A Second Chance

Part 9 - Break Up

Present day

**Faulkerson reunion
Concha's, Tagaytay

'Richard!...Rich!..Papi! Uyy...c'mon bro wake up we're here' Sam wakes Richard

'Uhmmm...to friendship and beyond' Richard said still asleep

'Yes, Papi we're beyond late. C'mon bro fix yourself...tumulo na laway mo oh...ewww.' biro ni Sam

Richard sat straighter and wipe his hands on his face. My God! I've dreamt of her. It's been a while. He look at his watch and saw that its already 8pm. Late na nga, we're 2 hrs late.. Patay ako kay Rizza nito. She told me I should be early.

'Ano Rich, are you just going to sit there? Patay tayo nito kay Rizza' Sam said and went ahead of him.

The Faulkerson family have their reunion every year which his mom organized but Rizza has taken over the matter since their mother died of pneumonia.

'Yeah I know' referring to Rizza who is obssessed of being prompt. He always got a scold from her whenever he comes late. He got out of the car and fix his hair and the creases of his shirt.

'Paps, alam mo ang gwapo mo pa rin kahit ang pangit mo' Sam watch his friend fix himself. Paps or Papi, their barkadas term of endearment since high school got stuck even now.

'Hay naku Sam, nababakla ka na naman ba? Ask Richard

'Matagal na paps...' they both laugh and get inside the restaurant Richard owned. They can joke about anything. Their motto - ang pikon talo.

The restaurant is full of people. The gathering not only compose of the Faulkerson family but also people close to them which they consider as family. That's why the place is jam-packed. People greeted them as they pass. It took them awhile to exit the main hall and reach the garden where his family is gathered.

Daddy, Rizza, his grandparents on both side and other relaties, are busy chatting at the table. Daddy saw him first and smiled.

'eto na pala si Rj' Daddy announce and stood up to greet his son. Rizza only look at him. He knows she's mad.

'Dad...' and hug him... 'sorry I'm late. The flight got delayed and yung sundo ko din delayed, looking at Sam who just shrug as if saying what can I do..'plus you know how the traffic is at the highway.

'It's ok son...you're here that's what's important' and lightly tap his cheek..'yang kapatid mo ang inis' nguso ni Daddy kay Rizza
He turned to his sister who's now talking to Sam who's already eating.

He went to his grandparents and kiss them...and to their other relatives. Talk to them for awhile to catch up with family matters. He then went back and seat next to his sister. 'Hi sis!' and kiss her cheeks. Rizza is not looking at her. 'I know your mad because I'm late. Sorry but I can't control the situation. Alam mo naman busy ang kuya mo' he explained.

Rizza sigh..'I know kuya..I know how busy you are..pero can you give yourself a break? How many years have you been like that? You've been like a robot since...' she always tell her kuya

'Hep..hep...' Richard cut off 'let's not go into that, ok? Fyi, sis I am having a break. Sa Batanes. And I'm not being a robot, I'm just being busy building an empire for the family'

'Kuya, it's not a break...it's still business. You went there because of business' reklamo ni Rizza. Minsan napapagod na sya pagsabihan ang kuya nya. He is one stubborn mule. Isa lang ang kilala nyang nakapag papasunod sa kuya nya..but sad to say....erase, erase..I don't want to think about it, it still hurts.

'I'm multi-tasking' he smiled. 'Really, I'm enjoying it there. Kundi lang sa reunion natin I won't go home yet' he said. 'It's beautiful there'...

'Hmm..I know why but I won't go into that' she start to get food for her kuya.