Gossip Girl: Truth and Consequences

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Previously on Gossip Girl:
Gossip Girl: The Games We Play (VI)


"It started out innocently at first. A simple comment which led to small talk. In his stories, Jeremy comes across as obnoxious, arrogant, at times condescending and I always thought we probably had little in common."

Fiction

DISCLAIMER: Although some things were borne out of the writer's imagination, certain events did transpire and resemblances to actual events, people, and places can and do exist.

Rise and shine Upper East Siders. I see all of you took no time in accumulating enough sins during the Holy Week that just passed. What with the massive dose of sex, drugs and alcohol that flowed in all the infamous islands, I almost thought the world would end. Lucky for us, it didn't. 

It appears summer's no time to be pure. Temptations are all around. And we all know how weak we all can be. So don't be surprised by this latest piece of gossip. We hear one it-girl's about to commit the biggest sin of all. Breaking one of the ten commandments, to say the least. Now: which one?

"I'm going to be away for a couple of months on business," J told me over lunch. We were seated at a table in the outdoor section of an expensive restaurant on the outskirts of Manila, surrounded by flowers and foliage. J leaned across the table towards me and gave a small sad face. A waiter set down a glass of water; in its gently stirring reflection a tiny image of Jeremy trembled against the curve of the glass.

"Ahhhh … that long huh."

"Yeah, it's a good time because school is out rin (too)."

"Wait, you're a student?" I said sitting up expectantly.

"Ahhh … I teach part-time," J replied.

"What do you teach?"

"Economics."

Wow. Never figured this guy for an economist. "Keynesian?" I asked.

"A little of everything, actually. How do you know of Keynes?" he replied, baffled.

"Well, I read a lot," I explained. 

"Oooohhhhh ... Hahahaha ... Akala ko kasi puro Gossip Girl lang alam mo," he said grinning. 

"Kainis ka!" I said. In delighted outrage, I squirmed and bucked in my chair. "I happen to know of many things. I just don't get to write about them."

"So you have a PhD?" I continued. "Almost," he said. "I still need to finish my dissertation."

"What's your field?"

"Econometrics."

"Ahhh … then you must be familiar with Levitt and Dubner of the Freakonomics phenomenon?"

"Wow. You do know of many things," J said, shaking his head. "You amaze me."

The waiter arrived with our dishes of food, chicken and fish stripped from the grill paired with bountiful colorful vegetables.  I stared at the food, feeling funny.  I had spent years hoping some crummy old boyfriend or date would say something like that to me. And now here it was, right in front of me, in a fancy restaurant no less.

J and I chatted over many things; that was one of the things I like most about him. That he can be so smart; that he can listen to my stories, that we can be silly and laugh so much at each others' jokes. I looked at him, noticing his beautiful face and the way his eyes sparkled. He was gorgeous and … I was getting enamored.

I stared at him as he spoke and talked about his mom, how much he loved her. He was worried because her eyesight was failing and she had diabetes. Listening to J, I suddenly felt something stir within me, something I haven't felt in a long time. Everything just feels better.

"I have to tell you something," he suddenly said, his voice turning serious. 

"What?" I said, noticing the abrupt change in his stance. He grew morose, looked worried.

"Later na lang. Before we say goodbye." I nodded. I was curious and wondered what it could be. Why all the secrecy?

It grew dark and cold. J and I were the only diners left on the patio. The restaurant's paper lanterns bobbed in the darkness.

"Come on, let's get out of here," J said. "It's fucking late." We finished the remainder of our food and stood up. We left the restaurant and drove home. 

After a while, I saw Manila's familiar skyline against the dark summer sky. I knew I would miss J when he leaves. We stopped the car in front of my house and we both got out. He couldn't stay, he had to leave early the next day and it was late.

"Well ... I suppose this is it," I said smiling at him. "Have a safe trip and call me?"

J pulled me in for an embrace and while we were locked together, he suddenly whispered, "Kane ... I have a wife … and kids."

He quickly let me go and we both stood silently facing each other. I was stunned. My mind was whirling, what did it mean? J looked at me with his eyes so soft and so sad.

"Usap na lang tayo pagbalik ko ha. (Let's just talk when I get back.)"

I slowly nodded.

"Goodbye K," he whispered. Jeremy drove away, leaving me behind in the deserted street. As I stared at his receding image, the beauty of the pale moon hit me squarely in the eye.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that there would be no gossip without secrets. You might be brave enough to reveal your secret only to have it used against you. Or someone else's secret might affect you in unexpected ways. 

There are some secrets you're only too happy to keep. Others surface only to be buried away deeper than they were before. But the most powerful secrets are the truths you thought you could never reveal. That once spoken changes everything.

Careful K. They say the roles we play in life are given to us, but I'd like to think that more often than not, we choose them. So choose wisely. You know everyone's watching.

XOXO

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