8: Devoted Sons

Upon leaving the suite, Tristan hurriedly chased us. Once he caught us, he gently held my hands and sincerely looked into my eyes, as if he would like to say something.

"Yola, on behalf of Papa, please accept our heartfelt apology. This moment is very difficult for both of us. You are black-and-blue due to your injuries, while Papa is still unconscious. Mama has been crying every night, worrying about him for she dearly loves Papa. She can't imagine living without him. Casper and I are always praying for him to wake up. We miss our bonding moments while he drives us to school and back home. We miss the instances where we would open up to him about anything and would look forward to his words of wisdom. We truly miss our moments as a family. We should have savored every occasion we were with him and regret not doing that."

Hearing my son's anguish was really heartrending. How I wish I can try to comfort him, but I can't. I'm in the body of Yola/Alex, so I have to restrain the pain I'm feeling while seeing my son in his agonizing state.

Seeing that I was speechless during that time, Tristan started to kneel and bow his head in grief while holding on to my feet.

"Yola, please forgive Papa! I beg of you. I heard that you will file a case against him once he recovers. Please have mercy on him, he never intended to let this mishap happen to you. I can't bear seeing Mama and Casper grieving if Papa is away from us. Please, Yola....Have mercy on Papa..."

Tristan's voice started to shake during this time and I can feel tears starting to drop in my feet.

At this moment, I can't endure seeing him suffer for my wrongdoing. I made this accident to happen, and now it affected both my family and Alex's. I have also seen how much he loved 'me' by personally approaching 'me' so that he can ask for mercy for his Papa. So, I gently lifted his head and tried to look into his face. Once I've seen it, my heart instantly melted. My son's face was red in grief, his eyes swollen with continuous tears dropping from his cheeks, and his face clearly shows pain coming straight from the heart.

I remember this exact scenario when I was young...

---

I was 10, and I checked my older brother in his room.

He's eight years my senior and I look at him as my role model. He's always been there to protect me during fights and when my classmates tried to bully me. He usually helps me with my homework, and even provides tutorials for difficult subjects during exams. He also inspired me to explore other hobbies, such as swimming and calligraphy, which are also his interests. He always keep my spirits high, especially at times when Papa compares me to him for he is a consistent honor student and an ace swimmer in Montrose. I looked up to him highly that I wanted to be like him when I grow up.

When I arrived in his room, I saw him and Mama having a heart-to-heart discussion. What's even more unusual is that my brother is packing a lot of his clothes in his sports bag.

"Raymund, you don't have to do this. You can still talk to your Papa. Maybe he will listen to you this time," Mama said as she is trying to convince my brother to stop packing.
"Mama, I have to do this. He resents me because I don't want to follow in his footsteps," my brother replied in a firm yet respectful manner.
"Is there no other way to resolve this? Please don't go, not like this!" Mama uttered while holding his arms.
"What's going on? Why are you packing your sports bag?" I butted in their conversation while clueless at the situation.
"Buddy, I'm leaving and might not be back for a long time," my brother answered.
"Where are you going? Why are you leaving us?" I apprehensively asked back.
"How do I explain this? Hmm... remember that I wanted to pursue Fine Arts in college? Well, Papa didn't like the idea and pushes me to take up Business instead. We had this heated exchange of words, that ended up with Papa detesting me. Because of that, I decided to go to Military School, which he hates even more," my brother clearly expounded.
"But why do such a thing? Please try talking to Papa. He might understand you this time. Just don't leave," I pleaded.
"You know Papa, Buddy. Talking won't do any good, unless it is in his favor," he flung back. "I wanted to do something that I enjoy, but Papa's always in the way. I want to do something for myself this time."
"Please don't go, Bro. I will try to convince Papa to be nice to you so that you don't have to leave us!" I loudly said while getting emotional at that moment. "Just wait and see!"

Then I rushed out of his room and went straight to Papa at the Study Room. When I arrived there, I see Papa having some chatter with his business partners.

I went straight to Papa and earnestly petitioned to him, "Papa, please allow Bro to stay. I would like to say sorry for what he did to you!"
"Will you excuse us, gentlemen. I'll meet you guys by the poolside bar," Papa gestured his colleagues to leave the room.

When his partners left the room, I started to look at Papa straight in his eyes and talked to him sincerely.

"Papa, please let Bro take up Fine Arts. He likes painting and calligraphy so much that he makes great artworks. He also inspired me to do the same. He will be a great artist someday!" I heartfully expounded.
"What are you talking about, Kenneth? His love for Fine Arts won't take him anywhere, compared to following my footsteps to helm my empire," Papa refuted.
"But that is what he wants, Papa. I hope you can consider that. Please, Papa," I fervently beseeched.
"Are you lawyering for you brother? Can't he just come here and tell that again to my face?! Besides, no one can convince me to allow him to pursue Fine Arts. It's Business or nothing!" Papa sternly reprimanded.
"He didn't tell me to do this. I don't want Bro to leave! Please be considerate to him. Forgive him too if he said bad words to you," I pleadingly replied.
"No, especially now that he enrolled in Military School. He knows I hate men in uniform, and he will become one soon! That's totally unacceptable!!!" Papa exclaimed. 
Desperate, I fell on my knees and bowed my head begging for my father to reconsider, "Papa, please forgive Bro! I beg of you. Have mercy on him, for he never intended to hurt your feelings. I don't want to see Mama heartbroken when he is away Please, Papa...Have mercy on your son, Raymund..." At that moment, I started to cry as tears drop on Papa's shoes.
When Papa heard my soft sobs, he gently lifted my head and looked at me. With his face devoid of any sympathy or remorse, he simply said, "NO!"

Seeing his reaction carved a deep etch in my heart. I've seen how heartless he can be if people opposed his plan, even his sons. That deeply saddened me that time. After hearing his reaction, I looked back to see Mama and my brother, with his packed sports bag, looking at us by the door of the Study Room. I hurried back to my brother, hoping to convince him not to leave.

"I told you Papa can't be convinced," brother said while looking straight to Papa. "He will always coerce you to what he wants."
"Don't go, Bro. Our lives will never be the same without you. Think about Mama," I lamented while hugging him tightly and continued to sob.
He then looked at me and smiled, "Don't be a cry baby, Buddy. Stay strong, I'll be gone for just awhile. Always remember to stick to your dreams and do what you enjoy doing, so that you will live without regrets. Take care of Mama for me, okay?"

Then he rubbed playfully with my hair and gave me a smack on my head and then he kissed mom on the cheek. He never said goodbye to dad and left the house and took a cab to go to Military School.

That was the last time I've seen my brother.

---

Now, I'm back at this scenario where I'm holding Tristan's face while he's begging on his knees.

As I looked to his eyes, while trying to hold back my tears, I said, "Chas, please stand up. I don't want seeing you like this. You don't need to beg for my forgiveness. I'm not that cold-hearted for me not to feel your pain. Please stop crying and go back to Auntie and your brother. I'm okay now, and you don't have to worry about me. Please take care of your dad and I pray for his speedy recovery."

When I said that, he stood up and looked deeply in me and I see his gratitude beaming through his eyes. Then he hugged me tight and made soft sighs of relief.

To assure him further, I whispered to his ear while hugging me, "I forgive your dad. You may go now and don't worry too much about me."

At that moment, my eldest son broke down once again in tears and hugged me tighter than ever.

He said while weeping, "Thank you very much, Yola! This means a lot to us! I don't know how I can repay you for this act of kindness!" After that emotional moment, he slowly returned to the suite and said goodbye. Then Tess and I returned to my room.

Back in my room, Tess talked to me regarding my emotional dialogue with Tristan.

"Back at the hall upstairs, what was that drama with Tristan all about?" Tess asked me. 
"Mom, I decided not to file any case against his dad," I said firmly yet emphatic so that I would not hurt her feelings. 
"What are you talking about? You would just allow that careless driver to roam freely?" she voiced out loudly. 
"Mom, it was an accident. I understand your concern for me, and the agony of losing your son if ever things get worse. But look at me now, I'm walking just fine, while he is still lying motionless. No one knows when he will wake up, and this is extremely harrowing for his family." I clarified to Tess. "I have seen in their faces the pain they have to endure every day they wait in vain for him to open his eyes and reconnect with them. This agony of waiting is more than a punishment for them, which they shouldn't be bearing in the first place." 
"Why are you acting this selfless, dear?" Tess said as her cold demeanor shifted to being warm and concerned about my well-being. 
"That's because you taught me to be selfless. The way you protected and cared from me the moment I woke up from this accident has proven that. I'm sure you will understand my decision regarding this," I explained while looking sweetly at her.

When I said that, she started enveloping me with her warm and loving arms. She lovingly said to me, "Thank you for being my son. I'm so proud of you! Don't make me worry this much again this time!"

Because of her caring embrace, I felt safe and secured that I fell asleep in her arms.

While sleeping, I heard again this soothing voice to buzz over me again.

"Hi there, sugar! Sorry about leaving you awhile ago. I know you want answers regarding what happened to you, especially now that you are now in that young, juicy hunk," Mercer teased me "But first, would you like to know what's going on the other side of your family? Your REAL family?"
I eagerly replied, "Ofcourse, Mercer. I'm worried sick seeing them that way. I want to see them." 
"That may be arranged, sugar. When you sleep, you can get out of that body and move to your selected spot for a limited time. I'm giving you this feature for free. Then we will discuss all the other details afterwards. You game?" Mercer offered. 
"Count me in! Take me to my family!" I excitedly confirmed. 
"Okay, sugar. Just open your eyes," Mercer instructed.

As I opened my eyes, I see myself back in the suite but I'm not in my body. Instead, I'm perched at a corner seeing my body still in bed with my wife and Tristan standing by my side. Casper is sound asleep in the sofa.

Lolit and Tristan were discussing something while my wife is feeling my dog tag.

"Mama, I was wondering why Papa always wear that dog tag?" my eldest asked his mom. "I'm curious that the moment he was brought here in his room, you immediately asked for his dog tag so that you could place it on his neck." 
Lolit lovingly explained to him, "Tristan, that dog tag means a lot to him. He has been wearing that since I met him, and he never lets if off his body, even while taking a shower. He said it gives him strength and security when he wears it, something like an amulet. But his eyes seem to glitter when he looks at it from time to time. I think it was given by someone very close to him, most likely his late brother." 
"You really love Papa. Even though he is asleep, you still remember the little details that he cherishes the most, like his dog tag," Tristan cheerfully mentioned to his mom. "Thank you for being a good example of a devoted wife and mother to us. I will definitely follow your footsteps and love my family like how you love us."

Seeing my family trying to get strength from each other gives me hope that they will be fine while I'm still away. That reminds me, I need to know what I've gotten into.

"Now that you've seen them, maybe it's time that we have this confabulation," Mercer reminded me. 
"Confabulation?" I asked back. 
"Confabulation, sugar. You know, conversation, dialogue. Haha. I thought you know that word. Now you learned something new. Haha. Let's go!" Mercer answered as she escorted me out of the suite and someplace where we would discuss this setup.

Now I will find out what this entire deal is all about.