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The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines is feeling like a teenager in love. Worst part is, he’s been like this since what, forever.
Being a servant of God made him chastise himself from all these worthless attachments to others. But now, with his old age, all this chastising agenda was completely wasted.
Want to know something worst? That the man, yes a man, a fellow servant of God, opened his heart.
Charles has been denying it himself over the years, I did not just get seduced by a bishop.
In fact, it was his fault, the man was only being friendly as he was a foreigner appointed in another country he’s not familiar with. It’s normal for a fellow priest to help his colleague to settle comfortably to a place he’ll be living in for his years of service.
Charles thought that he could move on and forget being away from him for months, he was clearly wrong because now, that man is in front of him again.
The 130th Annual Retreat and Plenary Assembly in Bohol is a week-long event from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines where several bishops and delegates gathered.
Abet Uy, the Bishop of Tagbilaran, his diocese hosting the event, captured his heart once more, simply from his smile.
“Glad to have you back, your excellency.”
“Why are you being so formal? Yet, I’m glad to be back and see you, Bishop. Everyone seems energetic for today.”
Both laughed as they teased each other with their titles. Looking at the crowd, cheering as they walk through the archway of the church before the entrance.
As they wave to the crowd, a series of catching up was happening, stopping a bit.
“How are you, Charlie? It’s been long since we’ve seen each other.” Abet started.
Charles glanced at the other after hearing his nickname being muttered, “Ahem, I’m fine, doing what I normally do. Keeping the communication between the country and Vatican as smooth as possible. You?”
“Very much the same, too.”
“Hmm, I see.”
They stayed quite for a few moments, continuing their walk when Abet said, “Looks liked everyone likes having you here. With your looks, surely many are here to only take a glance at your face.”
“I can’t blame them, do you agree?”
Boldly asking my crush if he finds me good-looking huh?
Abet jokingly replied, “I don’t think so.” Tapping the other’s back, almost at his bottom saying, “I’m kidding, of course you do.”
This caught Charles off guard, immediately touching the part where Abet tapped, the feeling of his palms still lingering on his back.
Did he just touched my ass? Nah. If he did, there’s no meaning to it.
He tried his best to continue walking and waving at the people despite the electrifying sensation the moment brought. Meanwhile, the other remained oblivious of the effect he had on Charlie, so much for being close friends.
After the mass, every attendant of the event was outside the rectory, each with their own plates and utensils lined up at the catering. Several Filipino dishes were displayed on the long table along with different kinds of beverages that were free for all to choose from.
I love Filipinos—I mean, Filipino food. Charlie shook his head, his mind thinking of random things while impatiently lining up for the food. He wanted to fill his plate as fast as he could so he could find Abet and sit beside him, he’ll be glad to eat with the other.
So when it was his turn, he only scooped a small portion of each dish he craved, filling his plate. Roaming his eyes around the area, there was good news and bad news. The good news was he spotted Abet easily. The bad news was that he was sitting at a long table that was already full. The worst thing was that he was laughing with someone, making Charlie tightly clutch the utensils in his right hand, surely looking jealous. Abet was sitting at the far end of the table, in front of him was Ambo, a cardinal, the Bishop of Kalookan, and the President of the CBCP, gossiping with Abet, his Abet.
Charlie couldn’t handle it, so he marched in their direction, dragging a chair from another table and putting it at the head of the table. His jaw clenched as he took a seat between Abet and Ambo, making them stop their chat.
“Oh, Charlie, why are you sitting there? Your plate may not fit,” Abet asked, warily looking at the other.
Charlie looked offended, his sour mood turning more sour. “You don’t want me here?”
“No, I didn’t mean that. Why are you angry? Is something bothering you?”
Even Ambo was watching him, curious as to why the apostolic nuncio looked pissed off.
“Sorry, no… It’s just that I was too hungry and the line was long. I apologize if I looked rude, I tend to lose my mood when hungry,” he reasoned. The two seemed to believe it, continuing with their own food and chat.
“As I was saying…” Ambo continued.
Charlie was zoning out as the two of them talked, his appetite now gone. Staring at the man on his right, he thought, I wish i knew how to quit you, so I wouldn’t feel this irrational jealousy. At the ripe age of 65, really?
The first few days of the assembly went smoothly, as others thought, but to Charlie, he’d been wishing to go back to Manila. He couldn’t handle being within a few meters of Abet, who was always with Ambo, and who were always laughing together as if they didn’t have more important matters to discuss.
However, Charlie can’t ignore them forever, he still loves the man and they still have duties to do. So now, they’re in a mass led by Abet himself. Charlie was sitting at the left side of the altar, watching and listening intently, drawing in the words from the Bible.
How can he move on? Not that fast. Not because of Ambo. Not because of the jealousy he’s feeling.
He fell because of Abet’s voice, his sweet smile, his eyes almost closing when smiling so wide, his intelligence, his love and care for his people, the list could go on, not enough time could be given to Charlie to fully enumerate all his favorite parts about his Abet. Charlie’s so down bad, to the point that he almost falls to his knees every time Abet sings along with the choir.
At the end of the mass, most people went to the altar, wanting to be blessed by the priests. The church was full of devotees, old women talking to Abet, kids approaching Charlie, and others taking a photo by the altar.
When a moment came where none were approaching them both, Charlie walked fast to the exit at the side of the altar. Oblivious to Abet following him, a running child bumped into him, making Charlie topple backwards.
This is it, I’m going to die in front of the Lord without even confessing my feelings, Charlie thought as he waited for his body to crash into the floor.
Fortunately, he fell on something soft, something warm, and something fragrant. And something that talks?
It said, “Are you okay, Charlie?”
Charlie looked up, his eyes meeting a pair of worried eyes behind eyeglasses. That’s when he realized the soft thing he landed on was Abet. From the looks of their position, his head was leaning on the other's broad shoulders, and Abet’s hand was encircled around his waist.
In fact, he didn’t land on him, because Abet caught him.
Charlie stood up so abruptly that he grew dizzy. Worried, Abet grabbed his arms to keep him upright.
“Thank you, I should go.” Then he walked faster than light outside, not wanting for the other to see his blushing face and his ears turning red.
A day passed, with the warmth of Abet’s embrace still lingering on his skin. Staring at his ceiling, Charlie remembered his important agenda for his friend, a message he should pass on to the other. Not his confession of his feelings, no. But something more worthy than him in Abet’s life.
With all his might, he prepared himself and went straight to Abet’s room. Bold of him to go there instead of asking the other where he was.
Charlie wondered, Maybe he doesn’t want to be disturbed at night, as he headed back toward his room when someone called for him at the end of the hallway.
“Charles?” the sweet, honeyed voice called him.
“Oh, Abet. I was going to look for you,” he admitted, knowing that he had technically given up on seeing the man for the night.
“Really? Okay. What about it? Want to talk outside?”
“Sure, the air at night must be refreshing.”
The two walked slowly, weighing their words in the silence that accompanied them, waiting for one another to start the conversation. They settled on a bench near the fountain, sitting on opposite ends as if they were not each other's closest friends.
“I’m going to tell you something vital that will change your life for the better. The Holy Father will appoint you as the new Archbishop of Cebu in a few weeks.”
Abet was shocked, but not the bad kind of shocked. He was evidently trying to process the information dropped. Charlie was staring at him, patiently waiting for his comment on it.
“Are you for real? Is this a prank?”
Charlie laughed, he found his reaction cute. “No, no, why would I make something this important a prank?”
This made Abet smile, forgetting about the burden of the title he was soon going to hold. “But that’s a 'you' move, so…”
Both laughed, knowing that Abet’s comment was true.
“But do I deserve it? Really? Don’t be biased, tell me the truth.”
“You do. I see how you do your work. You look happy with your people, doing everything for their needs, and actively sharing the word of God. There’s no one more deserving than you, Abet.”
“Thank you. You really know how to flatter me with your words.” A genuine smile reflected on the other's face, silence enveloping them as they both looked up at the sky.
The comforting silence, along with the man beside him, made Charlie reflect on his feelings. He’s known Abet for five years, his presence making Charlie’s first year in the country bearable. If he confesses, there’s a fifty-fifty chance that either their friendship will bitterly end or grow romantically.
Should he confess or should he let his feelings engulf him into a void filled with nothing but longing and regret?
Finally landing on a decision, he said, “I’m also going to tell you the truth, I need to get this off my chest…” lowering his gaze, staring at Abet.
Abet stopped admiring the sky, looking at him nervously, waiting for another word to be uttered.
“I like you…”
—♡—
Alberto Uy, the Bishop of Tagbilaran, is excited for the week-long assembly in his province. Above all, he’s eager to see the nuncio once again, after not meeting for more than two months. So when he fetched the others at the terminal, he greeted everyone but was on alert as he looked for the tall white man.
Abet was busy talking with the others when a soft tap was felt on his shoulders. Turning around, he saw the man he was looking for. The tall man, wearing an all-black outfit, was smiling widely at him.
“Long time no see, Abet,” Charlie said as he softly embraced the other in his arms.
Abet was awestruck, he missed him, he missed his smell, feeling the warmth of his long limbs and his milky white complexion. That’s only a friendly hug, control yourself, he thought.
As they separated, he saw how the others' eyes sparkled. Is there a meaning behind it, or am I hallucinating?
Abet is true to himself, true to his feelings, and true to his heart. Ever since meeting Charlie at a mass during his first visit to their city, he fell, fell hard, deep, and irretrievably. His feelings are deep, deeper than the Mariana Trench, and there’s no emerging from them.
The day went on, with the two being together almost the whole time until lunch, when Abet was first in line for the catering. He settled at the long table at the end of the room, he silently ate while the table slowly filled, waiting for others to join him for the feast, when Ambo arrived.
“Looks like you and Charles are certainly close,” Ambo started, occupying the seat in front of him.
Abet looked up, swallowing a mouthful of rice with sinigang broth. “Uh-huh, we are. Why?”
“Because I observe more than what you think.”
“How? What are you implying?”
The table was full, every seat occupied by other colleagues. Lowering his voice, Ambo continued, “Simply the fact that he likes you.”
Abet was stunned. Was his friend’s observation true? Questioning it, he said, “How can you say so? I don’t think that’s true, don’t make me hope.”
Ambo is aware of the truth that Abet likes the nuncio, they’re so close that he is the one Abet tells stories to about his Charlie. So, he’s not oblivious to Abet’s attachment to the man. In fact, he observes them from afar, noticing little gestures in their interactions and finally concluding that the other has the same feelings as his friend.
Ambo smiled mischievously. “Want to prove it? Let’s make him jealous. This would definitely make him confess, I bet everything he’s going to before the assembly ends. So?”
“Okay, okay. Just make sure this will not harm him in any way, Ambo?” He pointed at the man in front of him, deliberately implying to tone down his plan.
“Phase one, laugh out loud, make him see that you enjoy your conversation with me. Quick, he’s coming this way.”
Although a bit confused and contemplating whether to follow the plan, Abet started to laugh, following Ambo’s loud cackles. Then, the noise of a chair being dragged on the floor was heard, but the two tried their best to ignore it and continue with their plan.
The two felt it, the plan is working, showing evidence of Charlie’s feelings for the other. With that, Ambo looked straight at him, smirking.
The following day, before Abet officiated the mass, Ambo saw how evident it was that Charlie was avoiding his friend. Outside the church, they continued with phase 2 of their plan: look happy together. Again, Ambo instructed Abet to stay by his side and laugh as much as they could without even having a topic to talk about.
While doing it, Ambo saw in his peripheral view a tall man bitterly watching them. When Charlie left, Ambo sensed that his plan was perfect, all they needed to have now was a heartfelt talk. Ambo, again, had the perfect plan for this talk.
After the mass, most attendees were scattered inside the church. On the sidelines, Ambo was standing on the edge of a pew near the altar when Abet tried to approach Charlie from behind, following the other as his pace went faster, obviously trying to get away from Abet. At the same time, Ambo caught sight of a little girl running fast towards Charlie. Ambo witnessed how his friend caught Charlie, in a way almost embracing the other, but Charlie hastily left before his friend could utter another word.
Tsk, tsk. Charlie, an old man being brokenhearted, huh, Ambo thought, crossing his arms on his chest and shaking his head.
“He’s mad at me, Ambo, what do I do? This is all your fault.” Abet blamed his friend. It is now the following day, the two are plotting on how Abet should approach Charlie without making the other leave. The two were talking in hushed tones in the hallway near Charlie’s room.
Leaning on the wall, Ambo stood up straight, “What do you mean my fault? I’m the one helping you here, Abet. So gather enough courage and knock on his door, now,” he said, pointing at the door at the far end of the hallway.
“You’re getting on my nerves, Ambo, ha. We should end this shenaniga—” His complaint was cut off when the door, the exact one they’d been pointing at, opened, revealing a distressed-looking Charlie.
Seeing this, both of them hid at the corner wall, only listening to see if the footsteps were coming. Their hearts were beating fast as the footsteps grew louder. Ambo signaled for his friend to run, but Abet had other plans. They heard the footsteps soften, Charlie seemed to be going back to his room, when Abet came out of their hiding spot, startling Ambo.
Abet approached Charlie, calling out to him. When they appeared to agree to talk, Ambo exited the area. This is it, he thought as he smiled, going back to his room.
—♡—
“…I’ve never felt something like this before. I’ve been celibate all my life, been devoted to Him. I never knew that I could feel these kinds of feelings, not until you.” Charlie looked nervous, coming out with his feelings from all these years.
Abet’s eyes sparkled as his smile reached his ears, his cheeks blushing, he replied, “I do feel the same way, Charlie.”
Hearing it, Charlie felt like a thorn was plucked from him, a wave of relief rushing through his system.
The two stared at each other, the stars illuminating in their teary eyes. Abet’s hand traveled across the bench, taking hold of Charlie’s hand, clasping them together, their fingers intertwining.
The moment was perfect, the cool night air hummed. Underneath the sky, not only fingers but two hearts also intertwined, opening a chapter in both their lives with one another, finally finding solace in the love they hold.
Ambo took a peek at the garden and saw the two holding hands while sitting on the bench. This is the best assembly ever.
Watching the two have their moment, he whispered to himself, “And that’s it, the happily ever after.”