The Architecture (Batchelor Series #1)

27

Sitting at the dining table, Manuel could feel the weight of his mother’s stare. The moment they stepped foot into the house, it was like she could smell something was off. It didn’t help that Kuya Drakon, who had been his usual composed self, suddenly went quiet, avoiding their mother’s gaze like a guilty kid caught stealing from the cookie jar. Two hours of travel, and now they were in the middle of an interrogation.

"Magsabi nga kayong dalawa, baliko ba kayo? At wag na wag kayong magsisinungaling, kung hindi, mapuputol ang tite," his mother, Josephina, said, her voice filled with playful menace, waving a wooden spoon in their direction.

Manuel exchanged a glance with Drakon. He could see the unease in his brother's eyes despite their matching oversized shirts that barely hid their bulked-up bodies. Bulk season nga naman, pero hindi pang-sabong ng sikreto.

Their silence only made their mother more determined.

“Aba, ayaw pa umamin. Davidson, tingnan mo nga ’tong mga anak mo, hindi umamin kahit huling-huli na! Gusto nyo ba kumuha ako ng hanger?” His mother threatened with a grin, standing up as if she was really going to get it. Manuel felt a shiver run down his spine. The hanger — bendable, elastic, and their childhood enemy — was no joke.

Manuel cleared his throat. “Yes ma…”

“Opo,” Drakon added, both of them surrendering at the same time.

Josephina’s grin only widened. "Ay, huli na! Davidson, asan na ang pusta mong isang daan? Tignan mo, bading nga tong mga barako mong anak!"

Manuel blinked in disbelief. His parents had bet on them being gay? He couldn’t believe it. His dad, Davidson, chuckled softly, reaching into his pocket and handing over a crisp one-hundred-peso bill. “Ikaw na panalo, mahal. Pero mas panalo ka sa puso ko,” he teased, winking at Josephina.

Despite the absurdity, there was something comforting about his parents' lighthearted approach to what could’ve been a much heavier conversation. Manuel was still trying to digest it all when his mother’s attention turned back to them.

"So, kailan pa? Magkwento naman kayo kay Mama," she said, leaning in, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Wag kayong mahiya, college pa lang ako puro mga bading ang kaibigan ko! Nagdadasal pa nga ako noon na sana may maging anak akong bading. Ay, Diyos ko, totoong totoo talaga ang Diyos! Chika na! Dali."

Drakon, the usually strong and composed one, actually looked shy, glancing down at his hands as if the table was the most interesting thing in the room. Manuel felt a sudden wave of sympathy for his older brother.

"Tingnan mo ang kuya mo," their father chimed in, his deep voice filled with affection. "Team burat din pala," he laughed heartily. "Wag kayong mag-alala, di kayo lulunodin ni Papa sa drum gaya ng sa mga pelikula. Mahal namin kayo, kahit ano pa kayo, kahit maging biik pa kayo!"

Drakon sighed heavily, as if preparing himself for a confession. “Di ko alam, Pa... Noong una, naiinis lang ako sa kanya kasi lagi siyang umeepal. Tapos naging boss ko pa sa fast food. Minsan naging driver ko pa. Siya rin nagpautang sa akin para sa tuition ni Manuel. Ewan ko ba, na-inlove ako nang hindi ko inaasahan... Pero ayoko umamin kasi ang dami nyang kausap sa Grinder,” he finished, half-smiling at the absurdity of it all.

Josephina’s eyes softened, and she pulled Drakon into a tight hug. Manuel watched silently, heart swelling at how understanding his mother was. Maybe this conversation wasn’t going to be as bad as he’d feared.

"Okay, okay, tapos na si Kuya. Anong sa'yo Manuel?" their mom turned to him now, expectantly.

Manuel shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Pwede pass muna ako? Masakit yung sa akin e.”

Josephina raised her spoon again, smirking. “Eh kung pass-pasin kita ng hanger, Manuel?”

He groaned internally. No way out of this one. “Ma, Pa…” He started, his words catching in his throat. His brain scrambled for an excuse, but his body went on autopilot. Before he could say anything more, Drakon chimed in.

"Si Baltazar, Ma," Drakon laughed, throwing Manuel under the bus without hesitation. "Alam mo ba, ayaw pa umamin si Bunso, pero kitang-kita na. Like kuya, like bunso tayo sa pamilyang ito."

“Baltazar Lopez? Yung kaklase mo, Manuel? Yung pinatulog mo dito dati? Nung nakita ko kayong naglaplapan? Tangina, anak!” His mom half-yelled, half-laughed, covering her mouth as if realizing she’d said something inappropriate.

“Ma, please…” Manuel groaned, putting his face in his hands.

Josephina, unfazed, continued, “Grabe, nagkabalikan pala kayo? Bat di mo sinabi? I-chat ko kaya yun sa Facebook? Mutuals kami eh.” She was already reaching for her phone.

“Wag mo ngang i-chat yun, Ma!” Manuel shot back, panicking. “Di ko na bibilhin mga Shopee order mo!”

His mother just laughed. “Ay, di talaga ito mabiro! Di ko naman aagawin, anak. Buti nga wala pang jowa yun, baka this time ikaw na talaga."

Manuel rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. His mind briefly wandered back to his work and the inevitable meeting with Baltazar tomorrow. Just thinking about it made his blood pressure spike. The guy had a way of making his life hell without even trying.

---

Baltazar paced around his office, his mind clouded with frustration. Ryder, the new golden boy of engineering, had quickly become the talk of the team. It was infuriating watching him excel effortlessly. Every time Manuel laughed or shared something on Instagram that involved Ryder, it was like another punch to the gut. How could Manuel not see how much better he was?

It didn’t help that Ryder was always hanging around Manuel, offering help or asking for lunch together. Today, Manuel had barely finished his design when Ryder invited him to eat. Of course, Manuel agreed.

“Sige, Engineer, just give me a sec. Tabihan mo lang ako ng upuan. Tabi tayo,” Manuel had said, not even glancing up from his tablet.

Tabihan ng upuan? Baltazar wanted to laugh out loud. Manuel wasn’t a child, yet Ryder babied him like they were something special. Baltazar, without even thinking, walked past them. His large frame blocked Ryder from Manuel’s view, and before anyone could react, Baltazar slid into the chair next to Manuel.

Mas bagay tayo, he thought, daring Ryder to make a move.

“Picture tayo, Ryder,” Manuel suddenly said, holding up his tablet. “MyDay ko sa Instagram, mutuals na tayo, diba?”

It was the last straw. Baltazar accidentally knocked the tablet from Manuel's hand as he moved to sit closer. Manuel frowned but didn’t say anything, too focused on picking up the device.

Mas bagay tayo, Manuel. Why can’t you see that?