It Will End In A Kiss

Desert

(GILBERT)

"I like him. And I adore the boys as well..."

My mother saying that she likes Zane has lifted a huge weight from my chest that I never even knew was there. I never realized how much I need my family to approve of my relationship to Zane for me to feel better.

I was actually worried that my family won't like the idea of me being in a same sex relationship with another man.

Especially my mother who is a devout Catholic. But my wise and kind mother has a different logic on her head.

"I can see that he makes you happy. After the death of your father, after you left for a better job to support me and your sister, I threw away every ideal expectations I have for you and Lydia, Gilbert. The only emotion that remained was my desire to see you both happy. And you are happy with Zane, right?"

"I am Mama," I assured my mother while holding her hands. We were on the kitchen while Zane is with Lydia and Arthur on the living room after the dinner was done. Robin and Blu are still out having their ice creams.

Mama and I talked in the kitchen where she told me that she likes Zane and adore the boys.

I feel happy. It looks like I have nothing to worry about that front.

My mother and I joined the rest in the living room. Zane smiled at me. "Gilbert, Lydia is interested in your garden when I told her that you are growing orchids here."

"Oh yes," I nodded. "I just took interest in orchids about two years ago. I am still not that good at it but some of my orchids did survive while I am fumbling in trying to find my green thumb. They are in the garden," I smiled at my sister. "Do you want to look at them?" I held my hand out to my sister.

"May I?" Lydia took my hand. "Sure."

"We will be back," I nodded at Zane. He nodded back at me.

So I took Lydia outside, to the pool and garden area of our home. I ushered her to my orchids collection but there I learned that Lydia is not interested in any flowering plants at all.

"That kid, Robin...I think I know who he is." Lydia said once we got safely away from the others.

"What?" I gave my sister a puzzled look. "I don't understand..."

"He was the boy from the kidnap case you investigated before you left the police force, right?" Lydia stared directly into my face. "Kuya, he was that boy, right?"

I think all the blood from my head drained down when I fully processed what she was saying. And my stunned reaction was enough for Lydia to conclude that she was unto something.

"I used to peek inside the files you took home from work and read the cases you investigated..."

My eyes widened at what she confessed. "That's illegal. Those were confidential files..."

"I know," Lydia nodded. "But I was curious about your job as a cop and I fancied myself with an idea of following your footsteps and be part of the police force too. So I used to peek on your case files. I know it was wrong and what I did was something illegal but that's the reason why I now know that Robin Akage was that boy who got kidnapped in your last case and here you are, taking care of him. What happened?"

"I thought you know what happened," I look away from my sister. "Master Robin was kidnapped and we cracked that case. He was saved and..."

"And that doesn't explain why you are here. Why Zane Akage suddenly helped our family after you quit the force. Was it because you helped in saving his nephew?"