The Homophobic Series Book 2-A:
"A Journey to Remember"
(CHAPTER 2)
Written By: Adrianne A. Aguilar
14th of April 2008
We watched the movie “Titanic” on DVD.
I saw Dane teary eyed at the end of the movie and we went to sleep, he hugged me tighter than his usual hugs. I don’t know why, but I really felt secured that night.
May 2008
8th of May 2008
Marriage never really entered in my mind. That was the very last thing that I could expect from our relationship. First I do not believe in gay marriage, that is why I did settled for the live-in set up, for the reason that it is the next best thing than having a delusional matrimony of two men who were in-love… But now it seems that everything is falling into place, which is not what I expected or even wished. Everything seems to be so dreamlike, bizarre but in a good way.
By the way, a letter from Madison came, she would take a time off in Broadway and she would be here in the Philippines
13th of May 2008
We were on our way home, I was tuning in for a FM radio station over my visual radio on my mobile phone, and a specific song caught my attention, the melody was great, the words were equally romantic, it was sang by a guy, but I didn’t got his name, it was entitled “Mahal Kita” and I just stared at my Dane while he was driving. And from nowhere he asked me “Hey babe? Anything wrong?” and then I just gave him a smile.
24th of May 2008
We were both tired because of today’s work, not because of our job, but because we had a general clean up of our pad. We had filed for a one week vacation leave for the reason that by tomorrow Mandy a.k.a. as Madison Starr, Dane’s sister is coming to pay us a visit. And maybe we could show her sister around while she is staying with us here in the country. Upon cleaning our crib, I stumbled on some of Dane’s albums. It was like a photographic journal with different labels on it. From Dane’s baby pics, (where I saw his tiny little thing, for the reason that he wasn’t wearing any diapers, he was very embarrassed with it), to the picture of his whole family, his military dad, his sweet looking mum, and to the chubby looking blonde Mandy, and of course that oh so cute Dane, who is 7 years younger than Mandy
“Who do you call cute? Hahaha… I am not, look I was bald then when I was a baby…” and he just gave this very loud laugh.
As I turn the pages of the album, one picture got my attention, it was a black and white photo of supposedly baby Dane, and the description says. “My cute little one”… “Look, even your mom thinks you’re cute” I told him.
“Of course she’s my mum… Mums usually say that to their children” and then he gave me this lonely smile.
I do know that he longs for his late mother, much as I longed for mines. It is fun looking at this scrapbook album that his mum made for him. She was a very talented photographer that most of her subjects are her children Mandy and Dane, and now I knew on where my hubby got his interest and passion for photography… It was from her lovely mum. A mum who did knew that her end was near and still got a chance to make a time capsule of memories for his two lovely babies. She died when Dane was just merely 5 years of age. It was on the 28th of May. He deeply loved her. I dedicate this journal entry in memory of Dane and Mandy’s mum, Isabelle.
25th of May 2008
It was I think around seven past the hour when we arrived at the airport, we were minutes earlier, on the supposedly arrival time of Dane’s sister Mandy. Dane and I had decided to stay at the nearby deli shop just beside the arrivals area. At around 8:15 AM Dane’s mobile rang from nowhere, it was from Mandy. She’s now around the airport’s vicinity, trying to locate us at the very busy and crowded arrivals lounge.
“We are in the deli shop… Raine is here with me… We’ll just wait for you here” as Dane instructed her sister. Then he noticed that I am kind of sweaty even if it was cold inside the said shop.
“I am bit nervous.” I told him.
“You don’t have to… When you meet Mandy, I am very sure, you’ll both have a blast!” and he gave me that reassuring smile.
“Yes, babe… I am a bit okay now. I know that everything would be okay. I am just worried on how I would present myself, and by the way, why are we staying here? We should be the one waiting for her outside at the arrivals lounge?” I suggested to him.
“Don’t worry babe. Just be yourself. Trust me on this.” And he took my hand and caressed it and kissed it with no hesitations.
I was blushing red again. Hehehe. Then from nowhere the cutest sight entered the deli shop door. And even the people inside the store have also glued their eyes on him. It was a 6 year old American boy, with the most bluish eyes and a long wavy hair. He then came towards us. I was a bit confused. Then the little boy pulled Dane’s shirt.
“Uncle Dane?” said the little boy.
Then my hubby turned around and he gave a glance at him.
“Dominic?” and then this big smile suddenly emerged on Dane’s face. He then hugged this little boy, who happens to be Mandy’s son. I was even surprised. I didn’t expect that Dominic is also going with her mom. “Hey… By the way where’s your mum?” now question marks are now flashing on my Dane’s head.
“Did I surprise you?” it was Mandy, now at Dominic’s back.
My Dane was speechless, he just stood-up there at that very spot and immediately hugged his big sis. Mandy is 32 years old by now. She has a very sweet well modulated voice, and a voluptuous figure, but still she is a stunner. There is this glow on her that is indescribable, that is why her stage name is well suited for her, Madison Starr that is. Now I know where Dominic got his looks. After that long emotional moment with Mandy, Dane immediately held me at his side. And he started to introduce me to her…
“Sis, this is Raine… My life-partner, my sweetheart” and he took little Dominic on his arms.
No words were told. Mandy came towards me and hugged me even tighter than Dane’s. Well I think that was longer than Dane’s. It was the longest three minutes of my life. No explanations were told. I just really felt accepted and appreciated. I do really felt relieved. My Dane was indeed right. There is really nothing to get worried about. Mandy and I instantaneously clicked. There were so many stories to tell, so we immediately went into a nearby café and had our lunch there. Dane was very ecstatic having his nephew there. So Mandy and I had this uninterrupted chit-chat.
“Uncle Dane, when would be the wedding of you and Uncle Raine?” from nowhere, the little boy Dominic asked my Dane.
“As soon as possible, maybe on your mom’s next visit and you’ll be our ring bearer…” Dane answered.
“He was very much excited when I told him that, actually that little kid is also excited on meeting you Raine.” Mandy was very candid about what his son’s feelings towards our scheduled commitment ceremony.
“Is there going to be ice cream on your wedding huh Uncle Dane? Uncle Raine, by the way what’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Is it chocolate? Strawberry? Vanilla?” as little Dominic plays with his Uncle Dane’s face.
Mandy became stressed with Dominic’s naughty gestures. But I don’t seem to mind, it is cute staring at him while he plays with my Dane.
“Dominic, don’t play with your uncle’s face…” as Mandy scolded the little boy.
“No, it’s just okay, I do love it when this little naughty boy plays with my face…” and Dane started on tickling little Dominic.
The boy then laughed and laughed, and then I decided on butting in.
“By the way Dominic… About your question, my favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla with crushed cashews on the top” as I answered the little boy’s query.
“That too is my favorite Uncle Raine! But I haven’t tried it with cashews. Hmmm… I do want some ice cream. Ice cream! Ice cream! Ice cream!” as Dominic redundantly insisted.
“You are such a handful little boy. Okay, you win ice cream it is… I’ll get you a cone of ice cream. Can you excuse us my baby? I’ll just get this little boy an ice cream…” Dane told me, and he gave me a kiss. And take note, it was in front of his nephew and sister.
“Uncle Raine is blushing red… He is red like a strawberry, a strawberry flavored ice cream!” as the little boy teased me.
“Dominic… You naughty boy…” again Mandy scolded his son.
“No, don’t worry, I am just fine.” As I hide my face with the table napkin.
“So I’ll just leave my baby Raine to you, ha my ate…” and Dane also gave a kiss to his big sis.
“Opo kuya…” and they both ended up laughing. My Dane and Dominic just left us at the café for some ice cream. For a couple of seconds there was a bit of silence. I then opened up the conversation.
“So you do understand tagalong?” as I asked Mandy.
“Yes, somehow I do understand the language. And I do speak a little of it.” And so Mandy continued.
“I do have Filipino friends back in Broadway who could speak Tagalog fluently that is when I had practice on my little Tagalog familiarization and much of it I have learned from my step-dad Robert, which happens to be Dane’s dad.” And then she paused for a while.
“You know Raine… Even though my little brother Dane and I had different fathers, I do still feel that we are of the same blood. That as if we have the same bloodline, that his heart beats the same way as mines… Mahal na mahal ko yang little brother ko… and when our mum died… I told myself that I would take care of him as much as how our mum would take care of him if she’s still alive until now. My mum really does love his unico hijo. That I realized that I should not take away the memories of her even though he was still a child. I always tend to remind him on how much our mother Isabelle loved him.” And tears were now rolling on Mandy’s eyes. I then took my hanky and gave it to her.
“Mandy, what you did is a very noble act. I do know that you have taught him the message of Love that transcends to your mother. I do see it in his eyes, how much he misses her. Wherever Isabelle is, I am very sure that she’s very happy and proud for having you both as her children.” I told Mandy.
“Thank you Raine… I am also happy that my little brother found happiness in you…” and then she took my hand and held it. I did feel the warmth of her hands. I did eventually feel that there were tears flowing on my own eyes.
“Hmmm… I also made you cry and for a fact that this is the very first time that we’ve met… My brother Dane wouldn’t like this…” Mandy told me.
“I know…” and we ended up laughing. We then wipe off our tears dry because Dane and Mandy’s son Dominic is now approaching our table.
“Uncle Raine… The vanilla ice cream with cashews is very delicious. Thanks for recommending it.” Said the little talkative cute boy Dominic. For his age, he talks as if he’s like a mature man.
“So shall we go home now? I know that both of you are tired because of the long trip.” And my Dane assisted her sister on getting up her chair, and then me.
I had a very great time with them. I was an orphan for almost fourteen years. And this is the very first time that I felt that I had a family for the very longest time that I longed for one.
Mandy and Dominic stayed at our guest room, for our condo pad has two rooms. Dane and I decided to stay in the living area that night to watch a marathon of movies that we rented earlier that week. We lay down on our white convertible sofa bed. My Dane played on my hair while I lay rest my head against his broad shoulders.
“Babe… I am just very happy tonight… No words could explain this feeling, all I can say is thank you…” he sincerely said while staring on my eyes.
I kissed him.
Then we both heard footsteps. It was from a little boy. It was Dominic. He was sneaking into the kitchen. Dane and I followed him.
“Where are you going little child?” my hubby told his nephew in a high modulated tone.
“Ice cream?” Dominic answered as if he was whispering.
Then from nowhere Mandy was there.
“You naughty little one, ice cream on this time of the night?” and she took his little bundle of joy in the living area.
My baby and I ended up laughing. My hubby Dane does love children, now I was thinking that how would I actually make his dream real of having his own child. Hmmm… well to answer that, there would be several options, we could adopt, maybe the artificial insemination thing, or I could just share him with a baby maker, Oh my God! What a crazy thought… Hahaha Anyways no pressures for now.
Then Dane and I went straight to our bed couch. Dominic and Mandy were also there, they were watching “The Incredibles” on DVD. The sofa bed was spacious enough for the four of us that we ended up sleeping on the same bed that night.
26th of May 2008
We visited several tourist destinations in the metro. Early morning we had an early stroll at the CCP complex. Then we visited the beautiful Manila Cathedral. And walked the streets and seen the old houses and walls of Intramuros. We had our lunch at China Town in Binondo Manila, we had different assortments of dumplings. That is when I called my best buddy Lucky over the phone. I had made an impromptu reservation for a trip to the beaches of the Boracay Island. I had made a great deal, for my best friend works for a travel agency just around Makati.
In the afternoon we went into the SM Mall of Asia to buy little Dominic some stuff. My hubby Dane has bought him a gigantic Superman action figure. On our way to buy some groceries at the hypermarket, I bought a huge pint of vanilla ice cream and a pack of roasted cashew nuts. Mandy’s little baby was so delighted with that very sweet treat.
We arrived home at about half past four in the afternoon. I could see that smiles of my baby Dane go beyond into his eyes. I am overjoyed knowing that my baby, my cutest son of a gun was very happy! Mwahmwahmwah! I love you my baby!
27th of May 2008
We arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 at about 7:30am, we left Manila at about 8:45am, the flight was smooth sailing, I am usually not used to on riding airplanes, for the reason that I am somehow afraid of heights, but I do know that I am safe, that everything would be fine, especially in the arms of my baby Dane. We arrived at Caticlan Airport at about fifteen minutes before ten in the morning. We were transferred into a small ferry going to Boracay Island. Dominic was so amazed because it was the very first time that he had ever ridden a boat and the view of the clear blue waters and the islands were as breathtaking as the blue clear skies just above us.
It was about I guess ten thirty in the morning when we actually arrived at the island. We were transported by a van owned by the hotel that we are going to. We passed by into a small town in the heart of the island. It took us about fifteen minutes upon arriving “THE BORACAY REGENCY”.
Little Dominic was so excited that he asked his mum if he could go on and check on the poolside. Of course his mother accompanied him. We went straight to the front desk and we already checked in, we had a great hotel room, it was very spacious and has a really great view, actually we had two rooms, and our room is just adjacent into Dane’s sister and his nephew.
Dane and I went straight into our bed.
“Baby, imagine… We are in this beautiful island… And I am with the people that I love… Mandy, Dominic, and you… you my baby, my baby Raine… My cute little Adrian Rios…” and he started kissing me, actually more of smooching that is.
Then I pushed him away.
“Why baby? Is there something wrong?” he asked me, my Dane was puzzled.
I just stared on his angelic face and I gave him a smile.
“You’re imitating me baby, and you’re now redundantly saying my name…” I told him.
“What?” he was now as puzzled like a madman.
And we just ended up laughing and then I grabbed him, kissed him torridly. One thing led to another, and we just ended up again naked on our bed.
“Baby… Maybe we could have a beach wedding?” out from nowhere my baby Dane blurted.
“That would be nice and where would that be? Here in Boracay?” I told him.
“Hmmm… Well it could be here…” as my Dane continued.
“Then of course Mandy and Dominic should be there…” I told him while playing with his hair.
“Yes of course, because little Dominic is our ring bearer… And maybe we should also invite a couple of our friends from our firm…” and then he paused “Hmm… What-about…” my Dane suddenly became quiet.
Somehow I do know that he is worried about something, or someone, I think he was thinking about his dad. I interrupted his silence.
“And Mandy should be my Maid of Honor… Baby… What do you think of Palawan?” I suggested to him.
“It could be. They do also have nice islands there am I right? Or maybe we could do it on the beaches of Thailand?” Dane told me and we ended up staring at each other.
“Nah!” we both said in chorus, again we ended up giggling, no, we were actually laughing. It is one of our memorable moments that I actually treasured.
Then our phone from our room rang. It was Mandy actually, but Dominic took the phone from his mum.
“Uncle Raine, let’s go and swim… I wanted to swim now…” as the little boy insisted with his excitement.
“Yes, we’ll just change into our swimming clothes and we could go get a swim.” I answered the little kid. Then my baby Dane took the phone from me.
“Hey little brat, we should eat our lunch first…” as my baby teased his little nephew.
“But Uncle Dane…” little Dominic was a bit disappointed. I could hear his voice from the loudspeaker on the phone.
“No buts buts… Okay? Come on don’t be sad, I have heard that they have ice cream on their dessert buffet…” and my baby Dane had cheer on his little nephew.
So the four of us has headed into the lunch buffet that the hotel has set up for its guest. It was a feast of different cuisines from around the world. There were oriental tempuras, pastas, beef with different sauces and some Filipino dishes. Mandy’s favorite was the pancit, although pancit is originally Chinese. She had also liked the special fried rice, and the pinakbet. Meanwhile little Dominic was on a hurry on finishing his plate, he is now craving for you know, what else, ice cream!
It was about 2pm when we had actually dipped in the pool, the sun was scourging hot, but the water from the pool was refreshing. Mandy on the other hand went sunbathing while she’s listening into her I-pod, she was very relaxed by that time. We three boys were just there playing along the pool. After an hour, Dominic and my baby Dane were now reddish. Even though they had their sun block lotion on, you could see them as if they were two red tomatoes.
“Hehehe… Now you do look like a strawberry ice cream.” I teased little Dominic. And the three of us ended up laughing.
Throughout the whole day we just went into a swim. Later that afternoon we headed into the beach, it was one of the whitest beaches that I ever visited. Its sand resembles a “pulboron” it was very fine and equally white. While we were along the seashore Dominic was very delighted with the fishes that played around his feet.
“Fishes here are quite social… They do have a warm reception with the tourist here, much like the Filipino people…” Mandy told me.
After a quick trek of Boracay’s shoreline, we went at the hotel so that we could have dinner. After having dinner we were entertained by the very awesome fire dancers of Boracay. The dance was very steamy, with their good looking bodies and their very sensual dance routines. The boys were also cute and the women, well I can’t really comment on them, hehehe, just kidding.
“Baby…” Dane told me, while I was in front of him. We were sitting on the sand while enjoying the dancing spectacle.
“Yes babe?” I answered in return.
“Would you really like me if I am not like this?” as my hubby Dane whispered onto my ears.
“What do you mean by if you are not like this?” I am a bit puzzled at first but somehow I did get it, on what he was asking me.
You see, I do have also my fair share of guy crushes, and I had several friendly and intimate dates with guys… Let’s just say that the first thing that gets someone’s attention is their looks, physical beauty that is. In our case, I don’t wanted to be a hypocrite, I was attracted to my baby Dane because indeed he was good-looking alright, but realizing it now, that is how the world works, that is just simply what you call Human Nature, it just the law of attraction. And then I knew about my hubby’s soft side, his devotion to his girlfriend Jenny. Then I told myself there is more than him than just his looks. That somehow he has this emotion that I was thrilled of… That he really knew how to love. True love that is… Love isn’t just looks, there are many factors that could contribute on loving someone, there is the emotion, the spiritual connection, that sexual attraction, (and somehow we do click on this aspect), and the physical thing and so on and so forth. In the end the Physical aspect is just a percentage of the so-called thing called love. So about the question of my baby Dane if I would still like him even if just in case he is not that good looking. I would answer him with a straight face while staring on his eyes and say “yes”.
But this is quite a very long answer, and I do not want to stress him out and so I just took his arms and wrapped it around me. I just made him feel that I do want him no matter what and that I would certainly love him for the rest of my life.
28th of May 2008
My baby Dane and I went up our bed at about five in the morning. We just washed our face and had gargled our mouthwash and we went out of our room. On the second floor lounge we saw Dominic and his mum Mandy. She was wearing this white sun dress and you see that her little child was still sleepy. Our family immediately went into the hotel’s chapel, made our sincerest prayers, and we each offered candles. It is the twentieth death anniversary of Dane and Mandy’s mother, Isabelle.
We then went on a walk on the sandy beaches so that we could see the sun rising.
“Mummy, mummy, is lola really pretty?” from nowhere Dominic broke the silence.
In a whimpering voice Mandy just answered… “Yes, you’re lola is indeed really pretty…”
And my love-line Dane continued… “And you know what Dominic, she is the kindest mum in the whole wide world… She’s the greatest!” and he swept off his tears.
I could see it straight unto his heart the he still longs for his mum. That he grieves as if she had just passed away yesterday. That is how my Dane is emotionally involved with his mother, although he had just shared barely five years of memories with his mom, Isabelle. I do feel that somehow he feels that he was deprived of the time that he should have spent with her.
From nowhere little Dominic had shown up with some flowers that he hand-picked from the hotel gardens. He gave us each a twig of daisy. Mandy offered the first flower to the waters, and then his son Dominic. Dane and I could see the sun rising on the horizon, and we both held our hands and we both threw our flowers into the sea. Isabelle, thank you… Thank you for having a great and a wonderful family. And thank you for having Dane as your son. Thank you…
~*~
The rays from the sun were everywhere… But we could feel the breeze from the waters of the sea. We played with the sand, and we sculpted a sand castle, it was a bit cute but not perfect. Dane’s little nephew was so delighted with what we had created. That from just a bit of sand and a splash of water, we had created “something” out of nothing.
We had our lunch at exactly twelve and in the afternoon the four of us rode the banana boat, one of Boracay’s attractions. It was a bit frightening at first but it had a sense of thrill, although we were wearing life jackets at that time… I am a bit worried because I don’t actually know on how to swim. My baby had hugged me tight because he knows that I am not that good in swimming and he feels that I am a bit nervous.
At about four in the afternoon, Mandy and Dane decided to go snorkeling with the fishes, I decided to stay with little Dominic, and we went straight to the sand castle that we had erected earlier. But to our surprise half of the castle that we had built was ruined, it was washed away by the waves of the sea. Dominic and I decided to put it up again and make some major repairs. We also decided to make a barrier out of sand so that it wouldn’t go to waste. We we’re on the middle of our restoration when the little kid had started asking questions.
“Uncle Raine… How much do you love Uncle Dane?” for a kid, I am a bit amazed, as if he was interrogating me. But it is just fine, because I do find it cute. He continued on molding the castle walls. And then I answered him.
“You do see the sand here in the beach right? Every grain of it, every speck of sand that you could see on this beach represents the love that I feel for him.” And I just gave him a smile.
Dominic then paused.
“But that is so many… Wow… I couldn’t even count a handful of sand in my hands. That’s great!” again the little kid was silent as if he was thinking of something.
“But what if the sand is washed away by the waters and nothing was left of it?” and Dominic continued on plastering sand on the roofs of the sand castle.
I then paused. I was silenced by a six year old boy. I was in awe, No, I was in shock. Somehow he did make sense. What if my love faded? What would become of us? Or worse, his love for me would fade… But I don’t doubt his love. I know he loves me. But how about me? Am I just being dependent of his love for all this time? That is why I don’t date guys back then. I was afraid… Afraid of what? Losing that love? My mind was twisting. I just held my soiled hands and then I had a panic. My ring was missing, the same ring that Dane gave me months ago. I was like a madman raking in the sands of the beaches. Then little Dominic approached me.
“Is this what you are looking for?” with his little white fingers, he held the ring that I treasured most. It was glistening against the rays of the sun. All I can do on that very moment was to hug him.
“Thank you Dominic… Thank you…” and tears were now rolling down my eyes.
“You’re welcome Uncle Raine. But why are you crying? Did I make you cry? My mum would be mad at me if I did make you cry…” and the little boy tapped my back as if he was consoling me.
“Don’t you worry, I am just very happy now. Promise, you didn’t make me cry.” And I started wiping off the tears on my face.
“Now I know how much you love my Uncle Dane… Always remember Uncle Raine… If something is lost, just have some faith in HIM, and rest assured that it would be found…” for a little kid, he does really talk like a very experienced grown man. And from the distant we could hear the voices of Mandy and my Dane. They were both calling up our names. They have just arrived from the snorkeling adventure that they had gone into, and they had happened to stumble upon a “sorbetero” who sells dirty ice cream.
Dominic was looking again for a vanilla flavored ice cream, but all that the “mamang sorbetero” has was ube, chocolate, and cheese flavored ones. So we just bought him a triple decker ice cream. We also had the same ice cream that Dominic had. The little boy eventually liked it and he ran into a man selling novelty toys his mum Mandy went after him.
The skies were now turning orange on that very moment. My ice cream was dripping, so my Dane had taken a lick on mines and then he licked my hand.
“Hey hey, you do still have yours… Why take mines?” and I started to make a grumpy face.
“You selfish little thing…” and he started on tickling me.
“Madamot pala ha?” and I ran after him. And I accidentally fell down on my knees, my cone of ice cream flew from somewhere. And then when I looked up it was there on my baby Dane’s face. Shades of brown, violet and yellow were now oozing on his face.
“You naughty little…” and he started to grab me. He then tried on putting his ice cream on my mouth, and he started licking it, well eating it that is, then he kissed me. He then started on tickling me again, and we started on rolling over the white sandy beaches as if that very scene came out from a mushy classical chick flick.
From nowhere a man about his sixty’s had suddenly made a remark about us. He was passing by the shoreline with his American wife.
“Faggots kissing… You’ll both surely go to hell…” the man said, as her wife had raised her eyebrows.
My hubby of course would not just stare at him without doing any fight.
“Well you should be that one who should go to hell… You racy piece of shit.” And my baby Dane again kissed me torridly to mock the man who had just made a homophobic remark on us.
The man was a bit pissed but her composed wife stopped him so that a brawl wouldn’t spark, the two had just simply walked away.
Dane is Dane. He could be at sometimes a very funny irresponsible brat, and at times a very fine gentleman. He is not a coward. He is not afraid to do things, most especially when he knows that what he is doing is right, and he’ll fight for it when it is in the expense of his love ones.
He suddenly became silent. It was deafening. He just stared at the sea and stared at the lonely sun setting. I joined him. I laid my head on his smeared shoulders. And then my baby Dane started talking.
“Baby… I just wish that my mum had the chance on meeting you… I do know that she would also be pleased to have you as his son.” And he started on playing my hands, and he also played with the ring that he gave to me, he had put his ring just adjacent to mines.
“Imagine babe… by next year, we would be wed” and he just gave me again that very dreamy smile that I wouldn’t get tired of staring with.
29th of May 2008
Breakfast was really nice… I had two scrambled eggs and a few strips of bacon on which I really love eating every morning. I do also love tapsilog in the morming, that is what I usually order, when Dane and I eats breakfast outside our pad. The savory aroma of the garlic fried rice was so enticing that my hubby Dane had three servings of it along side some fried Filipino delicacies such as “dinaing na bangus”, On the other hand Mandy had a sandwich and some Caesar salad at the hotel café’s ala carte menu, while she ordered some Filipino style spaghetti for his son Dominic. We all both had freshly squeezed orange for our morning drinks.
After that very delectable breakfast we had decided on a stroll to the island’s souvenir shops. It was a cluster of stores with a variety of products to choose from. There were native Filipino delicacies, shirts, handicrafts, from little trinkets such as refrigerator magnets and some wooden sculptures…
We had passed by a small novelty store on were Mandy got interested on some small but quite interesting key chains. It is ornamented with preserved miniaturized crabs. She ought to buy like seven of them for his fellows whose back in New York while she bought her husband a shirt.
“Allen does love black shirts.” And she smiled. “Oh, there it is, I do need those” as she saw a boy carrying a basket of refrigerator magnets, she bought some, like twenty pieces of it. With all shapes and sizes.
“This kind of souvenirs is quite expensive in other countries. We visited Paris once, and we were like… Is this for real?” and we just ended up laughing.
On the other hand little Dominic was quite busy on staring on some colorful local puppet toys.
“Do you like to have one of those?” my hubby Dane asked his little nephew.
“Hmmm… Actually I dunno… I do want to… But I don’t know if mum would actually allow me to have at least three of those… I don’t want it to be alone…” Dominic said in an almost whispering manner.
“Okay then… So shall we have a race? If you’ll get there first then I’ll buy the three puppets that you wanted…” said my Dane to the little boy. Of course Dominic got excited and he went there ahead of his uncle.
“Hey Dominic…” as Mandy hurriedly calls her son.
“Don’t worry ate… I’ll take care of him…” and my Dane went after his sister’s son.
From nowhere Mandy was giggling, she remembered something, a very distant memory from Dane’s childhood.
“You know Raine… Back then when my brother was just a child, I used to spoil him…” she was teary eyed, but in a good way. She seems to be happy.
“Spoil him?” I told myself.
Then Mandy continued, “Well, I use to do the things that Dane usually do with my son now. Somehow Dane is not that different with Dominic, he’s vigorous, witty, and adventurous all at the same time, I remember one time, I think he was just seven back then, when he did like waited under the rain on our front yard just waiting for his childhood sweetheart… What was her name again… Hmmm Jan, Jean…” Mandy can’t seem to remember on who is she referring to. And I just gave her a hand.
“Jenny…?” I told her.
“Yes Jenny…” Mandy was a bit puzzled.
“Well… We’ve technically met…” again I told her.
“I see… You don’t mind me…” as if Mandy was about to apologize.
And I explained to her. “No, no… It’s just okay with me… You see… Jenny and I are friends now…”
“Oh I see, that’s nice… That’s a relief… I thought I was being a blubber mouth after all” as she wiped off her sweat from her forehead. We just ended up laughing, Mandy continued on her story-telling, as we continue bargain hunting.
“You see, my brother Dane is very persistent even when he was still a young boy. Makulit yan, adventurous, and he really loves to travel, and later I just found out that he is going after his childhood sweetheart Jenny here in the Philippines. I think he was just twenty when he left from the States. It was just a quick decision for him. He was very decisive on leaving the US, he was very determined. He also went here to pursue his passion on photography. That is one great thing about him. When he wants something, he’ll surely get it no matter what. One time on his junior year in school, he had several fights. Some students had picked up a fight on him, because they thought he was a bit different from them. But for me, I thought of my brother as a very special boy-man. There is something in him that you’ll feel that he is an earnest person.” And Mandy again held my hand, just like on the first time we had a chit-chat over lunch in a café.
“Raine…” and she made the grasp even tighter that I could feel her warmth from her hands.
“I do really love my brother… and I am very thankful that he already found true happiness in you… He is special, and I do know that he had also found something special in you… And he was indeed right. He often talks about you when we’re on the phone. You are special Raine, from the very first moment that I’ve met you. I do know that you are the one for my brother. Thank you… for always being there for him.” Then she hugged me. She made me felt as if she’s my own sister, much like what my hubby said about her mum Isabelle.
“Mummy… Mummy, I got three puppets from Uncle Dane…” little Dominic was overjoyed. He had the toys that he was yearning for awhile ago in multiple colors, a green one, a blue one and a pink one.
“That is quite a bunch… But why have three of those?” his mum Mandy asked him.
And the boy just answered, “It is because I do not want my puppets to be alone, they are like a family, a daddy, a mummy and their baby. Just like you, me and daddy. And just like Uncle Dane and Uncle Raine…” and little Dominic were all smiles that morning.
On our way back to the hotel, before Mandy and Dominic entered into their room, my Dane’s nephew approached him. He bended down so that he could reach out this little boy. Dominic whispered something.
My Dane was smiling… and then we went into our room.
“What was that?” I asked my baby Dane.
“What about what?” he replied.
“Little Dominic whispered something am I right?” I continued.
“That was nothing…” he answered.
“Nothing huh?” I answered as if I was being childish.
“Babe…” he approached me. I was in the dresser, fixing myself up. “Babe, Little Dominic and I usually talks like that… You do know that I could be childish too right?” and he started hugging me.
“Hehehe, sorry babe, if I am being childish too awhile ago.” And he started tickling me.
“Baby ko talaga… Hmmm… It’s just okay. Anyways, you’re my baby right? So you do have all the rights to be childish okay?” and he started to lift me unto our bed. My hubby Dane has a very strong set of shoulders.
We were on the middle of our smooching scene when our hotel phone rang.
“Lunchtime, Uncle Raine!” it was Dominic on the other line.
“Okay little Dominic, we’ll be there in a few minutes” and my baby Dane grabbed the phone.
“No ice cream for you!” and he hanged up the phone. Of course he was just messing around with his nephew.
We ended up having a quickie… Hehehe.
And then we had our last lunch on the island. And after about two to three hours we left Boracay and we went straight to Manila. The trip was a bit tiring, but all in all the experience was something that I would never forget in my life. Thanks to little Dominic, the charming Mandy, and my oh so lovable baby Dane.
June 2008
9th of June 2008
Mandy visited her friends on the Island of Palawan. We never had the chance on going with them because we had to go back on our work by that time. But they would be coming back three days before their departure date to the States by June 15. My Dane misses them dearly.
15th of June 2008
Joy… That is what I felt when Mandy and Dominic visited our household. I do feel blessed because of having them, that they were both supportive of our relationship. I do see that in my Dane’s eyes. That somehow he was whole again. Happiness is achieved when you spend the happy times with the people that you dearly love.
Just this morning Mandy and Dominic left for their flight back to the States. Our pad became a bit quiet when we arrived from the airport. My Dane went straight to our room, he just seated there by himself along our window. He was gazing on the white clouds that stretch along the blue skies from above. I do feel that on that very moment that my Dane is on a state of solitude. I slowly approached him.
He was shedding tears. But even though he sheds tears, he still looks cute. He has the most angelic face that I ever saw in my entire life. An angel who weeps, an angel who’s not afraid on conveying his feeling. I wiped off his tears. And he held my hand. He guided it unto his chest.
“Do you feel that? Don’t get me mistaken with the tears that I’m having now.” He was now smiling. And he’s now looking straight into my eyes.
“You see… This heart beats for you my baby… I am just overjoyed that I did find happiness in you. I do know that Mandy and Dominic would just be there for me. And now I am even happier that they would be also here for you…” and we ended up cuddling each other, as we both share the grandeur of the heavens. An endless sky of hope, faith and love. Drops of tears were on my shoulders. He just hugged me tighter and tighter and tighter, this gentleman, my Dane, my oh so sensitive Dane…
18th of June 2008
Mandy had left a message on my Yahoo Messenger account. She told me that she was very thankful of all the happy moments that she spent with us. I just hope that this would be the start of a deepened friendship between the two of us.
NEXT:
The Homophobic Series Book 2-A:CHAPTER 3
http://boykissesbydane.blogspot.com/2011/05/homophobic-series-book-2-chapter-3.html
AND THE STORY: "THE ACCIDENT"
NEXT:
The Homophobic Series Book 2-A:CHAPTER 3
http://boykissesbydane.blogspot.com/2011/05/homophobic-series-book-2-chapter-3.html
AND THE STORY: "THE ACCIDENT"
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