Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

The next day at lunch time, Angel told Bryan about what she discovered last night at dinner.

'I didn't know Aunt Elvie asked them to judge the competition. And not just Mom, but Dad as well," Angel said. 'For sure, you won't win."

'Maybe they'll judge fairly based on the criteria that will be given to them," Bryan said.

'I don't know, Bry," Angel said. 'Yes, my mom and dad are honest. But I don't know what's running through their minds right now. One more thing, you yourself said that you have no experience when it comes to pageants. You don't even have a talent presentation yet."

Bryan contemplated. Angel has a point. First, her parents might be fair but now they are angry with him because of his secret relationship - which is not true - with Angel. So they are probably scornful of him. Second, he has no experience when it comes to those pageants. And until today, he still has not started preparing for it. Richard is even better than him, because even though he is just Kim's back up he already knows the whole dance. As for him, he still doesn't know what he will do for the talent presentation. And adding to the pressure is Angel's parents.

But what can he do for the talent portion? The only talent he knows is playing basketball. He can't just do a basketball exhibition onstage because the audience might get bored and his score will definitely be low.

He suddenly remembered something he can do. He knows how to play the guitar. He got it from his father who also loves playing the said instrument. He taught him when he was young. But if he will just play the guitar, the audience might not appreciate that as well. If he asks someone to sing while he plays, the audiences' attention might be diverted to the singer and not to him.

Well, he can sing, though his voice is not that beautiful. He just knows how to interpret the song because whenever he sings, he makes sure he puts the right emotion to convey the message of the song clearly. Aside from that, even though he doesn't have a formal training on singing, he doesn't go out of tune maybe because he's a musician so he's very keen with his notes.

An idea suddenly struck him. He looked at Angel who is eating lunch.

'I have an idea!"

Angel looked at him. "Huh?"

'I know what I'll do in the talent portion."

'Really? What is it?"

Bryan smiled. 'I'll tell you when everything is settled. Or maybe, it'll just be a surprise."

'Surprise? Tell it to me already."

'Just trust me," Bryan said. 'Everything will be great. Promise."

'Okay then, it's up to you," Angel said. 'But remember to perform very well. Show Hannah that you did your best even if you did not win, so that she will not get mad at you."

'I'll do more than that."

Angel looked at him curiously, though she did not ask. She just continued eating her lunch.

Bryan also continued eating as he felt glad with his idea. Not only did he solve his problem with his talent presentation. If his plan will work, it will be the first step for their families to reconcile. He just hoped everything will be okay on the night of the pageant.

But before that, he needs to start with his parents. He decided to talk to them tonight.

*********************************************************

Bryan knocked three times before he slowly opened the door to his parents' room. He peeked inside and immediately saw his father on the king-sized bed. The older de Vera is leaning against the white headboard while he reads a book. He looked at the door and saw his son.

'Bryan." Raul de Vera put down the book he's reading.

'Good evening, Dad." Bryan went inside the room. "Can I talk to you?"

'Sure." Raul closed the book and put it beside the lamp shade on the bedside table.

Bryan went closer and sat down on the backless sofa by the end of the bed.

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'Where's Mom?" Bryan asked.

Before Raul can answer, Helen emerged from her walk-in closet.

"Hi Honey!" She went to Bryan and kissed him like he was still a five-year old kid.

'Mom!" Bryan tried to get away from his mother. 'I'm not a baby anymore."

'You're my baby forever," Helen said. She then went to her side of the bed. 'But, what are you doing here? Are you going to sleep with us? Come, sleep beside me. I will hug you tightly just like I used to do when you were younger." 'Mom, can you please move on?"

Helen scowled. 'You just grew taller and you don't love me anymore."

'Look at Mom, Dad. She's acting melodramatic again."

Raul is just smiling as he watches his wife and son's conversation.

'Hmp! You two go together since you're the same." Helen pulled up the blanket as she prepares to sleep.

'Wait! Mom, don't sleep yet. I have something to tell you."

Helen just ignored what Bryan said and closed her eyes. 'I'm not listening anymore."

'What is it you want to tell us?" asked the smiling Raul.

Bryan looked at his mother. He can't do anything with how she is acting, so he just proceeded in telling his parents the reason why he came there tonight.

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'I have a girlfriend again."

Helen suddenly sat up. "See! That's what I told you, Raul! We don't know what's happening to our son anymore. We're too busy with work, then he'll just come here telling us that he has a girlfriend again." 'Mom, take it easy. I'm not yet getting married," Bryan said.

'Please excuse your mother," Raul said to Bryan. 'She was trying to convince me that we need to go on vacation, which I can't do at the moment because there's a lot I need to do in the hospital."

'We're not going for a one-year break," Helen said. 'Just one month, at most. Anyway, there's Gwen. She can be your eyes while you're away. You can work through her, by ordering her what to do." Gwen is Raul's executive secretary. "That's a good idea, Dad," Bryan said, agreeing to the vacation idea. 'You and Mom needs a vacation. You're too busy with work lately."

'You are going with us," Helen told Bryan. 'If you can't leave your girlfriend, then take her with you. We will watch over you two diligently and I will make sure that when we come home, I'm still not going to be a grandmother." 'Mom!" Bryan suddenly felt embarrassed at what Helen said. Especially when he remembered that Angel is the girlfriend that he will be introducing to his parents. Even though she's not there, he still felt embarrassed and awkward. 'Don't act as if you don't know what I'm talking about," Helen said. "Your Aunt Glory told me that not once did she help a teenager deliver her baby."

'Helen..." Raul said, making his wife stop in her storytelling about teenage pregnancies. He then asked Bryan, 'Is that what you wanted to tell us?"

Bryan looked at his father. 'This is it!' He suddenly felt nervous.

'Actually, it's not just that... Dad, Mom, I'm in love with Angel Martinez, daughter of Benjamin Martinez."

Raul and Helen were stunned.