What If...

4: Campus Scandal

The boys and I had snacks at a local deli after picking them up in school. I showed them this local joint where I used to eat way back when I was still in high school. They loved the sandwiches that they even asked for another serving as take-away which they will eat while doing their homework.

After eating, we headed back home. While cruising on a busy intersection, Casper received something from his phone and opened it. When he opened the file, I can hear moaning sounds from a couple. It is most likely a video (I can't see it because I'm driving and Casper is at the back passenger seat).

   "Bro, is this the video you and Ico were talking about?" Casper asked his older brother.
   "Lemme see," Tristan said as he reached his hand to get Casper's phone and looked at the video. I can see Tristan beside me looking disappointed as he watched the video.
   "What are you guys looking at?" I asked. "You seem distressed at what you have seen."
   "It's a video of my teammate, Yola, and his girlfriend, Rina," Tristan anxiously answered.
   "Yola?" I followed up.
   "Yola is our nickname for Alex Loyola. Aside from being our teammate, he's also the best friend of Ico. He did not show up in school today after hearing news that a video of him is currently circulating on social media and the campus social network. We are worried about him," Tristan explained.
   "How many has seen that video? How sensitive is that video that he opted not to go to school?" I asked again.
   "It showed Yola and Rina having intimate moments in her car. This is really disturbing because aside from being posted online, some of our schoolmates and faculty members have seen the video. I'm really worried that this might compromise his scholarship," Tristan expounded followed by deep sighs.
   "Your friend is in a grave situation. How did that video even leaked in the first place?" I inquired further.
   "We have no idea where that came from. He never mentioned of ever doing such a thing, knowing how he treats Rina with such respect. He's such a gentleman to her when they are together in our gatherings," Tristan responded. "Ico will try to drop by his place to check on him since he is not answering our calls."
   "But why have that kind of intimate video if he treats her with respect? If you are truly a gentleman, you would never do such things that might compromise yourselves in the future, especially documenting that in video," I berated. "You know, I don't mind if you plan to do that with someone you consider special. It's normal to be intimate, especially at your age. But please, have the decency of not documenting that. I don't want to hear that one of my boys has a sex scandal circulating online."

Upon hearing that, the boys blushed with embarrassment.

   "Papa, you know us well that we won't do that. We look highly of you as you have been treating Mama with the utmost respect, and we would also do that when we find our special someone. We will never let you down, Papa," Tristan confidently assured me as he pats my shoulder.
   "Brother's right, Papa. We will never let you down. If ever we do that, we will just keep it all in our head. We inherited your photographic memory, so there's no need for us to record that on video to refresh those moments," Casper heartily joked and he tried to contain his laughter after saying that.
   "You mean Eidetic memory, wisecracker. Like I said, baby boy, right words at the right time. You know how to make me smile at such heated moments like this," I jovially replied.
   "By the way, Papa, who was your first time?" Casper spontaneously asked, which suddenly left an air of awkwardness in the car.
   Tristan tried to hit Casper at the back while saying, "What kind of question was that?! I think that's too personal for Papa to answer!"
   "Well, I just want to know. I'm the ever curious witling, hehe," chaffed the younger son with his eyes wide open and a smile reaching from one ear to another.
   It took me a moment to reflect on my words and I calmly answered, "I first did it to the one I loved."

At that moment, the boys were giggling upon hearing my answer.

   "You are truly romantic, Papa," Tristan remarked with a simple smile on his face.
   "OMG! I knew it. That's how much he loves Mama!" Casper chuckled as he was giggling so much that he was like squirming like a worm in his seat.