Another Way Around

Chapter Eleven

Sports Fest this week in our University. Students are happy because no classes for the entire week, just sports events, contest of every kind, Quiz bee, singing contest, battle of the bands, dance contest, cheering squad, etc.., and there are some booths, horror booths, marriage booth, photo booth, cupcake booth, souvenir booths, fortune telling booth, stress relieving booth, some small concerts and programs  and many others. I like it not because there are no classes but because I can have enough time to just rest for this entire week. I’m planning to redecorate my room, update my researches on new forming matters in the outer space and write articles about it, just have a walk or go shopping. I don’t think I can enjoy the activities in the school because first and foremost, I have no interest in sports; I can’t even kick a ball in a given direction, and next thing, I have no one to go with. My close friends here in college aside from Gino are Leslie, Justine and Kate. And I can’t find them, they are busy with their own boyfriends. Leslie texted me that she can’t go with me because she will support Gary, her boyfriend who is a football player, Justine and her boyfriend will go out of town, and Kate, well I don’t know where she is. So, I decided to have plans on my own.

So first day (Monday): General Cleaning

Second day:  Research Update

Third day: Shopping

Forth day: Spa

Fifth day: Hmm??? Maybe I’ll just visit Aunt Laura or some of my cousins down town.

Sixth day: Community services

Seventh Day: Go to church and get ready for the continuation of regular classes

I started cleaning and redecorating my room, segregate everything to be put in the trash, donate and keep. Then I’ve done the rest I put in my list. But on the fifth day, I don’t know what to do, I called Aunt Laura early in the morning but she said she’s not home, she went home to their province to help her brothers because its harvest season. I also called my cousins but they have classes, I forgot we are not attending the same university, so I just lie down in my bed and read some old books I found while cleaning my room. I opened first my favorite book, Summer House by Jude Deveraux. It was Gino’s gift for me on my last birthday. I opened it and read my favorite lines and scenes. I flip it fast and found something on the leaflet. I never knew Gino left a note on it.

***

Nov. 16, 2012

Gabrielle,

I knew it even from the start that there are so many wonderful things about you. We are not hanging out much on our early high school days because you have good friends around you and I’m such a weird one. I can see you smile and laugh most of the time but there are moments I’ve seen you alone in the music room, playing piano, and I can feel the sadness in your music. I adore your writing skills and passion for music but what I like most about you is your soft loving heart. I’ve seen how much you loved people, cared for them and even sacrificed for them, especially for Jake and Matea. You’ve also been insecure, discouraged and fearful but you overcome it all. You never know but I’ve always seen you as a beautiful woman. When I look at you, dreams flow, and when I close my eyes, it feels like those dreams were coming true. I hope one day, I’ll find the courage to say how much I love and care for you, but more than that, that my hope will never die, if bridges between us fell apart and waves in the ocean overwhelm us, we’ll find a way to come back to each other’s arms and say “Home at last”, someday..somehow.

Happy birthday, I love you.

-Gino

***

I can’t move for like minutes. I don’t know how I escaped that note from my favorite book which I read for almost three times. Now I knew it, why Gino kept on asking “How did you find the book?” and the next day, “Do you like it?” and on the other “Tell me about it”. It’s like a week we discussed the book. I even teased him that we can make a review on that book.

I looked hard again on the book and slowly, push it away from me.

Then my phone rang.

“Gabrielle, it’s me, Kate, we’re going to watch the performance of Shaky’s Band tonight, would you like to come with us? I’m with Justine, Leslie and Gary, we’re here in Clavio’s Arena.”

“Yes sure,” I said without hesitating, I can’t stand another minute alone in my room thinking about Gino’s note. “I’ll be there in 30 minutes”.

I dressed up hurriedly. And before I leave, I had a glimpse of that book, I shook my head and ran away as fast as I can.

Kate meet me at the gate entrance and after paying for my ticket, we bought some food and finally entered the arena.

Gino’s note keeps on twisting on my mind. Good thing, the huge crowd’s scream and the giant speakers keep me from hearing myself asking questions. I tried not to think about it, tried to enjoy the program and my friends. But the program runs for only two hours. After it, my friends were having snacks at BitterSweet’s, the last place I want to be tonight, so I just planned to have a walk alone and think about it and try to find some logical explanations and to think how will I approach Gino if he comes back. Will I just pretend I still don’t know about it or just ask him to explain what he meant on that note?

I’m so confused and preoccupied as I walk that I already hit a man.

“I’m so sorry sir!” I plead. “Oh….. my…” I said slowly and my mouth dropping wide

With a little smile he said, “You’re forgiven”

“Come here, I missed you!” then Gino hugged me tight.

I was shocked. Literally, I can’t move.

“Hey! What’s wrong? You missed me too right? HAHA!”

“Yeah” I said, trying to pretend everything was okay.

“Come on, get in the car in want to go somewhere”

  I just got into his car and he drove me to Ever Park. He stepped out and I followed him.

“Many good things happen when I visit my family in New Jersey, he said while he walked.”Some wounds were already healed. Some were in the process.”

I want to ask many things about what happened to him and where did he got a brother but all I want to know now is the letter I found. But I’m afraid it will ruin our friendship and at the same time his mood tonight. I’ve never seen him happy like this. So I just decided to keep my little secret for a while.

“About that, I thought you are the only son of your parents? You lied?”

“Well, it’s too painful to tell that part of my story but I don’t want to keep it from you. and I think, I can finally share it to someone. He is not my real brother. He is just my cousin, and my mom is not my real mom, she’s my Aunt. My real mother left me, she is too young when I was born and she can’t handle the fact that she’s going to raise a baby boy all by herself, so she left me to my Aunt who has a ten year old son at that time. My mom is a model in the big city, so nobody should know that she already had a son, or else, she’ll lose everything. I saw her in magazines and sometimes in TV. I actually don’t hate her for leaving me, I just want to see her even just for one time. I just want to hug her and tell her I’m not angry, that I love her, and I will wait for her to come home. And one day she went home...  but dead and hard. She was killed by her live-in partner who was an alcohol dependent. After she was buried, Aunt and Uncle went back to their busy lives. I was always left with their son, Vincent. He always comforted me, we played, he fought for me, he rescued me from my young dark life, he protected me and he promised that he will never leave me. ‘Never’, he said. But one day he did. Before I entered high school, Vincent fell in love and walked away from home and went to New Jersey. I hate him at that time because he became so selfish. He didn’t even leave a note and even after some time, he never called me or emailed back to me. Till the time I can’t bear it anymore and I considered him dead like my mother. So I tell people I’m just the only son of my parents. And after her girlfriend Sara gave birth to a baby boy, my mom and dad decided to live permanently in New Jersey, they bought a brand new house there. I thought we are all going there together. But for some reason, they left me. They only visit once every three years.”

I was shocked again, I can’t believe what he had just told me. Now I know why he is too distant to people and why he is afraid of being left alone but I can’t take another revelation. So much for today!!! So I just said I want to go home.