For His Happiness

Chapter 18: Moon River (Part 1)

WARNING: Spoilers from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. You can skip the part where the narrator is talking about the conclusion of the movie.

A long time ago, although it was just last year when Arthur Kirkland and Francis Bonnefoy heard of the news that Kiku had finally accepted Alfred's proposal to be his lover, the two older men had their own specific reactions. Clearly, we've seen them react right on the spot, but the aftermath of the incident remained a mystery until I asked them personally and they decided to break the ice.

From what I recalled in my interview, Arthur said he remembered himself pacing in the room back and forth, and paused once in a while whenever he felt the need to gaze at his reflection on the wall mirror. But in reality, he was not staring at the looking glass but rather what's beneath it. He never opposed Alfred's relation with Kiku, as a matter of fact, he knew this day would come, and he was never against him finding true happiness. But his internal reaction was conflicting. He loved the idea of his son growing up, but the sight of Alfred embracing the smaller man in his arms brought him back to the past. The salad days of his youth when Arthur himself was as reckless as him and was loved by a certain someone who accepted him even his rebellious nature. And yet, in the end, he lost her through natural causes, and that's how the sight of his adopted son and his lover saddens him. But then again, it brought him a sense of nostalgic bliss. His only wish for his rebellious adopted child was to treasure this very person he grew to love the same way he treasured his own lover when he was young.

Francis, on the other hand, went through the worst of times as Arthur did. His side of the story was different. While he expressed his enthusiasm for his adopted son and Kiku in plain sight and he witnessed how Arthur reacted, something else was also running in his mind. Francis, in my opinion, or so even for Arthur, was a passionate man. He is the kind of man who pursuits his aspirations, full of independence and believing that the impossible is another term for doing something extraordinary. These are his insights because, in reality, he grew up broken and bound. He was confined not to love anyone until she came into the picture, full of determination and respecting loyalty. He wanted to love her but he couldn't. And when she's gone as well, she etched a lasting legacy in his memory, pursuing his passions further. Perhaps, that is why Francis wanted Alfred to find his own happiness, and when Kiku appeared in Alfred's life, he knew that he was the one for him. He wanted him to pursue whatever he didn't pursue himself in his youth.

* * *

May 4, XXXX, 1:10 pm.

Meanwhile, Arthur was taking his tea and writing his manuscript while waiting for Francis to come out of the kitchen and bring him his macaroons already. He was just enjoying his lazy afternoon until Alfred came dancing in, already dressed in red pants, striped brown hoodie and topped with the brown jacket.

"Hey dad, I'm borrowing your car, ok?" He called while jingling his car keys.

Arthur shot up from his paper. "Is that my jacket?"

"Ok, before you go crazy on your wardrobe, it's not as bad as the last time," Alfred defended, although the last part nearly got his adopted father to get off from his seat. "However," he stopped him again. "I know it's irresponsible of me for not asking your consent to rummage and use this jacket. But I swear, I will take good care of it!"