Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2003 09:51:49 +0800
From: Dale de Leon <daygonewrong@hotmail.com>
Subject: Beautiful 2

                               Beautiful
                            by Dale de Leon

VII.

	Something was definitely going on with Andres Lorenzo, I decided to myself
while I was in my room.  After taking my shower, I freshened up and made
myself presentable for dinner with my host.  One of the serving maids came
over and informed me that it was time to eat.  Andre was waiting for me
outside as I got out of the door.  He was still looking strangely at me.

	As we were walking along the corridors, I cleared my throat, looked Andre
straight at the eye and asked him, "Okay... what's the matter?  You're
making me uncomfortable with your staring.  And awhile ago... what was
that?"

	That caught him off-guard.  Andre took a full minute to think of a reply.
Then he laughed dryly.  "Jeez... you caught me there.  Uhm.. haha... yeah,
I, uh."  Then he cleared his throat.

	"Uhm... see, the thing is Jules..."  then he looked at me straight in the
eye and said seriously, "So help me God, you look so much like Joni, I keep
forgetting that you aren't.  I... I'm sorry Jules.  It's just that..."

	At that point, Andre looked away... as if he didn't want to see me.  We
both just stood there, waiting as Andre's shoulders started heaving and his
hands slightly trembled.

	Andre's voice was quivering and tense.  "...I miss her Jules."  He kept
quiet.  I just stood there awkwardly, not knowing how to react.  Andre just
stood beside me, his face turned towards the wall.  "I miss her so much.
God, I should have died with her..." From his gruff voice, I could tell that
he was holding it in.  It was all the man could do to hold in the tears.

	I didn't know what to say.  Or to be exact, I knew the hundred and thousand
things that he wanted to hear, but it would all be a lie and I didn't have
the heart to tell him.

	I placed a hand on his shoulder, tapping it... trying to console him.
Andre flinched initially but he made no move to evade me.  I spoke up,
"...yeah man.  I know... I know.."  I kept my hand on his shoulder for a bit
of a time.  We both kept quiet for a couple of minutes while he slowly
gained his composure.

	"Joni and I look alike huh?" I asked the guy slowly just to break the
silence between us.

	Andre turned towards me and gave a light smile.  He rubbed his hand over
his eyes and grinned at me embarrasingly.

	"It's like looking in a mirror," he said, as he started to recover, "how
come I never noticed that before?"

	"Hehe... yeah, well I have my suspicions," I told the guy.

	Andre's eyes narrowed and he asked me accusingly, "Suspicions of what?"

	Keeping my best poker-face on, I replied, "I'm not sure, but I think Joni
Vallejo and I are twins."

	Andre looked at me confusingly until he got it.  He gave out a weak laugh.
"Schmuck!  Hehehe. Yeah... you're definitely related."  Andre gripped my
arm.  I guess it was his way of saying thanks.  Then we both walked on
towards the dining hall.  "Joni always knew how to pull the rug out from
under me," he admitted and smiled.

	We had gone on for about a few steps when Andre asked, "But seriously now,
I don't remember you looking this much like her.  Am I that dense?"

	I smiled.  "No, you're right.  I didn't look like this when you met me.  I
was going through a whole punk-underground phase back then.   I dyed my hair
jet black and grew it long and unkempt.  Plus, I was wearing those thick
Buddy Holly glasses.  Man... Joni and I were both 22 back then.  I guess
we---"  I stopped and corrected myself.  "I mean, I've grown more mellow
with age."  It was my turn to be introspective.

	Joni will never mellow.  She will forever be young and beautiful.  I just
kept quiet... pondering on that.  My sister.  Forever beautiful.

	Andre grinned, not noticing my mood.  "Oh yeah, that's right.  It's a good
thing you got cleaned up man.  I honestly thought you looked like a mutant
freak," and he hesitated, realizing what he just called me.  "Uhm... that
is..."

	I just laughed out loud, forgetting my moment of introspection.  "Hahaha,
mutant freak.  Well excuuuuse me!  You forgot good looking."  I said in
jest.

	Feeling chummy, Andre draped his arm around my shoulders.  We both walked
together closely like childhood buddies.  "Haha, that's right," he said.  I
was going to crack another quip when I noticed him looking appraisingly at
me again.

	"Good looking." was all he said.

VIII.

	Eventually the feeling of chumminess floated away and things started
feeling awkward.  So Andre and I just walked over to the dining hall without
saying a word to each other.  I walked ahead, not sure what to make of
Andre's pensive silence.  I too was lost in my thoughts.

	To keep myself occupied, I took note of the rich and ornate interiors of
the hacienda.  This was one of those old houses that existed during the
Spanish colonial era.  Along the walls were old gas-lamps that looked like
they could still work, despite the electric light fixtures overhead.
Portraits of different people lined the various hallways.  Mostly, the
pictures were of ancestors clad in old styles of fashion... the women
looking haughty with their stiff coiffures and starched pinya blouses.  The
men had either twirly moustaches or bushy beards and wore somber dark suits.
  It seemed that Andre's penetrating gaze and dark looks was inherited from
them.  It made me feel eerie, as if those people in the pictures were
staring right through my soul.

	The moulding, the furniture and the rails were made from intricately-carved
hardwood.  These things were probably old by over a century but they were
made of sturdy material and looked like they could withstand a couple of
centuries more.  Wood and plaster statues of various saints were likewise
placed on top of a lot of counters.

	Eventually, we got to a dark and candle-lit verandah where a long table
laden with lavish food arrayed buffet-style was located.  I looked at Andre
and asked him, "Does your uncle always spread this much out every night?"
Andre shrugged and replied sardonically, "The price of being a well-loved
politician."

	I took a plate and lined up with the rest of the political toadies and
hangers-on and filled my plate with food.  Andre likewise did the same,
loading his plate with more food than mine. After making our choice of
drinks, Noel Lorenzo motioned for us to come sit at his table.

	"So how do you find San Isidro so far, Jules?" the Governor asked.

	"It's beautiful,"  I told him honestly.  "The beach and the farmlands... it
took my breath away."

	"Yeah... it is, isn't it?," Noel said.  "Joni wanted to live here, that's
why she stayed a long time."

	I looked suspiciously at him.  He was wrong.  Joni wasn't here because she
wanted to live here.  I knew that much about my sister... she could never
stay in one place for a very long time.  The reason why Joni was here was
because she was covering the San Isidro expose, involving the notorious
Lorenzo political clan.  And for reasons that were quite beyond me, my
sister lost her common sense and fell in love with one of them, a Lorenzo.
That was why she was staying longer than she should have.  I wanted to say
it to Noel Lorenzo but I reminded myself of my place and just kept quiet.

	Fortunately for me, Governor Lorenzo found someone else to talk to and
hence he launched into his usual political spiel.  "Yes, I agree.  And
that's what my administration is trying to attain... as you can see..."
Noel went on and on, trying to bowl over the person he was talking to with
the usual B.S.  But he suddenly faced me and included me in the
conversation, "Wouldn't you agree Jules?," he asked.  I just kept nodding
politely while I methodically worked at my plate.  I've heard all that bull
before, but politicians will be politicians.  This family has always been a
force on this island and yet things, as they were back then in the Spanish
era, have only improved by not much under this dynasty's rule.  Every once
in a while I would glance at Andre who seemed to sense my boredom with
Noel's topic.  He just grinned conspiringly at me and shrugged.

	"...and that's what this project can do for San Isidro,"  the Governor
finally finished.

	By his speech alone, I could find a hundred loopholes to render Noel's
arguments worthless but I didn't want to insult my host.  I might not have a
place to sleep tonight.  So I just kept quiet and resumed eating.
Eventually, I shifted topics, "You know sir, I find your home very elegant
and impressive.  I must say that you have a respectable grasp of the past."

	Noel looked over at me and beamed with pride.  "Thank you very much Jules.
My family has been around for generations, dating even back to the Spanish
era."

	"Yeah, I can see that.  I'm wondering if you'd let me do a feature on it
one of these days.  You see, I'm an editor of City Magazine back in Manila.
This place would make a great piece on culture and tradition," I said.

	At that point, the Governor's ears seemed to perk up.  "A magazine piece,
you say?  Why, I'm sure my wife would be delighted to accommodate that,
hijo.  And when did you say this piece would come out?  Would it also
feature... ummm, it's inhabitants?  How soon can be published, do you
think?"

	I could almost hear the whir of political gears spinning in the incumbent
Governor's head.  He was calculating if the piece would come out before
election time and what political advantage he could spin out of such
publicity.  "I could make it early,"  I said with a smile.  "As for a
feature on its inhabitants... why, Governor, that's a great idea!  I think
you'd make a great model for the cover!"  His ego was putty in my hands.  I
could almost laugh.

	Noel Lorenzo preened.  "Really?  You think so hijo?"

	"I'm sure of it.  I'll sell the idea to our editor-in-chief and see what'll
come out of it.  But I'm sure she'll love the idea."

	"Good, good," he said, clapping my back.  The Governor looked at Andre who
kept silent all this time, just eating and listening to our conversation.
"I like this boy a lot Andre.  He's less controversial than his sister."

	My ears perked up as I heard that statement.  Trying to appear nonchalant,
I was going to subtly lead the Governor into explaining what he meant when
one of his aides rushed by his chair and whispered something into Noel's
ears.

	"Uhm, excuse me gentlemen but I have urgent matters to attend to.  Please
enjoy yourself Jules and feel free to make use of the facilities, Andre will
attend to your stay here," and with that he stood and walked out of the
verandah.

	That left me alone with Andre, who just sat there and finished his meal.
Then he looked at me and winked.

IX.

	Finally, the meal was over.  Andre and I just lounged at the table, lazily
observing the people around us and enjoying a couple of cold beers.  Then my
host stood up.

	"Come with me, I wanna show you around," he said, as he started walking
towards the northeast.

	I yawned and call out to him.  "I don't know Andre, I don't think I'm up
for a tour."  I yawned sleepily again.   "I'm getting really sleepy," I told
him.  It has been a long day.  I just wanted to get hit the sack and let it
end.

	"Come on, it won't take long.  Besides, I'm beginning to get a little
drunk.  The walk would do us some good," he insisted and looked like he
couldn't be dissuaded.  Well, I guess a walk it is.

	Andre and I started walking towards the gardened area, following a path
strewn with river stones and crockery.  It was very beautiful.  There were a
few lanterns or lamps placed strategically at the path, but mostly it was
only the light of the full moon to guide us.  The sky was covered with
stars.

	Andre just walked ahead thoughtfully, his gaze diverted to somewhere afar.
In passing, we began talking casually.

	"So... are you involved with anyone right now?" I asked him.

	"What do you mean?  Romantically? Hmmm... no," Andre murmured while picking
a twig from a nearby guava tree and using it as a toothpick.  "I haven't
gotten over Joni yet, Jules.  I don't think I ever will."

	I nodded.  Then he asked, "How about you?"

	"I broke up with someone shortly before Joni's death.  I've been too
depressed to go dating ever since," I replied.  Andre glanced at me
thoughtfully.

	"You're really close to her huh?  So there's no one special?"

	I looked Andre in the eye and smiled shyly.  "My one true love has always
been Joni.  I've had some girlfriends but I've never been in anything
serious... just casual flings here and there, some great friendships.  I've
never loved anyone more than I loved my sister."

	Andre was looking at me weirdly when I realized what I just said.  "Err..
not that way... you know what I mean, how a twin brother loves his twin
sister?  She and I share the same soul, or something like that.. you know
what I mean,"  I tried to explain.  Andre accepted it and nodded.

	I looked ahead and we kept on walking quietly.  The white round moon hung
over our heads lighting our way.  Then I spoke up, "To be honest Andre, I
got jealous of you when you were going out with my twin.  You are the only
person who's ever managed to make Joni forget about talking to me for a
couple of days.  I guess you were really special to her."

	At that point Andre smiled at me and looked ahead thoughtfully.  "I...
loved her.  Probably more than you did," he said but I gave him a friendly
but doubting smile.  "Or maybe not," he shyly added, "But at the very least,
I loved her as much as you did.  I already asked her to marry me, did you
know that?"

	"You did??  When?"

	"On our first date.  I don't know Jules, I was just that CERTAIN Joni was
'The One,' you know what I'm saying?  Maybe she didn't take my proposal
seriously but I meant every word I said.  I would've married her right there
and then if she wanted to..."

	"Okay," I said.  I understood perfectly.  I can sense his sincerity.  This
man truly loved my sister.  The rest of the walk was kept in silence until
we finally got to a tranquil and marshy area.  I looked for other people but
there was no one else around.

	"Well... here we are Jules.  This is what I wanted to show you," Andre
pointed out.  We were by the rather big pond.  The moon's image was floating
on its still surface.  Nearby you can hear a sonata of frogs croaking, bugs
buzzing and night birds warbling a cautious song.

	"I wish I brought my camera," I told him sincerely.  Andre picked up a
stone and made it skip three times on the water, breaking the still
reflection of the moon.

	"It's funny isn't it Jules?" Andre asked.  "Here we are... we both love the
same woman.  And she... goes away.  Where does that leave us?"

	I just glanced at him, thinking on what he just said, trying to figure out
what he's trying to say.  "... I guess." I replied uncertainly.  "We're just
left to pick up the pieces."  Whatever that means.  Andre just nodded.

	Suddenly, Andre took off his shirt.  "I feel hot.  Come on, lets take a
swim," he said as he also chucked off his shorts and sandals.  He was left
with his briefs which did nothing to hide the crack peering out from his
generous butt cheeks.

	"What? Here?!  But our clothes..."  I replied incredulously, "...or the
people nearby... or..."

	"My uncle chops the hand off of anybody who dares steal anything on this
farm, so I can assure you that we have no thieves.  As for watchers, well...
they're used to me doing this by now," he answered nonchalantly as he also
took off his briefs and slipped into the water.  I had a good view of his
back portion, full moon and all.

	"What???  No, you go ahead, I'll just watch.  I don't want to get wet," I
replied, shaking my head in disbelief.  Andres Lorenzo was one queer guy.
Was he always this chummy with perfect strangers?

	"Aw come on... you're missing out!  The water's fine!" Andre replied, his
head sticking out of the water.  That was one deep pond.

	"No thank you!  I'm not..." I replied when something seemed to alarm Andre
as he suddenly squirmed and thrashed in the dark water.

	"WHAT THE?  FUCK, GET AWAY---" he shouted while thrashing his hands about
until finally he suddenly got pulled in the water.

	"Fuckin' what--- ?!  Andre???" I shouted running to the edge of the bank of
the pond and looking for Andre.  I hastily glanced around for any nearby
help.

	I didn't notice the pair of hands snaking out from the water, grabbing my
ankles and pulling me in.

	"FUUUUCCCCKKKK!!!!," I shouted in surprise before SPLASH!, I was in the
water and fighting for my breath as something dragged me down into the
bottom.

	My opponent released me.  I hurriedly swam up to the surface and gasped for
breath.  The laughing face of Andres Lorenzo greeted me up.  That bastard!

	"Hahahaha... you should've seen... you should've seen your face..."  he
laughed aloud as he kept threading on the water.

	"You ASSHOLE!," I shouted angrily and swum my way back to shore.  I got up,
crossly took my shirt and pants off, and wrung them dry.

	"What is your problem???" I muttered angrily.

	The idiot was still laughing at my expense but eventually started gaining
his composure.  "...heee... I'm sorry. Hehehe... I... I couldn't help
myself.  Come here... now don't be mad, it was only a joke.  Nobody got
hurt," and Andres playfully splashed some water my way.

	I started calming down.  Normally, I wouldn't get mad if one of my friends
did this to me in one of our excursions.  I'd play along.  But that's just
it.  Andres Lorenzo was not my friend, or rather, he's not a person I'm
familiar with.  I guess I just felt flabbergasted that someone I barely knew
would play such a prank on me.  This was totally unexpected, especially
considering that Andre didn't seem to be the kind of person who would play
juvenile tricks on perfect strangers.  He always seemed brooding and silent.
  This was the first time that I saw him without the chip on his shoulder.

	"Aw come on, you're already wet, you might as well enjoy a dip.  It's just
you and me Jules.  Live a little." Andre called out, again splashing me with
some water.

	I never could stay angry for long.  Yeah, why not indeed?  I'm here on
vacation, aren't I?  I began to grin and looked at the water.

	I dived into the pond and swum up close to Andre.

	"You're an idiot, you know that?" I stated wryly at my host, splashing some
water on his face.  Andre just grinned idiotically in response.

	"I did this to Joni once.  She reacted the same way you did, except I think
she knee'd me in the nuts for pulling that stunt.  Good thing I didn't take
my shorts off when I did that to her."

	I guffawed.  "Yeah, that sounds like my sister alright.  She's smarter
though.  I should've thought of that.  I could've grabbed the opportunity
and hit you where it hurts.  You're not wearing any protection this time
buddy boy."

	Andre laughed and swum some distance away from me.  "Oops.  Better not take
any chances."

	I laughed and splashed some water at his face.  He retaliated and pretty
soon we got into a splashing war.

	"Okay, okay, I quit!  I surrender!  Mercy!," Andre begged mockingly as I
gave him another splash-down for good measure.  I stopped eventually, and we
both just floated lazily and kept quiet for a few minutes.

	I floated on my back and just stared up the night-sky, listening to a
nearby frog croaking to nothing in particular.

	"Can we be friends Jules?" Andre suddenly asked.

	"Hmm...?  Why sure...," I replied lazily.

	Andre swum over to me.  Since I was pretty close to the shore, Andre sat up
on the bank facing me, totally un-selfconscious about his nudity.  I
politely diverted my eyes somewhere else but he started talking and I
couldn't help but glance his way and stare curiously at his body.
Fortunately, it was dark and because of the shadows and silhouettes, I
couldn't make anything out except his gut.

	"No seriously... I mean it.  Can we be friends?  I mean... like buddies.
Good friends.  Pals.  Brothers even," he says, looking earnestly at me.

	"Uh... I barely even know you Andre and you barely know me.  Why the sudden
intimacy between us?  I mean, I'll be blunt here.  I might not even like you
if I got to know you better.  The same goes for you.  Just because I'm
Joni's twin brother doesn't mean you're under any obligation to like me.
All the more now that my twin is dead."

	"What are you mean by that Jules?," Andre asked with a hint of anger.  Just
a hint.

	"Nothing.  You know... I'm just surprised why you suddenly want to make me
your buddy when we haven't even gotten to know each other for that long."

	"I don't have to get to know you any longer to know that I like you.
You're a swell guy.  And besides, you're Joni's brother.  I love everything
about Joni.  Everything.  That means I love you too Jules." Andre replied
earnestly.  Was this guy pulling my leg???  I looked him straight in the eye
and he seemed really sincere.

	"Uh... okay Andre.  If you say so.  Sure, I'll be your friend.  But I'll be
honest with you, I don't immediately... uhm... trust people I've just met.
To me you're just another one of Joni's boyfriends.  I want to get to know
you better before I can call you a real friend."

	"Sounds fair enough," Andre nodded seriously.  "Okay then, let's get to
know each other a little better.  But this is like when I proposed to Joni,
Jules.  I already have a sense of KNOWING that you're gonna be someone real
close to me... very close.  I'm basically a good man Jules.  You're gonna
find that out and you're going to love me."

	Love him? What is this, a freaking soap opera?  I smirked and offered him
my hand.  "If you say so.  Well, okay then, let's be friends."

	Andre good-naturedly gripped my hand and patted it with his other hand.
The sucker.

	"Have a nice trip... friend," I said, giving him an evil smile while I
pulled the bastard into the water and gave him a good drowning.

X.

	Andre and I were still chuckling as we made our way up back to our rooms.

	"For a slim guy, you're pretty strong," Andre muttered in mock resent.  I
poked him on his big gut and quipped, "Yeah, well the bigger they are, the
harder they fall."

	"Geez, you sound as bad as Joni.  I'm gonna diet Mother.  I swear!"

	I laughed.  "Yeah I can see why Joni stuck with you.  She always liked guys
who can make her laugh."

	"You mean she didn't love me for my dastardly good looks???  You hurt me
with your words," the buffoon replied in pseudo-misery.  We finally got to
our rooms.  I stopped him right before he went in the door and formed my
hand for rock-paper-scissors.

	"Whoops, stop.  We gotta resolve who gets to use the bathroom first.  I
don't want what happened earlier to happen again, that was really
embarrasing," I said.

	Andre just looked at me incredulously, "Whaat?  You wuss, let's take a
shower together.  I'm too tired to wait for you to finish... you're like a
girl, you take too long. And trust me, you don't want to use the john after
I take a crap... like.. phew!"

	"I'm really not comfortable being naked around you Andre," I replied
bluntly.

	"Well... you've already seen me naked, so what's the big deal?  I've also
seen you in your skivvies.  Embarrassed to show me your little ding-a-ling?
Come on, it's no big deal... it's not the size that-"

	"-yeah yeah, alright already.  So we'll shower together.  And for your
information, the pond was real cold." I shook my head in resignation.  This
guy really invaded my private space.

	"Excuses, excuses, get into the shower... you smell like a frog," Andre
opened his door, draped his arm around me and hustled me in.  He started
taking his shirt off with his other hand.

	"And whose fault was that?" I shot back and sighed.  Self-consciously, I
turned my back against him and started stripping.

	Andre whistled.  "Nice ass.  Do you jog?"

	I smirked and turned around.  Andre was completely naked.  So was I.

	I couldn't help but stare at his nether region.  His groin was profuse with
pubic hair and so were his balls.  His cock looked pretty impressive.

	"I didn't know they came that thick," I couldn't help but reply.  It was
ruddy, dark and topped with a big and purplish cock head.  Andre's dick just
hung rudely on top of his balls... looking like an elephant's snout.

	"Hey, what can I say?  It's good to be a Lorenzo.  Although yours isn't
pretty bad.  Maybe I shouldn't call you a ding-a-ling... more like a
dong-a-long," Andre offered, unabashedly looking at mine.

	"Whatever.  I'm getting in the shower," I said as I hurriedly got in.  The
truth is was that all this attention on my weiner got it excited.  I didn't
want him to see me pop a woody.

	Andre followed right behind me and chuckled.  "Hey what's that??!!  Are you
getting an erection??," he pointed out.  I turned my back against him,
embarrassed.

	"Hey, let me see!  Hee hee, Jules no shit, you're getting a boner!" the
idiot kept babbling, which got made me feel even more awkward and got me
harder and harder.  Andre kept giggling, "Mr. Vallejo, you bad boy!  Are you
happy to see me?  Stop it now or you're gonna poke me in the eye with that
thing!"

	I just got all the more flustered and turned around to face him when I felt
something warm hit my thigh.  The bastard was also getting a hard-on!

	Andre just grinned at me.  "See?  Nothing to get embarrassed.  I'm getting
hard too.  Go ahead, look!"

	I didn't want to but I couldn't help myself.  Heaven help me but I was
getting turned on by his nudity.  Andre's intense dark eyes were locked into
mine and I'd be damned if I didn't think he looked so sexy.  His round
earnest face with his shaved head, smiling at me with those clean white
teeth.  His rugged jaw with the perpetual 5 o'clock stubble and his sensuous
lips.  The maleness of his scent... cologne, cigarettes and sweat.

	I began to notice how broad his shoulders and chest were... how thick his
arms.  And the water dribbling down on his ruddy skin, getting caught in the
mat of his chest and stomach hair.

	I could hear his every breath... so close were we to each other.  And he
just looked at me intently... his lips parted just so.

	"Wanna jack off?" he suddenly asked, smiling honestly at me.  He was so
near... so near...

	I looked him straight in the eye and shivered.  I hope he didn't notice
that.  I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.  The shower was cold around
me... and Andre's body so hot.

	"Idiot."  I spat out angrily.  Then I opened my eyes and glared at Andre.

	And with that, I got out of the shower and toweled myself dry, locking the
door behind me.