"What do you mean you are sleeping together? If anything, your partner should be sharing the room with your sister!"
"What?"
"Rey, I'm warning you. I hope you two are not living under the same roof back in the city."
"Darling, calm down..."
"What do you mean calm down? Your son has no manners! Thinking of fraternizing with his partner in my house!"
"Excuse me, sir..." Ari appeared from behind Rey. "I can sleep in my car... I do not mind..."
"Car? That was your car?" Turning to Rey, the older gentleman shook from rage and pointed his index finger at his son. "You are taking advantage of him, aren't you?"
"I never said it was mine, Dad!"
"Then why are you driving a car that is not yours?"
"Dad..." Rey seemed utterly confused and frustrated at the same time. "I do not comprehend the point of this conversation... All I asked is what you told Manager Ari to have him in tears, and you went ballistic on me! You are the one who suggested we spend the night here, to begin with, so why are you meddling in my..."
"Meddling! I'll be dammed if I let you spend the night with your partner in the same room, and for an entire night for that matter! That will only happen once you two wed... Or whatever..." Turning to Rey's sister, he asked, "What do they do?"
"They could get married out of the country."
"Yes, " Turning back to Rey, his father nodded, still digesting the possibility of his son tying the knot with Ari. "When that happens, you can have your say in this matter. Now, come here, son." Grabbing Ari's arm, Rey's father stormed into his daughter's room and demanded that his wife bring a futon. Ari couldn't fight him, for the man had a bigger build, and as he spoke, his voice bellowed in the entire house. He was far, much different from the gentleman who had offered him solace moments ago.
"She has the best room in the house, son. You can sleep here."
Ari nodded obediently. He wanted to refute many things, but out of fear, he remained silent. If anything, Rey's father's little chatter in a bid to comfort him about his military days crippled Ari's speech, for he believed the man that squeezed his wrist shut was a confirmation of his veteran ship, which verified one thing. He was as stubborn and headstrong as his son.
But... Why Esy's room? If anything, shouldn't he be the one sleeping in Rey's room?
"Here, darling." Rey's mother appeared and handed the futon to her husband. They both began preparing a place for Ari to rest. Once done, each turned to their daughter and pointed to where she would spend the night.
"W-What...? Why don't I get the bed?"
"Is that how you should behave in front of a guest?" The switch surprised Ari the most. This time, it was Rey's mother bellowing.
But Ari's sister had quickly caught on to what was happening from the start. Her parents may have had good intentions. However, they didn't precisely understand how things went between gay couples. Their perception was still misdirected, their ignorance innocent. "Mom, Dad, I do not wish to get into an uncomfortable discussion with you, but... Well... 'How do I say this without offending anyone, especially him?' Looking at Ari, she thought, 'He must have at least bawled his eyes out... Or maybe that is what got Dad and Mom so overprotective and domineering... But what happened out there?'
"Manager Ari is... Emm... I-I think he will be uncomfortable having me in the same room as him."
"Then go and sleep in your brother's room. Rey, take the couch."
"Mother!" Both Rey and Esy exclaimed.
"You said earlier he's been gay since he was born!"
"Mom!" Esy covered his eyes in embarrassment. She said that earlier, before Rey had arrived with Ari, a task bestowed on her by her elder brother threatened her to reveal her gambling endeavours if she didn't help out. But, as it appeared, her explanation must have been misinterpreted.
"Madam, sir..." Ari jumped in once more. "I appreciate your attempt to make me retire comfortably, but I assure you I've slept inside the car on multiple occasions. I can take the couch too." 'Or go home.' Ari wanted to add but feared his remark might catalyze the already dense atmosphere in the room. "There is no need to fret, neither should Ms Esy lay uncomfortably..."
"Nonsense child." Rey's mother reached for Ari's hand, trapping him even more. "Do not mind the ruckus that's happening here. Be grateful that you do not have to bear children of such ungrateful nature. Now," Looking back at her daughter, she asked, "Do you have something that can fit him?"
"Mom! He is a guy!"
"And so what? Aren't you who informed us he was the woman in the relationship?"
Rey, Esy and Ari had no recollection of what transpired afterwards. As it were, everyone had a lot to say, but some battles were better left lost.
Ari was slowly drifting to sleep when he heard a persistent whisper followed by a gentle tap on his shoulder. At first, he thought it was Rey, but then his memory returned, reminding him where he was. He heard a light chuckle from behind him and turned his head slowly to look up at the source of it.
"I knew you weren't asleep," Esy whispered.
"I was about to," Ari whispered back, his voice cracking then he cleared his throat. "Is there anything you need?"
"How old are you?"
"Excuse me?" Ari sat up. "Out of nowhere like that?"
"It's funny, really." Rey's sister giggled. "My parents treat you like a child. What happened out there? You had them worried."
Ari looked at Rey's sister, thinking about how he'd ended up in this situation.
"Oh, and your car is more spacious than Rey's, so maybe my brother is taking advantage of you, as Dad said."
A light chuckle escaped Ari, followed by another and soon enough, his body shook as he struggled to control his laughter. And the fact that Rey's sister had joined in his scuffle didn't help the situation. Each whispered for the other to stop laughing, but even that only fueled the pressing need to bawl their ribs out. Soon enough, their arms were wrapped around their abdomen, crippled by the throbbing need to laugh to their heart's content. However, the consequence was having other people burst into Esy's room to discover what was happening.
"What was that all about?" Rey's sister finally managed to speak.
"I don't know. Everything blew out of proportion, huh?"
"You got that right." Rey's sister hesitated, then sat up on her bed. "Please pardon them. They are trying. I know you understand them; otherwise, you wouldn'laughng like this."
"It's alright. I've heard worse."
"Yea." A part of Esy's heart twitched. She felt empathic towards whatever situations Ari might have gone through. "I've been indirectly telling them Rey turned gay for months, but they didn't seem to get it. However, today morning, Rey just... He made me do it, and I... I may have said some things... I didn't have much time to provide the full context to them of what kind of relationship you two have."
"I understand."
"No, you don't." Esy looked at Ari briefly, then turned to face the window. She spread the curtain slightly to welcome the night light from the moon and a star-filled sky, a sight that Ari had long forgotten. "I'm worried. Are you really okay with this?"
"What do you mean?" 'She must distrust me.'
"To tell you the truth, Rey surprised me. He came out to me at that launch event he'd forced me to attend. I didn't believe it since him, but his confession felt different." Shifting her gaze to Ari, Esy concluded. "He was too serious."
Ari seemed confused. "I'm not sure what you want me to say."
"Mr Manager, a few days afterwards, he told me to help him tell Mom and Dad about you as if he would surely win you over. I helped him out because I felt guilty for the many favours he had done for me, yet, I still doubted him. But, his attention towards you was so evident, it resembled someone I used to know, and I thought he could finally heal from his hurt.
From then on, I developed an interest in knowing you. That's why insistent on meeting you by helping him bring you lunch. I was a bit surprised you didn't call the police on me, yet somehow, I trusted that you'd make my brother happy."
Ari felt tongue-tied, unaware of where this discussion was heading to.
"My parents seem to have developed that trust as well. They are unexposed and older adults, and their perception of what you two are is a bit lost. They may say some things that are completely ofoccasionallyme..."
"Esy," Ari cut in. "You do not need to worry. I understand."
"They are trying..."
"I know," Ari assured. He smiled and was relieved when Rey's sister smiled back. "You have a lovely family."
Esy's smile broadened, turning into a mischievous grin. "Should I call you my sister now?"
"Don't push it."
"Ow, come on... They even offered you my bed and told me to take the futon."
"Suddenly, I'm reconsidering giving up the bed for you."
"So you do bark and bite? My brother is a lucky guy."
"Do you want me to call your parents?"
"I'll go to sleep now."