Romance of the Four Juans

Track 11

The peaceful environment which reigned over the Silverio household was disturbed for the first time when HB came by the house after her birthday, introducing Kiko’s younger sister, Lucille, Jigo’s godbrother, George, and tried to leave behind the cutest little girl on the planet.

At the time of the group’s arrival, the first son, whom Dante thinks will have the most dramatic reaction out of all the four of his children, is playing an online game in his room, the second son, who’s mostly serious and will probably snap at this development, is taking a shower, the third son is sick in bed and the fourth is munching on a pear, trying to digest every bit of information that came out of a super short explanation as to why they have to leave this little girl behind.

Then their guests moved to the adjacent house, Candy’s house, where Beibei is waiting to introduce George to her mother.

Huan just happened to come out of his room at the exact moment, discarding his games because he had been reminded of the sick third child of the house who had yet to eat anything solid. He was dumbfounded and horrified at the image of his father carrying a young girl in his arms as they crossed paths on their way towards the kitchen.

“What is that?”

“This is Bivi.”

“Bivi? Is that the Russian word for baby?”

“It’s her name. Bian Veronica. Bivi.”

“She’s not your daughter, is she?”

Dante rolls his eyes. “How can you accuse me like that? After Angel, I had no one else!”

“Then whose child is she? You’re obviously related, she has your high nose!”

“She does, doesn’t she?” Dante grins, then kisses the girl’s cheek. He drops Bivi to the floor and allows her to take Huan’s hand and put it on her forehead. “That’s Uncle Huan.”

“Uncle?” Huan looks at his father, still bewildered at the turn of events. “So, I’m an uncle now?”

Dante sighs, looking at the ceiling. “And I’m a grandpa, son. I’m not even a senior citizen yet, and I’m a grandpa. My heart still can’t get over it. But she’s here, and she’s almost seven years old now.”

How can their family keep growing like this? And why did a child come first before the daughter-in-law?

Huan crouches down to look at the girl, still trying to discern who she resembles most among his brothers.

It couldn’t be the youngest, or he’d be castrated by now. Besides, An-An is the type who can’t hide his feelings from people. If he

fathered a child, the whole world would know.

On the other hand, Jigo is kind but not stupid. Huan can see Jigo falling in deep passionate love with someone, but the kid was an idol who had been imposed with a dating ban since he was a trainee at sixteen years old.

Jigo is also a stickler for rules and would follow that imposition to a T. It couldn’t be him.

That leaves only Kiko.

Kiko, who once revealed that he dated a lot in his teens and suffered many heartbreaks which filtered until his young adult age. He even admitted to having cried for a girl once and swearing never to love again until he met the exception to his self-imposed rules, the girl he’s dating at the moment, a girl called Ame.

Yes, Bivi’s father can only be Kiko.

Kiko, who, despite the semi-kalbo haircut, had been voted as the most attractive person among the four brothers.

Huan knows this for a fact. He asked countless children passing by when he got bored once. He asked the neighborhood tambays at Aling Hening’s sari-sari store about it as well, showing them pictures of the four of them. Men, women, old or young, always went with Kiko’s visuals.

What is with Kiko?

Is it because he looks reliable?

Is it because he looks well put together, like he's got his life all in order?

Is it because he doesn’t smile so easily?

Is it the unwavering, almost unfeeling gaze, or just the way he conducts himself?

What is it about him that people find so attractive?

Ah~ But a six-year-old child…

Kiko would have to be around nineteen or twenty when Bivi came into his life. Too young, Huan thought, as he grinned at Bivi, who grinned right back. But then, Bivi must’ve forced Kiko into the kind of maturity and responsibility that they see in him today. Having children changes the entire playing field.

Huan pinches the girl’s chubby cheeks and chuckles to himself.

“I can totally see the word unplanned written on her face." He grumbles.

"But where is the mother?”

“Outside.” Huan’s eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead. “It’s HB.”

“Hah? How the hell does that happen? I thought they were platonic.”

“They are,” Dante confirms. “It’s complicated. HB is not the biological mother, she’s just the chosen one. Bivi chose her to be the mother.”

“That she did.” Kiko came down in long strides and picked up his daughter, planting a kiss on her cheek before turning to his father in anger. “This is unacceptable. HB brought her here? Where is she?”

“Ei. Talk to me first. Why did you hide your daughter?”

“I didn’t hide her!” Kiko’s voice was in a rather high tone.

It alarmed even Huan that he forcibly takes Bivi from Kiko’s arms, promising to take the girl out to feed the fishes in grandpa’s pond and ride on the back of grandpa’s pet goat.

“Yes, you did, you arrogant thing. Let’s set pride aside. You have to admit that you’re wrong about thinking you could hide her forever.”

“I didn’t hide her!” Kiko slaps the wall. “I only meant to stay for a year, so there was no reason to have my daughter brought here. But HB introduced her to you! That wench! I could strangle her.”

“You’re right. Bivi shouldn’t have been involved. But don’t speak ill of your friend. She meant well.”

“Meant well? She knows that I don’t want my daughter anywhere near here.”

“She meant well,” Dante insisted. “I respect whatever decision you formed in your head. But you must also recognize HB’s concern. You know what she told me just now? One year is too long for a girl to miss her father. You only meant to stay a year, but in that year, you’ll miss out a whole year of your daughter’s life. HB said that it would be nice if you could take her there and pick her up after school is done. But then you can’t, because you’re here playing family with us. HB said a lot of things that hurt.

She made me cry by just saying that.”

“She did, huh?”

“This one hurt me the most, Kiko. She told me, I shouldn’t let Bivi suffer the same consequences that my children had to face, as children. It was etched in my mind. I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to.”

“She had always been a drama queen. It’s on you if you believe her antics.”

Kiko moves, sighting HB chatting with An-An at the house next door, but his father holds his hand, firmly keeping him where he is.

“She’s not being dramatic. She makes sense. I thought of the four of you as she said those words. Huan must’ve always been asking for me while he was growing up. I wasn’t always home because of work. I’m rich, but I didn’t send you money when you were struggling. Jigo, grew up in his grandparent’s care... An-An... An-An was never even given the chance to ask why. And your friend was right... because I wasn’t there, I don’t know any of you. Because I wasn’t there... we’re here, right now in this situation. And she’s right about one more thing... kids grow up fast, Kiko. You have to be there for Bivi as much as you have to be. So, if you decide to stay with me for a year, be with me and be with her. Choose us both.”

“Even if HB is right, she still didn’t respect my privacy, my space... my decision!”

Dante releases his hand, turning away from him. “You’re too angry to have this conversation. Go shout at your friend if you must... just cool your head. Go!”