Chapter 2

Zach Alexander

"What? You're going to your hometown??" Keith exclaimed while talking on his phone. "Bakit ka nagmamadali? Dahil ba to kay Ria?" Sunod sunod na tanong nito. I chuckled.

"Yeah I need to see her. I need to make things clear for us, I'll tell her that I love her." I explained. Keith scoffed.

"Fire away bro." He added.

"Yeah. Galingan mo din kay Alex mo dude. Mukhang sya na ang katapat mo."

He cursed and then he chuckled. What a man. Natawa nalang din ako. He is one my friends, he is Keith Kristoff Montereal, a famous and successful business man. We are five in our group and he is my closest, he is one hell of a tough guy. Sabi ng iba naming kaibigan, he may be the toughest among us but he surrenders when it comes to me. It just so happen that I know how to control him when it comes to his emotions. He just found his girl and I know he is inlove with her.

Sumakay na ako sa naghihintay na chopper sa helipad ng aking building. I'm on my way to my hometown to meet the most important woman in my life. I've waited for this moment to meet her again after so many years. I've waited long enough.

Agad akong sinalubong ni Manang Elvie kasama ang Lola Zenaida at Mama Zandra ko pagkalapag palang ng chopper. Mahigpit na yakap ang sinalubong saken ni Mama. Ilang buwan nadin kasi akong hindi nakauwi sa Hacienda. Ang Hacienda Villafuerte ang inuuwian ko dito sa San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. Dito ako pinanganak at lumaki, dito ako nag-aral nang Highschool before I studied in the US for my college degree and where I met my friends. The Bad Ass Keith, the Trouble maker Chivas, the Multibillionaire son Luke and the Talented guy Matthew, we instantly became friends, the closest and we treated each other like brothers.

"Mabuti naman at umuwi ka din dito Zach. Masyado ka bang busy sa Maynila?" Tanong agad ni Mama.

Inakbayan ko sya agad at niyakap ng mahigpit.

"Oo nga Hijo, ilang buwan kang hindi umuwi dito tapos ngayon bigla kang susulpot." Nahihimigan ko ang pagtatampo sa boses ni Lola Zenaida.

"Medyo busy lang po sa office saka sa Bar kaya hindi ako nakauwi nitong mga nakaraang buwan. Wag po kayong magalala babawi po ako sa inyo.I'll stay here longer." Kinindatan ko pa silang dalawa.

"Señorito Zach, pinagluto ko kayo ng mga paborito nyong pagkain." Sabi naman ni Manang Elvie. Agad ko din syang niyakap.

"Namiss ko po ang mga luto nyo Manang Elvie, tamang tama gutom na po ako."

"Tayo na at kumain na, bago ka magpahinga." Yaya ni Lola.

Nang makita ko ang mga pagkain na nakahanda sa hapagkainan agad kong naramdaman ang aking gutom. Matagal ko ding hindi nakain ang mga ganitong uri ng pagkain.

"Ang dami po ng niluto nyo Manang Elvie. Mukhang mabubusog ako ng sobra."

"Para sayo lahat ng yan Señorito kaya damihan mo ang kain mo." Sagot sakin ni Manang Elvie.

Napangiti naman ako they always welcome me with warm hearts. Kahit matagal akong nawala hindi padin nagbabago ang trato nila saken.

"Naimas (masarap) Manang!!! Nabusog ako ng sobra." Panalo talaga mga luto mo Manang Elvie." Nginitian naman nya ako. Tumayo na ako sa hapagkainan kasabay si Lola at Mama.

Pagkatapos kong kumain agad akong pumunta sa kwarto ko na matagal ko din hindi nakita. The room is still tidy, palagi padin nililinis ng mga kasambahay ang kwarto ko kahit wala naman gumagamit. All of the things are in their proper places, nothing has changed. My eyes landed on top of my bed, the framed drawing is still there. I locked my gaze on it and then I heaved a deep sigh. It brings back memories. I opened my closet, same clothes and still new. Then I went to the bathroom, I needed a shower.

Pagkatapos kong maligo I just grabbed a white shirt, black pants, and I just wear my sneakers too. I looked for a suit to pair with my shirt. And after I fixed myself I stormed out of my room. Palabas palang akong ng bahay ng makita ako ni Mama Zandra.

"Anya ti papanam? (San ang punta mo?) Kakauwi mo lang Zach, aalis ka na ulit?" Tanong ng mama saken.

"I need to meet someone Ma, dyan lang po ako sa malapit."

"May kasama ka ba? At sino naman ang imemeet mo hah?" Curious na tanong ni Mama, I chuckled.

"I'm with Atty. Clemente Ma. And I'm gonna meet the owner of Alcantara farm."

Napatitig si Mama Zandra sa kanya na parang hindi makapaniwala.

"Are you talking about Juri?" Nakikita nyang biglang kuminang ang mga mata ng mama nya.

"What's with that face Ma? Are you excited to see her? I heard she's been here for quite sometime now, hindi nyo ba sya nakita?" Curious kong tanong.

"No, she never came here. I don't know why, baka nakalimutan na nya kami."

Nahihimigan ko ang pagtatampo sa boses nya which I understand, she cared and loved her since we were kids. At hindi nga talaga sya nagpakita dito sa Hacienda kahit kila Mama. There are lots of questions I have for her once we meet again. Ilang taon din kaming hindi nagkita at ilang taon din nya akong tinaguan. At hanggang ngayon hindi ko padin alam kung bakit nya yun ginawa, umalis akong maayos kami pero bakit sya ngayon ganto. I need to see her and I need to talk to her.

"I'll just talk to her Ma. I need to go."

"Ang pogi pogi talaga ng anak ko. Sige na, magingat ka. Umuwi ka bago maghapunan." Nginitian ko nalang si Mama.

Tuloy tuloy na akong naglakad palabas ng Haciend, dumiretso ako kung nasaan nakapark ang ginagamit kong sasakyan kapag nandito ako, maaga pa naman kay sunduin ko na din si Atty. Clemente, nasa bayan lang naman daw sya. Pasakay na ako sa sasakyan ng may tumawag sakin. Paglingon ko isang nakangising lalake ang sumalubong saken. Agad kaming nagkamayan at ginawa ang brotherhood sign namin.

"Long time no see Zach." Si Darren, kababata ko din. Nakatira din sya dito sa Hacienda, anak sya ng pamangkin ni Manang Elvie.

"Hey! How are you? Ngayon nalang ulit kita nakita dito ah. Last time na pagpunta ko dito nasa Maynila ka daw." Bati ko sa kanya at hindi maalis ang kanyang ngisi.

"Madaming trabaho sa Maynila eh. Hindi nga ako makapunta sa Bar nyo dahil sa dami ng ginagawa ko." Paliwanag ni Darren sa kanya.

"Such a workaholic dude. Can't remember the last time we had fun. Maginom tayo mamaya pagbalik ko. May aasikasuhin lang ako."

"Sure, nangangati na lalamunan ko eh. May lambanog yata si Mang Tommie, ilalabas nya daw yun kapag bumalik ka na."

"Ayos! Hintayin nyo ako mamaya. O kaya magsimula na kayo after dinner. Magpaluto tayo ng masarap na pulutan kay Manang Elvie."

"Matutuwa ang mga kumag dito. Take care dude. See you later." Sumaludo pa si Darren sakin at napailing nalang ako.

Sumakay na ako sa sasakyan at nagmaneho papuntang bayan para sunduin si Atty. I really can't wait to finally see her after so many years. I yanked my phone and dialed Atty's number. After 3 rings he answered.

"I'm on my way Atty."

"Are you ready to meet Ms. Alcantara, Mr. Villafuerte?" Tanong agad sakin ni Atty. He is like scanning my face and waiting for my reaction.

"Yeah, I'm dying to meet her Red. God knows how long I've waited for this day. I trusted you with all the paper works. I guess she had no idea who is the buyer of their farm."

"No idea at all. She came back all the way from France just to reclaim what is hers in the first place."

Natahimik ako sa sinabi ni Red.

"I can negotiate Atty." He chuckled.

"I missed your Hummer. Mukhang walang ibang gumagamit nito kundi ikaw lang."

"Hell yeah! Ayaw to ni Mama, masyado daw malaki sa kanya at masyado din daw panlalake."

"She has a point." Tumango tango pa ito. "And this is an expensive car."

Tumawa nalang ako, it's true that this car cost a fortune and I needed to earn back the money I spent buying this car. I have no regrets at all. May maganda din namang sasakyan si Atty. Jared Clemente, mas gusto lang nyang sunduin ko sya. Sya ang personal Lawyer ng pamilya, bukod sa kaibigan ng pamilya ang angkan ng mga Clemente, angkan din sila ng mga abogado, mula sa Lolo ni Jared hanggang sa kanya. He is also my friend and he always take care of my businesses here in San Nicolas.

"Magiinom kami mamaya after natin dito. Care to join Jared? Darren will be there too." Yaya ko sa kanya.

"I'll try. Lets finish this business of yours first. We're almost here. Suit yourself Mr. Villafuerte." Pangaasar pa nito saken.

"I'm always ready."

At nakarating kami sa aming destinasyon. Napatingin ako sa bahay nila. Malaki na ang pinagbago nito, narenovate na at bagong pintura. Napatingin ako sa mga puno ng mangga na nasa paligid. This place truly brings back memories and reminds me of the past. Nauna nang bumaba si Atty saka ako sumunod. I heard him talking with them  and thats when I entered the house.

She was halted when she saw me and so am I. I removed my shades for a better sight of her. My Ria is still beautiful, her angelic face and soft features are still there. I locked my gaze on her and she did that too as if she is scanning my whole body.  And thats when Atty. introduced me to her.

"Ms. Alcantara, He is my client, Mr. Zach Alexander Villafuerte." Pakilala ni Atty. I immediately offer my hand to her.

"Please to meet you. Ms. Alcantara. It's nice to see you again."

Nagpalit palit lang sya ng tingin sa kamay ko at sa mukha ko. And I flashed a grin to her.