Love in the Lines of Duty (Profession Series #1)

Chapter 20

"They're not my biological parents. They're my adoptive parents. They adopted me when I was 12 years old."

I stayed silent, letting him continue. I could see how difficult this was for him, and I wanted to give him the space to share at his own pace.

"They changed my surname to Villanueva and made me feel like their own son," he continued, his voice tinged with both gratitude and pain.

He sighed, swallowing hard, the effort of speaking about his past evident in his eyes.

Na guilty tuloy ako.

"Okay lang, hindi mo na kailangang ituloy," I said gently, not wanting to push him further if it was too painful.

But Jiro shook his head. He seemed determined to share this part of himself. He sighed again, looking up at the dark sky filled with stars.

"This is... the first time I've opened up to someone about this," he said, turning his gaze back to me.

"Because...I'm scared..."

"Scared of what?" I asked softly.

"It's just... that..." he trailed off, struggling to find the words.

He needs someone to listen. Kailangan niya na masasandalan. Kailangan niya ng maiiyakan.

"Can you tell me? Kung ano lang ang kaya mong masabi. E sabi mo," I said, holding his hand gently.

"I'll listen."

Jiro gave me a sad smile.

"Santos is my real surname. Does the surname ring a bell?"

I thought for a moment but shook my head. "No," I said honestly.

"My biological dad was the late senator of our government" Jiro revealed, his voice barely above a whisper.

I was shocked. The weight of his revelation hit me, and I couldn't find the words for a moment.

"A senator?" I repeated, trying to process the information.

"Nung vice president pa si daddy?" I asked, piecing things together.

Jiro nodded. "My biological dad got assassinated by hired criminals," he said breathlessly.

What?

"Paano mo nalaman na hired criminals?" I asked out of curiosity.

"That's what the investigator said. Sinu-sundan siya palagi ng mga iyon at kumuha lang ng chamba para mapatay ang tatay ko."

"And w-what about your mom?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"After that, they all...killed my family." he said sadly, tears welling up in his eyes.

Saan ba siya nung mga panahon na iyon?

"I-I don't know what's the reason. Until now they haven't found the killers yet. That's what our mission right now."

I felt a surge of emotion and hugged him tight. "I'm sorry for that," I whispered, my heart aching for him.

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's embrace. The night was cool, and the stars above seemed to offer a silent comfort. Jiro's vulnerability in sharing his story with me brought us even closer together.

After we left that place, we decided to eat sa malapit lang na restaurant because I was hungry and eventually went back into the hotel.

As we settled into bed, I cuddled into Jiro's side, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. The room was quiet, the only sound the gentle hum of the air conditioning.

"Pero... asan ka ba noong nangyari iyon?" I asked softly, breaking the silence.

"School. I was in school at that time," he replied, his voice steady but tinged with a distant sadness.

"Anong grade ka noon?" I asked, trying to imagine the young boy who had faced such a tragedy.

"Grade 6," he said.

My heart ached for him. He was so young, too young to endure such pain. I hugged him tighter, trying to offer him some comfort. "And you were in Grade 3 at that time," Jiro added, his tone soft and knowing.

I pulled back slightly, shocked. "How did you know?" I asked, my eyes wide with surprise.

"You still don't remember me? Really?" Jiro asked, a small smile playing on his lips as he gently guided me back into his arms.

I searched his face, trying to piece together the fragments of my memories. "Remember that time when you sat beside me because I was lonely at the cafeteria," Jiro explained.

A spark of recognition lit up in my mind.

"Mabuhay Integrated School," he added.

"That's my school!" I exclaimed, the pieces finally falling into place. Memories of a young boy sitting alone at a cafeteria table flooded back. I had felt sorry for him and decided to join him every day, offering him some companionship.

"You were the boy?" I asked, astonished.

Jiro giggled, the sound light and carefree.

"Yes, that was me. Nag transfer lang ako nang ma adopt ako ng Villanueva."

Fate had brought us back together in the most unexpected way. I looked at Jiro, feeling a deep connection to him that spanned years and experiences.

I reached up to touch his face, tracing the lines that had grown more defined over time.

"I can't believe it," I whispered, my voice filled with wonder.

Jiro leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Neither can I. But I'm glad we found each other again."

We lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, the past and present intertwining in a beautiful tapestry of shared memories. The night was filled with whispered words and tender touches, each moment bringing us closer together. As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the journey that had led us to this moment.

I think. I'm in love.