>> Abiding from Ella’s invitation, we proceed to go in a coffee shop inside the mall. There’s a quite of queue in the barista stall due to some customers.

We find a table to sit and Ella proceeds to buy us drinks. An awkward atmosphere engulfed between us. I don’t know what to say to Chesca right now.

“She’s a beauty, your girlfriend...”

A sudden compliment comes out of her mouth. I look at her as she follows Ella standing at the queue. “Ah, yeah... she’s a real beauty.”

Fuck! I don’t want to admit it to her right now. “Since when...?”

That statement echoed within me. “When did you have a girlfriend?”

“Huh...?” I utter. “You didn’t told me about what happened to you in the mixer. You attended last time, right?”

“Yeah...”

Silence bestow upon us once more. “Chesca, I—”

“I knew it.” Chesca spoke before I continue. “Huh?”

She then turns to me and look straight in my eyes. “I know already. You’re a lesbian, Jessie.”

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What—since when!? My hands clenched tightly, hearing the retorted words she spoke to me. “But you don’t need to hide it from me. I won’t ostracize you out just because you love same sex.”

Her lips show a emphatic, warm smile at me. “I will still love you, as my friend.”

Those words baffled me; she’s not disgusted to me? She knows truly what I truly like and... “You just need to tell me if you can’t let it out. We’re friends, remember?”

Just as I was about to tell her everything, Chesca sincerely told what she knew about me. Without me knowing, tears shed down on my eyes.

The feelings I’ve been kept for a long time burst out. The fear I’ve been hiding suddenly vanished into thin air. The dark thoughts I have for when she knows who I really am dissipates in my heart.

I just wail out, lifting all of the guilt I have been concealing since my whole life.

The person who I truly love, is here, still staying beside me despite of us being different.

***

>> Ella came back from buying the drinks, only to find out that I was bawling out while Chesca’s comforting me.

I told everything to Chesca, about myself as a member of gay community, and the relationship with Ella. And she found out that Ella is a cross-dresser.

She was baffled, hearing a pretty guy wearing such fashionable clothes. I didn’t hide anything from myself anymore. Even the feelings I’ve had for her.

Chesca didn’t say anything; she just smiles and firmly holds my hand after I confessed to her. Ella didn’t left my side and just watched us two girls talked together.

After an hour of exchanging banters and stories between us, Chesca decides to leave before us.

I never expected this day to come. To confront myself and the girl I truly love. Now, it all ends.

“She’s a good friend, that girl named Chesca.”

Ella utters while we walk along the aisle of the mall. Holding the plastic cup of coffee we bought at the coffee shop, I firmly gripped it and nod to agree.

“I am happy, despite of everything between us differs, she still thinks of me as a good friend. And I hope her boyfriend loves her.”

“I’m sure he is.” Ella assured an answer. Now, I feel like there’s nothing in me to hide about. I feel light and happy after everything happened today.

“Everything ends well, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I am not hiding from myself, and from the person I loved. I am free now.”

Facing Ella, I show a sweet smile at him and firmly grabs his hand. “Thank you, for being there for me.”

He didn’t say anything back, but I know from his gentle expression that he’s glad we meet that certain night.