Trailing Deep Waters (University Royalties #3) - Chapter 10

HIS POV

"You've won the first prize?" Ibinaba ko ang backpack ko at tumango lang sa tanong ni Dad. "As you should, son. You never failed me. Don't be like your brother."

My face became cold because of what he said. He was stating it as if he despises my brother. My brother didn't follow my parents' orders that he should study Political Science, that's why Dad has always had a dissatisfaction with my brother as if they own my brother's life. Kuya Rev is older than me by almost a year, that's why he's already in college. Kuya Rev is studying Law Management, he's not part of the Dean's Lister, but he was enjoying it. 

How I wish I could also.

My high school years is about to end, and my parents has been controlling my life ever since I was young. They are urging me to study Political Science in college. Susundin ko naman sila... maybe because I wanted to have their validation. And also because I never knew what I want, all I know is that I'm scared of my parent's possible hatred if I chose a different course. I was scared of being a disappointment.

"My son is so handsome," my mom stated while she was fixing my necktie. "You should stand out, okay? You're a Velarde, don't disappoint us."

I'm dressing up into a formal attire because we're going somewhere, I think it's an exclusive party. Nauna na si Dad sa pupuntahan namin. My dad's a mayor of our city, a corrupt mayor who's so full of himself.

"Where's kuya?" I asked. Baka kasi iwan pa nila si kuya. Ever since kuya didn't choose the course they wanted for him, they treated him as an outsider. 

"We won't bring him," my mom coldly replied.

"What?" My eyebrows furrowed. I think this is too much. Kailangan may gawin na rin ako, it's for my older brother anyway. "Then I won't come too if you don't bring him."

"Isaac, huwag mo kaming artehan ng dad mo-"

Nag-simula na akong mainis. "Mom, bring him. Please."

"Fine," inis na sagot sa'kin ni mommy. Lumabas na rin siya ng kwarto ko, siguro tatawagan niya si kuya para sumama sa'min.

I was left in my room, staring at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a black dress shirt with a white necktie and white slacks. My hair was pushed back with wax, but some strands were not in tact.

"Bakit mo naman ako pinasama?" Kuya Rev entered the room which made me look at him. "Hindi ko naman gustong sumama."

"Come on. At least do it for me, kuya," I begged. "Nakaka-sakal doon."

"Sige, basta pahiram ng susuotin." Agad-agad siyang pumunta sa walk-in closet ng bedroom ko at ni hindi manlang ako hinintay na makasagot. Ang kapal talaga.

When we arrived at the place in Laguna, I could already view the guests who are high-profile people, businessmen, and other politicians from the outside. The Bronze Land Rover we rode at left immediately after dropping us off.

"The two sons of Mayor Leonardo Velarde!" A man waved at us and walked toward us, aiming to tap my shoulders, as well as my brother's. "And of course, the wife! How are you, Rachel?"

"I'm doing good. How's business, Mr. Silvestre?" Mom shook hands with the man who greeted us. Si Mr. Silvestre pala 'to, the CEO of Silvestre Group of Companies. I know his son, he's the same level as me, but from another section. I roamed my eyes to find him, not minding the conversations of the people around me.

"Saan ka pupunta, Isaac?" Kuya Rev asked for me. Nag-lalakad na kasi ako para libutin ang lugar, trying to find someone I know.

"Comfort Room! I'll be back," palusot ko. Wala nang nagawa si kuya Rev kundi kumain na lang sa may catering area.

I was supposed to go to the event's place's garden but I bumped into someone, and unfortunately, he dropped the wine glass he was holding which made some of the people look at us. 

"I'm so sorry!" I brought out a handkerchief and gave it to the person I bumped into. Nang iangat ko ang tingin ko, I was stunned by his beauty. A waiter assisted us and picked up the broken pieces of glass on the floor.

"Are you okay? Sorry, bro," I asked the man who looked like the same age as me. Pamilyar nga ang mukha niya, e... pero hindi ko maalala kung saan ko nakita.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Don't say sorry, we were both at fault. Hindi ko tinignan ang dinadaanan ko," he replied. He was still wiping the wine which spilled on his white dress shirt. He wore a coat to cover it. I didn't know why I wasn't leaving his side, parang napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. I questioned my sexual preference upon looking at him. His face was like of a God.

"Anything else?" he asked which made me return to reality.

"You seem familiar..." I started a conversation. "Do you study at Cosmopolitan University of Asia?" I asked a random question. Kung ano-ano na lang ang sinasabi ko dahil gusto ko lang naman siya makausap.

"Uh, yeah. Theology," he said, while sipping on his new wine glass given by a waiter. "I'm Joaquin Rivero," he added.

I bit my lower lip when I heard that. Now I know who he is. He's the son of a senator! Senator Jacinto Rivero, to be exact.

"I'm-" Ipapakilala ko rin sana ang sarili ko pero naunahan niya na ako.

"You're Lucian Isaac Velarde, am I right? The son of Mayor Leonardo," he narrated.

I gave him a simple nod, and got a wine glass from the waiter. Mabilis kong nilagok ang nasa wine glass kaya napatingin sa'kin si Joaquin, lowkey chuckling. 

"So... what's your course?" Siya naman ang nag-salita, leaning his arms on a cocktail table.

"I'm not yet in college, but I'm graduating high school soon. I'll have to choose Political Science," I replied.

"Because you wanted to... or because your parents wanted you to?" maingat na tanong niya.

"Because my parents wanted me to." I chuckled in reply. Mukhang naranasan na rin niyang diktahan ng magulang, or maybe he's just used with wealthy families contolling their children on which course to choose.

"You know... you don't have to let others control you. You have your own life, you have your own opinions, and you have your own heart to follow, choose yourself. Baka pag-sisihan mo 'yan pag-dating ng araw," he advised out of nowhere.

Hindi ko alam bakit kinakausap ko pa rin siya. I'd be a hypocrite if I say that I'm talking to him because I want him as a friend. I surely don't want to just be his friend. I became attracted in just a while. I've had a love interest in my third year in high school pero ngayon ko lang napagtanto na parang hindi babae ang gusto ko. I don't know. I was still confused.

From: Reverant Velarde

Ayos, ah. Pagkatapos akong isama, may ibang kakausapin.

I shook my head when I received a chat from my brother. We're on our ride home together with mom and dad that's why he wasn't comfortable in speaking. This is why I started to hate my parents without making it obvious, they made my brother feel like he didn't belong just because my brother had his own choice for himself.

When we went home after the party, I immediately went to my room and opened my MacBook.

I let out a sigh before I typed to search on Google.

'how do you know if you're gay?'

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