Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2012 01:07:46 -0700 (PDT) From: John Michaels Subject: FILIPINO LOVE - Chapter Thirty-one FILIPINO LOVE BY JM Email: mmanlookin@yahoo.com Disclaimers and other info: see chapter one This and all subsequent chapters are dedicated to my own Filipino Love. He knows who he is! CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE Mario and Paulo looked at one another, their faces taking on a heavy blush before looking at Ronni and me. I could tell they were very nervous by their posture and the death grip they had on each other's hand. With another quick glance at each other, Paulo cleared his throat. Looks like he's going to be the spokesman. "Umm, ahh...I am shy to talk. My English not so good, but I try," he said. "Please don't feel shy," I replied. "You know Ronni, and I want you to feel ok around me, too. You have already trusted me by letting me know you have deep feelings for each other, just like Ronni and I do. You are always welcome in our home, and I want you to feel safe to be open about your relationship when you're here." "Salamat!" he said, with a small grin. "Thank you. You are the only other ones we tell. We hope you can help us be ok with others like you and Ronni. We are afraid of how others think. Most we are afraid of our parents. We do not know what they say when they find out." It was obvious that he was still nervous but determined to say what the reason for their visit was. And while his English was understandable, it was also obvious that he was having a hard time expressing himself. His speech was very slow and careful, the furrow on his forehead evidence of his intense concentration to find the right words. Ronni started talking to him in Tagalog, but Paulo vigorously shook his head. "Thank you, but no," he said. "I need to use my English so I speak better. You have good English, but I...WE need to say this for us." "We trust you and Phil to help us, and we speak English for him," said Mario. He blushed again and ducked his head. "Thanks, guys," I said, sincerely. "It means a lot that you would do that for me and to trust me and Ronni to try to help you. I don't really know your parents, so I don't know how I can help you there. All I can do is tell you about me and my parents when I told them I was gay. Of course, I didn't have a boyfriend then, so it was a little different." "And you know it was my lola who helped me with my parents," Ronni added. "Your lola is so cool!" enthused Paulo. "But we have no one like her in our families who would help us." His shoulders slumped and he leaned into Mario, who put his arm around his boyfriend's shoulder while planting a small kiss on his cheek. It was quite evident that these two cared very deeply for one other. Whether it was one of those teen romances that peters out in a few years or something more abiding like the love Ronni and I had remained to be seen. Either way, they now needed some help in dealing with family, since they felt the need to have their love validated by those closest to them. Whether they were doing this because of Ronni's relationship with his own family or not wasn't really the issue. It was what they felt they had to do. It was then I had an "Aha!" moment. "Are either of your parents friends with Mr. And Mrs. Martinez?" I asked. "Oo, umm...yes," said Mario. "My mother works at the call center with Mr. Martinez, and his mother sometimes helps Mrs. Martinez to cook for others. And we all grow up and live close together. We all are friends with Mr. And Mrs. Martinez. And everyone know and like Lola Sanie." "Yes," Ronni confirmed. Turning to look at me, he asked, "We all live close and our families all know each other. Why you ask?" "Because I think your parents may help them with coming out to their parents," I said, giving him a tighter hug. "And the fact they all know and like Lola Sanie is even better." Turning to the two boys, I continued, "Would you feel comfortable talking to Ronni's parents about the two of you? You could even talk to them here where you might feel safer. And Ronni and I would be here too, if you want, to give you our support." The boys looked at one another, with a silent communication passing between them. That right there told me that maybe they were going to be one of those couples that survives adolescence. They turned back toward us, and Mario said, "We don't know about that. They were not happy when Ronni first says he is gay. What Ronni says is his lola is the one who make them see it is ok." "That's true, " I said, "but they accepted that Ronni is gay even before I showed up and have seen what he and I have together and are very happy and accepting about it. I think I have gotten to know them and understand them fairly well, and I see that they have a better understanding of two guys loving each other, even if they are young like Ronni and you two boys. I should maybe ask you, though, what were the reactions from your parents when they learned Ronni was gay?" Paulo spoke up, "My Papa say he not understand how a boy likes only another boy and not girl. He say God must have His own plan for such as Ronni, and he say God loves everyone, and he is man. not God. So he say he is ok about Ronni, and Ronni is same boy he always know and like, just he likes boys, not girls. Mama agree with him." "My papa say almost same thing, but he is think maybe Ronni make me gay too," said Mario, with a chuckle. "Mama tell him I cannot be made gay or anyone else. She say a person either is or is not gay, and they have no choice. It is who they are. She say she read this in newspaper at work and talk with others there. Papa say he see nothing gay about Ronni, just my friend, so maybe Mama is right. My mama laugh and say she always right." This got a chuckle from everyone. "From what you both say, it sounds like your parents may be accepting of you both, but it also seems like they don't know that I'm Ronni's boyfriend. I wonder how they'll feel about our age difference" "They know about you, Phil," said Mario. "When Ronni have his dreams and Lola Sanie talk to his parents, my parents know too, cuz his mama talk to my mama, and she tell my papa. They very surprised Ronni have much older boyfriend, but they listen to Lola too and are ok, I think." " I certainly hope so," I said. "I don't want anything to come between Ronni and you two and his other friends just because of me. But I just had an idea. Would you like Ronni and me to talk to his lola and tell her about you two without naming any names yet? We could tell her that we know of two boys Ronni's age that would like to talk to their parents about their relationship and see if she has any ideas about the best way to do that. Then, if she seems to be ok with a relationship at your age, which she should be because of Ronni, then we can tell her who you are so she can maybe give better advice, since she knows you and your parents." Once again, the boys looked at one another without saying anything, their eyes and hearts doing the talking, before they both turned back to Ronni and me with a small yet slightly uncertain smile on both their faces. This time, it was Paulo who spoke. "Lola Sanie is a good and wise woman. She has much respect from many people. Our parents both know her well and will listen to what she says. We just do not know if she will be as good for us as she is with Ronni. He is her family, and he have those dreams, so she knows what will be in his life. Maybe dreams mean he have life with you that cannot change. It will be his life `cuz the dreams say so. But we do not have dreams. Only love each other." "You have a very good point, Paulo," I said. "But there is more to Lola than just being a wise woman. She is first a real person who thinks and feels just like we do. She knows that people like you and Mario can't help being who you are and who you love. She even said that it doesn't matter who you love. The important thing is to love and be loved by someone special, no matter who it is. That is the big reason she doesn't see anything wrong with what Ronni and I have. And though this is something she didn't say, it's something that I believe very strongly, especially since I met Ronni: When people say that you are too young to know what true love is at your young age, they're wrong! I have no doubts at all that the love you two have for each other is as real as the love that Ronni and I have." This got me a huge smile from our two young guests and a tight hug and resounding smack on the lips from my young lover. "You are the most special person I ever know," he enthused. "You really DO know what is in their hearts and in mine! That is something Mama and Papa say to Lola when she told them about my dream and you. They say I am too young to know what real love is. Lola say "no" to them, they are wrong. She say love can come any time, and to have a love like I have for you is very real." We continued to talk for a while with Ronni and me doing most of the talking to help allay any doubts the boys might have about talking to Sanie. In the end, they agreed that Ronni and I should talk to her first and see how that went before getting the two of them and her together here at our house. They both agreed that when that time came, they wanted Ronni and me present, I think mainly for moral support. Someone knocking at the door interrupted our discussion. With a quizzical look at me, Ronni got up and went to see who it was, with me right behind him. We weren't expecting company, and I was as curious as he was to see who was there. He opened the door, and there was a good-looking young man standing there who we'd not seen before. "Can I help you?" I asked over Ronni's shoulder. "Hello," the young man said. "My name is Lorenzo Fudalan. My Cousin Josie said that you might need a driver while you are here." "Ah, yes. Please come in. Josie told me about you, but I was expecting her to call if you were available." Lorenzo stepped in just as the phone rang. "Would you get that, Love?" I asked Ronni. Giving me a quick smile, he scampered off to answer the phone. I noticed a raised eyebrow and slight smile from Lorenzo, as I shut the door and ushered him into the salla. "Forgive me, Mr. James," he said. "My cousin mentioned the special umm...circumstances here. I hope you don't mind. You see, I am also gay, and she thought it would be good for me to be able to spend some time with you and...I'm sorry. I do not remember his name." "His name is Ronni," I said, with a rather bemused smile on my face. "And in a way, I'm glad that Josie gave you a heads up about us. It's not anything we try to hide, but we don't flaunt it in public either. I was figuring I'd need to tell you, or whoever we had as a driver, since we would possibly be spending quite a bit of time together in the next week or so, and our relationship would have become quite obvious at some point." We had reached the salla and I indicated the chair opposite the sofa for Lorenzo as I plopped myself down, getting an immediate lap-full of love. Lorenzo smiled at this as he sat down. Turning to me, he said, with a giggle, "That was Josie. She said her cousin was coming to talk to us. She said she is sorry she did not call sooner, but she has a problem at the office and forgot to call til now." "Well, at least she remembered to call, even though she was a bit late," I said with a chuckle. Turning back to Lorenzo, I asked, "You said you are gay? Is there someone special in your life?". "Sadly, no," he said, with a slight frown. "I have a few friends who are gay, but because of the macho culture here, the only way to be open about it that is most accepted is to be all girlie. That is how my few gay friends deal with it, but I am not like that. I am not ashamed of who or what I am. If anyone asks, I will tell them, if they are someone who should know. And then there is my school. I am really too busy with my studies to have time for any real social life. Only on school breaks will I sometimes take a trip to Manila to visit some of the gay clubs, but I stopped doing that a while ago. I find that kind of life too shallow. My family all knows I am gay and are very accepting and supportive, but for now, it is mostly just school." "I know you've most likely heard this before," I said, "but you're still young, and you're an attractive young man. When the time is right, I know you'll find that special guy." "Thank you. I know you are correct, but I just wish he'd stop hiding and show up now!" he said with a chuckle. "Excuse me a moment," I said, as I put my finger under Ronni's chin and turned his head toward me. "Why don't you see if Mario and Paulo would like something to eat. It's getting close to lunchtime, and I'll bet they're hungry. You, too," I added, poking him in the stomach just as it let out a low grumble. Giggling, he kissed my cheek and got up, telling his friends to join him in the kitchen. "Forgive me, Lorenzo," I said. "I forgot my manners completely. These two fine-looking young men are Mario and Paulo, friends of Ronni's." As I was making the introductions, Lorenzo stood up and shook their hands, clearly embarrassing the boys by the attention. I guess they weren't used to this kind of treatment. Blushing and giggling, they followed Ronni to the kitchen, where he proceeded to tell them the lunch offerings. I cast a loving eye at my guy who was playing host to his friends. I know this was another of those moments where his role as partner was being reinforced. Turning back to Lorenzo, I noticed he was looking back and forth from Ronni to me and smiling. "You have a very special relationship with that young man," he said, as we both sat down again. "The love you two have for one another shows in your eyes for both of you." "Thanks," I said sincerely. "We have only known each other for less than a week, and I can't even begin to imagine my life without him. I'm sure you're more than a little surprised that we have the type of relationship we do given our age differences, but I can assure you. Ronni is more mature than some of my friends back home that are older than me. He's a unique and wonderful person and I am so very thankful that he is in my life. When we're together, there is no age difference, only the love between us." "What I see here is what I can only dream of finding for myself" he said with a heavy sigh. "Even among other gay couples, what I see here is very rare and beautiful. You are both very fortunate." "Thank you for that," I said, with more than a little emotion in my voice. "He means the world to me." Getting myself under control, I asked, "Since it IS almost lunch time, can I offer you anything? We have all kinds of sandwich and salad makings." "No thank you," he replied. "I'm meeting Josie a little later for lunch." "Well, can I get you something to drink?" I asked. "We have several fruit juices, milk, water, or, if it's ok with you, beer." "Just water will be fine," he said. I got up and went to the ref and got two bottles of water for us and returned, handing his to him. "Ok," I said. "Let's get down to the reason for your visit." And for the next half hour we discussed my transportation needs. Needless to say, he was stunned when he learned of my plans for the hotels. I guess Josie didn't tell him everything, although he was aware that I was buying property and would need to get around town to the various banks and businesses to get the ball rolling. In the meantime, Ronni had prepared sandwiches and chips for his friends and himself, and the three of them were sitting at the counter, eating, talking and laughing like any teen their age would. I'm sure that some of the laughter was caused by off-colored remarks that seem to be the trademark of boys their age, but they were having a grand time. I noticed Lorenzo chuckling quietly at the antics going on among the boys, and I couldn't help laughing myself. I was really happy to see Ronni being able to interact with others his age. That was my only concern: that he would get so wrapped up in our relationship and not be able to just be the kid that he really needs to be at least part of the time. Adulthood would come calling for him all too soon, and he needed this time of youth. Lorenzo and I wrapped up our discussion and negotiations for his pay while chauffeuring us around stood, as it was time for him to meet Josie. As we passed the boys on our way to the door, Lorenzo paused and said goodbye to them. He then shook my hand with a promise to return tomorrow morning, and we would go together to rent the car he'd be driving. With a final wave to the boys, he went out the door, and I turned back to the Three Musketeers and asked what they'd like to do for the afternoon. Ronni looked at me with a huge grin, clearly pleased that I wanted to include his friends. It was plain to me that he was very obviously enjoying his time with them, and I was happy to prolong it for his benefit. Of course, I didn't mind having them around. They were both very polite, lively and could use Ronni's and my support right now as they made their plans for outing themselves to their families. I fully intended to stand by them in any capacity the situation would allow. It was decided we'd have an afternoon on the beach, since they had their swimming gear on under their shorts. So, after a quick cleanup of the kitchen, everyone took their turn in the cr, and Ronni and I got into our swimsuits. Grabbing some towels, a blanket, sun cream, sunglasses and a cooler loaded with bottled water, we headed out to stake out claim on the beach. Sorry postings have slowed down. I'm very close to making my move to the Philippines, and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day for taking care of all the details and keeping up with the story. My goal is to finish this segment of the tale before I leave, but my writing time has been seriously curtailed. I'll do my best to make more of an effort. For those of you still hanging in with me, THANKS!! And for those who've gotten discouraged by the time between postings, my apologies. Lastly, please take a moment to send a donation to Nifty. This may be a free site for you, but it takes a lot of time and money for those guys to KEEP it free for you. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html Thanks!!