i am a self-sustaining entity.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Shocking Revelation: "Father slept with best friend!" (this is a story ok.)

Ennis* and Jack* have always been great friends. As both are the only childs in their families, they shared many similrities and developed a fast and strong friendship. Being neighbours made things easier as they attended the same kindergarten, enrolled into the same primary school and both got into the same secondary school in the vicinity. Their families were close-knit and frequently held picnics and get-together sessions such as mah-jong and poker games. They even went on a holiday to Phuket once. Like all great friends, Ennis and Jack share a deep mutual understanding with each other. But like most people, both had skeletons in their closets they never revealed.

"We did everything together. We shared so many first times (experiences)." explains Jack who turns 23 at the end of this year. As he recalls the important moments of his life he shared with Ennis such as the first time they showed interest in girls and the group of friends Ennis used to hang out with, Jack did notice discrepancies; Ennis never had a steady girlfriend. "He was always the cuter one among us. The one girls approach first to ask for numbers. So it did come as a surprise that he never had a girlfriend. But being his good friend, the last thing on my mind would be that he has issues with his sexuality." With this mentality, Jack readily dispelled rumours circulating around secondary school that Ennis was homosexual. He even got into a fight once with a friend who gave Ennis derogatory names. Such was the bond between the friends that they have been likened to brothers more than once.

Things seemed pretty normal initially. Being neighbours, Ennis frequently came over to Jack's house for stayovers. These stayovers were encouraged by Jack's father as he deems it to be much safer for the two than going out to shopping malls and having a chance to mix with bad company. Additionally, they save a lot of money. These intentions were genuine enough since both teenagers entered the most easily influenced and impressionable periods of their lives. But the cracks started forming when Jack's father started treating Ennis exceptionally well and seemed to prefer him in Jack's company than any of his other friends. "There were times I felt torn apart. Why would my father treat a perfect stranger so well, even though he's my best friend. He even gave him more money than me for Chinese New Year" exasperates Jack as he remembers a year which his father put more money in a red packet for his friend than for him. Jack's father said it was because he wanted his son to have more independance. Jack's father lied.

On some days, Ennis would spend the whole day at Jack's house, even when he left for school. "I found it pretty weird at first. I mean, what could (Ennis) possibly find so interesting in my house? Especially when I'm not around to play games with him on the Playstation." But Ennis always explained that he found Jack's home a more condusive place to study and relax. As Ennis came over to stay more frequently, Jack noticed that his father began to stay at home more on those days. A simple coincidence, thought Jack until that fateful day he saw something he was not supposed to see. A memory that still haunts him till this day. And a nightmare that recurred too many times.

Jack recalled, "I was supposed to meet my girlfriend in town. But en route there, I felt nauseous and I begin to get light headed. I called my girlfriend and told her about my condition. She told me to return home to get some rest. I should never have returned home." It was another one of those days Ennis came over to Jack's. As he approached his room door, Jack found that his door was uncharacteristically locked. "I thought it was strange that the door was locked. But as I tried to turn the knob, I heard shouts behind the door. The first thing that came to my mind was - we are getting burgled. That muffled shoud is definately my father's" Explained Jack. Being well versed in Taekwondo, Jack hurriedly unlocked the room door and kicked it open in an attempt to surprise the 'burglar'. But nothing on earth could prepare him for what he was about to see.

Jack's father and Ennis were both naked and engaged in a sexual act. "My jaws dropped" sobbed Jack. "As I saw the look of horror on their faces, my mind went blank. I was so stunned I could not move. I seemed to have stood there for an eternity but in fact it was only a few seconds. I cannot even remember what was going through my mind at that moment. Just utter shock."

As Jack's father pleaded with him and begged for forgiveness, Jack remembered telling him "how do you expect me to live with you? You are no longer my father. I don't know you anymore. How could I live knowing my father's a homosexual? You lied to me." Jack was crestfallen but not stupid enough to make things worse. He knew that the last thing he needed was for his family to fall apart. So to this day, he still kept his promise and never informed his mother. Jack never breathed a word about the skeleton in his closet.

The forgettable day was the last time Jack saw Ennis. His former best friend would later find himself asking for a transfer to another school. And the once close families no longer met up due to some disputes. Jack's family moved to Sembawang a less than a year later.

Till this day, Jack's father never dared looked him in the eye and they seldom communicate. "He was like a brother to me. I guess I should have seen the signs. But would you if you were me?"

*names changed to protect their identity

sammy says. at 11:53 PM