Until You [BL]

Chapter 3 - Starting Anew

Fallon was not able to attend graduation ceremony due to his swollen face. When dad saw his face, he was livid and asked who did that to him. He made an excuse that he slipped on the school CR and his face banged on the counter. His dad silently stared at him as if trying to find an explanation from his face but after a while, his father just nodded.

He spent the next few days packing his stuff and organizing everything for his move to Manila. Again, he busied himself so he won't have time to think and cry inside.

It is difficult to stand up when someone you loved caused you to fall down your knees in pain and despair. But if you have no one, you try your hardest to fix yourself up and stand on your own. Armed with the pain and hard lessons you learned, you pick yourself up to face another day.

Fallon had no time to emotionally heal. He must get on with his life because no one will do that for him. He learned that emotions make you weak. Love is an illusion created by those who need an excuse for their craziness. All this will eventually pass, just like a sickness that you have to endure for a while.

***

He breathes in a lung full of air and surveyed his new school. In spite of what he now knows, Fallon was still a little surprised when his father agreed to let him transfer school. He still remembered the somehow tense atmosphere when he said he wanted to attend a school far away.

At the breakfast table that morning, while his dad's reading something on his tablet, Fallon was chasing a piece of egg with his fork around his plate. Fallon is thinking how a few days can change a person's life perspective.

"Fallon, something on your mind, son?" his dad asked which halted Fallon's heavy thinking.

"I'm ok po"...

"Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything."

Silence. While thinking: That's the thing dad, I do not think I can tell you anything, not anymore.

"May I be excused?" He said instead and got up without waiting for approval.

His dad followed Fallon with his eyes, brows knitted. Just before he reached the foot of the stairs, Fallon turned around and hesitantly started talking.

"Dad, I want to go to Manila for college. Please?"

"What? Why? I thought..." his dad suddenly stopped; eyes slightly narrowed.

"Please?" he repeated.

His dad said nothing, and Fallon started climbing up the stairs.

It was the first time he realized that he is really on his own now.

His dad helped him settle on his new condo. He chose one that's in the business district, about a 15 minute drive to his univ. His father drove Fallon to the airport and before his dad entered the terminal, his dad squeezed his arm and said, "Come home often to visit... You know you can always go back when you want to right?" Fallon nodded, not really sure if he agrees.

He shook his head to dispel the lingering sadness brought upon by that memory. Life goes on. Classes to attend, with some luck, friends to meet. Real ones this time he hoped. But if there's no one, it's fine too. He's starting to get the hang of being alone and in his opinion, it's not all bad. After all, alone means no disappointment, no pain, and no anger.... nothing of anything.

****

"Not to make this weird or anything, but I just want you to know in case in the future you think I've purposely hidden it but, ummm, I'm gay." Fallon told his new friend.

"Huh? What a coincidence Falls, me too! My body is the only girl thing I have but my heart and mind is 100% gay" River laughed loudly. River's into calling Fallon Falls because according to her Falls matches more with River.

(A/N – In the Philippines, there are females who refer to themselves as 'bakla' or gay because they act like gay men, speak gay lingo and get along well and sometimes have a lot of gay friends.)

Fallon smiled. Regardless of his preparedness to be alone, he made a good friend it seems. The cool, bubbly and somehow a little bit loud (fashion and voice-wise) girl called River.

River approached him first during enrollment. Asking for directions, what his course is, the usual I would like to get to know you questions. Turned out they were taking the same course, BSCS Software Tech. At first, he only treat the girl as a casual acquaintance. But after a few months, River gradually earned his loyalty, so he decided to open up.

"Rain is always irritated with me when my gayness appears." River informed Fallon

River is a twin, they are fraternal, so aside from being of different gender, she's not a replica of her twin, Rain. Also since her twin wanted to pursue a career in medicine, he entered an old university that goes way back during the Spanish era since that univ is known for their superb meds courses and also has their own hospital.

"Kidding aside, it does not matter to me. It is more important to me what kind of person you are. I got bullied when I was a kid because of I guess my showy way of conducting myself. They think I'm too loud and dramatic, so nobody wants to be friends with me. Rain is all I have even in high school. So I am glad I have you now."

No, it is I who is glad I have you, Fallon said quietly.

***

A few months back

At the breakfast table that morning, Fallon was unusually quiet while chasing a piece of egg with the fork around his plate. His dad, Francis Dela Fuente noticed and feels that something is off. It's been a few days now that his son seems different. He's quieter now, more distant and he lost that brightness in his eyes.

He wanted to ask him what happened, but he actually knows what happened. Fallon is broken hearted. Someone broke his child's heart.

Anthony Hidalgo visited without prior notice. He seems to have something serious to discuss but does not seem to know how start. They were midway through their coffee when Anthony finally started. It seems his younger son, Archer came home angry wanting to beat someone up. After a time, Anthony was finally able to squeeze out from Archer what happened. A certain Peter was apparently taking advantage of another student. Anthony was outraged when he learned that it is Fallon Archer is referring to.

"Fallon should confront that asshole. Archer will back him up." Anthony said

"I don't know. My son hates violence and confrontation. He will keep quiet and just suffer on his own."

"You should give Fallon a talking to, he cannot remain like that."

"I don't know pare, sometimes I feel like it is my fault why my son's like that... I've always taught him to believe in the goodness of others. And I'm sure he will tell me about this, and I will comfort and support him on whatever he decides to do."

Francis wanted to rage and wreak havoc at the person who hurt his Fallon but he's also afraid of the effect it will have on his son. Fallon has not "come-out" to everyone. He's glad though that his son trusted him enough to tell him and he supports him all the way. However not everybody will accept Fallon and although he wanted to destroy that dumbass kid who broke his child's heart, he restrained himself.

But now Fallon is isolating himself and asking to move faraway. Francis is conflicted and angry.

"What? Why? I thought..." he was ready to argue and exert his fatherly rights to prevent his son from going away but then he suddenly stopped. What he saw surprised him. Irritation, distance and somehow despair in his child's eyes.

"Please" he says.

He cannot talk past the lump in his throat. His son is begging him, and he cannot say no to the desperation he heard in his voice.