The Magnificent Women of Rafael Silvestre

Lie #8: Carnation Espiritu

DELANO'S. DITO SA PIONEER STREET SA MANDALUYONG. BILISAN MO.

Tatlo pa lang sa mga kabit ni Rafael ang kilala ko. But here's the thing. He might think that I gave him the license to flirt further when I showed him the video. Ang walang hiya, he went out to see one more.

That message was actually from Lincoln. Mabuti na lang at nasa area lang ako, somewhere in Capitol Commons. I came to see one person for a business deal. Sort of.

I rushed to the restaurant that Lincoln mentioned. Alam ko ang lugar. Ilang beses na kaming kumain doon ni Rafael. And it was not a surprise anymore that he's bringing another slut in that place.

In fifteen minutes, I arrived. Agad kong nakita ang magaling kong asawa. He was surely flirting with the... woman? I'm not sure.

I walked towards them and greeted them nicely. "Good day."

"L-Lolli?" Napatindig si Rafael. Nahinto ang paghalik nito sa leeg ng katabi nitong... babae.

"Yes, Rafael. Would you like to introduce me to her?"

I looked at the one beside her and I am right. She wasn't really a woman.

Tumayo ito at nakipagkamay sa akin. "I'm Carnation Espiritu."

I took the hand and it was firmer than a woman's. "Hello, Carnation. I'm Lolita."

"Lolli, please let's not fight here. Nakakahiya sa mga tao," bulong ni Rafael.

Umiling lang ako. "Rafael, you know I am not a scandalous person. Do you mind if I join you?"

As if namang may nagawa pa sila nang naupo na ako. Tinanong ko na agad si Carnation. "How are you related to him, dear?"

"I'm the head of a non-profit organization that assists trans women like me to fight discrimination and inequality," tugon nito. "Siya ang nakuha kong lawyer for one of our cases sa org."

Napatingin ako kay Rafael at kumindat. "You're kinky, huh? I never expected this in the last twelve, thirteen years we're together."

"Please, we're just doing business," tanggi pa ng impakto.

"Business? Hinahalikan ang leeg ng client?" Bumaling naman ako kay Carnation. "Dear, girlfriend ka ba ng asawa ko?"

Napapitlag si Carnation. "A-Asawa? You said you were single?"

Biglang kumabig si Rafael. "That's an understatement. I never said anything. I didn't even say I was married."

"Well, the wedding ring isn't there, to begin with. So, I understand, dear," sabi ko.

Rafael sighed. "It was in the car."

Inirapan ko na lang ito. "Anyway, Carnation, just so you know, you are the fifth woman in his life. Just a few days ago, I talked to the other three."

Tiningnan ako nang masama ni Rafael. "Hindi mo kailangang gawin 'yon kasi."

"At ikaw? Kailangan mo talagang magtaksil?" agad na balik ko kay Rafael. Hindi ito nakasagot sa akin.

"This is some serious shit," komento ni Carnation.

"It is. But don't worry. I told him that he can do anything with his mistresses. Fuck, commit, have babies. I allowed him to do such. I'm infertile, Carnation."

Bakas sa mukha nito ang pagkagulat. "I'm sorry, but if you were, what makes you think I can bear him a child? Baka nga mas malaki pa ang akin kaysa sa kanya," Carnation giggled after saying that.

Sabay na nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni Rafael. "Are you fucking serious, Carnation? But you have boobs!"

"Of course, nakapagpagawa ako sa Thailand some years ago. Pero 'yong kargada ko, nandito pa rin."

Suddenly, I saw a mischievous smirk on Rafael's face. "Hey, honey. Kinky, right? Do you want to do a threesome with Carnation?"

Umarko agad ang kanang kilay ko. "Threesome?"

"That sounds fun," Carnation agreed.

Umiling agad ako. "I, ah... I don't know. I'm not... I can't."

"Why not? I mean, you can have both of best worlds with me," ani Carnation na may kasama pang pagkindat.

"I'm getting hard right now," bulong ni Rafael.

Tinapik naman ito ni Carnation. "Not here, you silly."

I cleared my throat and composed myself. "How long have you been dating?"

"Siguro, eight days na rin?" Carnation unsurely mentioned.

"And I didn't know she still had a dick," agad na sabi ni Rafael.

"In love ka sa asawa ko?" I grinned.

After that, they shared this stare, as if something sticky is settling between them. Teenagers lang?

Nagkibit-balikat si Carnation. "I don't know. He's such a debonair. And that day we met, I'm just a trans woman standing in front of a man, asking him to—"

"Be the lawyer of their trans woman murder case," putol ni Rafael.

"But he was so hot! Tsaka, hello, sino ba naman ang hindi bibigay sa ganito kaguwapo? Ikaw, Lolita, maganda ka. Mukha kang edukada. May class. Ako, trans woman. Dini-discriminate pa rin ng mundo. Masama pa rin sa paningin ng maraming tao. He gave me attention, I took it. Marupok lang. Sorry na."

Rafael chuckled. "I like women who stand up for their rights. This woman, right here, si Lolita, she's always been an advocate of children's rights. Marami na siyang natulungang institutions that cater to children's health and safety."

"We can be sisters, Lolita, yes?" excited na wika ni Carnation.

Nasapo ko na lang ang ulo ko. Seryoso ba ang babaeng ito? "The last three whores I met were furious. Tapos ikaw, gusto akong maging ka-close? Please. As much as I adore how passionate you are with your organization and with my husband, I'd spare the drama for now. But we'll have more of it later. Anyway, I'm leaving. Kanina pa ako yosing-yosi."

"Aw, stop it while you still can. It will kill you," komento ni Carnation.

Napahalakhak na ako nang malakas. "Concerned lang? 'Di ba dapat magkakaaway ang asawa at ang mga kabit?"

"Lolli!" saway ni Rafael.

Tumayo na ako sa kinauupuan ko. "Enjoy your afternoon tea."

"Think about the threesome, ha?" pahabol pa ni Carnation.

"Three is a crowd, dear. Kailangan munang mamatay ng isa sa ating tatlo. And I'll make sure, hindi ako 'yon," and I walked out of Delano's. I need three sticks right now.