Prank

Chapter 1. Prank

NOONG nakaraang taon pa nagparamdam si Nicolea sa kanyang matalik na kaibigan na sa palagay niya ay tomboy siya. She was told by her friend that it must've been because of that Identity versus Role Confusion. It's the fifth stage of ego according to psychologist Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. This stage occurs during adolescence between the ages of approximately twelve and eighteen. During this stage, adolescents explore their independence and develop a sense of self.

Aminado siyang at some point ay nalito siya sa kanyang sexual preference. She even thought she had a huge crush with her girl best friend. Pero ngayo'y sigurado na siyang pusong-babae siya. She never had relationships with same sex, she still liked guys and definitely would love to get married to a man in the future. Kaya sigurado siyang hindi siya lesbian o tomboy.

She was sixteen when she decided to prank her best friend by telling she's a lesbian. Noon pa ma'y mahilig na siya sa mga pranks kaya alam niyang mahuhuli agad siya ng kaibigan kung hindi niya pagpa-planuhing mabuti ang pagpa-prank sa kaibigan niyang si Sarah Yvonne. This vacation, her friend will visit her in Davao where they're settling now. Rating naninirahan sa Luzon ang mag-anak niya at doon nakilala si Yvonne- ang nag-iisang matalik niyang kaibigan noon.

"Sige na naman na. Ipa-prank ko lang iyong kaibigan ko. Magpanggap ka lang na jowa ko," pakiusap niya sa kaklase niyang lalaki.

"No."

Napasimangot siya.

Jave Harold was her first friend when they moved to the province. Ka-seatmate niya rin ito sa klase kaya nama'y talagang naging malapit siya rito.

"Ayaw mo talaga?" she asked. "Sa susunod na linggo bibisita si Yvonne. I just want to prank her that I am a lesbian, you know."

"And how does that concern me? I'm a guy, Nic," naniningkit ang mga matang tanong nito sa kanya. They both went to the mall to buy some school supplies they'll be needing. Natagalan pa lalo dahil bumili siya ng damit na swak sa fashion sense ng mga lesbian na na-search niya sa internet. Ngayo'y kumakain sila sa isang sikat na fast-food restaurant.

"Because you are perfect."

Tiim-bagang siya nitong tinitigan.

"I mean, binilhan na kita ng damit, o! You won't have to cross dress, itong mga damit ang susuotin mo. Nakita mo naman, 'di ba?" Tinuro niya ang mga paper bags na nasa katabing upuan.

"No," tanggi nito.

She faked a pout and tried to catch his gazes. Pero ang damuho ay nag-iwas ng tingin. He even snubbed her!

"See! That's what I'm talking about. You are a beautiful creature, Jave. Wala ka mang gawin, mangingibabaw at mangingibabaw pa rin ang kagandahang-lalaki mo."

"Stop saying I'm beautiful. I am a guy." He pointed his gender.

"I know. And you're beautiful. Kaunting ayos ko lang sa iyo, nasisiguro kong mas maganda ka pa sa akin."

He idly sipped on his cola.

"Sige na kasi. Isang araw lang, promise!"

Still, he strongly disagreed.

Tumahimik siya at kumain na.

"Saan ka pa pupunta matapos nito?"

"Club."

"You will not go there."

"Why not? I went there once."

"At nahuli ka dahil underage ka. Wala ka bang kadala-dala? Kung hindi dahil sa pinsan ko ay hindi ka makakalusot doon."

That was true. She went clubbing last week and pretended she's on legal age. But a freshman college told a bouncer that she's familiar to her so they came to check her ID, but when she didn't present one, they asked her to just go home. Kaso nagpumilit siya na nasa legal age siya. That's where Jave's cousin meddle and drove her home. That dela Costa told her parents what she just did and now, she's grounded for a month. Kung hindi nga lang siya pinagpaalam ni Jave ay hindi siya makakalabas ngayon.

"Tara na, ihahatid ka na namin."

"I said no. My parents knew I'm with you and they won't suspect I'll go clubbing."

"Ayokong sirain ang tiwala ng parents mo sa akin."

How nice.

"Kaya nga, samahan mo na ako."

"Pareho tayong underage."

"Dali na kasi."

"Ano ba'ng gagawin mo sa club?"

Ngumisi siya. "Hahanap ng lesbian na magpapanggap bilgang girlfriend ko."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"No, I'm not kidding and definitely not fucking you."

"Umuwi ka na. Puro kalokohan ang nasa utak mo," he decided then shook his head.

"Sige na. I'll just look at the school. May lesbian naman sa kabilang section, or I'll just ask some of our girl classmates to pretend as one."

"Why don't you just give up? Ano ba'ng makukuha mo riyan?"

"Nothing. I just really want to prank Yvonne."

Nagtangis ang bagang nito.

"That's not a funny prank, Nic."

Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi nito.

"And, oh, I saw some adult magazines in your room the other day. Hiniram ko muna iyong tatlo." Malapad ang ngising untag niya.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Paano mong nahanap ang nga iyon?"

"They're under the bed, I was looking for the pair of my slippers but I accidentally saw those magazines, then I immediately slid some copies inside my backpack."

Sinamaan siya nito ng tingin.

"Don't worry, hindi nalukot ang alinman sa mga pahina," paniniguro niya.

"Ibalik mo ang mga iyon." Tumawa siya ng nakakaloko. Hindi na siya magtataka kung may mga pornography videos man itong naka-save sa laptop nito at naka-folder pa.

"In fairness, ah, magaganda ang katawan ng mga nakahubad doon. Iba-ibang lahi pa, 'no? Pero parehong malalaki ang mga dyoga." She's pertaining to the models' boobs.

"Damn you, Nicolea," he cursed.

"Damn you, too," nakangising sagot niya. "I didn't know you're this naughty," tukso niya.

Kahit magandang-lalaki kasi si Jave ay wala siyang nabalitaang naging girlfriend nito. Napag-isipan na nga itong bakla noon dahil sa may kapayatan at sa unang tingin ay aakalain mong babae. Pero nasisiguro niyang magiging iba ang pananaw ng mga tao kay Jave kapag nagsimula na itong mag-binata nang husto. At kapag naglaan na ng oras sa pagpapa-gwapo. Effortless na nga kasi may itsura na. He just needed to enhance his manly features, para naman hindi mapagkamalang tomboy o bakla. She had nothing against third sex, it's just that she knew that her friend wasn't one. He's a guy, like what he's always saying. Well, hindi nga lang manly. He's just so beautiful.

"So?" she asked, about him imposing as her girlfriend.

Pumikit ito ng mariin at hindi siya sinagot.

Hindi na rin sila nag-imikan hanggang sa ihatid na siya nito sa kanila. Jave knew how to drive but his parents still didn't want to let him drive. Kaya may driver pa rin ang huli.