FrankiAna: I Dare You To

It’s Franki’s Fan-Meet Day today! Kaya lang may lakad kami ng family ko. Baka hindi ako makapunta, Diana told herself upon waking up, as she scrolls through her social media feeds.

One message received!

“Di. Hope you can come today. Argel is coming. It would be so much better if you would be there, too,” said the message from Franki.

Napabuntong hininga si Diana. She contemplated what to reply. After a minute, she held on to her phone and typed, “Franki, I’m sorry. We have this family gathering and I am not sure if I can attend your fanmeet day. I’m really sorry.” Message sent

Diana waited for five minutes but there was no reply from Franki’s end. She decided to get up, take a bath, then dress.

As they were inside the car, with her Mom Rowena, Diana blurted out while scrolling through her phone, “Ma, I need to go to Franki’s event. Malulungkot iyon.”

Rowena smiled as she looked at her daughter from the rear view mirror. “Diana, ano ba talagang real deal sa inyo ni Franki, anak?”

Diana looked up, surprised. “Ma?”

“Sabi ko, ano bang real deal sa inyo ni Franki? Kayo ba? Crush mo ba siya? Mahal mo ba siya? Puro ka Franki, e. Aalis tayo pero Franki pa rin,” pang aasar ng Nanay ni Diana sa kanya.

“Ma, ano? Shipper?” sagot ni Diana sa mommy niya. Natatawa. “Friends lang kami. Kiwi sisters.”

“Ewan ko sa inyo. Pakainin ko kayo both ng Kiwi, nang makita niyong kayo ang para sa isa’t isa!”

Napakamot sa noo si Diana, “Ma, please. Tara na. Ihatid mo na lang ako sa event ni Franki tapos, susunod na lang ako sa venue ng family gathering. I’d just take a Grab.”

Rowena started to drive. “Huwag na. Hihintayin na kita. Gusto mo, isama mo na rin si Franki mamaya.”

“Talaga, Ma?!” Sagot ni Diana na sobrang excited at ang laki ng ngiti.

“Yeah. Kung ganyan ba naman ka ganda ang mga mata mo tuwing sasabihin si Franki, kala mo may solar system.”

“Ma! Huwag mo na nga ako asarin.”

“Franki baby. Dapat siya ang baby mo,” pang aasar ng mommy niya lalo. “Hindi iyong ikaw ang tinatawag na bunso.”

Kitang-kita ang pagba-blush ni Diana pero hindi na ito sumagot sa kanyang ina. She took her phone. Still no reply from Franki.

Nevermind. I’d surprise her instead.

Diana arrived in the venue and she was welcomed by one of the organizers. Nang babatiin na siya ng usher sa front door, bigla niyang tinaas ang kanyang forefinger at nilapat sa bibig to mean, sshhh… She doesn’t want Franki to know that she’s here.

“Huwag mo muna sabihin kay Franki, ah?” Diana said. “Sure, Di. Pero kanina pa nag start ang meet and greet. Pasok ka na!”

Papasok na sana si Diana pero bigla siyang nag pause. She realized she went empty handed. “Ay, wait lang. Bibili lang ako ng flowers.”

“Di, wag na! May flowers namang binigay si Argel kanina. OK na ‘yan!” awat sa kanya ng usher.

“Uhm, no. This will just be quick, swear.” Diana left with a smile.

Diana went to the nearest flower kiosk. She saw lilies. 

Damn. These look so good. Pink lilies. Wait, the movie… Diana told herself.

Diana rushed to the event and she was welcomed by cheers from Franki’s fans. But the loudest cheers were from who she believes are the FrankiAna fans.

Franki was sitting on the table far from the entrance but she looked toward Diana’s direction as the fans were screaming. She saw Diana bearing a bouquet of lilies. They walked toward each other’s direction and greeted each other with a warm hug. Mas lumakas ang hiyawan.

Diana handed her the bouquet of lilies. “Thank you, Di! Please take a seat.”

Diana sat on the seat near Franki, on the same table, while Franki placed the bouquet at the stage first.

“I thought you weren’t coming!” Franki asked with a surprise in her voice.

“Well,” Diana started. “I am here. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Franki smiled at Diana. “Thank you, Di. This means a lot.”

Regular programming went back. They shared different stories, took photos together, and took photos with the happy fans. An intermission number came and the song was Perfect by Ed Sheeran.

Diana’s head was down as she was looking through her phone while Franki was singing along. Then,

♪♫ I see my future in your eyes

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song ♫♪

Franki looked at Diana while singing along during the part of the song that says, “Baby, I’m…”

Diana noticed it but she continued to just look at her phone.

Did that look from Franki mean anything? And those lyrics? And she looked, sad… Diana told herself while playing with her phone.

The song ended and everyone clapped their hands for the performer. 

“Perfect song, right?” Franki asked.

“Yeah. The title is Perfect by Ed Sheeran,” Diana answered.

Franki laughed. “That’s not what I meant!”

As Diana was about to clarify what Franki meant, bigla niyang nadinig na tinatawag siya ng host. “Diana!”

Diana looked around, with a puzzled face. “Yes?!”

“Message ka naman, Di!”

“Message for?”

Everybody laughed. Hello, Diana? Earth to Diana?

The host answered, “For Franki!”

Oh. Kung anu-ano kasing nasa utak mo, Di. Great.

Tumayo si Diana papunta sa stage at kinuha ang mic sa host.

“For me!” sabi ni Franki bago pa siya magsimula.

Diana stood in front of everybody, smiling, and started her message with, “Thank you sa support niyo para kay Franki. She deserves all this happiness and love. And Franki, I love you very much ---" Fuck!!!

Naghiyawan ang lahat ng tao nang marining nila ang sinabi ni Diana. Tawa nang tawa si Diana pero deep inside, sabi niya ay, Fuck! What did I just say?!

“As a friend, I…” Diana tried to save herself from the pit hole she made. She laughed while everybody was cheering. Cheer na may kasamang kilig. Nagtatalon ang mga fans, nagsisigaw, nagpapapadyak sa sahig.

Biglang lumapit si Franki kay Diana para yakapin siya. Franki stayed by her side, holding her waist, as Diana concluded her speech. Mas naghiyawan ang mga tao sa paglapit ni Franki.

“Thank you sa support niyo kay Franki --,” Diana ends her speech then Franki butts in “and Diana!” Franki points at Diana using her left arm as her right was still around Diana’s waist.

Diana was smiling all through out. She looks at Franki and it was as if everything was in slowmo. The crowd cheering and Franki smiling at them. She went back to reality as the host tugged the mic from her.

“Thank you very much, Di! Group photo naman tayo. Franki, Diana, then Argel!”

Argel went in front. As he was about to put his right arm around Franki, Diana suddenly placed her left arm on Franki’s left shoulder and tugged her closer. Franki looked at her and smiled.

Their photos were taken and soon enough, the party ended.

Argel bid goodbye to everyone. On the other hand, lumapit naman si Diana kay Franki. “Franki, would you like to come with me? Join us for our family dinner. Mom is waiting and she said, I can ask you to come with us,” Diana asked Franki.

“Really?!” Franki verified. 

“Wouldn’t it be too much? Your whole family would be there!”

“No. OK lang iyon. You’re family,” Diana assured Franki. “Kiwi sisters, right?” she ended with a smile.

“Yeah… Kiwi Sisters,” Franki said with somewhat a sad tone.

“Is everything OK?”

“Of course! Sorry, I was just spacing out, Di,” Franki said. “Let me just make sure everyone is OK and I’d tell them I would go ahead.”

“Sure. I’ll also just change my clothes. I’d be back here so we can go where Mom is, OK?”

“OK.” Franki smiled as she took the bouquet of lilies from the table where she placed it earlier. “See you in a while. I’d change, too.”

In a few minutes, they went back to the event place. Franki went back earlier than Di. As she looked at the entrance, with the bouquet in her hands, she saw Diana. She was wearing a black top, black pants, and black boots. Her chest was showing a little, but lesser than how her clothes revealed her bossoms earlier. She also had this some horizontal line from her dress that is placed on her neckline. It was as if the top was meant to highlight her chest. Gulps.

Franki also noticed the tight-fitting pants and the black boots. Everything looked so good on her.

“Shall we?” Diana approached her excitedly.

“Oh. Yeah. Let’s go.” Franki said. 

“Bye, guys!” she told to the staff who were cleaning up. “Thank you so much for everything you have done today! I love you all!”

“Thank you, Franki! We love you!” the staff returned.

The two girls went out and walked side by side. Franki was still holding her bouquet. 

As they were waiting for the car to arrive, Franki said, “I love it, Di.” Out of the blue, while looking and picking at the flowers.

“I’m glad you did.” Diana looked at Franki, smiling, and Franki smiled back.

“Hey, Kiwi sisters!” Diana’s mom started blowing the horns of the car to get their attention. Mama naman, eh!

“Tara na. Hop on!” Rowena added, inviting the two girls to get inside the car. 

“Thank you for inviting me, Tita!” Franki greeted Diana’s mom.

“We actually had to go somewhere earlier but Diana insisted to come to your meet and greet,” Rowena told Franki as she started to drive. She was smiling while she was looking at Diana by the rear view mirror, who was beside Franki at the back seat. “She said you would be sad if she wouldn’t be there. Are you happy to see her, Franki?”

“She said that, Tita?” Franki asked, surprised. 

Loko talaga ‘tong nanay ko, eh. Daig pa shippers kanina.

“She did.” Rowena confirmed. “Right, Diana?”

“Ma… you’re embarrassing me,” she answered shyly as she turned her head to look at the window. 

Franki looked at Diana and held her chin so she would look at her. While smiling, she said, “I’m happy you came, Di.”

Diana was stunned with what Franki did. She was just looking at Franki and she couldn’t say anything. Gulps. She is way too close. 

Diana looked at Franki’s eyes then at her lips. Gulps. What. The. Fu—

“And I really like the flowers. I love them.” Franki added.

As Diana was about to lean in closer “Whoo! Kiwi sisters for the win!!!” her Mom suddenly shouted.

At nagising bigla si Diana. She looked at her mom by the rear view mirror, licked her lips and said, “I’m… *coughs* I’m glad I came, too, Franki. It was fun to see everybody. Argel was there, tapos your fans! They looked so happy… right?”

Franki placed her hand down which was holding Diana’s chin. She placed her head on Diana’s shoulder. “Yeah. It was fun!”

Diana stared by the rear view mirror, looking at her mom, as if they were talking. Ma, panira ka moment. Ma, thank you, niligtas mo ako. Muntik ko nang… Ewan ko sa 'yo anak. Dapat ba hindi ako sumigaw?

Tumatawa ang mommy ni Diana habang nag da-drive habang si Diana, napabuntong hininga. Sigh. At ang bango talaga ni Franki. Parang ang sarap niyang maha--- Fuck, Diana. Ano ba?

Franki enjoyed the family dinner. She never felt she was different. They sat beside each other. Diana introduced her to everyone. “Hey! This is Franki. My friend from PBB.”

As everyone was leaving, Rowena approached Diana. “Anak. Sasabay na ako kanila Tita mo. Ihatid mo na si Franki. Huwag mo kalimutang mag collect ng points!” sabay kindat kay Diana.

“Ma! Loko ka talaga!” biglang sinabi ni Diana. “Mamaya, madinig ka ni Franki!” 

“MaMaYaa MaDINig kA nI FrAnKi! Ewan ko sa 'yo. Ang bagal mo,” kutya ni Rowena sa kanyang anak. “Eh kanina lang…” naputol ang sinasabi ni Rowena dahil tinakpan bigla ni Diana ang bibig ng kanyang ina. Sabay namang dumating si Franki. 

“You two are really cute. Mother and daughter!” she said while laughing. 

Rowena took Diana’s arm away from her mouth. She extended her arm to pull Franki closer. “Franki, remember that you are family.” Rowena hugged Franki and in return, Franki said, “Thank you, Tita. I really enjoyed this day. Especially tonight. I met all of you!”

“I’m leaving na. I will let Diana drive you home, OK?” Rowena motioned toward Diana and said, “’Yung sinasabi ko sa 'yo, ah! Huwag babagal-bagal!”

“Ma!” sabi ni Diana. “Umuwi ka na. Maiiwan ka na nila Tita! Babye na. Babye.” Diana kissed her mom goodbye.

“Bye, Tita!” Franki waved goodbye.

“Do you want to drive to Tagaytay?” Diana asked Franki. Wow, Diana? Biglaan? Anong pumasok sa isip mo?

“Now?” Franki asked with sparkle in her eyes.

“Uhm, yeah.”

“I would love to! But our clothes? Oh. Let’s just buy? But…”

“I have extra clothes there. Let’s stay in our Tagaytay condo.”

“Netflix and chill?”

DOES SHE KNOW WHAT IT REALLY MEANS?! Diana started to panic, a bit. She tried to remain calm. “Uhm…”

Then Franki added, “Watch movies or whatever on Netflix, or downloaded ones! Let’s grab some food from a convenience store, and we sleep after! Chill, right?”

“Oh. Yeah. Right. Netflix, watch, then, uhm, chill.” Diana gulped after. This girl will be the death of me. “Tara na?”

After a short drive to the convenience store, they continued their travel to Tagaytay. Finally, they arrived.

“We’re here!” Diana told Franki.

“This is a nice place, Di. Do you go here often?”

“Not really. Just when there’s something important, or something special,” Diana started to fix all the snacks they’ve bought while turning the TV on as well.

“Special, huh?” Franki started. And with a complete stutter in the Filipino language but still trying, she said, “Ilan na guys or baba-e dala mo here?” 

Diana was shocked, she was looking for an answer. She can’t say anything then, 

“That’s what they normally say, right?” Franki said. “Like it’s a joke!” she started to laugh.

Diana laughed. And in a whisper, she said, “Ikaw pa lang.”

“Did you say anything, Di?”

“Nothing! What do you want to watch?” Diana handed her the remote and she sat beside Franki on the sofa, with half of arm length as distance.

“Hmmm…” Franki started scrolling though the Netflix collection. Diana was checking on her nails.

“What do lilies mean, Di?”

Diana was astonished. She looked at Franki. “Uhm. Lilies?”

“Yeah. The flowers you gave me. They were beautiful. I was told you didn’t really have those when you came so you made your way to buy me one.” Franki put down the remote. She twisted her body so she would be facing Diana. Franki moved closer to Diana. This time, the gap was nowhere. She held Diana’s hands.

“Were they just randomly picked?” she said while caressing the other girl’s hands.

Diana looked at Franki. She wet her lips before answering. She also cleared her throat. “Lilies mean…”

Franki just looked at Diana, waiting for an answer she already knows. It shows that she knows what they mean and it’s up to Diana to tell the truth.

“I am afraid it’s something you would not want to know…” Diana uttered, with her thumb slowly rubbing one of Franki’s hands.

“Try me. I want to know.” Franki enthused while her other hand slowly went up to trace Diana’s left jaw.

Gulps. Sasabihin ko na ba talaga? Paano kapag nagbago ang lahat? “Huwag kang babagal-bagal,” naalala ko na namang sabi ni Mom!

Franki looked at Diana’s lips while her finger was busy tracing Diana’s jaw. Then she brushed the other girl’s hair away from her face, tucking the strands to her ear. Then she looked at Diana’s eyes, waiting for an answer.

“It means, I dare you to…” Diana said while looking back at Franki’s eyes. “I dare you to love me.”

And in that moment, as if on cue, Franki pulled Diana by her chin and kissed her lips.

Diana started to move her lips to brush Franki’s and Franki did the same. It was Franki who pulled away first. With her eyes still closed, all Diana could say was, “Wow.” And she opened her eyes. She saw Franki biting her lips.

“Yeah. Wow.” Franki said in return, smiling at her.

Diana’s head went forward and captured Franki’s lips. This time, the kiss had more vigor yet still gentle. Franki started to place her tongue inside Diana’s mouth and Diana did the same. She slowly lay Franki down on the sofa. She’s on top of her and Franki was pulling her hair. She hears Franki’s small moans. Damn.

Franki’s right hand went to Diana’s left waist and slowly squeezed it as Diana’s tongue played with hers.

And in between kisses, both of them were smiling.

“Di…” Franki moaned Diana’s nickname as she smiled from the kiss and went back to kissing the girl on top of her. From Diana’s waist, her hand went up and grabbed Diana’s left boob.

Photo from twitter user mandybba