there's free booze and I really want a drink right now.

I'm also kind of expecting Franki to be there.

I fixed myself up and headed down to the bar. It's called The Bowery.

(A/N: This is a real restaurant in BGC but let's just turn it into a bar lol)

I saw Jodie, Maza and Juls. Where was everyone? Where are all the humorless, asshat male models? I'm expecting them to ruin my already uninspiring and miserable day.

Juls; Manila/Australia

"So this is a soft opening. I wanted to invite only the best people who have been a huge part of my life and who helped me make this possible." Jodie was making a toast.

"Aw babe, we love youuu!" Maza interrupted and ran towards her for a nice tight hug. Juls threw herself in and they were all looking at me.

"D, come on... Get in the TalaGang sandwich, come on." Jodie waved at me, a subtle 'come here'. Everyone was yelling and gesturing for me to join the hug. Maza invented TalaGang. Their favorite Tagalog word was talaga plus suffixing gang as an official clique nickname.

"Come on, I could really use the heat." Maza grinned, waggling her eyebrows.

"Okay, you just ruined it." Juls replied, rolling her eyes. We all laughed. I shyly walked towards them, gave a huge smile and shoved myself in the huddle.

I have to admit; it got me teary-eyed. I had quite an intense day with myself and I needed this.

Juls started blasting Comfort Crowd by Conan Gray.

♪ I just needed company now

Yeah, I just needed someone around

Yeah, I don't care what song that we play

Or mess that we make

Just company now

Comfort crowd ♪

They're the right crowd tonight.

Everyone was too busy making me feel better when the door slowly opened. My heart was beating so fast, I couldn't breathe for a second when I finally laid my eyes on the one person that I've been wanting to see tonight.

"Sorry I'm late."

I felt my gay soul left its body when I heard that adorable Aussie accent.

They gave her a quick hug then Jodie and Maza headed to the kitchen to get food. Juls was making her concoction of a Maza drink she calls, 'b***h From Hell.' Franki walks towards me, her eyes never leaving my sight until we were just inches away from each other.

She whispered, "Hello wife."

Someone's in a good mood.

Franki's subtle freckles dot her nose and cheeks and I remembered where else she had them. I felt a surge of endorphins as soon as the thought hit me. She was wearing a white cropped tank top, black bermuda shorts and white sneakers. Her fringe was pinned back and I think she sort of looked like Lily Collins.

"Hey bijes, come on over we're having the best mexican party!" Maza called out while putting on a fake mustache and wearing probably the most colorful sombrero that I've ever seen in my life.

"I thought this was like a cozy, intimate dinner—"

"Okay Einstein, stop being such a smartass and just go along with it." Maza interrupted Franki before she could even protest.

We all turned to face each other and laughed hysterically. It felt good to be a part of something for once.

This is the right crowd.

She is my comfort crowd.