Never Descending

Chapter 9

Game time

"Bakla, 'san ka na?" my friend Jess asked me from the phone.

Inikot ko ang manibela ng sasakyan bago sinagot ang nasa kabilang linya.

"Ito na, malapit na sa BGC. Nasan ba kayo?" I asked.

"Revel," he said.

Tumango ako. "Okay. Be there in a bit,"

I puckered my lips and created a popping kiss sound which caused my gay friend to cringe in disgust from the other line. Napuno ng halakhak ang loob ng sasakyan ko hanggang sa tuluyan na kaming nag-paalam sa isa't isa.

Pagkababa ko ng tawag ay hindi na rin naman nagtagal at nakarating na ako sa tinukoy na bar. I maneuvered the car and positioned it properly in the parking space. Nang masiguro ang pwesto noon ay lumabas na ako atsaka inayos ang suot.

I'm wearing black fitted leather skirt. It hugs my body well plus it tightly shapes my hips and waist. I paired it with a stylish bustier padded bralette. It's a cut out blouse that looks like a revealing tank top with a minimal crisscross detail on the chest part. I completed the look with a pair of open toe stilettos which are nude in color. 

My hair, on the other hand, was done with some loose curls and I just put the right amount of make-up on my face to highlight my assets.

The luxurious interior immediately welcomed me as soon as I went in. The fascinating design and neon lights of Revel never fail to stun me. Hindi maipagkakailang mas high-end ito kumpara sa ibang club dito sa The Palace. The trendiest EDM and mashed Hip Hop instantly blasted my ears.

Agad kong natagpuan ang couch nila Jess dahil inangat niya ang kamay niya sakin. Binaybay ko ang distansya hanggang makalapit sa pwesto nila. 

Ang naroon lang ay ang ilan pa naming kaibigan na vlogger din. Among everyone in the circle, Jess is the one I'm closest with  since we're already best buds since college. Mas nauna siyang pumasok sa industriya ng vlogging at inimpluwensiyahan niya lang ako.

"Iris!" Luke greeted me.

Bineso pa 'ko ng ilang naroon at saglit pang nakipagbatian sa iba bago ako tuluyang nakaupo sa tabi ni Jess. 

"Wow ang gwapo ha?" halakhak ko sa kaniya.

Jess prefers dressing up as a straight man although he's certain and open about his romantic preference. Sadyang yun lang ang gusto niya at sa ganoong pananamit siya kumportable. 

And boy, I can't blame those girls who keeps on mistakenly presuming that he's straight cause he's effortlessly attractive.

"Ano na bakla naka-bra ka na naman! Hindi ka ba kinakabag niyan?" he spat.

I chuckled. I swear, my night outs are not complete without Jess bashing me for my outfit. Well, for me that's just his way of complimenting me.

"Gaga hayaan mo na! Hubadera nga kasi ako ng taon diba? Paninindigan ko na," wika ko.

Natatawa pa ko habang inaalala ang bansag sakin ng mga tao sa social media dahil sa madalas na pagpopost ko ng mga litrato kung saan anila'y kinulang daw sa tela ang mga suot ko.

"Bakla ka talaga! Oh, shot na!" aniya.

He bended a bit towards the table to get me a drink.

"Jess I think you should stop calling Iris 'bakla'," singit ni Clara mula sa kabilang gilid ni Jess habang mapanuri ang mga tingin sa amin. "Ang sakit kasi sa tenga eh. It sounds... very inappropriate." dagdag niya pa bago maarteng hinawi ang buhok.

"Huh?" litong tanong ko. "Ba't naman? I don't have any problem with it. It's fine with me," 

Umarko ang kilay niya. "Well.. for me, being labeled as 'bakla' when I'm clearly a woman is just upsetting. Don't you agree?"

Napangiwi ako.

"No." I said while still finding it ridiculous. "I never really get offended whenever he calls me that. Kasi naman, hello, bukod sa term of endearment lang naman namin yun simula pa noon, ano namang masama sa pagiging bakla? There's nothing wrong with that. At isa pa, ang dami kayang magagandang gays and trans! Being called as one is rather flattering. Better take it as a compliment, Clara."

I tried to sound as casual as possible for I don't want to make things uncomfortable between us.

"Oo nga! Alam mo OA ka lang talaga," Jess told her. Even him was trying so hard to sound relaxed.

Hindi pa rin lumalambot ang ekspresyon ni Clara. She shrugged.

"Well.. my point is.. kung ikaw ba harap-harapang tatawaging bakla, Jess, hindi ka masasaktan?" she even turned to Jess. "Let's say... I told you this," tumuwid pa siya ng upo at tinignan nang diretso si Jess. 

"Bakla ka." mariing sabi niya habang may bakas ng kung ano ang boses.

Napanganga ako habang nakatingin sa kanya.

She then broke the eye contact then looked back and forth at me and Jess to prove a point. "See? That's rude, right?" aniya.

Napakurap-kurap ako.

"Carla.." I started.

Bumaling siya sakin at nag-angat ng kilay para mag-abang sa sasabihin ko.

"I think it's you who should stop using that term as an insult." I stated upon realization. "It looks like you've been perceiving that word as a weapon to degrade somebody all along. Napaka-problematic mo naman. You seriously needs to change your mentality. Stop using the term 'gay' as an insult because it's not."

Ilang beses na kumurap ang talukap ng mata niya na animo'y lasing na habang pinoproseso ang sinabi ko.

"Oh, oh. Chill," Jess interjected with a lively tone. "Let's not spoil the night! Come on! Carla! Iris!"

Umiwas ako ng tingin at halos umikot ang mata ko.

"Loosen up! Sige na inom ka lang dyan, Carla. Then Iris, tara sa dance floor?"

Jess tried so hard to end the glitch when there's not much to do anyway. As if naman makikipag-away ako nang wala sa lugar. Hindi naman ako mag-eeskandalo para sa kababawan ng babaeng ito. I won't stoop down to her level.

"Lasing na rin kasi 'yun. Pabayaan mo na," bulong sakin ni Jess nang kalaunan ay si Carla na mismo ang nagdesisyong makihalo sa crowd.

My eyes won't stop from rolling. Hindi pa rin naman sapat na dahilan yun para umakto siya nang ganun. She f*****g affronted my friend. And that's not okay with me. I don't let people harm my friends. They have to go against me first.

Sinubukan kong isantabi ang munting inis lalo pa't ginagawa ni Jess ang lahat para buhayin ang gabi.

"Alam mo maghanap ka na lang ng bagong jowa." he suggested. "Ilang araw ka na ring single. Alam mo naman ang pechay, hindi sanay nang hindi nadidiligan. Sige ka, baka malanta 'yan." halakhak niya.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. Excuse me? I dramatically flipped my hair. 

"I'm not like the other girls, Jess. My pechay just turns fresher when untouched." I tucked a strand behind my ear. "You know, queen things." I shrugged.

He made a face.

I grinned at his reaction.

"At isa pa.." simula ko nang biglang may maalala. "I don't think I can divert my attention to just anyone else right now." I meaningfully said. "I already have my eyes on someone,"

He looked at me curiously. Madrama akong lumagok ng inumin habang may makahulugang ngiti.

Jess tried to let me spill about this new guy that I'm talking about. Itago na lang natin sa pangalang Ace. I shook my head while smirking. Anyway, I chose to tell Jess about the trivial details only though. I don't really wanna give too much information. I'm not much of a kiss and tell type. 

I mean, it's not like I have some kissing to tell anyway. Technically, wala pa namang nangyayari samin. Pakipot kasi si Ace.

"Wait lang. Got to take a leak," paalam ko sa kalagitnaan ng kwentuhan at inuman namin.

He said okay before turning to an acquaintance who called him.

Unlike other bars, it's somehow safe to go alone in the bathroom here in Revel. Walang masyadong manyak. Hindi tulad sa ibang nightclub na madalas ay may mga nakaabang sa tabi-tabi.

It was just a quick restroom break for me. Pagkatapos ng saglit na retouch ay lumabas na rin ako. 

I lightly banged my head in a carefree manner with the very loud music. I was closing my clutch while walking when I bumped into a firm and solid figure. 

"I'm sorry-" a baritone voice rapidly said.

My head leveled his chest up to his lower neck.

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan.

That same voice.

This alluring musky scent.

The familiar masculine physique.

And a magnetizing body heat.

Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.

This is Ace.

I hitched my breathe as I slowly turned my head upwards to look at his face and confirm my hunch. 

Then our eyes gradually met.

His lips slightly parted at the sight of me.

Until his brows heavily furrowed.

Before he can even move or say anything, an idea snapped in my mind.

I bit my inner lip before starting to execute my plan.

Game time.