After The Credits

Chapter 19 A Wish for the New Year Karl's POV

It was the last day of the year. More importantly, to Karl at least, it was the day he planned to come out to his parents. Karl sat in the passenger seat of Vlad's car outside the Almasen residence. He took a look at the house he grew up in, the black bars that made up its gate with a door on the side leading to the garage, the white walls, dyed orange by the sunset and lined with a few windows, giving him a peek inside, and the black tiles that made up its roof. He took a deep breath before reaching for the car door to get down, but Vlad grabbed his free hand before he could open it. Karl turned his head to look at Vlad, who was wearing the shirt Karl got him on Christmas.

"Nervous?" Vlad asked.

"Yeah." Karl sighed.

Vlad's fingers slipped through the spaces between Karl's. Karl could feel some of the tension he had built up inside being set free as Vlad squeezed his hand.

"Alam mo, Karl, this isn't my first time accompanying someone to a family dinner to come out to their parents. Kind of weird that it happened twice in like, what? About a month maybe? Anyway, gusto ko lang sabihin na mahirap talaga ang part na 'to. Pero nandito ako. Kakayanin natin 'to, okay? 'Wag mong kalimutan na may kasama ka ngayon." Vlad reassured him.

"Salamat, Vlad." Karl said before opening the door.

Karl opened the house door with his key and led Vlad inside. The moment they entered, they were immediately greeted by Karl's father.

"Anak! Nandito ka na pala!" He said, approaching Karl.

"Hi, Pa!" Karl replied, hugging his dad.

"Hi po, Tito. Ako po si Vlad." Vlad said with a wave.

"Ah, oo, sinabi nga pala ni Karl na may kasama siya ngayon." Karl's dad replied.

After exchanging pleasantries, Karl's dad led them to the dining table, explaining that Karl's mom had just finished preparing dinner.

They arrived at the dining room to see Karl's mom setting fried tilapia and sinigang on the table.

"Wow, mukhang masarap po yung luto niyo, Tita!" Vlad said, taking a seat at the table.

"Thank you, hijo. Ikaw yung kasama ni Karl, no? Vlad 'di ba?" She replied.

Vlad nodded and shook her hand.

They sat at the dinner table, which was just large enough to accommodate the four of them. Karl's parents sat at one side of the table while Karl and Vlad were next to each other on the other side.

While there normally would have been nothing to worry about at a family dinner, Karl's heart was racing while he tried to appear calm. He took deep breaths, but couldn't stop his fingers from trembling. It seemed that Vlad took notice, or perhaps was just feeling extra clingy, since Karl felt Vlad's hand now holding his own under the table. Karl took a look at Vlad, who nodded at him in encouragement.

"Ma, Pa... um... bago tayo kumain, may sasabihin lang ako." He said, getting up from his seat.

"So, uh... magbabagong taon na mamaya at ang wish ko para sa bagong taon na ito, para sa 2020, ay... ayoko nang magtago. Ma, Pa, sana 'di kayo magagalit, pero... bakla po ako. At boyfriend ko po si Vlad."

Karl's parents were speechless for a minute before his dad spoke.

"Sure ka ba diyan, 'nak? Wala namang problema kung oo, pero baka gusto mo munang subukan maging straight. Ayaw mo bang magkaanak?"

"U-uh..." Karl stuttered.

Vlad almost got up from his chair, but Karl put his arm in front of him to tell him to hold back.

"Mario!" Karl's mom chided.

Karl took a deep breath, preparing to respond.

"Pa, oo, sure na ako. Ilang beses ko nang sinubukan pigilan ang nararamdaman ko. I like boys, Pa. 'Di ko 'yan sasabihin kung di ako sigurado. Hindi madali ang buhay ng bakla, pero mas pipiliin ko ang buhay na 'to kaysa sa buhay na kasinungalingan lang." He asserted.

"Karl, okay lang sa'kin kung sino ang mamahalin mo. Love life mo 'yan! Bakit pa ako makikialam?" His mom added..

Karl smiled at his mom and for a second, everything seemed like it would turn out alright.

"Pero, Adelaida..." Karl's dad began to say before his mom shot him a look.

Karl's dad sighed in response before continuing to speak.

"Okay, Karl, wala rin akong problema kung bading ka." He continued.

Karl winced a little at the word bading, but let his dad continue.

"Kahit ano'ng gawin mo, anak pa rin kita. At tama ang nanay mo, love life mo naman 'yan. Basta masaya ka, masaya rin kami." He finished.

Karl's mom smiled at his dad then at Karl before turning to Vlad.

"Ikaw naman, Vlad, alagaan mo ang anak namin, ha? Okay lang sa'kin kung mag-dadate siya ng lalaki, pero ayoko ng lalaking gago, ha?"

"Ma!" Karl protested. He could feel his cheeks getting red from embarrassment.

"Yes po, tita. 'Wag na po kayong mag-alala, kahit bago naging kami, inalagaan ko na po anak niyo." Vlad said with a laugh.

Karl let out a sigh and sat back down. His worriedness from earlier had now dissipated into calm.

"So, I guess that means I can do this now." Vlad said.

He grabbed Karl by the chin and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Hoy, Vlad!" Karl said in surprise.

"Ay, ang cute niyo naman!" Karl's mom said.

Ano ba, Vlad! Nakakahiya!

Karl may have protested, but part of him wanted more. Sure, it was embarrassing, but it felt nice not having to hide.

"Pwede bang kumain na lang tayo?" Karl laughed.

And they did. Considering that this was dinner Karl was initially somewhat scared to go to, he was more than happy that he suddenly found himself more at home in this house than he had all those years he spent growing up here.

"Oo nga pala, Karl... I've met your parents na, so... Maybe it's time for you to meet mine. Dinner bukas sa bahay ko?"

Karl smiled at Vlad and nodded. Not too long ago, the idea of being introduced to Vlad's mom would've been terrifying for Karl, but after tonight, what was left for him to be afraid of?