Yours Forever (COMPLETED)

Forever 18

To compensate for my absence yesterday, here's another chapter for you to enjoy. :)

Gabi na nang makarating si Alden sa Sagada. He started his trip in the early evening at Baguio City. He learned from his biyenans that the trip would normally take four to five hours by private car and seven to eight by bus. With his hummer, the journey took him four hours and a half.

Laking pasasalamat niya dahil may mga tao siyang napagtanungan kung nasaan ang Verdant Homes. Matiyagang itinuro ng mga ito iyon sa kanya. Nang marating niya ang lugar ay namangha siya sa nakitang Western style mansion na nakatayo sa tabi ng bangin na kinatutubuan ng maraming puno ng pino.

He did not expect the place to be so magnificent. Sa tabi ng mansion ay may isa pang mas maliit na bahay na nakatayo malapit sa Verdant. Ipinarada niya ang kanyang sasakyan sa parking lot at saka pumasok sa loob. Kung ano ang ikinaganda ng labas ay ganun din sa loob. Napakacozy. Nakadisenyo iyon na parang isang bahay. Lahat ng taong titigil sa ganoong lugar ay hindi kailanman magsisi. And they would never miss home. The place is a home itself.

Magalang siyang binati ng taong nasa reception. He showed the privilege card Harry gave him. The staff obediently led him to the third floor. He gave him his room. After filling him the details, nagpaalam na muli itong bumalik sa front desk.

That morning, he woke up very early by the smell of the sweet aroma of the forest from behind. Lumabas siya sa kanyang kuwarto at nagpunta sa veranda. Nawala kaagad ang pagod niya mula sa mahabang biyahe kagabi. The place is magical. He was greeted by the fresh and sweet air of Sagada. Ang lahat ng pagod niya sa nakaraang taon ay mabilis na napawi ng lugar. Hinding-hindi siya magsisi sa pagpunta niya doon.

He sat down at the bench and fill his lungs with place air. Wala siyang ibang nadadarama sa pagkakataong iyon kundi freedom, relief, at kasiyahan. Then he remembered his daughter. Charmaine would love the place. Kung naitaon lang ang bakasyon ng kanyang anak ay mas masaya pa sana kung kasama niya ito.

He stayed in the balcony for so long that he did not notice the time. Natauhan na lamang siya nang marinig ang boses ng staff. It was the same person he encountered last night. He is inviting him for breakfast. Nasabi na rin nito na kasama niya ang iba pang mga guests ng mansion.

At breakfast, he met Judith. Harry Kendrick's aunt. The woman is very happy to see him. She is the great idea of a host. Mainit ang ginawa nitong pagtanggap sa kanya. They talked about Harry for a minute before she introduced him to the other guest. Doon niya napansin na malawak pala talaga ang dining room. It could accomodate fifty people.

There are twelve guests at the moment. There are four couples, the Australian natives named Todd and Nissa, the Americans River and Shannon, then the two Filipino couples, Anna and Jerry with Camille and Johnny. A family who occupies a room in the first floor is also with them, Kester and Liyah with their boy named Calvin. The father and the son have some things in common especially those notable green eyes. Si Alden lang ang nag-iisa sa mga guests.

Masaya ang mga Pilipinong kasama niya nang makita siya doon. Most of them are his fans. The foreigners are pleased to have a Philippine celebrity with them. Siya ang naging topic doon while waiting for their food. Sa durasyon ng kanilang mga usapan ay nakahanap siya ng bagong mga kaibigan. The warm welcome of the guest must ne the effect of the place too. They feel like they are somewhat part of a single family. Then their food arrived. Judith gladly served them with two new staffs named Daphne and Robert.

Natigilan si Alden nang makita ang pagkaing naihain sa kanila. Memories of his wife flooded his thought. Pochero was his wife's favorite breakfast to prepare for him.

"Are you ok?" Liyah asked. Ito ang unang nakapansin sa kakaiba niyang reaction. Ito rin kasi ang katabi niya sa mesa.

"Yeah." he smiled. "Memories."

"We understand." Camille uttered, trying her best not to offend him. Napansin niya ang lungkot sa mukha nito pati na rin sa iba nilang mga kasama. Doon niya napatunayan na marami pa palang fans ang nagmamahal sa kanya at sa kanyang asawa. These are real ones. Pati ang namatay niyang asawa ay hindi pa nakakalimutan ng mga ito. And that realization fattens his heart.

"I am fine, thanks!" masigla niyang wika. Napansin niyang hindi maintindihan ng mga dayuhan ang mga nangyayari. He found himself opening up with them. Naikuwento niya ang nangyari sa kanyang asawa. And warm sympathy hugs him. Pati ang mga puti ay nakikiramdam na rin. Mas nagkaroon ng saysay ang kanyang bakasyon.

When he tasted the food, mas lalo siyang nabigla. The nine years did not totally erased the familiar taste of his wife's cooking. Parang kumakain siya sa kanilang bahay ng luto ng asawa niya mismo. Wala iyong pinagkaiba sa pochero ni Maine. "It really tasted like my wife's cooking."

Pati ang kanyang mga kasama ay natigilan at lahat ay napatingin sa kanya. It was River who first talked. "The food here is great buddy. The cook is an expert."

"Tama si River, Alden." Kester's turn. "Mula nang mapadpad kami dito ay wala pa kaming maransang bad meal. The food is really great. If you want, let us ask the staff kung sing cook dito."

Bago pa siya makaangal ay natawag na nito si Robert. Tinanong nga nito kung sino ang nagluluto ng kanilang mga pagkain.

"Sir, si Ma'am Kerry Anne po at si Tita Judith. Ngayon po ay si Ma'am Kerry Anne ang nagluto."

"It's Harry's wife." yun na lang ang nasabi niya. Nalaman pa niya sa kanyang mga kasama na hindi pa pala nakikita ng mga ito si Kerry Anne. According to Robert, Harry's wife rarely shows herself to the guests. Pag lumabas o nakatulog lang ang mga ito saka nagpupunta doon si Kerry Anne para ayusin ang maaring ayusin. Maybe, Alden will meet this Kerry Anne later. Nalaman niyang bahay pala ni Harry ang katabing building ng mansion. Ang una niyang gagawin sa araw na iyon ay hanapin ang kaibigan niyang si Menard.

Kester and Liyah would appear in one of my short romance story later... xD haha