Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:28:50 -0800 (PST)
From: John Michaels <mmanlookin@yahoo.com>
Subject: FILINO LOVE - chapter 34

			       FILIPINO LOVE
				    BY
				    JM

Email: mmanlookin@yahoo.com

Disclaimers and other info: see chapter one

Something I realized I should point out and probably should have done at
the beginning, although it shouldn't be necessary.  This story belongs
solely to me. It is MY intellectual property, and no part of it is to be
used or redistributed without my express consent.  It is here for your
immediate reading enjoyment only and must NOT be reproduced in any way,
shape or form without my permission.  Thanks for your understanding and
cooperation.

This and all subsequent chapters are dedicated to my own Filipino Love and
are being written from OUR home here in the Philippines.  Dreams CAN come
true!!


			    CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR


     While Sanie took her previous seat, the four brothers again sat on the
floor in front of her, our two fledgling lovebirds in the middle with their
respective older siblings on either side.  I took my seat on the sofa with
Ronni settling securely on my lap, and, with a nod and smile at Sanie,
addressed the boys.

     "Guys," I began, "as you already know. Paulo and Mario want to tell
your parents about their relationship.  They both feel they need to be
honest with those closest to them, and I can't tell you how delighted and
relieved I am to know that you two older brothers are on their side.  You
had some time to talk about this while Ronni and I were getting dinner
ready, and I'd like to hear how far you got with a plan."

     "We told them about your idea to speak to Mr. And Mrs. Martinez,"
Paulo said.  "Lola Sanie thinks this is a good idea."

     "Oo, yes," added Mario.  "She say the more people who are ok with
Paulo and me, the easier it will be for our parents to see it is ok.  She
say Ronni's parents know how love can come to someone, and it is not who
you love but that you really do love someone."

     "That's pretty much the same thing she said to Ronni and me," I
replied.  "And I agree, that the more people you have on your side the
better it will make things.  But I also want you both to understand that
this will most likely be a big surprise to them, and they may not feel good
about it right away.  You may need to give them time and to be able to talk
more to the rest of us who do support you before they become as accepting
as Mr. And Mrs. Martinez.  We all also need to be careful that your parents
don't feel pressured – that the rest of us are ganging up on them to
force them to accept your relationship.  All of us need to be sure that we
are there to show our support and to answer their questions.  The best way
to go about this is to tell them about your feelings for one another and to
say that we understand and accept it.  I feel the best thing we can do is
to remind them that you are both the same boys you always have been, the
sons they raised and love.  The only NEW thing about you is that you love
another boy.  It's only a small part of who you are, NOT what you are."

     While I was saying this, Ronni was translating it for Sanie, who was
nodding her head and smiling.  When I was finished, she looked fondly at
the array of boys before her, focusing on Paulo and Mario.  She spoke
softly to them for a few minutes, and I could see a bit of tension in their
posture.

     "Lola says she thinks the best time to talk to Mama and Papa is
tomorrow after dinner," Ronni said to me by way of translation.  "I think
Paulo and Mario did not think it would happen this fast.  But Lola also
says she thinks that it is best to do this now instead of wait.  The longer
they wait, the more scared they will be."  I nodded my head and smiled at
Sanie, showing my agreement.

     "Lola Sanie is right, boys," I said.  "Both of you really want this to
happen and even if you don't think so, you're as ready as you'll ever be.
The longer you wait to do this, the harder it will become.  You had the
courage to come to me, and now you've talked to Lola Sanie.  Look at the
support you already have right here, especially Dhomz and Jareth.  You were
very afraid of what they would say or do, but look how much they love and
support you.  The way they have taken this is directly from how your
parents raised and taught you all to be.  That right there tells me that
your parents will most likely take this news better than you think they
will.  But you also need to be prepared to give them a little time to get
used to the two of you together.  I can't imagine the parents of either of
you jumping for joy to know that their son is gay.  It's not something
parents think about when they have their dreams for their children's lives.
So you'll need to be patient and be prepared to answer a lot of questions.
The best thing for both of you is to always be honest with them.  Show them
that you are both still the same boys you have always been, and remember,
too, that however they react to your news, it's because they love you."  As
Ronni translated this for Sanie, Jareth put his arm around his brother and
kissed him on the top of the head.

     "I will be right there with you," he said, giving Mario's shoulder a
gentle squeeze, "just like I know Dhomz will be there for Paulo.
Everything will be ok."  Dhomz nodded in agreement and pulled his brother
close to his side.

     "I am always by your side, for both of you," he said, reaching over
and ruffling Mario's hair affectionately.  "It is good Mama and Papa know
about Ronni and see he is the same boy they always know.  It will be hard
for them to hear about you and Mario, but they are good parents.  They love
us very much, and they love Mario too like a son.  It will be ok."  Paulo
let out a small sob and grabbed his brother tightly.

     "I am so scared," he said quietly, tears starting to run down his
face. Despite the fact there was not much difference in their sizes
physically, Dhomz pulled his distraught sibling onto his lap, softly
stroking his back and rocking gently.

     "It really will be ok," he said while continuing to try and soothe the
frightened boy.  At this point, Sanie spoke up. Addressing the four boys
before her, she got out of her chair and knelt before them, placing her
hands on the heads of Paulo and Mario, like a benediction.  Ronni
translated for me.

     "Lola says she knows their parents a long time. She says they are good
people and loving parents, and they will always love their children.  And
she says that she will help them all she can."  At this point he started
blushing.  "She also says that you and I are a very good and positive
example of guys who love each other, that there can be no better proof that
love between two guys can be a very good thing."  At this point, Sanie
stood, smiled lovingly at the four boys in front of her and then turned to
Ronni and me.

     "They will be ok," she said, in her halting English.  " I go now and
come back tomorrow.  We meet Venus' house after eat."  With a final fond
glance at the brothers, she came to where Ronni and I had stood up and
wrapped her arms around her grandson.  I heard her say a few words softly
to him and noticed his arms tightened around her slender frame.  He
released his hold and stepped back slightly, kissing his lola on the cheek.
Placing her hands on either side of his face, Sanie leaned in and kissed
his forehead and both cheeks, before giving him a soft pat on the cheek.
She then turned to me, and I was soon surrounded by her arms and her love,
as she let me know without a doubt that I was part of her family too.  She
then headed into the cr where she changed back into her biker gear and
emerged a few minutes later ready to ride.  The brothers got up off the
floor and, with Ronni's hand in mine, we all walked with her out to her
bike to see her on her way.  Securing her helmet on her head, she threw her
leg over the seat, kick-started it, kicked up the kick stand, and with a
quick wave, was on her way, the front wheel of her bike definitely showing
a bit of air underneath as she roared off into the evening.  Definitely not
your typical little old granny!!  Dhomz and Jareth both stared in
amazement, their eyes seeming to pop out their heads and mouths wide
open. They looked at each other, then at Ronni and me and started laughing
uproariously.  The younger brothers giggled, having witnessed the spectacle
before.

     "Not a lola like others." Mario finally managed to gasp out.

     "Nope," said Ronni, laughing at his friends' reactions.  "She is Lola
Sanie.  There is no other like her."  The pride and love he had for his
grandmother was plain to see on his face.  Putting his arms around me, he
hugged me tightly.  "And there is no other like my Phil either."  Tilting
his head up, he gently pulled mine down and placed a soft kiss on my lips
before resting his head on my shoulder.  "I am a very lucky boy."

     The other boys all smiled at this, and Paulo tentatively put his arm
around Mario's waist, not quite sure how he would react to this PDA.
Evidently, there were no negative vibes as Mario put his arm around Paulo,
moving in so that they were pressed together, side to side.  Jareth and
Dhomz both smiled lovingly at their brothers and moved in until they were
all in a group hug.

     "You two are going to be ok," said Jareth.  "And Mama and Papa will be
ok too when we talk to them tomorrow."  Both the younger boys looked
quickly at each other then at their older brothers.  They had both noticed
that he had said "we", and each hugged his older sibling tightly.

     "It will all be ok, Bros" Dhomz affirmed.  "We are with you all the
way on this."  Mario and Paulo both released a small sob and buried their
heads on their brothers' shoulders.

     "Salamat, thank you," Mario said, with tears on his cheeks.  "You are
both so good to us.  I know with your help and Lola Sanie's help, it will
be ok.  I love you!"  Jareth gently wiped the tears from his brother's
cheeks with his thumbs.

     "And I love you too," he said, kissing Mario's forehead.  "Always
have, always will."  Beside them, the same scene was being played out by
Dhomz and Paulo.  It was very clear that there was a lot of love between
the two sets of brothers.  This kind of open expressions of love showed
evidence of two sets of loving and gentle parents, and it gave me great
hope that all would be well for the two young lovers.

     "I guess we need to go now," said Jareth.  "I told my girlfriend I
would call her tonight, and it's getting late.  Thank you for dinner and
the time to talk to Lola Sanie, Phil.  I think everything will be ok."

     "Yes. Thank you, Phil," added Dhomz.  "You have brought so much good
to all of us.  We are so happy you have come to us here."  With that, Ronni
and I felt ourselves wrapped up in a group hug, all four boys pouring their
love into me, and Ronni by default.  The boys finally stepped back and
Ronni turned, facing the others with my arms still around him.  Jareth
looked at the two of us and smiled.

     "You and Ronni have helped us all so much," he said with much feeling.
"In such a short time, Phil, you have become such an important part of all
of us.  You are like our uncle or older brother.  You are one of our family
now."  Needless to say, that garnered another group hug, but finally,
everyone got their emotions under control, and each kissing the young
lovers on the cheek, with a final wave, Jareth and Dhomz walked down the
street toward home, bumping shoulders and acting like typical teens.  The
rest of us stood and watched for a few moments, then Ronni turned to face
me, and with practiced ease, jumped up to wrap his arms and legs around me.
Mario and Paulo both giggled at this, then taking each other's hand, and
with my love leach firmly in place, we turned and headed back into the
house for the night.


Finally!!  Here's the next chapter for those who have been so patiently
waiting.  It took a lot more time and effort than I ever imagined to make
the move, but I'm finally settled in with my Filipino Love.  Wrapping up a
lifetime and moving halfway around the world is definitely NOT for the
faint of heart!!  I hope to have chapters posted on a more regular basis
now, but I can't promise they will be timed as quickly as I first was able
to.  I'm still trying to make a life here and establish our home together.
When two guys who have lived alone for a number of years and have settled
into their own routines, it takes some adjustment to suddenly be living
with someone else, especially one from a totally different culture.  But it
is definitely worth it!!!  And, as always, please consider some financial
support to the folks at Nifty.  They've been working hard for more than 20
years to bring you this free site, but it still costs money to get it to
you.  Show them you appreciate their efforts by donating any amount you can
to http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html.  Thanks!!