Mon Amour (My Love)

CHAPTER 55

RICCO ANDRE

"Papa Allie, I've got something on my mind. Mind if I ask you a question?" si King, habang sabay sabay kaming naghahapunan. Hindi weekend, kaya naman nagulat kami ni Papa Allie na umuwi si King at nagdinner kasama namin. Dahil doon ay nagpadeliver pa si Papa Allie ng maraming pagkain, kahit nagluto na si Ate Joanna.

"Go ahead, Son. What is it?"

Kumunot ang noo ni King. Kinailangan kong kontrolin ang sarili ko para hindi ako mapasinghap. Napakagwapo. Lalo sa mga ganitong pagkakataon na hindi siya 'guarded' at hindi niya napapansin na pinagmamasdan ko siya.

"I've just remembered someone - Uncle David, or rather, Grandpa David - but yes, he preferred to be addressed as Uncle David. I recall he wasn't particularly fond of the term 'Grandpa.'"

Natawa si Papa Allie. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa sinabi ni King o dahil sa idea na kinacute niya ang pagkataranta.

"What about him?"

Nagkibit-balikat si King. Iniwas ang tingin at sa halip ay itinuon sa hinihiwang karne. "Well, I do recollect that Papa Rodel held Uncle David in high regard. Do you happen to know his current whereabouts? I'm pondering whether he might be the one to guide us towards any potential information on where Papa Rodel might be."

Dahil sa sinabi ni King ay agad napawi ang saya sa mukha ni Papa Allie. "Well, yes. Your Papa Rodel was particularly fond of him. Close na sila maging noon pang kabataan ni Papa Rodel niyo. Naisip ko na din 'yan. Kaya lang, that can't be possible kasi Tito David is not here. He's somewhere in Europe with Brent."

"His lover, yeah." sabi ni King.

Tumango si Papa Allie. "They left bago ka pa man din umuwi dito galing sa France. That was a long time ago."

"Ah, I understand. Weren't they staying in touch, though?"

"It's been a while. You know, they don't really intend to." sabi ni Papa Allie, patuloy pa rin ang bakas ng lungkot sa tinig. "The reason they left, well, I don't know if it's proper to discuss it to you, but Brent's family – particularly his father – are very powerful and influential people, not to mention wealthy. Very wealthy. Brent, however, didn't want all of that so he ran away from home when he was young, and that's how he met Tito David."

"And then?"

"His father wouldn't accept him as a gay son so he disowned him. Nung umpisa, OK lang. Like I've said, Brent never wanted his father's money in the first place. He and Tito David lived in peace, away from politics, money, and fame. Nagtayo sila ng maliit na clinic – to help the poor people, as Brent is also a doctor. But his dad eventually became even more powerful – from mayor, naging governor – and he wanted his son to live according to his standards, to marry a girl from an equally powerful and influential clan, so he hired people to find Brent and bring him home."

"And did he manage to locate him?" tanong ni King, kita sa mga matang interesado siya sa kwentong pinakikinggan. Sabagay, maging ako naman. Hindi ko lang gaanong mapinpoint kung sino yung mga taong pinaguusapan nila, kaya medyo hirap akong iprocess.

"He did. And you wouldn't want to know how cruel it was. Pati si Tito David, pinabugbog at binantaang papatayin kung hindi niya lalayuan si Brent."

"Mon dieu."

"So one night, they came here and asked for our help. And we did, your Papa Rodel and I. Tinulungan namin silang makaalis, using our connections and all. So basically, I understand kung bakit hindi sila masyadong nagpaparamdam. They're trying to protect us. And at the same time, they don't want to be found. That's what your Papa Rodel and I did too noong nasa Italy kami. And that's what you did too, Angelo, while you were in England. I guess we're really wired that way. Sneaky little people good at going to places they won't be found. I just hope that it's just what your Papa Rodel is doing now. I hope's he's just out there. And that he's safe..." Yumuko si Papa Allie, at sigurado ako na may nakita akong luha na tumulo mula sa mga mata niya. "...and alive."