Silhouette of Yesterday

TWO BOYS AT THE PARK

There was a rumor going around in the entire campus, something that the school management should be urgently acted upon. The Disciplinary Committee immediately began conducting its investigation.

There was a video circulating online and it was spreading quickly. A high school teenager was tightly hugging another teenage boy at the renowned park in the city that happened the night of December twenty fifth. Two exceptional and popular boys from the all boy catholic school in the city seemed to have a budding romance and they were publicly displaying their affection.

Dylan, feeling so shameful, locked himself up in his room for days.He felt so embarrassed of what was happening right now. It was so depressing knowing how other people reacted, thinking how the boys in the corridor looked at him with mockery as he walked by. He had not seen Vince since the last time they met at the park. Vince was not answering his call and was not responding to his messages.They were the talk of the town. He and Vince were involved in what others called a scandal. But the video circulating did not transpire what really happened that night.It was only a portion of the scene.It was not what people thought it was.

"Dylan," His father repeatedly knocked on the door. He was begging for his son to open the door. "My son, let's talk." his father insisted.

"Dad, I am sorry. It is all my fault. I bring you so much embarrassment. I ruined our name...our family's reputation. I put my our life into a mess. There is no way to fix it" Dylan exasperated.

He surely knew how their lives become disrupted because of the scandalous video involving him and Vince that went viral.

The memory of that night flashed back in his mind.The lingering scene was so heartbreaking. It was something that was not easy to endure aside from the video that was circulating. The pain was unbearable so was the trauma he had been experiencing. His eyes were like cloud that pours the heaviness it had been carrying.

Vince surprisingly tapped his shoulder. "What is your story tonight, huh?" He asked with glee. On the moonlit chilly night, they sat on the bench, both seemingly amazed with the sparkling lake.They heartily enjoyed sharing each other's stories of the passing years, their triumph together and their experiences in competing nationally.Then Vince opened up his dilemma. His father wanted him to enter the Military Academy, the famous institution sprawling three hundred hectares in the city that built the future officer of the country's prominent Armed Forces for more than a century. But he knew with certainty that he would never be what his father wanted him to become. He had other plans now that he was heading off to college. He aspired to be an instructor in the famous university in the city. After taking his course and passing the licensure examination, he would want to apply for a scholarship if fate would allow to continue his masters and even a doctorate in one of the prestigious and leading universities in another country. He really wanted to hone up his skills to shape the future of young dreamers. He was afraid his dad would get deeply mad if he would take another path. Following his passion would mean disobedience to his father. But he wanted freedom.

The thought of Vince heading to college sunk into Dylan's mind. He felt sudden sadness that showed through his eyes.Yes. A few months from now, Vince would be graduating in high school.

"Vince," Dylan finally spoke but with hesitation. He began feeling pessimistic.He was expecting for the absolute worst; what if his coming out to Vince would not be the same as his coming out with his father? What if Vince would turn him down and would not accept him? His heart began to pound.

"What is happening to you bro?," Vince asked. He was puzzled but was trying to figure out what Dylan wanted to talk about.

"I am not sure where and how to start." Dylan was obviously trying to find courage. His voice was tremulous.

Vince looked straight to Dylan's eyes and began to caress his back.

"Just tell me the beginning." He smiled trying to give courage.

"I..," Dylan stuttered. The he startled as Vince held his hand and they ran to look for shelter. Dylan unconsciously noticed that it was beginning to drizzle. The night sky lost its stars and moon as the heavy clouds started to cover its vastness. The rain came pouring down. It was raining cats and dogs.The people were running to look for waiting sheds to shelter themselves from the stinging coldness of rainfall.

The two were stuck in a waiting shed. Dylan looked around and began contemplating why the clouds unexpectedly poured down its heavy rain as if it was trying to silence him. There were noisy thunders and flashes of bright lights in the sky.

Vince pat Dylan's shoulder to help him loosen up. His gaze was giving him an assurance that he could lean on him and he could trust him.

Dylan suddenly grabbed Vince's hand and put it on his left chest as if he wanted to make him feel his heartbeat. It was such a very sweet and vulnerable action for Dylan without telling him that he was so in love with him. His heart belonged to him.For a minute ,the world as if stopped spinning.

"I like you Vince." These words suddenly slipped from his lips.What a shocking confession.

Vince was dumbfounded. He could not even tell a single word. He was so shocked with what he just heard. Then he was surprised when Dylan hugged him so tight. He was shivering but the warm tears of Dylan dripped on his shoulders.

The rain suddenly halted, the lightning vanished and the thunder silenced. Everything seemed magical as if the universe was telling him to enjoy the scene and to taste the sweet moment. The night got deeper, so was his feeling. He was waiting for Vince to tell him that he felt the same way too. What a wishful thinking it was!

But Vince jolted him away.

"Hands off me," he angrily yelled. "Please!" as he pointed his finger, surprised and confused. Dylan was toppled down on the ground. Vince ran away and left him alone and feeling devastated in the waiting shed. Few people in the other sheds witnessed the scene. They were staring at him. Others pitied him.Others laughed.Some felt disgusted. All he wanted was to be swallowed by the ground or to simply vanish like a bubble so that he could escape from embarrassment. But that was the sad reality he had to accept. Vince was so disgusted with him.

He stood up.He tried to stop his tears.He tried to be strong. He ran away as fast as he could.

" What have I done?" The only question that ran in his mind.