Kabanata 15
IVLER swallowed hard when he spotted his parents waiting for them on top of the Bayou hotel building where the helicopter will land. He knew if he and Linus will stay in Bayou for a night then he needs to be careful with his actions.
Gaya nga ng sabi ni Linus, hindi tipikal na relasyon ang mayroon sila. They both didn't have any history of same sex relationships so people they know might have a hard time accepting the truth about them.
Nang makalapag ang helicopter at nakalabas sila ni Linus, napansin niyang bahagyang kumunot ang noo ng parents niya nang makitang hindi si Sandro ang piloto.
After giving his parents a hug, he stood next to Linus again and introduced him. "This is Linus, mom and dad. He's Sandro's colleague."
His parents smiled at Linus. Inalok ng mga ito ang kamay kay Linus para sa handshake ngunit nang magmano si Linus sa mga magulang niya ay nagkatinginan sandali ang parents niya.
"Napakagalang namang bata nito. If I have a daughter, I would definitely set you up for a date," his mom joked that made Linus laugh and glance at him.
"I... I was just accustomed to such practice, ma'am. My grandparents trained me to be respectful to people older than me. By the way, you have a very lovely place."
"Thank you, hijo. You can always come here when you're free. Magsabi ka lang."
"Hon, why don't you show Linus his room while I discuss the matter with Ivler?" suhestyon ng kanyang daddy na sinang-ayunan naman ng kanyang ina.
Sabay-sabay silang bumaba ngunit naghiwalay sila pagdating sa ground floor dahil dinala ng kanyang ina si Linus sa family house nilang nasa loob din ng resort habang sila naman ng daddy niya ay dumiretso sa opisina nito upang pag-usapan ang isang mahalagang bagay.
"What is it, dad?" bungad niya rito nang makapasok sila sa opisina nito.
"Listen, son. Your training will start in a few weeks... but something happened that we cannot let the public know yet."
Napakunot siya ng noo. "Does it have something to do with me, Dad?"
Bumuntong hininga ito. "Actually yes. Most of your teammates have been recruited by the other international teams. I mean, those who have dual citizenships. Some even processed their citizenship application in other countries kaya sumasakit ang ulo ng coach niyo. Keios already informed me that he's going to step up as the main coach for Huskeez, but we're gonna have to find new players soon and change the whole game plans the other players who left might spill to the other teams."
"Pati ba naman sa sports may pamumulitika at pandaraya pa, dad?"
"I know, son. I'm trying to help your ninong Keios but we're having a hard time finding people to recruit. Ang ilan sa prospect ni Keios, pagkatapos ng ilang araw, biglang nagkakaroon ng petition na mag-abroad o kaya ay hindi na nakakapagpatuloy sa trainings dahil nabayaran ng pera. Whoever did this, clearly saw Huskeez as a major threat. With you and Keison backing each other up in the field, they know it's gonna be hard to take you out of the scene unless you get into a huge mess that will shake your career kaya magdoble-ingat kayong pareho."
Bigla niyang naisip ang relasyon nila ni Linus. Mukhang matatagalan nga bago nila pwedeng isapubliko iyon kung sakali man alang-alang sa career niya. He doesn't want Linus to think that he's destroying his name. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Sandro, hiniwalayan noon ni Linus si Micah dahil nakakaapekto na ang relasyon ng mga ito sa pag-aaral ni Micah.
Parang hindi niya yata magugustuhan oras na ganoon din ang gawin nito sa relasyon nila. Ngayon pa lang siya nakaramdam ng ganito katinding pagmamahal para sa isang tao at hindi niya kaya na basta na lang ito mawala isang araw.
"We'll hold try outs secretly to prevent the recruits from getting manipulated. I need you and Keison to help me and his dad. Are we cool with that?"
He pursed his lips together then nodded. Mabuti na rin na maabala siyang mabuti dahil oras na bumalik na sa serbisyo si Linus, siguradong hahanap-hanapin niya ang presensya nito.
"Yes, dad."
PAGDATING ng dinner, buong akala ni Ivler ay magiging maayos ang lahat, ngunit nang sabihin ng kanyang mommy na dumating ang ex-girlfriend niya kasama ang kanyang coach para sumalo sa dinner, nakaramdam ng kaba si Ivler.
Oh, he knows Macey pretty well. She's still obsess with him but he's not allowed to treat her badly in front of his parents. Kung sasabihin naman niyang may bago na siyang karelasyon, siguradong pipilitin siya ng parents niyang sabihin kung sino. Baka mamaya ay maipit lamang si Linus at ayaw niyang mangyari iyon.
Napalunok siya nang dumating ang pamilya ni Macey at kaagad itong lumapit sa kanya upang yumakap. Nasa tabi niya lamang si Linus at nadama niya kaagad ang bahagya nitong pag-atras nang makita kung papaano siya niyakap ng ex niya.
"Ito talagang batang ito, hindi ka man lang muna magpasintabi sa tito Azul at tita Cath mo, Macey," sita ng tatay nito.
Ngumisi ang kanyang ama. "Hayaan mo na, bro. Alam mo naman ang mga batang laki ng Amerika. They are liberated but I know Macey is a nice girl kaya nga hindi ako makapaniwalang naghiwalay sila ni Ivler."
Nanlamig yata bigla ang katawan ni Ivler nang madamang naestatwa si Linus dahil sa sinabi ng daddy niya. Jesus! Mukhang matinding paliwanag yata ang kailangan niyang gawin nito mamaya. Bakit naman kasi hindi siya sinabihang darating ang coach niya?
"Si Linus nga pala, kaibigan ng anak ko," pakilala ng daddy niya.
His coach extended his hand to Linus. Magalang namang nakipagkamay si Linus pati na sa asawa nito at kay Macey kahit ngayon pa lamang ay dama na ni Ivler ang selos nito.
Things just got worse during dinner when his dad and his coach talked about his former relationship with Macey who openly said she's not entertaining anyone right now because she's waiting for him.
"Sabi ko naman po kay Ivler, 'di ba na cool off lang kami? Hindi lang ako makahinga noon dahil feeling ko wala na talaga siyang oras sa'kin. I was really selfish and I learned my lessons already."
Gustong matawa ni Ivler. Cool off? Paano naging cool off iyon eh siya ang mismong nakipaghiwalay rito matapos niyang mahuling nakikipag-date sa iba habang abala siya sa puspusang trainings? Pasalamat ito at napakalaki ng respeto niya sa coach niya kaya tinikom niya ang bibig niya kahit na siya ang nasira sa publiko.
"Iyon naman pala, Ivler. Alam mo botong-boto talaga ako sayo. Tutal naman ay wala ka pang rumored girlfriend, bakit hindi niyo na lang ayusin ni Macey?" tanong ng ina ni Macey sa kanya na nakapagpalamig nang husto sa kanyang katawan matapos makita ang pagkatigil ni Linus mula sa pagnguya.
"Ay naku, mare huwag nating usisain dahil hindi sanay 'yang bunso ko sa ganyang mga tanong. Mas gusto niya iyong masinsinang usap. Hayaan na lang natin at sigurado naman na kung magkakabalikan sila, makakarating din naman sa atin." Tumikhim ang kanyang ina saka bumaling kay Linus para hindi ito ma-out of place. "Hijo, ikaw ba wala kang current relationship?"
Pilit na ngumiti si Linus nang mapansing natutok dito ang atensyon ng lahat. Nakaupo ito sa tabi niya habang nasa kabila niya lamang si Macey.
Sandali pa itong humugot ng hininga bago nagsalita na ikinakabog ng dibdib niya. "I do, ma'am, but we're dating privately."
"I see. Well, I hope you can bring her here soon. I bet she's lovely since you seem like a really nice guy."
"S—Sure, Mrs. Beckham." Napatikhim ito at dinampot na lang ang champagne glass upang sumimsim.
"Kumpare, ipinahanda ko na 'yong kwarto ninyo," ani ng kanyang daddy.
"Am I gonna use the guest room next to Ivler just like before, tito?" tanong ni Macey na kinasanayan na ng parents niya ang pagiging liberated.
Nanlamig siyang lalo nang umoo ang daddy niya. Nang masilip kung papaanong humigpit ang hawak ni Linus sa champagne glass nito, tuluyan na siyang gumawa ng paraan para makaalis silang pareho.
He went to the powder room and chatted "SOS" to his best actor friend who can save their ass. Nang mag-ring ang phone, tuluyan siyang lumabas upang maparinig sa mga kasama ang usapan nila ni Gui.
"Dude, balik na kayo ng Monte Costa. Kailangan ang helicopter. May patient si Silver na kailangang maoperahan."
He faked a sigh. "I'll tell Linus. We'll be there. Pahintay na lang."
Pagkapatay ng tawag ay sinabi niya sa parents niya at sa ibang kasama na kailangan nilang bumalik ni Linus ng Monte Costa. His parents felt bad but Linus assured that he'll visit Bayou soon.
Nang makapagpaalam sila ay tuluyan nang sabay na nagtungo sa rooftop kung nasaan ang helicopter. Macey even tried to ask if she can go to Raja Amor but he said the place is jam packed right now. He made a mental note to tell Jael to ban her in Raja Amor while he's in Monte Costa.
Nakahinga lang siya nang maayos nang tuluyang sumahimpapawid ang helicopter. Tahimik pa rin si Linus at halatang wala talaga sa mood dahil sa dilim ng ekspresyon. Napabuntong hininga tuloy siya saka niya pinindot ang autopilot dahilan upang mapatingin ito sa kanya.
Ivler let out another sigh before he pulled him close and kissed him on his lips. Noong una ay hindi pa ito tumugon, ngunit nang hinaplos niya ito sa braso ay tuluyan na ring humalik pabalik.
When their lips parted, he entwined their fingers then flashed a smile. "I'm never going to leave behind what we're sharing for anyone. Not for Macey, not for some hot chic, not for my parents, Linus. I told you, you're stuck with me now."
Lumamlam ang mga mata nito at tuluyang napabuntong hininga. "Sorry, I can't help but get jealous earlier. Our relationship is too complicated in the eyes of those who don't believe that love has no gender. I shouldn't have acted that way."
"Don't be." He gently squeezed Linus' hand. "How about we go somewhere nice before we go home to Monte Costa?"
Napakunot ito ng noo. "Where?"
He instructed Linus until they reached the island in the next town where people don't often visit at night. Nang makababa ay niyaya niya itong maupo muna sa dalampasigan. They watched the stars together and enjoyed the peacefulness of the sea, and when they looked at each other again, Linus gulped before he held him by the side of his neck and gently caressed his jaw with his thumb.
"Don't fall for anyone else while I'm away, Ivler..." he uttered in a low, almost pleading tone that made his heart throb.
Imbes na sagutin ito ay nilapit niya na lamang ang mukha kay Linus hanggang sa tuluyang nahalikan.
Their kiss became deeper and sultry, until Ivler felt his body getting heated. He knew they're not totally ready yet for something more than kisses, but looks like it's already too late to stop themselves from wanting each other.
"Can we... do it?" he asked in a breathy way when their lips parted.
Linus gulped, and when he nodded, Ivler reached for the edge of Linus' shirt to finally take it off before he removed his. Under the starry sky, tonight, Ivler had already made up his mind.
He belongs to this man wholly, and no one could change that anymore...