Overrated

Chapter 35 – Who Gives A F*ck About the Greater Good

Sa huli, napapayag din ni Mamoru si Jiro na lumipat ng bahay.

Actually, lahat kami lilipat.

Nag-suggest si Mamoru na kumuha ng isang condo unit na p’wede naming lipatan. Kaya lang, ang naging problema naman ay si Tita na ayaw umilis sa tahanan namin na patahian niya.

After awhile, at matapos maghanap ng condo na malapit sa pasig palengke, ay napapayag din namin si Tita na sumama sa amin sa paglipat.

“We will also get you a car and a cheuffer to send you to school,” sabi ni Mamoru “And a separate service for Tita to go to work.”

“Isn’t that too much?” sabi ni Tita na tulad kong matipid din. “I can always ride a tricycle or the jeepney.”

“This is for your safety, madam,” sabi nanaman ni Mamoru. “Once word gets out to the media about the heir of the Akari conglomerate, then I’m afraid each and every one of you may be targeted.”

“Ano bang business ninyo, hijo?” bulong ni Tita kay Jiro, “Mga yakuza ba kayo?”

Natawa si Mamoru nang marinig ang salitang ‘yakuza’.

“Rest asure, madam, we are not yakuza, our businesses are all clean and legit,” sabi niya. “He have several hospitals, hotels and casinos in 26 different countries, several engineering, architecture and lawfirms world wide, and even support dozens of charities and institutions.”

“The problem is that several people target us for money,” sabi ni Keito na ngayon lang nagsalita. “That is why we need to be careful about the people around us.”

“What about you?” tanong ko sa kanila. “You don’t seem to be worried about your security.”

“I am a forth dan in aikido and a black belt in judo.” pagmamayabang sa akin ni Keito. “Besides, we are only from the branch family, it’s the main family branch who needs protection.”

“That’s true,” sabi ni Mamoru, “That is why we need to get you to a better location as soon as posible.” tumayo na siya sa kaniyang kinauupuan. “I’ve already infomed the main family yesterday, they would be sure to send people after you.”

“And we cannot dismiss the fact that others have seen the ads in the magazine.” dagdag ni Keito.

“So if possible, we would like you to stay in the hotel with us today as well.”

At ano pa nga ba ang magagawa namin? Matapos nila kaming takutin?

Matapos naming mag-usap ay pinagbalot nila kami ng mga gamit at sama-sama kaming bumalik sa hotel. Doon, magkasama kaming naghati sa silid si Mamoru, samantalang si Jiro at Keito naman ay magkasama at si Tita Lucy ay may sariling kuwarto.

“I see the door is fixed already.” nakangisi kong sinabi kay Keito habang papasok dito.

“The service here is very commendable.” nakangiting sinabi ni Mamoru na mukhang alam na ang nangyari.

“Naku, is it really okay for us to stay here?” tanong `uli ni Tita. “The place looks very expensive!”

“This is noting compared to the care you have shown our cousin,” sabi ni Mamoru. “Tomorrow, if you have time, I would like you to accompany me to some real estate companies so we can look for a place to move in.”

“O-okay... I guess I can ask my kumare to look after my patahian...” mahinang sagot ni Tita na mukhang nao-overwhelm na sa mga pangyayari.

“For now, I suggest you settle in while I call for room service,” muling tumingin si Mamoru kay Tita. “is there anything in particular that you want to eat?”

“Do they have sapin-sapin?” tanong ni Tita.

Natawa kami pareho ni Jiro.

“Ay nako, iho, kayo na nga ang mag-order para sa akin, hihilata muna ako sa kama,” sabi ni Tita na pumasok sa kaniyang silid.

Maraming inorder sila Mamoru, at buti may sapin-sapin silang nakuha. Para kaming nasa piesta sa dami ng aming nakain, at ang lahat, napakasarap pa!

After kumain, pinilit pa namin sila Mamoru na kailangan naming pumasok kinabukasan, tapos ay pumunta na kami sa kaniya-kaniyang kuwarto para matulog.

Nag-request si Mamoru ng extra bed para sa aming kuwarto at sa kuwarto nina Jiro. Patulog na ako, nakasuot ng boxer shorts at sando, nang tawagin niya ako.

“Victor-kun.” nakasuot siya ng pin stripe pajamas. “Can we talk for a while?”

Umupo ako sa kama ko at humarap sa kaniya. “About what?” tanong ko.

“About Kenjiro, of course.” tinapatan niya ako at umupo rin sa kaniyang kama. Isang dangkal lang ang layo ng mga tuhod namin. Muli niya akong tinignan mula ulo hanggang paa, at pataas muli sa aking ulo.

“I can see what he saw in you,” sabi niya. “Even as a child, I have noticed that ken-chan was... a bit different.”

“Different? Like you?” sabi ko. Alam ko ang mga tingin na iyon. Sanay na ako.

Nangiti lang si Mamoru sa sinabi ko. “He says that you saved him. That he’s been... selling himself, just to keep living.” hinintay niya akong magsalita, pero mas minabuti kong manahimik. Hindi ko alam kung ano talaga ang sinabi ni Jiro sa kanila.

“He also told us that his step father abused him and forced him to run away.”

“Jiro haven’t been telling me much about his past. Just parts of it,” sabi ko nang muli siyang manahimik.

“Aren’t you curious?” tanong niya.

“No. If he doesn’t want to tell me, then, he has a reason not to. I can wait ‘till he’s ready.”

“What about our family? Has he told you about us?”

“Not much. Just about his name.”

“His name?”

“That he’s the second son, and about his older brother.”

Natahimik si Mamoru ng sandali. Tapos ay tumayo siya at umupo sa tabi ko.

“He says that you are bi-s****l,” sabi niya. “Have you been with other men?”

Hindi ako sumagot.

“He said that he stopped you from selling yourself to your aunt’s customers. If that is so, then it means that you were into prostitution as well?”

“If that’s what you call it, then yes.”

Umupo si Mamoru sa tbi ko. Naramdaman ko ang braso niya na kumiskis sa akin.

“How much is a night with you, then?” tanong niya, sabay himas sa aking binti.

Hindi ako kumibo. Tinignan ko lang ang kamay niyang mahahaba ang mga daliring mapuputi.

“Mamoru, my body and my life was bought by your cousin Jiro,” sabi ko. “Did he tell you that he sold himself to buy me back?”

Natigilan ang kamay niya sa pataas na sa aking hita. Mabilis niyang inalis ito.

“What do you mean?” tanong niya.

“If Jiro didn’t tell you, then you don’t need to know.”

Humiga na ako sa aking kama, tapos ay tumagilid ako, flexing my arm as I rest my head on my left hand. Inangat ko ang suot kong sando habang nag-sa-slide ang right leg ko sa kabila kong binti.

Napakagat si Mamoru ng labi. Lalapit na sana siya nang bahagya kong itulak ang kaniyang dibdib.

“Not so fast,” sabi ko. “Since Jiro now owns everything about me, I suggest you go pay him first.” binigyan ko siya ng mapanuksong ngiti. “And since he paid with his life, I guess you should pay with yours as well.”

Napaatras si Mamoru, ang mga mata, hindi pa rin maalis sa akin.

“He’s too precious for someone like you, you know,” sabi niya. “Even after all he’s been through, he’s still too high for you to reach.”

“That may be true,” sagot ko. “But if someone as high as him can love me enough to bend down to my level, then who am I to leave him?”

“What makes you so sure that you’re in love?” kinutya niya ako. “What you have is nothing but lust! And that lust you feel will soon pass!” tumayo siya sa harap ko at naghalukipkip. “Our family goes back centuries and our traditions are old, there is no way your kind of relationship would be accepted, and even if it was, you would always be looked down upon. Kenjiro in particular! He will forever be the laughing stock of the family.”

“If that is the kind of people you Akari’s are, then, yeah, there’s no helping that.” naghikab ako. “Jiro knows that. I also know how hard it is to be gay. But if it’s what Jiro wants, then I will support him.”

“That’s it?” tumataas na ang boses ni Mamoru. “If you love Jiro, you would sacrifice this relationship for the greater good!”

Natawa ako, at mukhang namula ang mukha ni Mamoru sa galit.

“Who gives a f**k about the greater good?” sabi ko sa kaniya. “This is not a goddamn soap opera. This is our life. We’ve both been through hell and back, you think we give a s**t about your family values?”

Hindi makapagsalita si Mamoru sa galit, napatiim-bagang lang siya sa harap ko.

“At this point of my life, there is nothing more precious to me than Jiro. It may sound exaggerated, but I can no longer live without him. I love him. Why would I give him up? Don’t you think that’s stupid?” muli akong natawa. “I would much rather fight for him, knowing that he loves me too, than let him go. So tell me again, why would I leave him for the greater good, when Jiro is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me?”

Hindi na sumagot si Mamoru. Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa gitna ng aming mga kama. Ako naman ay pumailim sa comforter at pumwesto na para matulog.

“If that’s all you have to tell me, then please close the lights and let me sleep,” sabi ko sa kaniya. “We still have classes tomorrow.”

Tumalikod ako sa kaniya, niyakap ang isa kong unan at tuluyan nang pumikit.

Maya-maya naman ay narinig kong pinatay ni Mamoru ang mga ilaw at pumanik na rin sa kaniyang kama.

Nakahinga akong malalim, akala ko aatakihin niya ako, eh! Pero alam niyang magagalit si Jiro pag may nangyari sa akin. With that in mind, pumikit na ako at naghanda para matulog, nang muling magsalita si Mamoru.

“He loves you very much, Victor.” pahabol niya. “He would do anything for you.” he sighed. “Please don’t take him for granted.”