I thought it was just the disco lights giving a beautiful blue shade to her hair, not until now that I’m able to adjust myself from her presence. I didn’t’ even bother checking on it while we were in the toilet. It’s a blue highlight of around five inches from the tip of her hair which made her look even more attractive. Some of the strands were beautifully lying on her shoulder, adding beauty to her pretty face.

“… it again,” she said.

“W-what?” Sherri, focus!

“I said, try to dial it again.”

“Oh, okay.” But her phone was locked so I handed it back to her.

“Oops. Sorry. If you don’t mind, can I ask for your name?” she asked.

“It’s Sherri.”

And she typed something. When she handed her phone back to me, I was caught off-guard. She saved my number and I didn’t expect that! My heart’s waving in pure joy! I’m trying not to make it obvious but I’m just so giddy right now!

And just when I thought I was good at not making it so obvious, she explained, “Oh, I’m sorry. Just for the sake of recognizing your number. Who knows if no one will really answer now, someone might do so later. I don’t usually answer unknown or unsaved numbers.”

Whatever, it made me smile. If only she knew my heart’s like flying in cloud 9, she’d definitely won’t explain.

“Really, it’s fine. I’m the one who has to apologize for taking so much of your time.”

“Don’t worry about that. Go ahead. Give it a try again.”

Yeah, right. I must call my number. Don’t forget the plan Sherri!

“Alright. But first, if you also don’t mind, can I ask for your name?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I’m Gabby,” she offered her hand for that most special hand shake. Why no one informed me that a hand shake could be so special, I don’t even want to wash my hand? Her fingerprints on my palm.

Sherri, stop flirting, will you? You just got her name! You did it! Second mission accomplished! That’s more than enough!

“Nice name!” I said.

And didn’t I remind myself not to flirt?

I wasn’t! I’m being appreciative. That’s all!

She smiled at my comment. Heavens above, spare me from screwing this night and please inform John not to answer my call because I’m having the best night of my five years, so far.

I dialed my number again, and viola, no answer. I shook my head and handed the phone to Gabby. Gabby. Now, I have her name.

“Nothing. Anyhow, leave it. I think I can handle my Dad killing me.”

“How about we inform their management?”

No! Informing their management means it’s the end of our conversation, Gabby. Don’t you get that?

“Can we wait for like five to ten minutes? Just in case someone will call. Oh, no. Sorry. I’m holding you for too long already. Let —-”

“No!” she reacted immediately. “I mean, it’s fine. I can stay with you for a while. And besides I need some air, so it’s really fine. If you don’t mind, too, that I’m staying with you.”

“Of course!” You have no idea Gabby. “I mean, I’m with all guys anyway, not that it’s a bad thing, I’m just tired of their faces.” I tried to joke. I hope it wasn’t lame because she seemed to take a pause in breathing. Did I sound like a bitch to her? “Please don’t get me wrong. I’m pertaining to my best friends. They’re my friends since I was a freshman high school and they’re on their sophomore years.” I explained.

“Oh, and they’re all guys? No ladies?”

Am I not enough Gabby?

“I’m the only rose among five thorns. As crazy as it may seem, I kinda like it that way. You see, we came from a private school in high school and reality bites, most of them were rich kids and you know, there were plenty of ‘ouch, that hurts’ and ‘eww, that so gross’ for things that didn’t deserve one. I couldn’t stand it.”

She laughed “I get it. I get it. You don’t’ really have to tell me the rest of the story. That simply explains it.”

Oh, her laugh made me smile, a lullaby to my ears. “How about you, what’s your story?” the question she didn’t expect.

“My story?”

“Yeah.”

She shrugged. “Nothing special. Third of four siblings. Unfortunately, we are all males,” she smirked.

Wait, what? We are all males? And she smirked, too!

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, the three of my siblings are all males as my older sister is also boyish.”

No, Gabby! I think you meant something else! There’s tingling in my stomach full of excitement!

“Also boyish? There’s someone else boyish? Wait! She’s a lesbian?”

“Nope. Just boyish.”

She didn’t answer my second question! Exciting!

“No, wait! You said you’re all males and your older sister is also boyish. You meant you’re the other boyish, right? So, you’re a lesbian?” my direct question with a prayer that hopefully, hopefully she’d be honest enough.

I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t stop it. It’s not in our script but I’m so sorry, director! I hope myself can understand.

“No! Of course not! Does boyish immediately implicates being a lesbian?” she answered annoyingly. She seemed pisse. As much as I’m already guilty because of this set-up, I’m also convinced now that I am right about her. Well, at least more than 60% right about her.

“I’m sorry if I offended you but you’re sure you’re not a lesbian?” You’re way beyond the line, Sherri. Way beyond the line. But it’s for Denmark’s sake!

Is it, Sherri?

“No, I’m not. If you think I’m a soft butch or a femme for some instances, I am totally not.”

That’s it! You just said it! You’re too defensive now!

“So, how’d you know about the soft butch and the femme if you’re not a lesbian?”

Sherri, take it slow, alright? Baby Gabby’s not in the mood anymore and she might take it out on Denmark. You don’t’ want to have an issue with Denmark later, right?

“Well, research?”

“You researched about lesbians?”

“Yes. Got curious. How about you, how did you know that soft butch or a femme is a type of lesbian?” she threw the question back at me.

“Because I’m a bisexual,” my direct answer.

I believe that to make someone talk is for you to talk. And I’m out and proud, so, I don’t have any reason to hide it. Oh, not totally out, by the way. Dad has no idea yet.

“Bisexual? You mean you like both genders?” she widened her eyes, it made me smile.

I nodded. “Yeah. But I get attracted to butches only, not on femmes. I mean, to boyish ones not the girlish.”

But you can still be wrong, Sherri, right? You act boyishly sometimes, too.

No, I couldn’t be wrong!

“Are you serious?” I got her attention even more.

I nodded. “Why?”

“And that’s fine with you?”

“Which one? That I’m a bisexual? Or what other people will say?”

“Both.”

“Of course. The world might not accept me, but I accept myself. Why? Don’t you accept yourself?”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “What are you talking about? I told you, I’m not a lesbian. I may be boyish but I’m not a lesbian. I’m even wearing shorts, right now. That’s more than enough.”

I wanted to answer her back but the ring on her phone stopped me. It wasn’t from my number. She really isn’t answering unknown or unsaved numbers! She just stared at it and showed it to me.

+63975…3689

When she’s about to cancel it, I stopped her.

“Don’t! It’s John’s.”

“John?”

“One of my best friends. Maybe he found my phone, but I just remembered now that I don’t have a load. ”

 “And he knows your phone lock and you memorized his number?”

I nodded “Only John knew my phone lock, as he’s the closest to me, really like an older brother. Now, about his number, I just actually memorize the last four digits.”

Now, back to business, Sherri. You almost forgot the plan!

She didn’t comment about it anymore. “Ahh, okay. Just answer it,” she said handing her phone to me.

I spoke to John even if it’ll make me sad to see Gabby go! I must accept that some things are just the way it should be.

Before we could leave to go inside, I saw John walking with Denmark towards us.

“Hey, Princess,” John greeted. “Here, your phone. It fell before you went to toilet. You have to be thankful I was just behind you when it fell, else, your Dad will kill you.”

“Why didn’t you at least tell me if you were just behind me?” I asked so she won’t smell somethings up.

“We were calling out your name, but you didn’t hear us,” it’s Denmark who answered. A sign that I have to introduce them.

“Oh, by the way, Gabby, I’m really sorry I forgot to introduce them. Meet my best friends, John and Denmark. Guys, meet Gabby.”

“Hi, Gabby!” the two greeted, with smiles to their ears, especially Denmark. Gosh! These crazies can’t stop themselves. Can they just be less interested, so it won’t be obvious?

Gabby just nod her head, looking so uninterested. I know because she wasn’t like that to me or maybe I already changed her mood. You are so dead Sherri!

“Uhm, Sherri, I think I need to head back inside. Might my friends are looking for me as well,” Gabby’s start of saying goodbye.

“Alright. Really, thank you so much.”

She nodded again and excused herself before leaving. As much as I wanted to continue talking I can’t. So, I decided to run towards her just to bid farewell without the two hearing.

“Gabby!”

She stopped walking and slowly walked to meet me.

“Really, thank you so much for the help and your effort. And just I want to say sorry about my friends.”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind. Just really my friends might be looking for me already.”

Was it really because of your friends or about our last topic?

“O-okay. Alright.”

“Uhm. Sherri, if you don’t mind. Can you please delete my number from your friend’s call log? It might sound rude or something, but I just don’t want anyone to know my number.”

Ouch! They’d be hurt. But they should have seen this coming, right? She’s not dumb not to figure it out.

“Okay. I’ll tell them.”  

Alright, strict Gabby. As much as I want to ask if I’m included in deleting your number, I decided not to because you’re not in the mood anymore, so I must let it go.

I have her number and yes, I’ll delete it from John’s call logs.

And my call logs? Certainly, no. Because I think I’m not over yet proving you have that shade of blue, too.