MONTE COSTA SERIES #4: Estuary Of Love [BL]

Kabanata 48

Kabanata 48

MADALING araw na nang makauwi si Linus sa bahay ng mga Beckham dahil sinamahan pa niya si Sandro na mag-imbestiga tungkol sa planong pambobomba sa darating na final game.

They inspected the whole field and made sure the whole place will be secured during the game. Nahuli na rin ang ilang taong myembro ng sports league na kasabwat sa planong pambobomba. He's doing it all for the people who might get in danger, and most especially, for his husband's safety.

Nang makababa siya sa sasakyan ni Sandro ay naabutan niya si Macey na nakatayo sa labas ng pinto na tila mayroong hinihintay. Nakaupo ito sa maliit na hagdan, at nang makita siya ay kaagad na tumayo.

"Can we... talk?" Macey asked with puffy nose.

Linus took in a breath then nodded. Nagtungo sila sa twenty four hours na diner. Nang mailapag ang kape na in-order niya ay tuluyang tumikhim si Macey.

"What I did is wrong and... I admit that now. Nagpadala ako sa mga sinasabi ni Micah Veneracion kasi akala ko talagang pinaikot mo lang si Ivler. Pero habang pinanonood ko ang interview niya, nakita ko sa mga mata niyo 'yong kislap na kahit kailan, hindi ko nakita noong ako ang kasama niya." Nahihiya itong sumulyap sa kanya. "Pasensya na sa nagawa ko, Linus. Siguro hindi ko lang din natanggap kaagad dahil straight na lalake ang kilala kong Ivler. I forgot that people can change and discover themselves. I grew up in the US so I should've known better."

Linus flashed a small smile. "People tend to do things they will regret when they're mad. What I like about you is you know how to admit your mistakes. Alam mo, Macey, unang kita ko pa lang naman sayo alam ko nang mabuti kang tao. You're probably just mistaken as a slut for being too liberated, but I believe that you have a good heart. Kasi kung hindi, hindi naman kayo mananatiling magkaibigan ni Ivler pagkatapos mong mag-cheat. It's not just him being a good person. It's because you probably became a good friend to him that he put emphasis in your friendship more than his anger."

Nangilid ang mga luha ni Macey. "Kaya ka siguro minahal nang husto ni Ivler. Napakabuti ng puso mo, Linus. Now I feel really bad for trying to ruin you and Ivler. God, I'm so sorry. I truly am. Kahit hindi na mabalik ang pinagsamahan namin basta mapaalam ko lang na sincere ang paghingi ko ng tawad, okay na ako. Masaya na ako at asahan ninyong isa na ako sa magtatanggol sa inyo sa mga taong gugustuhing siraan kayo sa publiko."

"Thank you, Macey. Kakausapin ko pa rin si Ivler. My husband may look tough on the outside but he always has a soft spot for those he values so much. I know you're one of those despite what your dad tried to do with his career because of you."

Suminghot ito sandali ay basag na ngumiti sa kanya. "Gusto ring humingi ng tawad ng daddy ko sa kanya pero siguro, sa tamang panahon." Macey breathed in deeply. "Alagaan mo si Ivler, ha?"

"I will. Kahit na hindi ninyo hilingin, I'll spend my life making sure that he's happy with me. Take care of your heart, too, Macey."

Nang matapos ang kanilang usapan ay tuluyang umuwi si Linus. Pumunta siya ng kusina para sana uminom ng tubig ngunit napahinto siya sandali nang makita ang daddy ni Ivler na nag-iinom nang mag-isa.

He did what he knows what he should do. Nagbukas siya ng sarili niyang beer saka naupo sa tabi nito. When Azul looked at him, Linus flashed a slight smile then offered a toast.

Azul breathed in deeply then made a toast with him. Nang makainom sa kanilang mga beer ay tuluyang nagsalita si Linus.

"Hindi ko pa ho kayo napapasalamatan sa pagtanggap ulit kay Ivler. Alam ko hong mahirap para sa inyo na yakapin ang pagkatao ng anak ninyo pati na ako na pinili niyang pakasalan. Thank you, Sir for accepting him again and for giving him a shoulder to cry on when we almost lost what we have because of my condition. Napakalaki ho ng utang na loob ko sa inyo at malaki rin po ang pasasalamat ko na pati si Phiam ay tinanggap ninyo sa pamilya ninyo."

Azul let out a heavy sigh then rubbed his palm on his face. "You know when I found out that my son isn't straight, the first thing that came on my mind is, paano siya oras na mawala ako? As a dad, the moment my kids were born, I already dedicated my life into making sure that they will always have a home where they can feel loved, cared, and secured. Those matter to me a lot. Gusto ko silang magkaroon ng pamilya dahil hindi naman ako habambuhay na mananatili sa tabi nila. Years from now, I will leave them, Linus so all I want for them is to find their new home. At that point, the only home I knew was what his mom and I had built for them. The typical one. Matagal bago ko napagtanto na ang tahanan, hindi nabubuo dahil sa kasarian, kun'di ng pagmamahal..."

Linus smiled as he looked at Ivler's dad. "I love your son with all my heart, Sir..."

"I can see that, Linus. I can see that... so I'm sorry if I had a hard time accepting you. Kailangan din kitang pasalamatan sa pagtyatyaga mo na suyuin ako noon. My heart melted with your efforts of course but I had to be tough with you and make sure my son is in the right hands. When you love someone, you only want the best for them. In my case, I craved to see that even though you're a man, my son didn't make the wrong decision when he chose you." His heart swelled  when Azul flashed a genuine fatherly smile. "Take care of my boy, Linus. I know he chose you out of a billion women in this world because he found something in you that he couldn't see in the opposite sex. I love my son so much that if giving you my blessing will make him happy, then so be it."

Pumungay ang mga mata ni Linus. "Hinding-hindi ko ho pababayaan ang anak ninyo, Sir. I will dedicate my life proving how much I love him. He's the love of my life and I promise to love him with every beat of my heart..."

Azul's eyes twinkled with tears as he took in a deep breath. Mayamaya ay tila may mainit na palad na humagod sa dibdib ni Linus nang hawakan nito ang kanyang balikat saka mahinang piniga ang kanyang balikat.

"Call me dad from now on, Linus. You're already part of my family."

Nagtubig ang mga mata ni Linus sa tuwa. Nayakap niya ito saka siya suminghot at ngumiti. "Thank you, D—Dad. I will never break your son's heart."

"You better not, boy." Suminghot ito at nagpunas ng luha habang tinatapik ang kanyang likod. "I punch harder than my sons could."

He chuckled softly then offered a toast. Akmang iinumin na nila ang kanya-kanyang alak nang pumasok si Ivler ng kusina. Humalik ito sandali sa kanyang ulo bago umakbay sa ama na naabutan nitong namumula ang mga mata.

"Did you interrogate my husband, dad?" biro nito na ikinangisi ni Linus.

Ginulo naman ni Azul ang buhok ng anak. "Hindi ba pwedeng nag-usap lang? Ikaw talaga Ivler palibhasa nakahanap ka na ng taong mamahalin, ginaganyan mo na ako. Hindi na ako magtataka kung hindi ka na dadalaw sa amin ng mommy mo."

Ivler chuckled softly. "Nah, dad. I will remain a pain in the ass to you and mommy. Palagi ko pa rin kayong bubulabugin. Kasama ko na nga lang ngayon si Phiam at Linus na manggugulo sa bahay."

"Sounds good to me." Tinungga ni Azul ang bote. "Your brother mentioned that you're considering doing surrogacy and co-parenting. May nahanap na ba kayong pwedeng magdala sa bata?"

Nagkatinginan sila ni Linus bago tumango si Ivler. "There's a lesbian couple whom we became friends with in Monte Costa, dad. Balak namin silang kausapin pag-uwi ng Pilipinas."

"That's good. Madaliin ninyo at ewan ko sa kuya mo kung may balak ba 'yang mag-asawa. Gusto ko na lang ireto kung kani-kanino 'yan baka sakaling maisip nang magpakasal at bigyan kami ng apo."

Ivler gently squeezed his dad's shoulder. "Just give kuya some time, Dad. Hindi madali ang break up nila ng ex niya. Pasasaan ba at matatauhan din 'yon."

"We actually have a deal already, Sir I mean dad. He allowed me to see Ivler after I told him that I'm gonna bring him and his ex in a remote island until they get to settle things," ani Linus na nagpaaliwalas sa mukha ni Azul.

"Oh, yes. Let's do that. Maybe they'll come back with a baby on the way."

Parehas silang natawa ni Ivler sa sinabi ng ama nito na isa ring kunsintidor alang-alang sa pagkakaroon ng apo.

"Oh, siya. Magsitulog na kayo nang handa bukas." Piniga nito ang balikat ni Ivler. "You ready for tomorrow?"

Ivler flashed a confident smile. "More than ever, Dad..."