Still

Chapter 4

"Dad, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be staying in the Philippines with mom, right?" he snapped after he recovered from his shock. He didn't want to be in the same room with his father. As much as Gianlorenzo loved him, Mihael Anghelo Fajardo can be very snoopy. At isa pa, iniwanan nito ang mama niya sa Pilipinas ng mag-isa!

"Oh, she'll be fine right there. Kasama naman niya ang bestfriend niya doon. I just wanted to see you, son." his father smiled and walked towards him. Naningkit agad ang mga mata ni Gianlorenzo. Hindi niya pinalagpas ang nakikita niyang ngiting aso ng ama. He knew he's here for a reason. Mihael Anghelo always had an ulterior motive.

"Di mo na ulit ako mapapaniwala niyan, Dad. Bulok na yan." Gianlorenzo pointedly said. He didn't miss his son. Mr. and Mrs. Fajardo calls from time to time to hear from him. Napatawa ng malakas ang tatay niya. Mihael ignored his son's snide comment.

"Ayos lang. You fell for it many times in the past naman." his father countered. Nasundan pa ito ng mas malakas na hagalpak ng matanda na nagpainis sa kanya ng husto at nagpaikot ng mga mata niya. His dad loved making fun of him. And his favorite subject? Gianlorenzo's 'confused sexuality' days. He loves them boys, he loves them not. It was his father's own version of 'He loves me, he loves me not' and Gianlorenzo gets burned everytime.

"Cut the crap, dad. What do you want?" pagod na tanong ni Gianlorenzo nang matapos na at makaalis na ang ama sa opisina.

His father stopped laughing and instantly looked serious. Gianlorenzo felt uncomfortable with his father's silence. He's not used to his father behaving like this.

"Come home, son." those were the words that came out of his father's mouth.

Nagtaka naman agad si Gianlorenzo. "I don't understand, dad. I'm home. This is my home." giit niya sa ama. Pikit na napailing nalang si Mihael Anghelo. Gianlorenzo feigned ignorance. Alam niyang ang 'Pinas ang tinutukoy ng ama.

"U.S.A. is only your second home, son. You shouldn't be here in the first place if you hadn't been a coward." his father remarked, his voice turning to a faint whisper. Gianlorenzo's ears strained to hear his father's second sentence but he failed. He cut his pretense and told off his father.

"Dad, if you're talking about coming back to the Philippines, it's better if you go without me. I'm not coming with you, you know that." his son commented. Napangisi si Mihael ng pagkalaki-laki. His father looked like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland.

"Sige na, Lauren. Maraming lalaki doon." panunuya nito, sinabayan pa ng makahulugang pagtaas-baba ng mga kilay. He even emphasized his nickname from when he was still gay. Ito ang tinutukoy ni Gianlorenzo. His father kept on mocking his sexuality. Ang pagiging bakla niya noon ay naging katuwaan na ng mga taon nakakaalam. Nakakalalaki na masyado.

"Dad, I'm warning you!" bulyaw niya. Nawala ang malokong ngiti ng ama at napabuntong-hininga na lamang ito.

"Then I guess I'll just have to tell you." his father's eyes connected with his and neither of them let go. Gianlorenzo felt nervous all of a sudden. Parang mabigat ang sasabihing balita ng kanyang ama. Nanatili itong nakamasid lamang sa kanya. He couldn't stand the silence anymore.

"Tell me what, dad?" he insisted. His father never left his gaze from him. Mihael took a deep breath to calm himself and Gianlorenzo found himself holding his. Then, he delivered the news. He dropped the bomb. 

"You're meeting your fiancee."

Sa ilang segundo, walang nagsasalita. Nakatingin lamang ang mag-ama sa isa't-isa. When he finally processed what his father told him, Gianlorenzo choked over nothing. Nais niyang magwala at maglupasay sa nalaman. Goodbye bachelorhood na ba ito? Siguradong maraming kababaihan ang magluluksa! Isip niya.