The Love of the Sun to his Moon (BL Omegaverse)

Chapter Five: Night

Libulan’s Point of View

“Lance! You’re here!” Blake called my name as he approached me and gave me a tight hug.

“Blake, go to your seat,” Jane told him. The kid released me and sat down. “What were you up to?” she asked us.

“I just gave Lance our gift for his birthday,” Earl replied.

“I see. So, did you like it?”

“I, uh, haven’t opened it yet,” I said as I show her the little box Earl has given me a while ago.

“Well, then. What are you waiting for?” She said. “Open it.”

I shifted my gaze towards the little box I am holding. It’s wrapped with a red gift wrapper which I gingerly tried to remove. Once the paper wrapping the gift has been removed, a black rectangular thing was revealed. I’m not sure what it is though. It’s shiny and adorned with some painted decorations of flowers of some sort.

“I, uh, thank you,” I thanked them. “I really like this, uhm, decoration. I’ll make sure to place it somewhere in my room.”

“That’s only the box, silly,” Earl said laughingly.

“Oh,” I muttered upon hearing that. I shifted my gaze back to the black box and looked at it closely. It didn’t take long enough for me to figure out how the box works. I lifted the lid and saw a brush. It’s not the usual brush I use in painting. “Is this supposed to be a paintbrush?”

“Yes,” Earl replied. “You can use his Chinese brush to make calligraphy and of course some paintings. However, you don’t use acrylic paints or oil paints with this.”

“What should I use, then?”

“Well, any water-based paint will do,” he replied. “Traditionally, we use ink in painting. Jane is great at using them.”

“I’ll teach you how to create some Chinese-inspired paintings when we both have the spare time.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate this.” I placed the lid back and put the gift inside my bag.

“Let’s eat before the food becomes cold,” Jane told us. We enjoyed a simple yet hearty meal they prepared.

“What time should I come here tomorrow?” I asked them as I take a bite.

“Can you come here around eight in the morning?” Jane queried.

“Sure,” I agreed and smiled.

“Anyway, how’s the food?”

“I’m really enjoying it. I especially like the dumplings,” I answered.

“Mom makes the best dumplings in the world!” Blake boasted which made Jane laughed, embarrassed.

“I think so,” I agreed as I nodded.

“Then, have some more,” Earl offered more of the dumplings, placing three more pieces on my plate.

“This is too much,” I hesitantly accepted, but I guess I can’t do anything but accept the food. This is one of those few times that I could eat a decent homemade meal. It was a year ago when I had a share of a decent homemade meal. My Mom’s memories flooded me. She really loved cooking and she always cooked something for me. I sighed with a heavy heart. Earl and Jane looked at me, confused.

“Are you alright?” Earl asked me in a concerned tone. “Is something bothering you?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to destroy the mood,” I apologize. “I just remembered my Mom when she was still alive. She used to cook food for me, too. Especially a dish called adobo.”

“What’s that?” Blake asked curiously.

“Well, it’s a Filipino dish of pork or chicken stewed in vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, bay leaves, and peppercorns,” I explained. “Oh, how I wish I could taste that again.”

“Do you want me to cook that for you?” Jane asked. “I have never tasted such a dish so; I don’t know how it tastes like. However, I could try, and you be the judge.”

“That would be great, Jane!” I said excitedly.

“Now, don’t get worked up yet. It might not be good as you’re expecting it to be.”

I just smiled and nodded. “You really don’t need to pressure yourself, Jane. These dumplings already are the bomb.”

“Stop flattering me, will you?” she replied, but I can sense her pride in between those words. “Anyway, where’s your mom from again?”

“She’s from the Philippines,” I replied. “Know that place?”

“Of course,” Earl replied. “That country can be found South of our home country.”

“Have you ever been there?”

“I actually did once,” he answered.

“How’s it like?”

“For starters, the weather is quite hot and humid when I went there. The people are nice, too.”

“I heard there’s a lot of beaches there.”

“That’s what I have heard, too. It’s a shame I have never had the chance to visit any of the beaches there.”

“Why so?” I asked curiously.

“I just visited a city there high up in the mountains to study English,” he explained. “I already forgot the name of the place. The only thing I could remember is that a lot of people were calling it ‘The City of Pines’.

“City of Pines,” I repeated.

“Yeah. There are a lot of Pine trees in there,” he confirmed. “My teachers told me that most of the beaches are found somewhere at the center.”

“How I wish I could visit my hometown,” I uttered.

“Why don’t you go?”

“I don’t know if I should.”

“And why do you think that way?” Jane asked. “Your father doesn’t want any piece of you. I bet your mother’s family would be more than willing to accept you. After all, in Asia, blood is thicker than water. I’m sure someone would be willing enough to help you find your family”

“I’ll think about it.” I smiled and finished the last dumpling on my plate. “Anyway, I really enjoyed the food, but I guess, it’s time for me to go to my place.”

“Well, then. We’ll see you, tomorrow.”

I stood up and bid farewell. I headed to the door and opened it. As soon as I got out, I traversed the hallway and reached the other end. I reached for my key in one of my pockets, opened the door, and entered my mini flat. I placed my humongous bag near the bed.

“I’m tired,” I whispered to myself. I emptied the bag I was carrying with the paintings I was trying to sell this day. I noticed the paper-wrapped sandwich Sister Agnes gave me when I headed to the church, and the gift Earl and Jane have given me just a few minutes ago. I placed the sandwich on the small dining table while the box with the Chinese brush on the nightstand.

I sat at the edge of the bed and started to take off my shoes. I rested for a bit. I was staring at the blank wall in front of me. Should I consider what Earl has told me? Should I find my Mom’s family in the Philippines? But I’m quite afraid especially that I’m not familiar with the place. It would also cost me an arm and a leg to get there.

If I really intend to go there, I must work harder and start saving. Selling my paintings is not enough. I’ll try to find some part-time jobs instead. I felt the room is quite humid so I stood up and headed to where the window is. I opened the window; I quickly felt the cool breeze caressing my skin. I watched the scene outside my window. Some people walking, stray cats running from one end of the alley to another. Mrs. Potter is talking to her plants again. I could hear the usual jazz record being played from a house across.

My moment of silence was ruined when there was a banging on the wall. This is not something new to me. Ted, and his partner, Jove, are arguing again.

“I’m so done with you!” I could hear Ted shout. “Who is that guy?”

“He was just a friend!” Jove insisted at the top of his lungs. “Aren’t you tired of being always jealous?”

“Aren’t you tired of making me jealous?” Ted argued.

“T-Ted, are you okay?” Jove asked. I could say there’s panic in his voice.

“A-are you sick?”

“How can you do this to me, and to our baby?”

“Baby?!” Jove and I blurted at the same time. It was surprising news.

“Yes! I’m three weeks pregnant,” Ted admitted.

“Oh, baby. You should have told me,” Jove said in a calmer voice. I shouldn’t be listening to their conversation but what can I do when the wall between us is just thin? But indeed, I’m happy for both of them.